Sunday Oct 31: 11 am to 5 pm
I thought this was a cute last-minute FREE Pattern project for Halloween! It’s made with a DK weight warn and 4mm needles, but I think you can use any thickness of yarn, your bats will just come out bigger.
When it comes to gifting socks for the holidays, I have a few key elements that are on my must-have list:
Berroco’s Vintage line of yarns is ideal for just such a purpose. They’re all super soft, machine washable, made with nylon so your socks will wear well, come in a bunch of pretty colours, and come in DK, Worsted and Chunky/Bulky weights, and they’re all affordably priced, so you’ll still be able to afford to go discount hunting after the holidays.
FAIRLEE are a super pretty, but not particularly involved pair of socks. The pattern is written for 2 circular needles (see tuturial working in the round on 2 circular needles), but you can use any sock knititng technique you prefer. They are worked from the toe-up using judy’s magic cast-on (turkish cast-on) and increases, and the heel is done with wrap & turn short rows. The stitch pattern is an intro level fair isle technique of 4 stitches. The cuff is finsihed with a tubular bind-off, but you can do any type of bind-off you like.
AYLA uses Berroco Vintage Chunky to quickly whip up a fast, super pretty pair of house socks. These socks are knit from the top down with a simple cable repeat worked on the front and top of the foot, as well as the back above the heel flap. The instructions are for two circular needles (see tuturial working in the round on 2 circular needles), but you can use any sock knititng technique you prefer. with a simple cable repeat worked on the front and top of the foot, as well as the back above the heel flap.
KEEL are classic boot socks for men that work up quickly in Berroco Vintage DK. They feature contrast stripes on the toes and cuff. They’re made with a traditional top-down construction with a heel flap.
Tin Can Knits make great patterns that are clear, easy to follow, and always come in a range of sizes for the whole family. These simple boot socks are sure to please everyone!
Baby (Toddler, Child, Mama, Papa)
These socks are super cute and show how a simple, vanilla sock can come to life with a few extra colours thrown in. Berroco Vintage Baby in smaller 50g skeins, which are super convenient when you want to introduce extra colour to your project. It also comes in a palette of bright, pretty colours, perfect for happy colour blocked socks!
These unisex socks make a great gift – in darker colours they’re handsome, in brighter colours they’re pretty! They’re a classic top-down heelp-flap construction with a simple and sweet fair isle design.
So it’s time to come clean … I’ve always wanted a pair of candy cane socks. Barber-pole stripes are my favourite christmas aesthetic. The pattern is designed as tube socks, but it’s easy to add an afterthought heel.
Womenโs sizes Small (Medium, Large)
When youโre deciding which size to make, consider getting the sock over your heel. That is the widest part of the journey, and these socks are not super stretchy! The size shown in these pictures is a Small.
Cold feet? These bulky slipper socks are just the ticket to keep your feet warm all winter. They also knit up quickly, and therefore make good holiday gifts. Even if youโve never knit socks before, the bulky yarn makes these toe-up socks easy, and will teach you the skills necessary to knit other toe-up socks patterns. The pattern includes links to a four-part video tutorial.
Want a full-on online sock knitting tutorial? No problem, here are a few options for you:
Chiara is what the city mouse wore when she went to visit the country. It’s a traditional style colourwork pullover, worked from the top-down, but it’s made with a gorgeous Italian yarn. I like to think of it as “what would happen if Milan and Reykjavik had a baby?”. Rustic meets runway?
When I sampled Berroco’s new fall yarns for 2021 this one, Dulce, was the first I reached for. It’s soft and fuzzy and light and pretty, and I wanted to get my needles into it and see what it could do (see the results below). It has a missoniesque quality that I love, with colours randomly peeping out here and there under a halo of brushed alpaca. I really like that the colours have depth and are a bit mottled (you can see if you take a closer look at the patterns designed in Dulce), but they’ll be consistent, and you DO NOT have to jump though any hoops to avoid colour pooling (my patience for hoops is definitely on the wane).
Anyway, the yarn is lovely, the pattern isn’t too involved (maybe a good foray into stranded colourwork, the yarn will be quite forgiving), and I think you’ll love the finished project, get a lot of compliments on it, and a few requests to make another.
This yarn is a special PRE-ORDER and we aren’t carrying it or the kits in the store. See below for more details. The yarn mills still aren’t up and running at full capacity, international shipping is still lagging, and it’s going to be another hit-or-miss year in terms of availability from distributors. If you want something in a particular colour I suggest you order early, shipments are already backed up.
