Porcupine lace Washcloth by Jennifer Hansen, featuring a mid-Victorian lace pattern
Victoria Day Weekend
Saturday May 18: 11 am to 6pm
Sunday May 19: CLOSED
Monday May 20: CLOSED
Crochet Grocery Bag by Knit-O-Matic
Summer Store Hours: May 22 to Sept 15
We’re shifting over to our Summer Store Hours after the Victoria Day long weekend, so please note that the daytime Sit & Knit moves to MONDAY & SATURDAY, and we are CLOSED ON SUNDAYS. We go back to the regular store schedule the week of September 16th.
I just wanted to introduce you to (ahem, show off) a the new member of our little family – the knitting clock! The clock is on loan from a friend of my dear friends Mildred & Trevor. It knits one stitch every 5 minutes, so it’ll be a while before it makes it way’s through an entire scarf.
The original “Knitting Clock” was the brainchild of designer Sirene Elise Wilhemlsen in 2010. To the best of my understanding, our clock’s author is a bit of a renaissance man and built it because he wanted one, and working models weren’t available for purchase from the designer. I don’t know if he’ll make any more, but if you want to buy one you can leave your contact info in the comments and if he’s interested I’ll direct him there.
The 16″ Wrist Rulers were SUPER popular and we sold out FAST! We’re really happy you fell in love with them as quickly as we did, so we are going to try something special and take pre-orders for them and then we will reorder them next week. We will ship them as soon as they arrive, which shouldn’t take too long, since the people who make them have been super kind and quick so far. Since it’s a preorder, we’re adding a few more colours to the selection too!
Wrist Rulers
If you find yourself always needing to measure things when you’re on the go, this is the perfect product for you! Wrist Rulers are stylish leather wristbands with engraved measurements, both in inches and centimetre measurements. Wrist Ruler is made in the US
Leather Wrist Rulers
Leather Wrist Rulers come in natural leather, as well as colours, and are sized. Sizes are based on wrapping around your wrist twice. Give it extra length depending on how loosely you want to wear it. They recommend allowing an extra 1/2 inch for the stud closure. My wrist is 16cm/6.25″ (measured around the knobby part that sticks out), and the 16″/40cm Wrist ruler fits comfortably – it’s loose enough to move up and down, but it isn’t loose enough to fall off my wrist. The 17″/43cm size is loose enough to easily slip off over my wrist.
If you find yourself always needing to measure things when you’re on the go, this is the perfect product for you! Wrist Rulers are stylish leather wristbands with engraved measurements, both in inches and centimetre measurements. Wrist Ruler is made in the US
Leather Wrist Rulers
Leather Wrist Rulers come in natural leather, as well as colours, and are sized. Sizes are based on wrapping around your wrist twice. Give it extra length depending on how loosely you want to wear it. They recommend allowing an extra 1/2 inch for the stud closure. My wrist is 16cm/6.25″ (measured around the knobby part that sticks out), and the 16″/40cm Wrist ruler fits comfortably – it’s loose enough to move up and down, but it isn’t loose enough to fall off my wrist. The 17″/43cm size is loose enough to easily slip off over my wrist.
Rubber Wrist Rulers
The “Rubber” Wrist Rulers are an affordable alternative to their leather cousins. They are actually made of silicone, and are currently available in yellow and black. It’s a great Vegan alternative to the leather Wrist Ruler, its waterproof and can go anywhere! Rubber Wrist rulers come in one size and are adjustable (kind of like a belt). The full length is 18″/48cm.
I just finished this Clapo-Ktus wrap and it came out beautifully! I was itching to work with some of the Handmaiden Flyss on our shelves, a Canadian hand-dyed blend of Silk and Linen, and I was looking for a one-skein project that wouldn’t take too long and would show off the textile – I think totally NAILED IT.
The Pattern
Clapo-Ktus (terrible name, but the pattern is free) is actually a combination of two popular patterns, the Clapotis scarf/wrap, which involves dropped stitches, and the Baktus scarf, which is knit from side to side. The dropped stitches are gorgeous and make great use of the yarn’s natural drape (linen and silk are both fibres that are ALL drape, and have zero body). The Baktus part of the design give it a triangular shape, and allows you to use exactly as much yarn as you have on hand (hence a one-skein project).
