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DESTASH SUPPORT & YARN SWAP Saturday April 22

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NEXT SWAP: Saturday, April 22, from 1 to 3 pm

$10 – Proceeds go to the Red Door Family Shelter

After a looooong hiatus for COVID …. it’s swap time again! Time to tidy up your yarn stash and purge the stuff you’re never going to use. That’s right, you can bring us your shame and leave your guilt in our yarn swap bins with the assurance that the yarn that didn’t work out for you will have a second (or third, or fourth) life in a new home. What do you do at a swap? Bring in the yarn and needles you don’t want and take home whatever you like from our swap bins.

Bring

  • Yarn (please bring in a ziplock bag)
  • Knitting Needles & Crochet Hooks
  • Knitting & Crochet Notions, Accessories, Books
  • NOTE: partial balls are fine, but please bag them up together in a ziplock bag.

Details

The leftovers are donated to charities, and don’t be embarrassed by the quality of the yarn you bring, whatever is left over is donated to charities like Street Knit, most of whom prefer acrylic! If you want to donate but can’t make the date please feel free to drop it by when we are open, sealed up in a plastic bag. The only yarn we can’t accept is anything that is strongly scented (cigarette smoke or perfume). We are also a drop-off point for Street Knit and Knitted Knockers of Canada. 

  • Saturday, April 22, from 1 to 3 pm
  • $10 to participate in the swap (proceeds go to the Red Door Family Shelter)
  • Dropping off donations is always FREE 
  • Drop-in, no need to sign up
  • Everyone is welcome, all skill levels
  • Location: 1382 Bathurst St, Toronto ON
  • All leftovers go to charity (see above)
  • If possible, we request anyone attending our events to please refrain from wearing perfume

COVID Protocols

To ensure the safety of staff and clients we are still masking and everyone in the store must wear a mask while inside. If you don’t have a mask don’t worry, we have lots and you can pick one up here. 

Destash/Spring Cleaning System

So here’s a scenario …. you’re sorting through your stash (or your closet, or your bookcase, or anything else) , looking to purge, but you’re having a hard time parting with things that you know you aren’t using and haven’t touched in ages. Feelings are coming up, definitely some uncertainty – usually overwhelm creeps in for me and I end up keeping too many things – it happens, the subconscious is a busy place!

This weekend I was doing a little bit of spring purging and I came up with system that seems to have improved my output and brought me more neutrality. Based on Marie Kondo’s system, I pick up every object, and ask myself a question about the object: “Does this still serve my highest good?” Alternately, you can ask “Does this serve my greatest inner peace?” 

I look for an answer of Yes, No, or some kind of equivocal/uncertain feeling:

YES: If the answer is a clear YES, then yay, keep the thing! It’s still working for you.

NO: If answer is a clear NO, then send it on its way out into the universe. Whatever that thing was in your life for, you’ve already learned those lessons, and its time to make room for fun new things to come into your life! Don’t worry about letting the NOs go, they block better things from coming in, so have faith that getting rid of them is really the best thing for you.

EQUIVOCAL/UNCERTAIN: If you feel equivocal, uncertain, overwhelmed, fuzzy, blank, avoidant, resistant, etc, then you’ve hit an opportunity to go deeper and clear out something you are already working on, something you’re getting ready to release. The object isn’t really what you’ve equivocal about, its a belief or idea that it is associated with. Here are some questions that you can ask that can help:

  • What have I been learning that this is a part of?
  • Am I holding on to something I can let go of? What am I holding on to?
  • Do I need to hold on to it? Am I still working on it, or am I done and I just need to let go?
  • Why am I holding on to it?
  • Is what I’m holding even mine, or does it belong to someone else? (other people’s beliefs frequently end up in our head …. )

LET GO: if you’re inclined to try and let go, try the following:

  1. Try visualizing a big rose in front of you. Drop a magnet into the centre of the rose, and tell the rose its job is to suck up everything you’ve releasing. When the rose is done its work, send the it to the edge of the universe and blow it up! 
  2. Visualize a big gold sun above your head (make it at least 5 times your size) and fill it with all the good things you want for yourself right now …. (self-validation, amusement and neutrality are always suggested in addition to everything else). Poke a hole in the bottom of the sun and invite it to fill you up completely, down to the quantum level.  
  3. Revisit the object – do you still feel uncertain about it? If you do that’s ok, just file it away as ‘on the way out’ or ‘working on releasing’, and put it in a “Revisit this at the next purge” box. Chances are that the next time you do a clearing you’ll be ready to let it go and the attachment to it will be gone.

KNITTING PILGRIM Coming to Midtown!

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The Knitting Pilgrim is Coming to Midtown!

15 years of knitting. 90 pounds of yarn. One man’s artistic and spiritual journey.