These kits are a SPECIAL-ORDER – we arenโt stocking them in the store on a regular basis, but you have the option to order them at any time (it will be available to purchase as long as the manufacturer makes it available to us). Your kit will ship or be available for pick-up once it arrives, and we will contact you. If you need your kit for a specific date please let us know and we can find out if itโs feasible.
Worsted โ A Knitwear Collection Curated by Aimรฉe Gille of La Bien Aimรฉe is a knitwear collection featuring 14 patterns by 10 incredible designers. The designers all have their unique styles and speak to many kinds of knitters. Now they come together to form a beautifully cohesive collection. You can find garments such as sweaters and cardigans and accessories like shawls and hats, with techniques ranging from stripes and stranded colourwork to cables and textured stitch patterns.
This book features designs by the following designers: Nadia Crรฉtin-Lรฉchenne, Stephen West, Sylvia Watts-Cherry, Andrea Mowry, Tif Neilan, Saysha Greene, Norah Gaughan, Maxim Cyr, Nancy Marchant and Thien-Kieu Lam.
Aimรฉe of La Bien Aimรฉe started working on this book almost a year ago. With Worsted, she wanted to create a tangible way to connect with people through knitting and bring joy.
In Aimรฉeโs own words: โI hope that you will welcome the adventure of casting on a new project from this book with perhaps some of that beloved yarn you have curated for your stash or why not go on a yarn escapade and mix Corrie Worsted with other yarns.โ
The knit and crochet designs in Issue 39 are inspired by rhythm! Pom Pom Winter 2021 collection is packed with patterns that honour echoes, explore semi-tonal shifts in colour, and include repeating motifs to allow you to get into a stitching groove. We love how the designers have taken the auditory theme and created patterns that highlight the aspects of rhythm, such as written musical scores and the visual representation of soundwaves. No matter at what tempo you craft, thereโs a winter project for you here!
Featuring designs by: JUDITH BRAND, ASTRID COLDING SIVERTSEN, ADELLA DUTRA, ANA D, TETYANA VYAZOVSKA, JOHANNA KUNIN, NIDHI KANSAL, KEIKO KIKUNO, CLEO MALONE, VALERIE NG
Artist, maker and stylist Lydia Morrow was the creative director for this issueโs photoshoot! Weโve long admired Lydiaโs jazzy sense of style, so weโre honoured to publish her vision on our pages. After youโve found your crafting cadence, enjoy the two articles in Issue 39.
In โRhythms of Handiworkโ, Felicity (Felix) Ford explores the communal and historical relationship between craft and rhythm, while Claudia Khan writes touchingly about the delicate melody of parenthood, partnership, and time in her article, โA Family Songโ.
Toronto’s Kiyomi and Sachiko Burgin are the authors of this issueโs handmade lip balm tutorial, so you can combat chapped lips brought on by cold weather and even have some non-knitted handmade gifts ready for the festive season.
This issue features twelve film-inspired knitwear designs created by some of our favorite designers from Japan and abroad.
Participating designers: Vรฉronik Avery / Helga Isager / Keiko Kikuno / Sari Nordlund / Paula Pereira / Rievive / Nataliya Sinelshchikova / Orlane Sucche / Dianna Walla / yamagara / amirisu
Feature: Designersโ Favorite Films Discover more about each of the films that inspired our designers. You may find a new favorite yourself!
Plus, a contribution from Lori Ann Graham, a look at our new Tokyo shop, an introduction to machine quilting, and more.
This issue is packed with inspiring stories, beautiful photography and cozy knitwear.
Designers featured in this issue: Alma Bali, Olga Buraya-Kefelian, Luuanne Chau, Kristin Drysdale, Claudia Eisenkolb, Fabienne Gassmann, Tamy Gore, Dee Hardwicke, Claudia Quintanilla, Jeanette Sloan and Jutta Turunen.
Laine 12, Hav, includes:
It’s chilly outside today, which means it is time for me to start reminding about knitting for the holidays. You’ve got about 2 months until Christmas, Kwanzaa and Yule, if you’re Eastern Orthodox you get an extra few weeks, but Hannukah is REALLY early this year (Nov 28th!). I’ll try to keep throwing in the interesting stuff, abut the project suggestions are shifting into small achievable goals. Let the parade of giftable projects roll!
Stay tuned for:
For a few years clients have been telling me they LOVE the soft, airy look and texture of blown yarns like Drops Air, but does it come in something more colourful? Well, this fall one of our distributors introduced something just of the sort, so if you like Drops Air, then Estelle Colour Flowย is for you!
