Monthly Archives: July 2017

TUPPERWARE Party!

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tupperware

Knit-O-Matic Tupperware Party!

What

Millennials are bringing classics back, including Tupperware Parties! If you didn’t grow up in the 70s & 80s you may not be as familiar with Tupperware brand products as Baby Boomers & Gen-Xers. Tupperware is known for extremely high-quality kitchen products that WORK. Tupperware is NOT a disposable product, you only buy a Tupperware product once, they last for life and come with alifetime warranty. They’re safe, BPA free, and are made from virgin ingredients (no recycled plastics which can leech chemicals).

Tupperware is not marketed like regular commercial products. They don’t sink tons of money into advertising, marketing and corporate deals with retailers (yup, manufacturers pay for shelf space in large retailers). Instead, they sell through individual sales reps – they’ve been empowering and offering women career opportunities since their inception.  Before the advent of the internet, Tupperware was historically sold through parties held by sales reps. While I love shopping online, as a retailer I appreciate that the human element is special. Sales people don’t just want to sell you something, we have the knowledge and experience to help you get what you NEED, and do it fast. I like my apple gadgets, but the human brain is still my favourite type of computer.

If you do remember Tupperware, you might think of it as something suitable for families. But they have lots of options for singletons and aparmtment & condo dwellers.

Why

Excellent Question! A knitting and food storage isn’t really a natural pairing. Well, it’s a short-long story. Short version: everyone needs to eat.

The Long Version: a few years ago my mom went to a Tupperware Party and a friend’s house and bought me a lunch container for my salads (I’m a salad person). When my mom gave it to me I thought it was cute, but after using it continuously for at least a year I swear by the thing! It’s perfectly designed, everything is just the right size for a lunch salad, it never leaks, washes easily, and still looks like it did the day I got it. At the same party, my mother got herself some special containers to keep fruits & veggies fresh, and after a year of use she swears by them! My mom is a cynic, so I figured they had been properly vetted, and as a salad person I wanted my leafy greens to last longer. So when I found out that an old friend of mine was selling Tupperware, I thought “Great! We can have a little retro fun, throw a party in the slow season, and I’ll buy myself some containers.” And then the special containers went on sale …. there was a 2 for 1, and my brother’s birthday is coming up, soooo …. I bought them. AND THEY ARE AWESOME! I Love them so much I LURV them! When they arrived at the store my assistant, Liane, looked at my containers longingly, she told me a sorrowful story about a nefarious roommate stealing her Tupperware …. so instead of saving the second set for my brother, I gave them to Liane. And SHE LOVES THEM!

Anyway, it’s a slow time of year, and I need to buy some quality containers for my freezer (I’m clutzy, I drop everything, and all of the other brands of containers always shatter), I can’t be the only person who could use a few kitchen solutions, so I figured, let’s have a Tupperware Party in the store! The Tupper-people will bring us some food, show us some stuff, I’ll buy my freezer containers, and we’ll hang out & knit!

NOTE: We do NOT sell Tupperware. We are NOT Tupperware consultants, we will NOT be selling Tupperware. If you want to connect with a Tupperware consultant I refer you to our Tupper-people, Lisa & Curtis.

When

Saturday July 29, 1pm – 2:30pm (we can go later if we want)

Where

HERE! Knit-O-Matic, 1382 Bathurst St, Toronto Ontario

RSVP

RSVP is completely necessary, but it’ll help us estimate how much food to bring.Please let us know if you have any deathly food allergies, and if there is anything specific you want our Tupper-people to bing so you can see it in person (like, I don’t know, the ice shaver or the pressure cooker): RSVP HERE 

Can’t Make It?

Can’t Make it but still want in on the fun? No problem, Tupperware has a full e-commerce website, you can shop online HERE. (I think the shipping might be a little bit more when you buy online – when you buy in person through our Tupperware couple, Lisa & Curtis, it’s only $3.95 per order)

ASHES & KNIT HACK: Making Marls

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Ashes

I just ran across this new pattern on Ravelry, Ashes, and knew that it’s simple, easy to wear look would appeal. I mean, can’t you see yourself wearing this just about everywhere and every day? It’s the kind of sweater you can make several versions of, one for each season in a different type of yarn. One thought that came immediately to mind was that this sweater would look amazing knitted up as a marled colour (see all about that below).

