PROJECT-SPIRATION Kalaloch Pullover

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Kalaloch Pullover

I don’t know if you caught this pattern on Ravelry a few weeks ago, but I filed it away somewhere in the middle of my mind. It’s made with BC Garn Bio Balance, a gorgeous spring/summer weight yarn made from a blend of organic wool & cotton. We’ve worked up a sample shawl with it and it was delightful to work with and wear. When you work with it, it kind of moves like a soft wool with a bit of texture and grab to it, you don’t really feel the cotton. But when its knitted, the fabric doesn’t feel like wool at all, it feels like a blended plant fibre you’d find in a commercial garment. It’s interesting, and really nice!

Anyway, I love the combination of texture and oversized ease in this sweater. It’ll be extremely comfortable and breathable, perfect for slouching around the cottage, the house and the city. I don’t love the colour they chose, I don’t know about you but I have a hard time visualizing myself in a dark green summer sweater! Good thing BC Garn Bio Balance comes in a bunch of pretty colours for warmer seasons (they have a medium green that is beautiful). If you want to cast on right away, here are your best bets (if you have your heart set on another colour that we don’t have in stock let us know and we can get that for you):

Needle Hack: Interchangeables ROCK!

The body and sleeves are worked in the round from the bottom up to the yoke, then the pieces are joined for working the circular yoke. If skipped ahead to the materials, you’ll notice that the pattern calls for a bunch of needles in different lengths – if you have been thinking about buying yourself a set of interchangeable needles this might be a good opportunity. If not, I’d buy individual interchangeable tips and cords: for the circulars I’d get Knitter’s Pride Interchangeable Tips 3.5mm-4.5″, 3.5mm-3.5″, and 3mm-4.5″ (to sub for the 2.75mm), and corresponding Knitter’s Pride Interchangeable Cords/Cables in 16″, 24″ and 40″. For the double pointed needles you can get them in 3mm & 3.5mm, or use your 40″ cord for the magic loop technique.

If you already have an interchangeable set check to see if it comes with the 3mm tips – most do not, but Knitter’s Pride makes them as individual pairs in the metal “nova platina” (chrome plated brass).

Pattern Hack: Libraries ROCK!

We no longer carry Interweave Knits, but you can still find the paper edition in grocery stores, drug stores, and online as an e-publication through Interweave. But there is a fourth option: the public library! Check your public library to see if they provide digital magazines. Interweave Knits is available from the Toronto Public Library though the RB Digital service, which is a FREE service – all you need is a library card (also FREE) and a digital device (smart phone, tablet or computer). If you don’t have a device you can go to the library and use one of their computers and printers – you can even ask the librarian for help if you are having trouble, helping people access information is their calling. You can also ask a librarian for help if you have a portable device but you don’t know how to use the digital system to access the magazine. Librarians ROCK!

These are screenshots of the magazine, that I downloaded to my i-Phone through my public library’s website.

Size 

  • 42 (48, 54, 60, 66)“ circumference at underarm.
  • Pullover shown measures 48”; modeled with 15” of positive ease.

Materials

  • BC Garn Bio Balance: 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) skeins.
  • 2.75 mm/US2 – 40″ circular needles
  • 2.75 mm/US2 double pointed needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4- 40” circular needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4 double pointed needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4 – 16” and 24” circular needles
  • stitch markers
  • Pattern

RESTOCKED AGAIN Wrist Rulers!

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We sold out TWICE, and you seem to be in love with the natural coloured ones, so we’ve restocked them!

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.

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.

NEW Studioloo Handspun Art Yarn!

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Studioloo Handspun

I am so thrilled to be carrying Studioloo’s Handspun again – this product epitomizes SPECIAL! Studioloo Handspun is a completely unique Art Yarn! No two skeins are alike – each skein is inspired by its own theme and style. Different fibres and decorations are incorporated into the spinning process, making each skein a true work of art. Most of the skeins are quite large and are enough to make a cowl or scarf. You can also integrate a ‘regular’ yarn into your project to make the handspun go further. Little inclusions (toys, flowers, needle felts, other goo-gaws) are often spun right into the yarn, and are meant to be knitted into the project. This product epitomizes special!

Note: all skeins have different yardage, weight, fibre content, and each is individually priced. Most are bulky weight, but there is no suggested needle size or tension.  All Studioloo Handspun yarns are available in store and are final sale. 

Photos: Happiknits on Etsy

If you have a small skein of Art Yarn and want to make it go further, you can easily combine it with a regular yarn. Just knit one section in your art yarn, and the rest in the contrast yarn, and join it into a cowl! When the cowl is looped twice the Art Yarn can be worn in front as an accent.

COMPLETED The Ride for Heart

The Ride For Heart

I just wanted to thank all of the people who donated to my fundraising bike ride for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. You are both very kind and generous, and your support means the world to me!

FYI, we were supposed to do the 25km ride, but we just kept going and scored ourselves an extra 25km … I’m a little tender in the posterior, but I totally earned my donations this year! If you wanted to donate but didn’t get around to it it isn’t too late – my brother is only $12 ahead of me, I think that needs to be rectified …

Support me button 500

NEW Firefly Markers & Bags

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Firefly Stitch Markers

Firefly Stitch Markers are the most beautiful and useful no-snag stitch markers we’ve ever seen, and we fell in love immediately! They come in different sizes and colours (details listed below), and some come with an extra marker that looks different, to mark your place in your work (like the beginning of your round). Nickel free, Made in Canada.

Firefly Project Bags

Firefly Drawstring Project Bags are adorable and practical! Made from 100% cotton, each bag measures is large enough to hold a small to medium size project. Plus it’s made right here in Canada! They make great for knitters & crocheters.

  • 100% Cotton
  • 8″(20cm) wide, 10″(25cm) high
  • digitally printed
  • Made in Canda

NEW Magazines: Making Stories, Laine, PomPom

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Making Stories no. 1

See the Patterns

From the publishers of Making Magazine:

“With Making Stories Magazine, we strive to feature companies and makers who focus on sustainability, transparency, fairness and equity in their work. We love telling their stories and hope to inspire and enable crafters to make conscious and informed decisions about the materials they use and companies they support. 

In Issue 1, you’ll find thoughtful accessories and versatile garments that are designed with change in mind – change in seasons, in the way we work and live, in our choice of materials. We’re proud to be able to share the fantastic work of writers and visual artists with you with pieces that range from disability and knitting to body image, from queering the knitting status quo to what change means for our lives”

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT MAKING STORIES MAGAZINE?

“We’re (to our knowledge) the only ad-free knitting magazine on the market today. We believe in preserving our independence when it comes to deciding who we feature and work with through not accepting any ads for this magazine. 

We’re printing on 100% recycled paper, one of the few that’s certified not only with the EU Ecolabel and the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, but also with the Blauer Engel certificate.”

“We’re keeping production and fulfilment as local as possible, working with Druckhaus Berlin-Mitte as our printer, the first printer to be certified with Blauer Engel, and with Urbanmail as our fulfilment and shipping partner, both here in Berlin.”

Laine No. 8: Kelo8

See the patterns

We’re proud to stock, and be a supporter, of this GORGEOUS Nordic magazine, written in English.

· 140 pages
 
· 11 knitting patterns from a talented group of designers: Justyna Lorkowska, Denise Bayron, Libby Jonson, Julie Dubreux, Leeni Hoimela, Astrid Troland, Sus Gepard, Éveline Cantin-Bergeron, Jenny Sauselein and Marjorie Martin. 

· an interview with Susan Crawford
 
· a long-format story about Ocean Rose
 
· my story by Pauline Copin-Herriot of Lain’amourée
 
· a column by Jeanette Sloan (Jeanette will continue as our columnist in the future, as well)
 
· seasonal recipes
 
· a travel guide to our dear hometown, Tampere, featuring the best spots to stay, eat and shop

PomPom No. 25

See the Patterns

PomPom Quarterly is a top quality, curated book published by independent designers. The patterns are always gorgeous, and the books themselves are lovely, the kind of inspiring publication you love to have on your coffee table and NEVER rest your mug on.

RESTOCKED Knitting Comfortably

Imagine being told you have to stop knitting because of discomfort in your hands, arms, neck, or back. Imagine the sense of frustration and the longing to get the needles back in your hands. Imagine the lingering doubt you might have when you can pick them up again: “What was I doing wrong after all these years of knitting?” “Will I get hurt again?” “Will I have to stop knitting forever to make this pain go away?” Maybe you’d like to be a faster, more efficient knitter, or a knitter who produces more projects, but you’re not sure what’s getting in the way.

This book will help you understand the ergonomics of knitting so you can improve your safety, efficiency, and productivity in knitting. You’ll learn to identify ergonomic risks that contribute to injury and reduce knitting efficiency. Throughout the book, you’ll be provided with activities and guidance to improve your knitting ergonomics so you can knit more confidently and comfortably. Through instruction in stretches, exercise, and self-care, you’ll also learn how to manage the discomfort common to knitters before it becomes an injury, and how to recognize when it’s time to seek help from a health-care professional.

FYI Patternfish is Closing

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Sadly, I just noticed that Patternfish is closing up business! It’s very disappointing, but industries evolve and change with technology.

If you have purchased digital patterns through Patternfish you have until June 30th to download them and save them to your personal hard drive (I suggest saving them to a free cloud-based service like Google Drive or Dropbox).