Estelle Colour Flowย is a super-softย yarn with lots ofย fun! It’s made with merino wool that is literally blown into a nylon core, making it super light and airy, like knitting with a cloud (without the precipitation). The colour changes all by itself,ย making it an entertaining and pretty knit. It’s a bulky weight, so it will knit up reasonably quickly on 6mm/US10 needles.ย Colour Flowย is knits really well with other fuzzy yarns (see below for more on this). NOTE: this yarn is feltable, so it must be hand washed.
NOTE: if you love one of the pattern suggestions linked above, but you want to use a solid coloured yarn, try Illimani Amelie, it’s a perfect fit!
When you purchase this yarn you’ll automatically receive an email with a link to download a free copy of the Colour Flow Slouchy Hat Pattern (above).
It gets a bit busy around here in the fall (which is awesome, no complaints), so here’s a pic of our first solo project, a Mobius Cowl. Scarves, cowls and wraps knit LENGTHWISE will look amazing with this yarn, the colour gradation in the yarn will do all the work! The pattern is an oldie – you can’t beat a classic.
Mods
Materials
Yarn combining has become a ‘thing’, and I’m glad it has, because it makes textiles that much more fun and interesting! I’ve embarked on a little experimentation, and found that Estelle Colour Flow works up beautifully held with other fluffy yarns:
Colour Flow & Drops Airย
1 stand ofย Estelle Colour Flowย + 1 strand ofย Drops Airย on 9mm/US13 needles =.12 sts & 16 rows/4″ (10cm). The combination, besides knitting up nice & quick, is deliciously soft and squishy. The fabric is still light, but they have a bit more body than if you worked with them on their own.ย ย (colours: Colour Flow 42205 River Rock & Drops Air 05 Brown Mix.
If you’re interested in experimentation I recommend combining it with either Drops Air or Drops Brushed Alpaca & Silk to keep everything super-soft and yummy.
I can’t say I’m in love with the colour combo I chose above (it works, but I find it a little depressing, the brown is sort of stealing the colour’s ‘life’), but I’d like to give it another shot holding the Colour Flow with a light grey, light beige or cream coloured yarn. I’ll try the fun skein below (colour 42204 Pinata) – it became unruly so I threw it on the winder and yowza it looks purty!
I tried getting Gru into the game, but he was having none of it (and I was out of treats). This is what birds look like right before they take-off.
As promised, more inspirations from Amano! If you already caught Part 1 of the Trunk Show Goodies, feel free to ship down to where the pictures begin. If not, you can go back with the magical time-machine that is the link below.
P.S. I am placing an order with the distributor this week, so if you order your kit now it should arrive by the middle of next week.
We received a little trunk show from Amano, and some of the samples are so lovely I thought they merit becoming pre-order kits! A ‘Trunk Show’ is a small selection of samples on loan from a designer for a short period of time. They’re a great opportunity to feel the yarns in action, see how they behave worked up, and actually try on the samples. I often find surprises in trunk-show collections – gems I never would have known about if they hadn’t fallen into my hands – literally.
Amano is Peruvian company and they make gorgeous yarns with the highest quality Alpacas, Pima Cotton, Peruvina Highland Wool, and Silk.
We received A LOT of samples, so I’ll be posting over a few every day or so, and I’ll curate and pick out the best. If you live near the store we are open 7 days a week, from 11 am to 6 pm, and everyone are welcome to come by and check them out! We are only a retail store, so you don’t need to show proof of vaccination, but you have to wear a mask at all times in the store, and we ask that everyone keep their physical distance from each other. The samples will be in store until the 25th of October.
Pre-Order
These kits are SPECIAL-ORDERS – we arenโt stocking them in the store on a regular basis, but you have the option to order them at any time (it will be available to purchase as long as the manufacturer makes it available to us). Your kit will ship or be available for pick-up once it arrives, and we will contact you. If you need your kit for a specific date please let us know and we can find out if itโs feasible.
Details
Designed by Isabel Kraemer, this super-soft, super warm, fun hat is a feast of texture! Except for the earflaps, it is worked in the roundย (besides the earflaps) in the roundย with a cute pixie style crown shaping.ย
When you order your kit you’ll receive a link to download the pattern digitally, as well as a printed copy with the yarn.