Size

NOTE: this pattern is designed to be quite oversized. Before you choose a size to make you should check the finished dimensions below, you may want to make a smaller size than normal.

  • XS (S, M1, M2, L, XL, XXL)
  • finished bust circumference:  46.5 (48.5, 51, 53, 55, 57, 58.5)” or 116.5 (121.5, 127, 132, 137.5, 142.5, 146) cm
  • Sample is size XS worn with 14.5” (36.5 cm) positive ease at bust

Materials

  • Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino: 3(3, 3, 4, 4, 4) skeins in each of TWO colours [a total of 6(6, 6, 8, 8, 8) skeins]
  • 3.25mm/US3, 24” (60 cm) AND 32” (80 cm) circular needles, AND Double pointed needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4, 24” (60 cm) AND 32” (80 cm) circular needle, AND Double pointed needles
  • Stitch holders or waste yarn
  • stitch markers
  • tapestry needle
  • Pattern

Forester_4_medium2.jpg

Forester from Brooklyn Tweed: Great example of a marled knit.

Knit Hack: Making Marls

A marled colorway is usually created by holding two strands of different colours together at the same time. Above is a great example of a marled knit, Forester by Brooklyn Tweed.

Marled Yarn COMBO.jpg

Marled Yarn: Misti Alapca Chunky in a marked colourway.

You can also buy yarn that creates a marled effect (see above), it will be an equal combination of at least two colours, by sometimes there are more.

Fibre Texture

One important thing to consider when knitting up your own mark is the texture of the fibre. A marled textile works best if the fibres stick together and ‘blend’ a bit. The fuzzier the yarn, the better the marl effect. Yarns with a smooth surface don’t blend well. I think Ashes it would be awesome worked up with a single ply laceweight yarn like Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino. It has a halo to it that will make the two strands blend together almost seamlessly.

Malabrigo Lace COMBO Marls

Colour Combinations

High Contrast

Most people think of a marled colour as a high contrast and obvious look, like a black & cream (195 Black & 64 Natural) or black & light grey  (195 Black & 9 Polar). You can also experiment with something a bit more edgy, like a tan & muted pink (like 18 Applewood & 60 Dusty).

Low Contrast

Another option is a lower contrast, which creates a more subtle effect. Putting two reds together would create a subtle depth of colour (like 44 Geranio and 94 Bergamota), or a bright red & pink would be a vibrant combination (like 94 Bergamota & 184 Shocking Pink). Blues look great combined together (like 186 Buscando Azul and 26 Continental, or 27 Bobby Blue & 98 Tuareg). If you’re a purple person try 34 Orchid & 97 Cuarzo for a subtle, pretty purple.

Variegated

If you want something variegated, but the original colourway is a bit too much, try pairing it with one of the dominant colours in the colourway (like 242 Intenso & 44 Geranio, 157 Amoroso & 24 Vermillion, 228 Snowbird & 94 Bergamota, or 9 Polar Morn & 622 SFO Sky).

 

Ashes Marled COMBO

Photos: Misti Alpaca, grasflecken/Isabell Kraemer

 

 

 

NEW 9″ Circulars for Socks

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Chiaogoo Metal 9" BLOG.png

Chiaogoo 9″(23cm) Circular Needles

You’ve been asking for them (I think because of avideo tutorial), so I ordered 9″(23cm) circular needles, and they have finally arrived! Personally, I like a 12″, but some people have a hard time and need something smaller – sorry, couldn’t help myself!)

PROJECT Shoals Tank

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Shoals Tank

My friend Rosie just finished the Shoals Tank last week and it is BEAUTIFUL! I’m not normally a lace person, but the texture is absolutely gorgeous, it only enhances the already stunning Quince & Co Sparow (on SALE until the end of July)!

The tank is worked in the round from the bottom up, the back and front are divided at armhole and worked flat. The straps are joined at the shoulder using the three-needle bind off (easy peasy)! The A-line shape is achieved by using different needle sizes, which is great, less for you to think about.

Size

  • Bust 30½ (33¼, 36, 38½, 41¼, 44, 46½, 49¼, 52, 54½)” [77.5, 84.5, 91, 98, 104, 112, 118, 125, 132, 138) cm]
  • Size shown is 33¼” 84 cm worn with ¾” 2 cm negative ease.