The Knitting Pilgrim is back in town for one night on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 7:30pm for a performance at Eglinton St. George’s United Church (Yonge & Eglinton neighbourhood – 35 Lytton Blvd, Toronto, ON). All the funds raised from the event will be used to support ESG United Church’s outreach initiatives. Tickets: $30

The Knitting Pilgrim, featuring actor and knitter Kirk Dunn, is a multidisciplinary one-man show that combines personal storytelling, image projection, and three huge knitted panels that look like stained glass windows, to explore the connection amongst the Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The play recounts Kirk’s fifteen-year artistic and spiritual journey of hand-knitting the ambitious project, and looks at why people struggle to get along today, the meaning of art, the hell of grant-writing and the power of love to overcome major obstacles (and minor mishaps).

The Knitting Pilgrim, premiered at the Aga Khan Museum’s Auditorium in May, 2019 and has toured Ontario for 50+ shows, was given 6 out of 5 stars by CFMU Hamilton, 5 out of 5 stars by Mooney on Theatre, and was named a Critic’s Fringe Pick in Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton, as well as One of ‘Top Ten Shows to See’ by NOW Magazine. It tells the story of a journey that you need to experience.

“I do not write these words lightly. The Knitting Pilgrim is the most beautiful show I’ve seen at the Ottawa Fringe. My life would be diminished if I hadn’t seen it. It is a 15-year response to 9/11.” – Brian M. Carroll

EVENT DETAILS

P.S.

You can watch the short documentary about The Knitting Pilgrim, Stitched Glass, on the documentary & short film Argo Website/App (free trial, $7.99 a month).

YARN SWAP RETURNS Saturday April 22, 1-3 pm

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NEXT SWAP: Saturday, April 22, from 1 to 3 pm

$10 – Proceeds go to the Red Door Family Shelter

After a looooong hiatus for COVID …. it’s swap time again! Time to tidy up your yarn stash and purge the stuff you’re never going to use. That’s right, you can bring us your shame and leave your guilt in our yarn swap bins with the assurance that the yarn that didn’t work out for you will have a second (or third, or fourth) life in a new home. What do you do at a swap? Bring in the yarn and needles you don’t want and take home whatever you like from our swap bins.

Bring

  • Yarn (please bring in a ziplock bag)
  • Knitting Needles & Crochet Hooks
  • Knitting & Crochet Notions, Accessories, Books
  • NOTE: partial balls are fine, but please bag them up together in a ziplock bag.

Details

The leftovers are donated to charities, and don’t be embarrassed by the quality of the yarn you bring, whatever is left over is donated to charities like Street Knit, most of whom prefer acrylic! If you want to donate but can’t make the date please feel free to drop it by when we are open, sealed up in a plastic bag. The only yarn we can’t accept is anything that is strongly scented (cigarette smoke or perfume). We are also a drop-off point for Street Knit and Knitted Knockers of Canada. 

  • Saturday, April 22, from 1 to 3 pm
  • $10 to participate in the swap (proceeds go to the Red Door Family Shelter)
  • Dropping off donations is always FREE 
  • Drop-in, no need to sign up
  • Everyone is welcome, all skill levels
  • Location: 1382 Bathurst St, Toronto ON
  • All leftovers go to charity (see above)
  • If possible, we request anyone attending our events to please refrain from wearing perfume

COVID Protocols

To ensure the safety of staff and clients we are still masking and everyone in the store must wear a mask while inside. If you don’t have a mask don’t worry, we have lots and you can pick one up here. 

EVENT Meet Textile Artist Sam Barsky!

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Textile Artist Sam Barsky is coming to Toronto this September! We think his work is super inspiring and want to share his work with the textile lovers in our neighbourhood. Sam is known for his one-of-a-kind landscape sweaters. Known as the man who “weaves himself into the very fabric of his environment”, Sam is an artist who knits for his context. Some of my favourites are the Eclipse, Human Anatomy from the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, the Truffula Tree sweater, the Golden Gate Bridge, and of course Skating at Rockefeller Center.)

Sam is going to talk to us about his work, his process, show us how he makes his knits, show us some of his work (including his latest, a Toronto sweater), and generally shmooze.

Everyone is welcome, we will be meeting picnic-style on the grass at Wychwood Barns Park (see details below) so bring a blanket or a folding chair and your knitting/crochet/etc.

Please Note: Sam does not sell his sweaters, but you can purchase a reproduction of one of his sweaters as a T-Shirt online.

Who: Sam Barsky and YOU!

