I’m in the Dominican Republic this week … but I promise I’m still thinking of you! While I’m gone, here’s a popular favourite ….. the four points blanket is a great project all year round. It’s available in both knit and crochet, and you can make it in a baby blanket size or as a throw. It’s a simple composition and can be made in a number of different yarn options. The patterns are free, so you can read them over and see if they work for you without committing. If you want something a bit more jazzy, try the Easy Puzzle Blanket, which uses 6 colours.
MODIFICATIONS
use 3.75mm/US5 to 4mm/US6 needles
for a crib (throw) size cast on approximately 140(204) sitches. You will pick up & knit the same number of stitches.
Berroco Vintage Baby is a new yarn that just cam out this spring. It’s very similar to it’s sibling Vintage DK, but it has a slightly silkier texture and comes in 50g balls. It’s soft, easy to work with, machine washable, reliable and is generally great on both the skin and the wallet. The yarns in the Vintage line are a blend of wool and synthetic, and generally work well for people with sensitive skin. We carry this yarn all year.
KNIT 4 Points Baby: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours ($59.64)
KNIT 4 Points Throw: 5 skeins in each of 4 colours ($99.40)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw: 7 skeins in each of 4 colours ($139.16)
Berroco Vintage DK is a staple around here, we sell tons of it for every kind of project for babies, grown-ups, and everything in-between. It’s soft, easy to work with, machine washable, reliable and is generally great on both the skin and the wallet. The yarns in the Vintage line are a blend of wool and synthetic, and generally work well for people with sensitive skin. We carry this yarn all year.
KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($159.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.76)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($159.52)
For several years Cascade Ultra Pima has been the go-to yarn for these projects. Its silky soft texture is seductive, and it’s ideal for babies as it’s machine washable, allergy-friendly and excellent for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), and comes in a bunch of great colours.
KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($95.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($191.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($95.76)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($191.52)
The four points blanket is a project we have a lot of clients coming in to get yarn for all year round. It’s available in both knit and crochet (see below), and you can make it in a baby blanket size or as a grown-up throw. The pattern is all knitting in garter stitch, and they provide a video tutorial for the single ‘fancy’ technique, picking up stitches. We’ve got lots of suitable yarns included in our SUMMER SALE, there are lots of options to advantage of for a baby or an adult blanket.
Berroco Remix Light is soft, easy to work with, machine washable, eco-friendly (it’s recycled), allergy friendly and great for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), comes in a bunch of great colours, and is ever so affordable (especially on sale)!
Kelbourne Mojave is soft, easy to work with, machine washable, allergy friendly and great for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), comes in a bunch of stunning colours, especially baby friendly brights, and is a great deal on sale! Use 3.
Quince & Co Sparrow is a linen that turns silky smooth once it’s washed. It’s eco firendly (100% organic linen), machine wash and dryable, allergy friendly and excellent for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), comes in a bunch of great colours, and is a great deal on sale! If you live in a hot climate or are making a blanket for someone who does, this yarn is remarkable, as it has something of a cooling effect. This yarn would make a very special blanket.
Quince & Co Sparrow: 4 Points Blanket CombosQuince & Co Sparrow: 4 Points Blanket CombosQuince & Co Sparrow: 4 Points Blanket Combos
KNIT 4 Points Baby: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $89.82, Reg. $119.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $179.64, Reg. $239.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $134.73, Reg. $179.64)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw: 6 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $269.46, Reg. $359.28)
BC Garn Bio Balance is soft, a pleasure to work with, eco-friendly (it’s GOTS certified organic), and comes in a bunch of great colours. It is NOT machine washable, but would make a stunning throw! It;s unique blend of wool & cotton make it great for temperate climates or people to run a bit warm.
BC Garn Bio Balance: 4 Points Blanket CombosBC Garn Bio Balance: 4 Points Blanket CombosBC Garn Bio Balance: 4 Points Blanket Combos
KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $77.82, Reg. $103.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $116.73, Reg. $155.64)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $77.82, Reg. $103.76)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $155.64, Reg. $207.52)
If you didn’t catch it, Berroco just published a new free pattern, a darling colourwork kids tee made with Berroco Vintage DK. Worked from the top down in one piece, it’s a perfect next step for less experienced knitters who want to expand their skills, or a simple yet effective knit for more advanced knitters. Since it’s knit from the top-down, you can also lengthen the sleeves and make it into a full pullover.
The yarn, Berroco Vintage DK, is soft, machine washable, easy to work with, knits great in stranded colourwork, is long wearing, and is very affordable … ie. great for projects for kids! See below for a couple other yarns that are equally perfect for this project.
Skill Level: Intermediate
For tutorials for stranded/fair isle knitting see our Skills Page under “Colourwork”. For a full online course, check out the fair isle knitting classes on Craftsy, like Tanis Gray’s Fair Isle Fundamentals.
Size
Directions are for children’s sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.
Remix light is prefect for warm weather or people who can’t tolerate any animal fibre. It it has a slightly tweedy texture which makes it great for stranded knitting and comes in a palette or really pretty colours.
1(2, 2, 2, 2) balls of Main Colour and 1 ball of Contrast Colour
Make some towels that are so beautiful you’ll never want to use them! That’s ok, some things you use until they’re shredded, and some you keep out to please the eye. Both have their roles in our lives. The pattern is a FREEBIE, and makes for some simple, elegant summer knitting.
Quince & Co Sparrowis my favourite yarn for this project, I love how this linen looks, the silky feels after being washed, and also how resilient it is (it gets better going through the wash) . My second personal choice would be
Kelbourne Mojave – their colours make me so happy, and the I love the the subtle texture of the fibre.
Berroco Remix Light is the budget friendly, earth friendly, use-friendly option – it has so much yardage, two skeins of the main colour will make 3 towels, and 3 skeins will make 5. Plus it’s recycled, has a neat texture, is easy to knit with and wash.
Cascade Ultra Pima is the last on the list, but not the least. This silky smooth pima cotton is a staple, and is always a joy to knit with and wear. If you like a plain, flat aesthetic, this is your yarn of choice.
Last week was baby week, and this week is brought to you by kids. When my niece and nephew were babies they were so cute and loveable that I thought I never wanted them to grow up. What I didn’t realizes was that the best thing about babies was that they grow up to be kids; interesting, cool, funny, silly, beautiful little people. Kids love a hand knit, as long as it’s soft, and in a colour they like. It doesn’t matter how obnoxious the colour is, just go with it – they’ll wear it until they can’t squeeze themselves into it anymore. Kids LOVE colour.
By the way, all of these knits are also available for adults, so you & the kid in your life kid can match. If you love the idea of a family of matching knits, check out the patterns by Tin Can Knits, they often designed with a FULL range of sizes, from newborn baby to adult 6XL.
Amari
Amariis a seamless tee that begins at the neck and is worked down. Easy eyelet stitches shape the yoke and add decoration to the neckline at the same time. Derecho is worked in one piece from the neck down. Neck and lower edges are shaped using short rows. For an adult version of this top see Derecho.
Berroco Remix Light is a multi-seasonal yarn that’s so comfortable you’ll find the garments made with it become some of your favourites (you know, the one you wear over and over and over again, until you get tired of the colour so you make another in a new colour … etc). It’s super soft, light, breathable, machine washable, and it’s made in France from an eco-friendly blend of 100% recycled fibres.
Lawrence is a simple pullover with garter stitch texture, that’s cute for boys and girls. It is knit in a conventional way in 4 pieces and seamed together (a great option for beginners if working in the round is a bit daunting). The drop-shoulder construction makes it super easy to seam the sleeves, which is usually the scariest part of finishing. For an adult version of this pullover see Larry.
For the yarn, we’ve substituted the ultra wearable and very affordable Berroco Vintage – a soft, worsted weight machine washable wool/synthetic blend. A knitting store staple, it features a wide color range, an incredibly soft feel and yardage that goes on and on. Its unique fiber blend makes laundering a breeze and perfectly suited for easy-care garments for both children and adults.
Skill Level: Advanced-Beginner to Intermediate
Size
2(4, 6, 8, 10, 12)
To fit Chest Size: 23(24-25-26-27-28)˝
Finished Chest: 25(26-27-28-29-30)˝
Finished Length: 16(16½-17½-18-19-20)˝
This garment was designed with approximately 2˝ of ease. Please take this into consideration when selecting your size.
Jemison is an adorable vintage-inspired cardigan. It’s perfect for layering on a chilly day, and has cute pockets for kids to hold all the little treasures they pick up in their adventures. This sweater is worked flat in pieces and seamed. We’re pairing Jemison with Berroco Vintage, our go-to yarn for sweaters kids love to wear. For a grown-up version of this sweater check-out Headland.