Materials

  • Quince & Co Sparow: 5 (5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8) skeins
  • 32″ circular needles: 2.25/US1,  2.75/US2,  3.25/US3,  and 3.5mm/US4
  • Pattern

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

FREEBIE Moorland Inspiration

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Cascade Ultra Pima Moorland Palette.jpg

Today I’m feeling inspired by Attic24’s Moorland Blanket … pictured above is Cascade Ultra Pima (on SALE until the end of July) in the following colours:

  • Upper Row, left to right: 3716, 3809, 3766, 3762, 37613746, 3734, 3774
  • Lower Row, left to right: 3733, 3732, 3725, 3726, 3772, 3777, 3708, 3709

I should warn you, the colours aren’t exact pairings with the original pattern, I’m not canonical about these things (and I like the blues more than the greens, they’re better at binding together the palette). That said, you could use this palette to make any of Attic24’s Blanket patterns, they’d all look great, I think the Hydrangea Stripe would look amazing. 16 skeins of Cascade Ultra Pima is enough to make a large throw blanket (I’d normally use about 10 to make a lap blanket).

 

PROJECT Quick Sand

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quinc e & co kestrel quick sand 1

Quick Sand

I need a little cardie to wear with summer dresses and I just cast on for Quick Sand. It’s a quick & simple top-down knit made with Quince & Co Kestrel (on SALE until the end of July)!

The project isn’t particularly complicated, there are short-rows that you can skip (the form the shaping in the back). One Caveat: the pattern formatting is a little unusual, so before you start I suggest you go through the pattern with a pencil and circle the numbers that apply to you. You might also want to write out some of the instructions in longhand, just to keep things clear in your mind.

I’m making some modifications, mine will be cropped and I’m using slightly larger needles to achieve a looser tension. I’ll update all the details as I go in my Ravelry project notes.

Size

  • Bust: XS(S, M1, M2, L, XL, XXL)
  • Bust: 31 ½ (34 ½, 37 ¾, 41, 44, 47 ¼, 51 ½)

Materials

  • Quince & Co Kestrel: 8(9, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14) skeins
  • 5.5mm circular needles
  • 5.5mm double pointed needles (or 12″ circular)
  • stitch markers
  • Pattern

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Quince & Co Kestrel QuickSand COMBO

KNIT HACK Stash-Busting Sock (Part 4)

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Granny Stripe Blanket BLOG July 11 2

For all the posts in this series, you can go HERE!

Grany Stripe Blanket

I am very pleased to let you know that my sock yarn stashbusting granny stripe blanket  is coming along swimmingly! Now that I’ve worked a few rows I’ve gleaned more insights ….

How Much Yarn?

If you don’t want to run out of yarn part-way through a row, you are going to need to know how much each row uses. I measured mine at around 9g of sock weight yarn, but everyone is different and this may not be the amount you use. You can glean this very useful knowledge fairly easily (I would wait until after you’ve worked a few rows and fall into a flow with the stitch):

  1. With your digital kitchen scale, weigh the ball of yarn you are about to use.
  2. Work a row, break yarn.
  3. Weigh the ball of yarn again.
  4. Subtract the second weight from the first weight – this is the amount of yarn you used.

Project Notes

I ALWAYS suggest that you keep project note in your Ravelry Notebook. You’ll inevitably need to remember something about the project at some point down the line, and all the details will be waiting for you there. It’s also helpful to see other people’s projects, so it’s nice to pay-it-forward, share and contribute to the community. Finally, you get to show off your work, people will say nice things to you and warm your heart.

Useful things to take note of:

  • hook/needle size used
  • tension/gauge of your project
  • yarn/s used
  • modifications made
  • finished measurements
  • advice you’d give other people about your experience, or anything you’d want to know if you did this project again

Establishing Timelines

Blankets are big-ish projects and I know myself – if I don’t finish this one by the end of the summer it won’t get done for a looooooong time. It’s good to set a goal like a best-before-date, and you’re most likely to be successful achieving a goal if you break down the work into daily quantifiable chunks.  I’ve measured my gauge and I’m working at approximately 12 rows = 4″ (10cm), or 3 rows per inch. I also measured my started project and it is about 65″ wide (unblocked), and I’ll aim to make a square blanket so it’ll be about 65″ high. There are about 50 more days until September. I have worked 25 rows so far.

Here’s how you figure out the math:

  1. 65″ high x 3 rows per inch = 195 total rows required
  2. 195 rows total – 25 rows completed = 170 rows to complete
  3. 170 rows to complete / 50 days to complete = 3.4 rows per day to complete

If I work 4 rows per day I should have this part of this project completed in about 43 days – not bad. I’ll still need to weave in the ends and work a border around the edge, so the extra week will be a good buffer to finish this project by September.

I’m not super disciplined, so to keep myself accountable I’ll print off a calendar and mark my rows every day. I kind of enjoy this approach, if I fall behind I know I have to catch up the next day, or I’ll work ahead of time and carry that balance forward. Really, whatever works for you is good.

Not sure how long it takes for you to complete a row? No problem, just time yourself working a row using the Stopwatch function in the Clock App on your smartphone or tablet (I have an iPhone, but if you have another just Google how to find and use the stopwatch function, Google knows everything). I just timed myself and it took about 18.5 minutes to complete a row (probably not my best time, but it isn’t the Olympics).

FINISHED Gillespie

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Quince & Co Sparrow Gillespie Project .png

Gillespie

I finished my Gillespie pullover just in time for the warm weather and I LOVE it!  It took a little while to finish it, but that’s mostly about me and not the project, which was great. The pattern was a simple top-down raglan and easy. Because linen stretches I went down one size and made the smallest size, and it still feels like it fits with positive ease –  the fit is loose and comfortable. The fabric is soft, smooth and cool – I LURV Quince & Co Sparrow for summer garments, it’s so blissfully comfortable in warm weather!

Quince & Co Sparrow is on SALE until the end of July!

Initially felt that the neck would be too wide for my narrow shoulders, and I was right. I made some modifications and made the neck narrower and it is still fairly wide (all details are in our Ravelry Project Notes). I made the body and arms a bit longer, but linen grows with wear, so I might need to take them back (one of the benefits of a top-down construction). I also put a handful of short-rows in the back to even it out, but now that I’m wearing the sweater I don’t know if that was necessary because the fabric has so much drape.

For all the blog posts in this series click HERE.

Size

  • Finished Bust: 34¼ (37¾, 41¼, 44¾, 48¼, 52, 55½, 59)” or [87 (96, 105, 113.5, 122.5, 132, 141, 150) cm] bust circumference;
  • Shown in size 37¾” [93.5 cm] with 3¾” [9.5 cm] positive ease

Materials

  • Quince & Co Sparrow: 6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10) skeins
  • 3.25mm/US3 – 16″ circular needles
  • 3.5mm/US4 – 24″ circular needles
  • 3.5mm/US4 – 32″ circular needles
  • 3.5mm/US4 double pointed needles
  • stitch markers
  • scrap yarn
  • tapestry/daring needle
  • Pattern 
  • Our Ravelry Notes

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Gillespie COMBO

FREEBIE Cabled Throw

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Chunky Aran Cabled Throw

Whenever clients come into the store wanting to make a blanket or throw I always recommend this pattern, the Chunky Cabled Aran Throw. I have several clients who have made it with Berroco Vintage Chunky, it always comes out beautifully and they are always thrilled with the results. The yarn is soft, easy to care for (machine washable), easy to work with, and affordable. This is definitely a project that will be treasured!

Popular Colours

People usually make of this blanket in neutrals (especially when they are making them as gifts), but if you want another colour and we don’t have it in stock just contact us and we can order more for you!

Size

  • 50″ (127cm) wide x 55″ (140cm) long

Materials

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

 

 

 

PROJECT Raven

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Raven

I just finished my first sweater made with Quince & Co Sparrow and I’m all over this lovely summer yarn (pictures to come, I still need to block it)! I really like the simplicity of this tunic/tank, Raven. You can make it with the pockets, or skip them, make it in one colour, of colour blocks. But the most important thing to me is that you’ll want to wear it over, and over, and over again! The pattern is worked in the round from the bottom-up, and it’s all knit stitch, so the knitting is fairly uncomplicated. And hey, they yarn is even on sale until the end of July – can’t go wrong!

Size

  • Bust Circumference: 31½ (34½, 37½, 40½, 43¾, 46¾, 49¾, 53)” or 80 (87.5, 95.5, 103, 111, 118.5, 126.5, 134.5) cm
  • linen has a lot of stretch to it, you might want to consider making a size smaller than normal.

Materials

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w