When: Sunday, Sept 18, 2022 – 4:30 pm

Where: Wychwood Barns Park, 76 Wychwood Ave, Toronto ON. (If the weather is inclement we will reconvene at Knit-O-Matic, 1382 Bathurst St, Toronto and N95 masks will be provided). We will be meeting picnic-style on the grass at Wychwood Barns Park (see details below) so bring a blanket or a folding chair and your knitting/crochet/etc.

Sam’s Socials:

TRUNK SHOW The Fibre Co Acadia (to Oct 5)

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The Fibre Co has kindly leant us a little Trunk Show with some gorgeous samples knit up with The Fibre Co. Acadia. Acadia is a luscious, luxurious blend of silk noil, baby alpaca and fine merino wool. It has a slightly rustic look, but don’t be mistaken, this yarn is all beauty and softness. Acadia shines in simple knits, it positively SINGS, leaving you with less work and all the credit!

We have the Trunk show until Oct 5th, so pop in and see what the sweaters actually look and feel like!

Use code KITSTOGO10 at check-out to receive 10% off the online purchase of these kits to October 5, 2022 (can not be combined with other discounts or promotions).

Wythrop

Wythop is a pretty twist on a traditional yoke sweater, featuring a rosebud bobble and lace stitch pattern. It is knitted seamlessly from the bottom up and features short row shaping at the neck for an improved fit. Acadia gives the garment beautiful depth of colour and texture as well as an exceptional drape.

Skill Level: advanced beginner to intermediate

Construction

The pullover is knitted seamlessly from bottom up. The body and the sleeves are knitted in the round and joined at underarm. The yoke is knitted in the round with a simple rosebud lace-and-bobble pattern. The neck is shaped with short rows.

Size

  • Finished Bust: 86 (91: 101: 111: 121: 131) cm (34.25 (36.25: 40.25: 44.25: 48.25: 52.25) in)
  • suggested 0-5 cm (0-2 in) of positive ease around the bust

Special Skills

Kit Includes

Materials Not Included

Enso

Enso is a Japanese word for ‘circle’. It’s a simple pullover with pretty details that soften the look and make it a wardrobe staple. Enso features a round, scoop neck, garter panels along the sides, and a curved hem for a classic shape. It’s knit top-down, in the round, so no seams!

SEE FINISHED PROJECTS

Skill Level: Intermediate

Construction

Enso begins with casting on the stitches for the shoulders and back neck. The back is shaped with short rows to create the shoulder slope, and then worked down to the underarm shaping. Stitches are picked up along each shoulder and the front is also worked down to the underarm shaping. The front and back are then joined with stitches cast on for the underarms and the body is worked until the end. Stitches are picked up around each armhole for the sleeve heads and shaped with short rows, before the sleeves are knit in the round until the cuff.

The short rows along the shoulders and on the sleeves are worked by wrapping stitches. However, for this pattern, the wraps are not picked up, but are left and form a subtle decorative line of across each shoulder. The wrapped stitch from the previous row is simply knit or purled as if it had no wrap.

Size

  • Finished Bust: 31.25 (32.75, 35, 36.5, 38, 40.25)(43.5, 45, 47.25, 49.5, 51)”

Special Skills

Kit Includes

Materials Not Included 

One Cardigan by Sarah Hatton

One Cardigan by Sarah Hatton is another staple addition to The Fibre Co.’s much-loved One Series, which centres on the idea of single garment worn and loved by people of all ages and from all walks of life. This beginner-friendly cardigan is worked from the top down using raglan shaping, so it is seamless. The pattern is gender-inclusive, and offered in an extended range of 15 sizes, from Toddler to Full sized Adult. The adult sizes also offer 2 options for body length.

Skill Level: Advanced beginner to intermediate

Construction

A timeless gender-inclusive cardigan knitted in one piece from the top down, which features classic raglan detailing. Sleeve stitches are put on hold and then the sleeves are worked in the round after the body is complete. The button band is picked up and finished last. The pattern is offered over 15 sizes from age 1-2 through to fit a 162 cm (64 in) chest, and with the option of a shorter or longer length for the adult sizes.

Size

  • Toddler/Child: Age 1-2 [2-4: 4-6: 6-8: 8-10: 10-12] or Finished Chest Circumference 22.75(26, 27.75, 28.5, 29.75, 31.5)”
  • Adult: Sizes 1[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9], Finished Chest Circumference 33.5(37.75, 42.75, 46.75, 50, 54, 58, 62.5, 66.75)”
  • Ease: Child sizes are designed with 5-10 cm (2-4 in) of positive ease. Adult sizes 1 to 9 have 1-10 cm (0.25-4 in) of positive ease, depending on the size. For a fitted look please select a size nearer to your own body measurements; for a more relaxed fit we suggest nearer to the 10 cm (4 in) positive ease.