Yarn
Amano Eco Puna Black Alpaca is a super soft 100% natural baby alpaca. The colour is the natural colour of the coat from pure black alpacas. Eco Puna black represents Amanoโs strong desire to preserve this unique beautiful black color.ย Amanoย supports the Andean communities in the breeding of alpacas with pure black fibre in an effort to re-establish this population, called the Yanapacoย (black alpaca)ย program, part of the Pacomarca Sustainable Alpaca network.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size
Kit Includes:
Kit Does NOT Include:
Substitutions
If you want to start making this hat right away and don’t want to wait for your yarn (or you want another colour or a more economical option), you can use any of the following yarns:
Details
I really love the texture and simplicity of these mitts. Designed byย Isabel Kraemer, these super-soft, super warm, mittens areย all about little luxuries!ย Theyย areย knitย from the bottom up in the round, and more length can be added by working more rounds before starting the top shaping.ย (texture is only on the upper side of hand, the palm side is stocking stitch). Please note, the colour is Pure Black.ย
To make a matching set see the RAFAELLA CHULLO KIT
When you order your kit you’ll receive a link to download the pattern digitally, as well as a printed copy with the yarn.
Yarn
Amano Eco Puna Black Alpaca is a super soft 100% natural baby alpaca. The colour is the natural colour of the coat from pure black alpacas. Eco Puna black represents Amanoโs strong desire to preserve this unique beautiful black color. Amano supports the Andean communities in the breeding of alpacas with pure black fibre in an effort to re-establish this population, called the Yanapaco (black alpaca) program, part of the Pacomarca Sustainable Alpaca network.
Skill Level:ย Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Size
Kit Includes:
Kit Does NOT Include:
Pre-Order
These kits are a SPECIAL-ORDER – we arenโt stocking them in the store on a regular basis, but you have the option to order them at any time (it will be available to purchase as long as the manufacturer makes it available to us). Your kit will ship or be available for pick-up once it arrives, and we will contact you. If you need your kit for a specific date please let us know and we can find out if itโs feasible.
We received a little trunk show from Amano, and some of the samples are so lovely I thought they merit becoming pre-order kits! A ‘Trunk Show’ is a small selection of samples on loan from a designer for a short period of time. They’re a great opportunity to feel the yarns in action, see how they behave worked up, and actually try on the samples. I often find surprises in trunk-show collections – gems I never would have known about if they hadn’t fallen into my hands – literally.
Amano is Peruvian company and they make gorgeous yarns with the highest quality Alpacas, Pima Cotton, Peruvina Highland Wool, and Silk.
We received A LOT of samples, so I’ll be posting over a few every day or so, and I’ll curate and pick out the best. If you live near the store we are open 7 days a week, from 11 am to 6 pm, and everyone are welcome to come by and check them out! We are only a retail store, so you don’t need to show proof of vaccination, but you have to wear a mask at all times in the store, and we ask that everyone keep their physical distance from each other. The samples will be in store until the 25th of October.
Pre-Order
These kits are SPECIAL-ORDERS – we arenโt stocking them in the store on a regular basis, but you have the option to order them at any time (it will be available to purchase as long as the manufacturer makes it available to us). Your kit will ship or be available for pick-up once it arrives, and we will contact you. If you need your kit for a specific date please let us know and we can find out if itโs feasible.
Details
Margarita is a pretty lace cowl is worked seamlessly in the round. The lace pattern is both written and charted. When you order your kit you’ll receive a link to download the pattern digitally, as well as a printed copy with the yarn.
Yarn
Amano Apu is a gift from the Inca gods, it is a fiber like no other. This particular type of alpaca is called Imperial because it is the softest alpaca that exists.
Size
Kit Includes:
Kit Does NOT Include:
Substitutions
If you want to start making these mitts right away and don’t want to wait for your yarn (or you want another colour or a more economical option), you can use any of the following yarns:
Details
The Ariel Bobble Pullover is an adorable sweater for kids 12 months to 6 years. The body and sleeves are worked separately in the round from the bottom up, then they are joined, and the yoke is worked in the round to the neckline.
When you order your kit you’ll receive a link to download the pattern digitally, as well as a printed copy with the yarn.
Yarn
Amano Sami is a buttery soft, 100% Organic Peruvian Pima Cotton(often called the โsilk of the southโ.) It’s an extremely soft cotton to knit with and wear, with a matte finish that gives garments a cozy, casual look and feel. Sami also somes in somer eally beautiful colours for babies and kids!
Size
Kit Includes:
Kit Does NOT Include:
Similar Patterns
The same pattern designer has also made similar designs for thicker yarns and for adults:
Substitutions
If you want to start making these mitts right away and don’t want to wait for your yarn (or you want another colour or a more economical option), you can use any of the following yarns:
