Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Issue 379: What is on your needles?

The Lunar New Year which is also known as the Spring Festival, or simply Chinese New Year, marks the beginning of the year according to the traditional lunar calendar.

The Lunar New Year usually starts sometime between late January and mid-February. This year, the festivities begin on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, marking the arrival of the Year of the Snake.

The Lunar new year coaster by Seven Chen is double-sided coaster that features two versions of auspicious characters wishing for good fortune and blessings in the coming year. The stranded colourwork technique adds thickness, and increases and decreases create a classic diamond shape. This project is a practical and festive accessory, perfect for the season.

Gauge
26S × 30R = 10cm × 10cm in stockinette with 4.5mm needle.

Needles
4.5mm/80cm circular needles or DPNs

Measurements
Width 14cm / Length 14cm

Skills Required
Judy’s Magic cast-on, knit, decrease, increase, stranded colorwork, kitchener stitch.

Yarn Suggestions
BC Garn Semilla Melange or Cascade 220 Sport in Red and Black

Cozy knits are needed with the current cold and windy days especially if you are to be found walking. The Jose Hood by NORgardknitters is a fusion between a warm hood and a soft scarf. With the hood down, it functions as a beautiful scarf with a bow made of I-cord ties.

The Jose Hood is worked from the top down. The top is knitted first, and then stitches are picked up along the edges. The hood is worked back and forth. Increases along the front edges slowly change the shape from a hood to a scarf. I-cords finish every edge and make the ties at each end.

SIZE: One size

MEASUREMENTS:
Height of the hood: 48 cm
Total width of the scarf (without the ties): 174 cm

MATERIALS:
686 yards (630 m) of worsted / aran weight yarn
GAUGE 10x10 cm: 18 sts x 34 rs in garter stitch on 5 mm needles.

RECOMMENDED NEEDLES:
Circular needles 5 mm (60, 80, 100 cm). Double pointed needles 5 mm.

Yarn Suggestions
Garnstudio Drops Air, Bergere de France Merinos Alpaga, Estelle Eco Shetland Worsted - GOTS, Berroco Ultra Alpaca

The Cumulus Blouse by PetiteKnit is not a new pattern but is worked from the top down in stockinette stitch with two strands of thin mohair/silk yarn held together throughout. The design has a deep rounded V-neck. All edges are finished with i-cord.

Size guide
The Cumulus Blouse is designed to have approx. 10-15 cm [4-6 inches] of positive ease, meaning it is designed to be approx. 10-15 cm [4-6 inches] larger in circumference than your bust measurement.

Sizes:
XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL (4XL) 5XL

Bust circumference:
96 (102) 109 (116) 126 (136) 140 (149) 156 cm
[37¾ (40¼) 43 (45¾) 49½ (53½) 55 (58¾) 61½ inches]

Length:
52 (54) 57 (59) 60 (62) 64 (66) 68 cm
[20½ (21¼) 22½ (23¼) 23½ (24½) 25¼ (26) 26¾ inches]

Gauge:
18 sts x 26 rows = 10 x 10 cm [4 x 4 inches] in stockinette stitch on 4.5 mm [US7] needles after blocking

Needles:
Circular needles: 4.5 mm [US7] / 60 and 80 and/or 100 cm [24 and 32 and/or 40 inches]
Double-pointed needles: 4.5 mm [US7], short circulars or longer for magic loop

Materials:
1260 (1470) 1680 (1680) 1890 (1890) 2100 (2100) m or 1380 (1610) 1840 (1840) 2070 (2070) 2300 (2300) yds of mohair. Note: Two strands of yarn are held together throughout. The given yardage amounts are the total yardage needed. You will need half that amount if knitting with a single strand or half the yardage each if using two different yarns.

mamiganchillo knit her Cumulus Blouse with one strand of Garnstudio Drops Kid Silk and one strand of Malabrigo Silkpaca in Disfraz!

Yarn Suggestions
Garnstudio Drops Air (held single in half the yardage), Rico Essentials Super Kid Mohair Print, Lichen & Lace Marsh Mohair

FOs and WIPs

I am still working on my Mokosh Pullover by Teti Lutsak. I am knitting my version with Rowan Kidsilk Haze in 680 Burnt Caramel, 676 Aura, 605 Smoke and 684 Olive. They are four of the six colours in Rowan Kidsilk Haze Kits that I used to have in stock (one kit left). I have not decided what I will make the the remaining colours from my kits!

I finished my first sleeve on Saturday and picked up for the second sleeve.

I took this progress shot of my Mokosh Pullover yesterday afternoon.

I am finishing my second cuff with the neck band that I started with before I changed the order of my colours.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

Debbie (@love.knit.spin.weave) test knit this fun sneak peak pullover for Sarah L Kelly.

Carol (knittoatea) knit this Calidez Vest by Jenjoyce Design. She knit one for herself and one for her husband, both using Istex Alafosslopi.

Angie (KnittinGrapevines) came in on Saturday wearing her The Classic by Espace Tricot knit using Tosh Merino Light held double with Drops Kid Silk.

Angie (KnittinGrapevines) brought her show and tell projects! This is her Pier 39 by Isabell Kraemer knit using Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts Socknado using the helical knitting technique to prevent pooling.

This is Angie (KnittinGrapevines)'s Lounging Top by Joji Locatelli that she knit using Lichen and Lace 80/20 Sock in Black Walnut also using the helical knitting technique to prevent pooling.

This is Angie (KnittinGrapevines)'s more fitted third Turtle Dove II by Espace Tricot using Garnstudio Drops Air.

This is Angie’s Helix Cardigan by MarGueNée which still needs to be blocked and buttons added. Yarn is Malabrigo Baby Merino Lace held double with Drops Kid Silk.

Ingrid (Isuhardja) is wearing the Magnolia Chunky Cardigan by Camilla Vad that she knit for one of classes! Yarn is Rowan Felted Tweed held double with Drops Kid Silk.

Marilyn (@mariwana64) knit her second cozy Sophie Hood by PetiteKnit for her other daughter.

Anna (@kollar.annie) test knit this Cablette by Justyna Lorkowska to give her daughter.

Karen is wearing the Sunday Morning Shawl by Espace Tricot that Kandy (tinkerbella77) knit for her using the discontinued Estelle Alpaca Merino DK.

Gina came in yesterday wearing another one of her own creations. This one is knit holding two strands of mohair together. The bands are cables with a DK weight yarn.

SHOP UPDATE

Check out all of our KITS! I ran out of the bags that I use and just received more so there are some new ones. Let me know what other patterns you would like to see a kit for.

Happy Wednesday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!