Materials

Circular Needle Length

  • Ages 1-2 and 2-4: 16″/40 cm
  • Ages 4-6, 6-8 and 8-10: 24″/60cm
  • Age 10-12 and Sizes 1-3: 32″/80cm
  • Sizes 4-9: 40″/100cm

Special Skills

District by Norah Gaughan

District is an elegant pop-over style sweater. Signature Norah Gaughan, It features simple, clean lines and a yummy texture in mosaic stitch.

If you’re interested in making this sweater with The Fibre Co. Acadia please contact us and we can put a kit together for you.

Construction

The sweater is worked in one piece from the bottom of the front to the bottom of the back. Sleeve ribbing is added after & there are 2 seams, the underarm/sleeve seams.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size

  • To fit bust 30 (34-38-42-46-50)”
  • Finished bust 35 (40-45-48-53-55)” or 89 (101.5-114-122-134.5-140)cm
  • length / 21 (22-23-24-25-26)” or 53.5 (56-58.5-61-63.5-66)cm
  • Shown to fit size 34” or 86.5cm

Materials

  • The Fibre Co. Acadia: main colour 6 (8-9-10-11-12) hanks, contrast colour 4 (5-6-6-7-8) hanks
  • 3.75mm/US5 needles
  • 3.25mm/US3 needles
  • Pattern

Special Skills

Botanical Wristwarmers

Keep your hands warm whilst leaving your fingers free with cosy wrist warmers.

If you’re interested in making these gloves with The Fibre Co. Acadia please contact us and we can order your favourite colour.

Materials

Lucinda

Lucinda was not included in our trunk show, but it’s such a great knit that I wanted you to see it! It’s the perfect, go-to sweater you’re going to’ll reach for every time you get dressed. The simple, clean lines are universally flattering and timeless, making it the perfect forever sweater!

SEE FINISHED PROJECTS 

Skill Level: Intermediate

Construction

Lucinda is worked from the bottom-up in one piece, then turned right-side out at the armhole and worked back and forth in rows. Shoulders are joined using the three-needle-bind-off. Sleeve Stitches are picked-up around the armhole and worked in the round to the cuff. The pullover is worked inside-out since many knitters prefer to knit than purl. There are two sleeve length options; the sample is shown in the shorter sleeve length. 

Size

  • 37¼ (40¼, 44, 47¾, 51¼, 54¼, 58, 61¾, 64¾, 68½)”
  • Shown in size 44” with shorter sleeves and 10” positive ease

Special Skills

Kit Includes

  • The Fibre Co. Acadia: Shorter Sleeves –  8 (9, 9, 11, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) skeins, Longer Sleeves – 9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16, 17) skeins
  • Pattern

Materials Not Included

TRUNK SHOW Berroco Spring/Summer 2022 to June 13

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Berroco has sent us a Trunk show – a handful of their summer samples to explore, and they are here in store until June 13th! Its a great way to check out different yarns, see how they knit, and explore patterns you might not have considered otherwise.

It takes a loooong time to load a project up to our online store, so I’ve only put the projects that I think are really special. If you want to make one of the others just contact us and we’ll make that happen the older fashioned way.

Sapphire

Sapphire was my favourite new pattern for Spring/Summer this year from Berroco. It’s such a sweet and wearable little top that looks good on all types of bodies. It looks sweet over a summer dress, or you can wear it with pants, a skirt – it goes with everything. The pattern was designed with Berroco Vivo, but thre are lots of yarn options you can go for (see below for options). To make the arms longer pick-up the sleeves and knit down in pattern stitch to your desired length.

SPECIAL ORDER A KIT HERE!

Construction

Sapphire is a classic dolman sleeve V-neck cardigan in an all-over textured stitch. Back, Right Front, and Left Front are each worked separately, with increases forming the dolman sleeves. Pieces are sewn together, then sleeve cuffs and button band are picked up and knit.

Size

Note:  Since this garment has a dolman sleeve, the bust measurement is very forgiving.  Go by the waist measurement when selecting your size.

  • Waist: (32½, 36, 40½, 44½) [48½, 52½, 56½, 60½] {64½, 68½, 72½, 76½}” / (82.5, 91.5, 103, 113) [123, 133.5, 143.5, 153.5] {164, 174, 184, 194.5} cm
  • Length: (17½, 18, 18¾, 19¼) [20, 20¾, 21¼, 22] {22¾, 23¼, 24, 24½}” / (44.5, 45.5, 47.5, 49) [51, 52.5, 54, 56] {58, 59, 61, 62} cm
  • Shown in size 36″ / 91.5 cm. Recommended ease:  Approximately 2–4″ / 5–10 cm positive ease.

The Yarn

Berroco Vivo is a bright and cheerful cotton yarn that features a delightful color flow. Tropical colors in a cottony soft fiber make it perfect for summer tops and accessories. Plus, it’s machine washable, making a great choice for summer tops!

  • 100% Cotton
  • 100g/290m (317 yds)
  • DK weight
  • 4mm/US6 needles 
  • 4mm/G hook
  • Knitting gauge: 5.5 sts = 1″ or 22 sts & 30 rows = 4″ (10cm)
  • Crochet gauge: 5 sc = 1″ or 20 sc & 25 rows = 4″ (10cm)
  • Made in Italy
  • Machine wash delicate, lay flat to dry

Gauge

  • 22 sts and 32 rows = 4″ / 10 cm in Moss stitch, on larger needle

Kit Includes

Kit DOES NOT Include

The pattern designer, Åsa Buchta, made herself a Sapphire using Berroco Remix Light (see below for details).

Yarn Substitutions

Want to make this sweater, but in a different yarn? We recommend the following:

Berroco Pima Soft

  • Soft as a cloud, if you like things simple this is a gorgeous option!
  • 100% super soft pima cotton with a bit of texture. (50g/113m, $9.97/ball)
  • (8,  8, 8, 11) [11, 11, 13, 16] {16, 18, 18, 21} balls

Berroco Remix Light

Berroco Summer Sesame

  • A great option if you want colour that’s a little more grown-up.
  • A machine-washable blend of cotton & acrylic that’s light, comfortable and colourful. (100g/270m, $21.97/ball)
  • (4, 4, 4, 5) [5, 5, 6, 7] {7, 8, 8, 9} ball

Berroco Vintage DK

  • Another great, affordable option for a spring/autumn cardie
  • A soft, machine-washable blend of wool & synthetic thats’ also affordable – great for lighter sweaters in cooler weather. (100g/266m, $9.97/ball)
  • (4, 4, 4, 5) [5, 5, 6, 7] {7, 8, 8, 9} skeins

Riveria

Riveria is one of those simple summer knits you love making AND wearing. It’s made in one piece from the top-down with Berroco Pima Soft, a super-soft cloud cotton. To make longer sleeves just keep knitting down instead of making the ribbing.

Construction

Riveria is a cheerful, simple cotton tee with a lace yoke. It’s worked from the top-down, in the round, to underarms, then divided for body and sleeves. The body is worked in the round to lower edge (the lace yoke pattern is charted).

SPECIAL ORDER A KIT!

The Yarn

Berroco Pima Soft is a new, CRAZY SOFT, 2-ply yarn made with 100% pima cotton. It’s slightly textured, making it much more forgiving to knit with than a smooth cotton (which also makes weaving in ends and finishing easier). It’s perfect for anything you want to make, from tees, tanks, sweaters, chemo-hats, babies, blankets, cushions – you name it. It’s a DK weight (21 to 22 sts/4″ on a 3.75mm/US5 to 4mm/US6 needle) so it isn’t too heavy for warm weather or if your internal thermostat runs warm. It’s lovely for crochet and knitting, and is just right for all climates! It’s great for knitting and crochet, and I think it would also make a nice texture in a punch needle project.

  • 100% Pima Cotton
  • 50g/113m (123yds)
  • DK weight
  • 3.75 – 4mm/US5 – 6 needles
  • 21 to 22 sts & 29 to 30 rows = 4″/10cm
  • Hand wash in cool water, lay flat to dry
  • Made in Peru
  • PATTERNS USING THIS YARN

Size

  • Bust: (32½, 36½, 40½) 44½, 48½, 52½, 56½ {60½, 64½, 68½}“ / (82.5, 93, 103) 113, 123, 133.5, 143.5 {153.5, 164, 174} cm
  • Length: (20, 20½, 21) 21¾, 22¼, 22¼, 22½ {23, 23, 23½}” / (51, 52, 53.5) 55, 56.5, 56.5, 57 {58.5, 58.5, 59.5} cm
  • Shown in size 36½“ / 93 cm.
  • Recommended ease: 2–4” / 5–10 cm positive ease.

Kit Includes

Kit DOES NOT Include

  • 4mm/US6 – 16″ circular needles
  • 4mm/US6 – 32″ circular needles
  • 3.5mm/US4 – 16″ circular needles
  • 3.5mm/US4 – 32″ circular needles
  • 5 stitch markers
  • tapestry needle
  • scrap yarn

SHOP ONLINE

Goshen

Goshen is one of my favroutie samples that came with the trunk-show. It’s a strudly little purse-sized bag you can wear over your shoulder or across your body. The pattern is designed with Berroco Medina, but you can also use Berroco Summer Sesame (3 balls), which might be easier to work with because it has some texture. Additional yarn alternative are included below (should you want to make it a solid colour, or marled, etc). I would 100%, no question make this for myself and/or as a gift.

SPECIAL ORDER A KIT!

Construction

Goshen is worked with 2 strands held together throughout. It is worked flat and seamed.

Size

  • Bag portion measures approximately 12″ wide x 11½” high (not including strap),
  • Strap is 34″ long (includes tapering, strap is measured from top of bag opening)
  • The finished project weighs 252g, so there is extra yarn left-over to make your strap longer.
Taking a picture of a bag on your body is decidedly challenging …

The Yarn

Berroco Medina

Warm colors ebb and flow in this long-color repeating yarn that is ideal for summer accessories and garments. Berroco Medina blends cotton, acrylic, and viscose in a DK-weight yarn with gorgeous colors.

Gauge

  • 23 sts and 26 rows = 4″ over pattern stitch with 2 strands

Kit Includes

Kit DOES NOT Include

Other Yarn Options

In case you don’t want to wait for a kit (since the pattern is free online), here are some other yarn options that are in stock in store:

Vincas

Enjoy sampling a few textured stitch patterns in this flattering spring tee. Vincas features a boxy shape and slight drop shoulders. 

SHOP THE YARN ONLINE

Size

  • Bust: (37¾, 41, 43¾, 46¾) [50, 53, 56] {59, 62, 65, 68]” / (96, 104, 111, 119) [127, 134.5, 142] {150, 157.5, 165, 172.5} cm
  • Length: (21½, 22, 22, 22½) [22½, 23, 23½] {24, 24½, 25, 25}” / (54.5, 56, 56, 57) [57, 58.5, 59.5] {61, 62, 63.5, 63.5} cm
  • Shown in size 41″ / 104 cm.
  • Recommended ease: Approximately 2–4″ / 5–10 cm positive ease.

Materials

  • Berroco Pima Soft:  (7, 7, 8, 8) [9, 10, 11] {11, 12, 13, 13} balls, shown in4633 Coral
  • 4mm/US6 needles (straight or circular)
  • 3.5mm/US4 needles (straight or circular)
  • 3.5mm/US4 needles – 16″ circular needles
  • 1 stitch marker
  • 2 stitch holders
  • Waste Yarn
  • FREE Pattern

Keshi

Keshi is a luxurious lace shawl that’s *surprise* worked in the round and cut open at the end! The cut stitches are then dropped and knotted to form fringe. Lace pattern is charted. Kit is $83.97 + tax and includes yarn & pattern.

CONTACT US TO SPECIAL ORDER A KIT

Size: Approximately 84″ / 213 cm long x 15½” / 39 cm wide 

Materials

  • Berroco Isola:  4 balls, sown in 8928 Burano {$20.97/ball}
  • 4mm/US6 – 32″ circular needles
  • 3 stitch markers (1 a different color for beg-of-rnd)
  • Pattern

Varya

CONTACT US TO SPECIAL ORDER A KIT

A casual tee with a diamond lace motif and split hem. Back and Front hems are worked separately, then joined and the body is worked in the round to the underarms.  Piece is then divided for back and front which are worked flat. Stitch patterns are charted.

Size

  • Bust: (38, 42, 46) [50, 54, 58] {62, 66, 70}” / (96.5, 106.5, 117) [127, 137, 147.5] {157.5, 167.5, 178} cm
  • Length: (21½, 22, 22½) [22½, 23, 23½] {24, 24½, 25}” / (54.5, 56, 57) [57, 58.5, 59.5] {61, 62, 63.5} cm
  • Shown in size 42″ / 106.5 cm. Recommended ease:  Approximately 4–6″ / 10–15 cm positive ease.

Materials

  • Berroco Meraki (50 grs): (6, 7, 7) [8, 9, 9] {10, 11, 12} balls #6009 Adore {$10.47/ball}
  • 4mm/US6 – 32″ circular needles
  • 3.75mm/US5 – 16″ circular needles
  • Scrap yarn to hold stitches
  • Pattern

Auden

CONTACT US TO SPECIAL ORDER A KIT

Auden is an all-over lace cardigan. Worked from the bottom up, fronts and back are separated and stitches are cast on for the sleeves. The fit is a relaxed and flattering kind of piece. Stitch pattern is both charted and has written instructions.