I saw this sweater and felt a jolt of “Yes PLEASE!” Lapponia is a simple round yoke sweater, with easy colourwork from collar to hem. The sweater has a short cropped length and easy, relaxed fit. It’s knit in a fingering weight yarn, which is a nice transitional-season thickness and offers you lots of yarn choices. (If you’re planning on buying this pattern get it now, it’s on sale for the next couple of days.)
Choose a size with approx. 4-8” 10-20 cm of positive ease.
Yarn Options
Lapponia is designed with fingering weight yarn, so you’ve got lots of different options to choose from. All of the yarns below are soft, comfortable, easy to work with, and will look beautiful. Sometimes it’s hard to know what’s the right choice for you, so I’ve tried to break them down:
The Budget Friendliest Option: Cascade Heritage is a staple fingering weight yarn. It’s incredibly soft and easy to work with, and comes in lots of colours (and if we don’t have one we can look into ordering it for you). It mostly comes in solid colours, but also some heathers. 75% superwash merino wool, 25% nylon; 100g/400m (437 yds), machine washable, made in India. $16.97/skein.
You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1 (pink in the sample), 1 skein of CC2 (yellow in the sample), and 2(2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins of MC (turquoise/teal in the sample) of Cascade Heritage.
The Artsiest Option: Artfil Belleis a gorgeous hand-painted yarn from Quebec (it’s both milled and dyed there). It’s super soft and has a lot of body and squish. The dyeing is very painterly; sometimes subtle and other times very vivid. 80% superwash merino wool & 20% nylon; 100g/354m (387 yds), machine washable, made in Canada. $28.97/skein.
You’ll need: You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1, 1 skein of CC2, and 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) skeins of MC of Artfil Belle.
The Knitterly/Eco Option: Fibre Co Amble is a gorgeous fingering weight yarn made with sustainable materials. It’s super soft, squishy, and gorgeous to work with and wear. If you’re a knitterly kind of knitter (some use the term ‘yarn snob’, but I prefer ‘afficiando’), or if you just have an appreciation for gorgeous textiles (previously known as a ‘clothes horse’, I prefer ‘connoisseur’) this yarn will make you very happy. Incidentally, the heathered colours are the result of combining the natural colours of merino wool and alpaca. 70% Easy-wash Merino wool, 20% Easy-wash alpaca, 10% recycled nylon; 100g/325m (355 yds), machine washable, made in Peru. $29.97/skein.
You’ll need: You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1, 1 skein of CC2, and 3 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) skeins of MC of Fibre Co Amble.
The 100% Natural Option (Budget Friendy): Amano Chaski is a great, all natural fingering weight sock yarn with ZERO synthetic fibres. It’s a soft and extremely comfortable blend of superwash merino, pima cotton and linen. The fibre blend also makes it a great yarn for transitional seasons. Chaskis comes in a selection of soft colours, and is also a budget friendly choice. We’re expecting our first shipment of Chaski this week, but you can place your order now! 60% uperwash merino, 30% pima cotton, 10% linen; 100g/350m (383 yds), machine washable, made in Peru. $20.97/skein.
You’ll need: You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1, 1 skein of CC2, and 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) skeins of MC of Amano Chaski.
The Light as a Feather Option: Fibre Co. Meadow is a super yummy blend of wool, llama, silk and linen, making it a great yarn for shifting seasons. It’s super soft and luxurious, but also has a bit of texture and depth of colour because of the fibre blend (and sometimes the dyeing is fancy too). Meadow technically a heavy lace-weight yarn, which is a bit thinner than what the pattern pattern calls for, so you’ll want to go down to a 3.25mm/US3 needle and possibly make a size larger in the pattern (keep an eye on your tension). The extra yardage on the thinner yarn may also pay off for sizes in the 44″ to 60″ range because you’ll need less of the main colour. The 40% wool, 25% llama, 20% silk, 15% linen; 100g/498m (545 yds), hand wash, made in Peru. $34.97/skein.
You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1, 1 skein of CC2, and 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins of MC of Fibre Co. Meadow.