The Finished Product
I wasn’t initially sure the one skein would be enough, but as I dropped the stitches it expanded beautifully, and after blocking it was magnificent. If you are interested, I would definitely also recommend making a Clapotis with this yarn, it would be a stunner! I originally envisioned this project as a wrap for the spring and summer, and I think it will hold it’s own in this department, but when it was finished and I tried it on I actually ADORED wearing it as a spring scarf. The fabric isn’t heavy or dense, and the textile is soft but has just enough texture to make it interesting. The Handmaiden Flyss is definitely knit-worthy, I’d like to make a sweater with it next!
Just one caveat – I ended up with these weird open stitches on one side, where the dropped stitches were initially created (you can see them in the picture below with the hanger). I thought I followed the pattern, so I’m not sure what went wrong or how I ended up with this. With all the dropped stitches in the fabric I don’t think it’s a big deal or unsightly, but if you have any idea what I’ve done please leave a comment!
Yup, it’s May, and you can officially put all your woollens away for the season!!! I’ve written a lot about this in the past, so instead of reinventing the wheel, I’m just going to gently nudge you to read our CARE AND MAINTENANCE INFO. A quick summary of the salient points:
Last week at the Knitter’s Frolic (a local show hosted by the Toronto Knitting Guild) we sold out of all of our adorable project bags from Gleener, and they have graciously and quickly restocked them!
Gleener Swet Bags make perfect project bags, but they’re so much more. They’re designed to keep odours, wetness and messed contained. The zipper and lining are both waterproof, so they also make a great travel companion to the gym, swimming or beyond. Keep your projects safe, clean and dry anywhere you go! They come in two sizes, the medium is great for regular projects, and the larger is perfect for large sweaters and blankets (I also use it for my swimming gear, as do my niece and nephew).
Medium: 10.5″ x 14″
Large: 16″ x 21″ (fits a large sweater or a blanket project)
Machine wash in cold water, flip it inside out and hang it up to line dry overnight.
Gleener (Full Size)
While you are cleaning your knits, you might as well de-pill them and get them ready for the fall with a Gleener® Ultimate Fuzz Remover™. This award winning fabric de-piller and lint brush combo safely removes fuzz balls, lint and pet hair from even the finest of fabrics. Yes, it really works, I have one at the ready in my closet. Plus, it’s a Canadian company! READ MORE HERE!
Gleener (Travel Size)
Gleeners are also available in a compact travel size, which is super handy if your carry-on luggage is frequently in use (Gleeners work on all fabrics, not just knitwear, so it;s great for cleaning up suits & such).
We just finished another Groovy wrap (when something works well, I tend to go with it). The last time we made it was a few years ago with Quince & Co Sparrow, and I wanted to try it with a different textile, to see how the fibre behaved.
The pattern isn’t free, but it’s a good pattern, the kind you’ll go back to over and over when you have random skeins you don’t know what to do with, and the price is nominal. It doesn’t take a lot of brain power (which is nice in warm weather), and is accessible to newer knitters. Basically, it falls into the “some things are worth paying for” category.
The pattern isn’t free, but it’s a good pattern, the kind you’ll go back to over and over when you have random skeins you don’t know what to do with, and the price is nominal. It doesn’t take a lot of brain power (which is nice in warm weather), and is accessible to newer knitters. Basically, it falls into the “some things are worth paying for” category.
This time we used a new yarn, BC Garn Bio Balance. It’s a deliciously soft blend of organic cotton and organic wool, an all year yarn that’s especially great for people who run warm. The company is Danish, the yarn is milled in Turkey, and the fibres are from Argentina. It’s definitely an idea yarn for wraps, sweaters, baby and child garments, etc. The fabric turned out soft, light, and cozy, and pretty, and our wrap is a perfect little something to throw on in spring and summer. Not too big and not too small, you wan wear it around your neck or your shoulders. If you want to make one larger, just get an extra skein and keep knitting. I loved this dark blue, it’s very denimy (without feeling or knitting like denim), but now that all of our stock of BC Garn Bio Balance has arrived I’ve re-confirmed that all the colours are delicious!