Size

  • Bust: (37, 41, 44½) [48½, 52, 56, 60] {64½, 67½, 72}” / (94, 104, 113) [123, 132, 142, 152.5] {164, 171.5, 183} cm – This includes a 5″ / 12.5 cm opening at the center front.
  • Length: (25½, 26, 26) [26½, 26½, 27, 27] {27½, 27½, 28}” / (65, 66, 66) [67.5, 67.5, 68.5, 68.5] {70, 70, 71} cm
  • Shown in size 41″ / 104 cm. Recommended ease: approximately 2–5″ / 5–12.5 cm positive ease

Materials

  • Berroco Remix: (4, 5, 6) [6, 7, 7, 7] {8, 9, 9} balls, sown in colour 3903 Almond
  • 4.5mm/US7 – 32″ circular needles
  • 4.5mm/US7 – 16″ circular needles
  • scrap yarn to hold stitches
  • 2 stitch markers
  • Pattern

Tay

CONTACT US TO SPECIAL ORDER A KIT

Have fun mixing stripes and textures in this simple and polished pullover. The sweater is made in pieces and seamed for a classic fit.

Size

  • Bust: (35¼, 38½, 41½) [44¾, 48, 51¼] {54½, 57½, 62½}” / (89.5, 98, 105.5) [113.5, 122, 130] {138.5, 146, 159} cm
  • Length: (22¾, 23, 23¼) [23½, 24, 24¼] {24½, 24¾, 25}” / (58, 58.5, 59) [59.5, 61, 61.5] {62, 63, 63.5} cm down center back
  • Shown in size 38½” / 98 cm. Suggested ease: 2–4″ / 5–10 cm positive ease.

Materials

  • Berroco Zinnia (50 grs): (5, 6, 6) [6, 7, 7] {8, 8, 9} balls each #7111 Marzipan (MC) and #7133 Peach Cobbler (CC) {$15.47/ball}
  • 4mm/US6 – 32″ circular needles
  • 4mm/US6 – 16″ circular needles
  • 5mm/US8 – 32″ circular needles
  • 4mm/US6 double pointed needles
  • 5mm/US8 double pointed needles
  • 2 stitch markers (2 different colors)
  • Scrap yarn
  • Tapestry Needle
  • FREE Pattern

Kattegat

Grab this shawl for the next time you need a touch of warmth! Worked in garter stitch with a lace edging it’s a simple and satisfying shawl.

SPECIAL ORDER A KIT

Size: Approximately 54″ / 137 cm across top x 14″ / 35.5 cm wide (at widest point)

Materials

Cosette

The classic tee, updated: knit flat from sleeve to sleeve with a shaped hemline and relaxed fit. Just the kind of modern take on a traditional garment to carry you through the warm days of summer. Try substituting Berroco Summer Sesame for a fun, colourful effect!

CONTACT US TO SPECIAL ORDER A KIT

Size

  • Finsihed Bust—36(40-44-48-52-56-60)”
  • Finished Length—22(22-22½-23-23½-23½-24)”
  • Shown in size 40″

Materials

  • Berroco Pima 100: 4(4-5-5-6-6-7) hanks #8431 Chrysanthemum
  • 3.75mm/US5 – 29″ circular needles
  • 4.5mm/US7 – 29″ circular needles
  • 3.75mm/US5 – 16″ circular needles
  • Waste yarn to hold sts
  • Pattern

MORE Berroco Trunk Show Projects

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A couple more samples from our Berroco Trunk Show, which is on until July 17th. Garments included:

Tees

Shawls

Ponchos & Swonchos

Sweaters

Orford

Orford is among the samples we received for our Berroco Trunk Show, and I immediately thought it was really pretty in it’s simplicity. It makes a great ‘prayer shawl’ and is just the right size if you want to make a gift. It’s knit from the center-top down with a textured stitch pattern, which is charted and easy to follow. The pattern is also a freebie from Berroco – made with a single set of 5mm/US8 circular needles and 4 skeins of Berroco Vintage, making for a very affordable knit!

You can, of course, use any worsted weight yarn (we can even special order you something from Berroco. My person favourite would be Berroco Ultra Alpaca, but if you’re making yours for someone who is allergic to wool you might prefer Berroco Remix for a tweedy, rustic look. To make the most of the pretty stitch pattern, I suggest going for a colour that is light to medium-light coloured. If you choose to order off menu go for something on the smoother size, fuzz won’t be your friend on this project. Also, is you are subbing, stay away from marled, variegated or self-striping yarns; this project will work best with solids, heathered or semi-solid colours.

SEE PROJECTS ON RAVELRY

Skill Level: Advanced-Beginner

Size: Approximately 72″ across top edge x 31″ long

Materials

Skills

Cast-on, bind off, reading a knitting pattern, reading a chart, garter tab cast-on (for shawls), KFB increase, using stitch markers, weaving in ends.

SEE OUR CURATED LIST OF TUTORIALS OF KNITTING SKILLS & TECHNIQUES 

Rhys

PRE-ORDER KIT  (see below for details)

This was the piece that stood out to me when I cracked open the box, the one that I could see easily becoming a wardrobe staple. The only way I can explain it is the sample has the feel of someone who REALLY enjoyed knitting it. In fact, I liked it so much that I took a little time and made it into a kit in our online store, so you can pre-order it at 1am on a Saturday for your online shopping satisfaction.