The Kitchen Sink Option (budget friendly, all Season, no-wool, eco friendly): Berroco Remix Lightis a very light blend of recycled fibres that’s easy and comfortable to wear all year and work with. It has a slightly tweedy texture, which makes it a great wool-free alternative for stranded knitting (the finished projects on Ravelry are AMAZING). Customers are constantly pleasantly surprised by this yarn’s incredible performance – this is a ‘listen to me now, believe me later’ moment. My suggestion is to let go of what you think you believe about synthetic fibres (beliefs aren’t real anyway, they’re just constructs our minds come up with because our pre-frontal cortex likes to concoct narratives and then host story-time over and over and over). Take a leap, close your eyes and knit. I promise it does not look or feel like plastic; those who know me know I can’t stand squeaky yarns (except for making pompoms, squeaky yarns make amazing pompoms) and I would never recommend one without a warning and a good reason. Remix Lightis technically a DK weight, so you should go down a size in the pattern and go up to a 3.75mm/US5 needle. 10% silk, 9% linen, 27% cotton, 30% nylon, 24% acrylic; 100g/400m (432 yds), machine washable, made in France. $15.97/skein.
You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1 (pink in the sample), 1 skein of CC2 (yellow in the sample), and 2(2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins of MC (turquoise/teal in the sample) of Berroco Remix Light.
P.S. Streaming Pic Of the Week
My current streaming pic is the The Great British Baking Show on the CBC Gem app. I’ve been watching seasons 8 & 9, and the finale of season 9 is amazing … I won’t spoil it, but I want to! If you find yourself falling down this particular rabbit-hole I heartily suggest upgrading for your free month of premium service, otherwise the commercials will drive you up the wall (you’ll never be able to look at an avocado again).
We just received our first restock of Kelbourne Mojave, and it’s got me thinking about summer tops. Kelbourne Mojave is a super soft and light blend of cotton & linen. It comes in some really beautiful muted colours and also some awesomely bright colours. Happily, Kebourne has introduced several great new colours this year, my favourites include the Electric Blue and Fuchsia!
Availability
Mojave’s availability is a bit limited this year. It is manufactured in Peru and they have been hard-hit by COVID (the mills there have either been shut down or running at minimal capacity for the last year). We have only received half of the colours in our order, the rest is expected in May (fingers crossed). I think this is going to be the story for a lot of products this summer, especially those milled in South America.
From my perspective, I’m grateful, I’m enjoying what I can get my hands on and am not worrying about what isn’t. The world is full of abundance and opportunity, you just have to receive it when life brings it to you. When you let go and follow the flow the results are even better than if you had gone with your original plan.
Accessibility
Unfortunately, we are still closed for in-store shopping and based on both reason (research) and intuition, I don’t think it’s going to be safe to do so until May. I know the government seems to think it’s safe for retailers to allow customers inside, but everything I read from researchers, scientists and doctors says otherwise. We’re already going into a third wave, and the case counts are expected to be much higher than before. So one more push – the vaccines are starting to roll out, so hopefully this time will be shorter, and the weather is getting warmer so we can get out and enjoy nature more!
Photo: PetiteKnit
Ankler’s Summer Shirt
I figured we can all use something to look forward to, and the seasons’ changing is one of those things you can always bank on (at least in Canada – we have A LOT of weather). Anker’s Summer Shirt is a simple summer top, worked in one piece from the top down. The yoke is worked in sections of rib with increases in the round, followed by classic raglan increases when the stockinette stitch section begins. The sleeves are worked at the end, either on double-pointed needles or on circular needles using the Magic Loop technique. Anker’s Summer Shirt has no finishing other than weaving in ends.
Size
XS (S) M (L) XL (2XL) 3XL
To fit a bust circumference of 80-85 (85-90) 90-95 (95-100) 100-110 (110-120) 120-130 cm [31½-33½ (33½-35½) 35½-37½ (37½-39¼) 39¼-43¼ (43¼-47¼) 47¼-51¼ inches].
Total length: 52 (54) 56 (60) 62 (62) 64 cm [20½ (21¼) 22 (23½) 24½ (24½) 25¼ inches]
Ease: The shirt is designed to have approx. 0-5 cm – [0-2 inches] – of positive ease, meaning it is designed to be 0-5 cm – [0-2 inches] larger in circumference than your widest upper body measurement.
Measurements: The measurements for the finished garment are on the front page of the pattern (note that these measurements are only achieved if the correct gauge is kept). Before beginning your project, measure yourself with a measuring tape around your bust (or your widest upper body part) to determine which size will fit you the best. For example, if you measure 95 cm [37½ inches] you should knit a size M. A size M shirt has a finished circumference of 96 cm [37¾ inches], which in the given example would mean 1 cm [½ inches] of positive ease.
