Monthly Archives: August 2016

FREEBIE & NEW Noro Kureopatora

Noro Kureopatora DISPLAY BLOG

kureopatora colours aug 2016

Noro Kureopatora

Noro Kureopatora is a one of Noro’s softest and most versatile yarns, and we’ve restocked it for fall! Made from a blend of different types of wool,  this single ply yarn looks great knit, crochet, or felted. One skein goes a long way -each carries a generous yardage of 270m/276 yards, and it blooms, so you can use a variety of needle sizes with it (two skeins are more than enough for a scarf). We made Lala’s Simple Shawl with 3 skeins and a Noro Striped Scarf with 2 skeins.

  • 100% Merino Blend Wool
  • 100g/270m (276 yds)
  • 4.5mm needles
  • 20 sts & 26 rows = 4″ (10cm)
  • Worsted Weight
  • Made in Japan
  • Pattern ideas

 

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noro kureopatora striped ranbow scarf COMBO 2

Noro Striped Scarf: colour 1009 & 1011

 

noro kureopatora striped ranbow scarf COMBO

Noro Striped Scarf: colour 1021

Noro Striped Scarf

The Noro Striped Scarf is a super easy and satisfying knit. Two skeins of Noro Kureopatora makes a substantial (ours measured 102″ long x 6″ wide), eye-catching scarf.

 

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Lala’s Simple Shawl

Noro Kureopatora’s exceptional yardage and springy single-ply texture makes for a great shawl!

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noro kureopatora striped ranbow scarf COMBO 3

GAMBIT & Knit Hack

Gambit Rasta 1

Gambit

Gambit is a great little capelet designed to be worn OVER outerwear – clever and stylin’! It’s knit in super bulky yarn, so it’s a satisfying, quick little knit. We used Malabrigo Rasta, we couldn’t *not* indulge in it’s ridiculous softness and depth of colour. If Rasta is a bit too precious for your needs you can also use Cascade Lana Grande or Brown Sheep Burly Spun (see below).

Gambit Rasta COMBO

Notes on the Pattern

This pattern involves a few techniques that newbies might be unfamiliar with (short rows, provisional cast on, grafting/kitchener stitch) and is not for the absolute beginner – an advanced beginner should be fine with it.

The shaping is created with short rows, so you’ll have to be diligent and keep track of your rows. I found that I didn’t like the type of short row technique used in the pattern, it left gaps (I don’t know if this is because I used a different yarn than the original design). I changed to regular, old fashioned Wrap & Turn (W&T) short rows. Luckily, in garter stitch you don’t need to unwrap short rows, which makes things much easier. I worked to one stitch less than the number specified for the short row in the pattern, wrapped the next stitch, and turned.

KNIT HACK: To help keep track and stay oriented I put a locking stitch marker in the stitch every time I did a short row.

The garment is knit flat and joined together using kitchener stitch – anther happy discovery was that grafting in garter stitch is a bit simpler than in stocking stitch. You are going to start the project with a provisional cast on (a cast on using scrap yarn), I like using the crochet or ‘chained’ cast on method, the scrap yarn comes out extremely easily.  I wove in the ends using duplicate stitch and you can’t see them at all!

One more thing,  full disclosure – I accidentally used the wrong size needles (9mm/US13). Yup, even knitting store owners grab the wrong size on occasion. The capelet came out fine after blocking (our mannequin is on the small size and doesn’t move around much), but you should use 10mm/US15 needles to get the appropriate tension.

Yarn Options

Malabrigo Rasta: 3(4) skeins

Cascade Lana Grande: 4 skeins

Brown Sheep Burly Spun: 3 skeins

Other Materials

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Gambit Rasta COMBO TRIO

RESTOCKED Mini Notions & Needles

Scissors embroidery polka dot 2

Polkadot Embroidery Scissors

These popular little cutting implements are back! They’re adorable, sturdy, and easy to use (3.5″.9cm long). They also match our Polkadot Tape Measures.

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Soak Wash-Minisoaks-Assorted

Soak Minis

Soak is a super easy, eco-friendly, no-rinse wash for hand or machine washing delicates, from lingerie to cashmere. Soak products are manufactured in Toronto Canada and are available in an assortment of fresh fragrances plus Scentless (for your sensitive side).   Each Mini Soak pack is 5ml, enough for a single use.

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Chiaogoo Circular Needles Steel 12 inch

Chiaogoo 12″ Circular Needles

12″ circular needles are great for working in the round on small things that normally requires double pointed needles; socks, legwarmers, sleeves, etc.

ChiaoGoo Red Lace Circular Knitting Needles are a premium line of stainless steel circulars. They feature a flexible, multi-strand, nylon-coated, steel cable allowing for your yarn to slide right over. The tips and joins are precisely machined.

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min restocked combo

FREEBIES & RESTOCKED Cascade Lana Grande

Cascade Lana Grande BLOG

Cascade Lana Grande is a lofty, super bulky/polar weight yarn made with 100% Peruvian Wool. It knits up beautifully and FAST – plus it’s very affordable!  See it at work in patterns like Umaro by Jared Flood (Brooklyn Tweed), the Weekend Pullover from Knitting Pure and Simple, the Big Snowy Owl, and it’s ideal for the Button Bear Cowl. It’s great for beginners too, we use it frequently in our classes. It knits up fast and is great for making gifts (it’s never too early to start).

  • 100% Peruvian Highland Wool
  • 100g/80m
  • Super Bulky Weight
  • 9mm to 12mm (US size 13 to17) Needles
  • 8 sts = 4″ (10cm)
  • Made in Peru
  • Project ideas on Ravelry
  • Read our Blog Post with project ideas

 

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Sweet

 

 

Gaptastic COMBO

Photos: topstitchgirl & morgpet

 

Gaptastic Cowl

 

 

unoriginal hat 1

Photo: madorange

An Unoriginal Hat

FREEBIES & RESTOCKED Malabrigo Rasta!

Malabrigo Rasta DISPLAY BLOG

Malabrigo Rasta is a super thick, super soft single ply yarn made from 100% Merino Wool. One luxurious skein is enough for a hat, mitts, or a close neck-warmer/cowl. It’s especially great for making gifts, as it knits up fast and looks and feels GLORIOUS!

  • 100% Merino Wool
  • 150g/82m (90 yds)
  • Super Bulky Weight
  • 10mm to 15mm (Us15 to 19) needles
  • 8 to 10 sts = 4″ (10cm)
  • Single Ply, Slightly felted
  • Hand wash, lay flat to dry
  • Pattern Ideas

 

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Malabrigo Rasta Rainbow Twist COMBO

Photos: Thao Nguyen

Rainbow Twist

  • FREE Pattern
  • Malabrigo Rasta: 1 skein
  • 12mm/US17 needles (circular or straight)
  • 12mm crochet hook (for provisional cast on)
  • scrap yarn (for provisional cast on)
  • darning or tapestry needle

 

Malabrigo Rasta Mobius Cowl COMBO

Mobius Cowl

 

Aujourd’hui

  • FREE pattern
  • Malabrigo Rasta: 1 skein
  • 10mm/US15 needles (circular or straight)
  • 10mm/US15 crochet hook (for provisional cast on)
  • scrap yarn (for provisional cast on)
  • darning or tapestry needle

 

Marian

  • FREE Pattern
  • Malabrigo Rasta: 2 skeins
  • 12mm/US17 circular needles (24″ for small cowl, 29″ for a double wrap cowl)
  • darning or tapestry needle
  • for a short version cast on 45 sts, for a longer one cast on 89 sts

FREEBIES & Restocked Malabrigo Mecha!

 

Malabrigo Mecha SKEIN BLOG.png

Malabrigo Mecha is a yummy skein of wonder! It’s a single ply, 100% extra fine superwash merino wool, which translates to soft as and squishy baby’s bottom. It knits at a variable gauge, a chunky to bulky weight, and is very flexible since the yarn tends to bloom. The yardage is generous at 120 metres (130 yards), and of course you can actually use it for babies and kids since it’s machine washable.

Be sure to get enough yarn to complete your project since each bag is a different dye lot, and skeins may vary from bag to bag.

  • 100% Superwash Merino Wool
  • 100g/120m (130yds)
  • Chunky to Bulky Weight
  • 6 to 8mm/US 10 to 11 needles
  • Made in Uruguay
  • Machine Wash, lay flat to dry
  • Pattern ideas for this yarn

 

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Malabrigo Mecha Long Mobius Cowl COMBO

Long Mobius Cowl

The mobius cowl is one of our go-to projects around Knit-O-Matic. It’s quick, entertaining and simple. It uses a Mobius Cast-on, which is easy to learn from Cat Bordhi’s free instructional video.  If you’re a new knitter special techniques might feel a little overwhleming, so feel free to use a regular cast-on technique (you can use a 29″/32″ needle, and just be sure not to twist your stitches when you are joining them in the round.) NOTE: we worked a total of 12 ridges, the last ridge is 3 rounds, then we cast off

 

Cocoon

  • FREE Pattern
  • Malabrigo Mecha: 1 skein
  • 5mm/US8 – 16″ circular needles
  • 5.5mm/US9 – 16″ circular needles
  • 5.5mm/US9 double pointed needles
  • tapestry or darning needle

FREEBIE & Finished Baby Sophisticate

Malabrigo Rios Baby Sophisticate 1

Baby Sophisticate

We’ve been updating our store samples of baby sweaters, so the Baby Sophisticate was a natural addition to our collection. It’s a basic top-down knit that look great knit up in any worsted/aran weight yarn. We thought it would show off the Malabrigo Rios (we used colour 122 Niebla for this one). Overall, super happy with the outcome – our pattern notes are on Ravelry!