You guys have been feeling kinda blah these days – I hear that! Let’s start looking towards spring for inspiration (springspiration). I’m looking forward to the brighter colours, new textures, and the refreshing little changes that a new season brings. We just got our first shipment of Berroco Remix Light, it’s so refreshing to see fun, pretty spring and summer colours!
Speaking of changes, the province may be allowing retail stores to reopen soon, but we are not going to reopen for in-store shopping until I feel comfortable that it’s safe … and I don’t feel that right now. I know it’s a bummer, and the opposite of what your weary heart wants to hear, but in challenging times doing the right thing is rarely the easy thing. Until things shift, we’re here for pick-up, shipping and delivery, and our turnaround for same-day pick-up is usually well under an hour, seven days a week. I know you are chafing at the bit to get in and see everything with your own eyes, but until that’s feasible we’re still here to help you choose the right products by email or phone.
Berroco Remix Light
We just got fresh some fresh spring stock of Berroco Remix Light, a multi-seasonal yarn that’s so comfortable you’ll find the garments made with it become some of your favourites (you know, the one you wear over and over and over again, until you get tired of the colour so you make another in a new colour … etc). It’s super soft, light, breathable, machine washable, and it’s made in France from an eco-friendly blend of 100% recycled fibres.
It’s great for people who are allergic to wool, and light enough for perfect for people whose bodies run warm and wearing a knit is more about dressing and less about warmth. It’s popularity also stems from it’s INCREDIBLE yardage – it’s a DK weight yarn that comes in a 100g/400m skein (for those of you who don’t live in a yarn store, that’s like a bonus 150m to 200m). Remix Light is great for sweaters, tanks, tees, blankets, socks, scarves, shawls, bags, etc. It’s great for everyone: babies, kids, adults. It’s a Double Knitting weight yarn and can be used for any pattern that calls for that (and sometimes you can get away with Sport weight or even some Fingering weight patterns).
The kits we’ve listed on our website are set up as Pre-Orders, but if we have your colour and quantity in stock we will put your kit together right away! Our inventory is always live online, so if you want to see if we have it in stock just choose your colour in the Drop-Down Menu to see the numbers for it.
Amber Waves Kit
Amber Waves is a very cleverly designed triangular shawl. It begins at one tip and is worked sideways with a traveling charted stitch pattern to mimic waves of wheat on the plains. The finished shawl blocks out to more than 7 feet long, but only requires two balls of Berroco Remix Light.
A simple lace pattern and three balls of Berroco Remix Light make a super long scarf knitting pattern that you’ll want to wear all year long. She Stitch pattern is both written out and charted.
Two colors of Berroco Remix Light are paired together in a slipped-stitch pattern to create horizontal and vertical stripes in a large stole knitting pattern.
I love the simple lines of this casual, oversized sweater (Carbeth), and after a few people told me chatted me up about it I thought I should definitely share. Mason Dixon Knitting is hosting a “Bang Out A Carbeth” KAL (knit-along), and should you want to join, I’ve got a few post-holidays affordable yarn suggestions …
Soft, comfortable and machine washable, Berroco Vintage Chunky is a great choice for people with sensitive skin who can’t wear wool, or anyone who may not be inclined to wash by hand. Plus, it comes in a full palette of gorgeous colours!
Wool-free, soft, pretty, comfortable, machine washable and environmentally friendly, Berroco Remix Light is a great option for a sweater that will carry you from winter through to spring (I don’t know about the climate where you live, but where I am it doesn’t really get particularly warm until mid-May).
The Carbeth pattern was originally written for two strands of yarn held together, so doing this with the remix shouldn’t be a problem, and the yarn’s tweedy texture will blend well. Plus, using two strands gives you the opportunity to use two different colours at the same time to create a marled effect … I think i may do this with mine.
Size
Finished measurement at bust: 92.5 (101.5, 110.5, 122, 133.5, 142, 151) cm / 36½ (40, 43½, 48, 52½, 56, 59½) in.
Berroco Remix Light is a soft, tweedy, nubby blend of 100% recycled fibres, with absolutely no wool content. Machine-washable Remix Light is perfect for everything from sweaters, tanks, wraps and other accessories, and is great for babies, children and adults. It’s also a great deal – each 100g skein measures in at a whopping FOUR HUNDRED METRES (twice the normal yardage for comparable spring/summer yarns like Cascade Ultra Pima).
Knit-o-Matic Yarns 