 

Materials

 

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Malabrigo Rios Baby Sophisticate 2

Shaped Capelet with Braided Cables

 

Shaped Capelet with Braided Cables

I love this little garment, it’s the perfect cover to throw over your shoulders for chilly fall days. It’s knit sideways and includes some very cleverly hidden shaping (which creates gentle drape and and unfussy, elegant fit.

Size

  • circumference at lower edge: 38 ½ (44 ¾, 51 ¼)””
  • length from top of neckband to front hemline: 13 ½ (14 14 ½)”
  • length from top of neckband to back hemline: 16 ½ (17, 17 ½)”
  • shown in smallest size

 

Yarn Options

Berroco Vintage:  4 (5, 6) skeins

Cascade Eco:  2 skeins

Malabrigo Mecha:  4 (5, 6) skeins

 

Other Materials

  • 6mm/US10-24″ circular needles
  • 5mm/US8-24″ circular needles
  • Tapestry needle
  • cable needle
  • stitch markers
  • 5.5mm-I/9 crochet hook
  • Pattern via Ravelry/Interweave

 

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Mrs Garter

Mrs Garter

I really like Mrs Garter sweater for fall. It’s a very versatile little jacket knit from the top-down in the round, which means minimal finishing – yay! The design is interesting enough to turn heads, but simple enough that you’ll actually be able to get through it and actually wear it *this* fall. The pattern also comes with both a short and long version, and instructions for both asymmetrical and symmetrical fronts.

I also love the arms – they’re designed using the contiguous method, so you can have set-in style sleeves without all the drama of setting them in and seaming them. (Don’t worry, contiguous isn’t hard, it’s similar to top-down raglan). Why is a set-in sleeve desirable? Because EVERYONE looks good in a set-in sleeve. Raglans look amazing on people with big shoulders and small busts, but they don’t do much for people like me with small shoulders and a bust. So when I see a pattern with a contiguous sleeve, I get excited.

The pattern calls for an Aran weight yarn, like Cascade Eco, which will knit to a dense-ish tension on the prescribed 4.5mm/US7 needles (great for a jacket, gives it some structure). If you want something more pliable and sweater-like consider a worsted weight yarn like Cascade 220 or Cascade 220 Superwash.

Size

  • XS(S, M, L, XL, XXL)
  • Finished chest/bust: 33(35, 38, 41, 44, 48)”/ 82 (88, 96, 105, 112, 122) cm

Yarn

Cascade Eco

(see pattern for detailed yardage amounts)

  • One Colour, short version: 3(3, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins
  • One Colour,  long version: 3(4, 4, 5, 5, 6) skeins
  • Two Colour,  short version: colour A/body  2(2, 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins, colour B/garter sections 2(2, 2, 3, 3, 3) skeins
  • Two Colour, long version: A/body  2(2, 2, 2, 3) skeins, colour B/garter sections 2(2, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins

Cascade 220 or Cascade 220 Superwash

  • One Colour, short version: 6(7, 8, 9, 10, 11) skeins
  • One Colour,  long version: 7(8, 9, 10, 11, 12) skeins
  • Two Colour,  short version: colour A/body  3(3, 4, 4, 5, 6) skeins, colour B/garter sections 3(4, 5, 5, 6, 6) skeins
  • Two Colour, long version: A/body  3(4, 4, 5, 5, 6) skeins, colour B/garter sections 4(5, 5, 6, 6, 7) skeins

Other Materials

See pattern for full details

  • 3.5mm/US4 needles (see pattern for full details & type)
  • 4.5mm/US7 needles (see pattern for full details & type)
  • Pattern via Ravelry
Mrs garter COMBO

Photos: Ankstrick, cochenille

 

 

Golden Wheat

Golden Wheat

Photos: veera

Golden Wheat

This little cardie will be cheap, cheerful, and relatively fast, made in economical Cascade Eco on 6mm/US10 needles! It’s knit in one piece from the top-down – guaranteed to be your go-to fall cardigan.  Make, wear it, love it – ’nuff said.

 

Size

  • XS(S, M, L, XL, XXL)
  • Finished bust circumference: 80 (86, 94, 105, 114, 124) cm/ 31.5 (34, 37, 41, 45, 49)”

 

Materials

  • Cascade Eco:   2 to 3 skeins (see pattern for details)
  • Pattern via Ravelry
  • 5mm/US8 circular needles (see pattern for details)
  • 6mm/US10 circular needles (see pattern for details)

 

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Golden Wheat COMBO

Photos: veera