The yarn, Berroco Cambria, is shockingly soft and supple, and the fibre blend gives the fabric a bit of a depth of colour. The pattern is pretty and the shape flatters lots of body shapes. Cambria contains 60% alpaca, 20% linen and 20% lyocell, so it’s most likely a spring/fall/winter garment. If you want strictly summer (or wool-free), I suggest subbing another DK Weight yarn like Berroco Remix Light.

Skill Level: Intermediate

The Yarn

Berroco Cambria is a soft, supple blend of baby alpaca, linen, and lyocell that create a luxurious DK-weight yarn! This yarn has incredible drape and stitch definition, perfect for spring knitting and crochet projects. If you’re interested in the yarn but don’t love the pattern, there are other patterns designed with Cambria – Zoey is especially beautiful and ultra wearable, it may have to become a kit too – can you tell it’s something I believe in?

Yarn Alternatives

You can also use other DK Weight Yarns for this project, including (but not limited to) Berroco Vintage DK, or  Berroco Remix Light. You’ll need 750(750, 875, 1000, 1000, 1125, 1250, 1375) metres. You can find all of our DK Weight Yarns HERE.

Size

  • Finished Bust: 37 (41½, 44½, 49, 52, 56½, 60, 64)”
  • Length: 16 (16, 16½, 17, 17½, 18, 18½, 19)”
  • Shown in size 41½”. 
  • Recommended ease: 3–6″ of positive ease.

Kit Includes

Kit DOES NOT Include

Skills

Cast-on, bind off, reading a knitting pattern, reading a chart, using stitch markers, seaming/mattress stitch, weaving in ends, lace knitting, blocking.

SEE OUR CURATED LIST OF TUTORIALS FOR KNITTING SKILLS & TECHNIQUES 

Pre-Order

This kits is a special-order; you have the option to order this kit at any time, and as long as the yarn is in stock we can get it for you. 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 it’s feasible. It normally takes one to two weeks to get stock, as long as it is in stock with the distributor. If we think it will take longer to get your yarn we will contact you to confirm.

SCHEDULED Online Yarn Tasting Party + Mini Sampling

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Online Yarn Tasting Party!

I’m pulling the cord, we’re doing it, we’re hosting our first FREE online yarn tasting party via Zoom on Sunday March 14, from 3 to 4pm. Spend an hour chatting yarn (and what to do with it) with yours truly, Haley!

Attendance is FREE, but you need to register by ‘purchasing’ the Online Yarn Tasting Party on our website and checking out through our online store. After you check-out you’ll automatically receive a link to download a PDF document packed with event information, including the Zoom meeting link, instructions, swatching suggestions, and a survey where you can submit topics you’d like us to discuss. You do not need to have purchased the Berroco Spring 2021 Yarn Tasting Kit (see below), but it is advisable since these are the yarns we’ll be talking about. 

To get your engines running, I’ve started uploading Spring & Summer Kits using Berroco’s yarns to our website. Everyone’s experiencing feeling burned out (otherwise know as COVID fatigue), and I think it’s really important right now to actively look for small, achievable things to look forward to and put us in the present moment. I just came across this short podcast on Covid Fatigue on “This Matters” (The Toronto Star) which might give you a little boost (they make some good recommendations, but I also just felt better having my feelings validated).

Mini Sweaters?

You may be wondering what’s up with the mini-sweaters in the picture above, and what they have to do with sampling yarn and yarn tasting. Knitting mini-sweaters is currently my favourite way to date new yarns to see how I feel about them. Please note, it does NOT give me an accurate gauge or tension for the yarn, but I do glean lots of other insights from the exercise. It takes me about 45 minutes to an hour to make on of these little guys and it’s slightly futzy work, which means we spend a good chunk of time together.

Process Benefits:

  • I get to experience the texture, see how it behaves (or does not behave), figure out what size needles work well, etc.
  • I get to feel how much I enjoy working with it, how fiddly it is, how it finishes and blocks, and how much I like the finished product.
  • I get an idea of how it is to *really* work with, including increasing, decreasing, picking up stitches, weaving in ends, and blocking.

End Benefits:

  • After I finish my mini I can choose to take things further and make a larger, proper swatch and go deeper, or we can graciously part ways.
  • At the end I have an adorable little ornament to display and share. I tag & label mine and keep them in the store for reference, but you may have other uses for yours, including holiday decorations (tree ornaments, swags, wreaths, advent calendars, holiday cards), little gifts, or you can put them in a picture box frame and display them as art.
  • One of the biggest reasons why I mini-sweater sample … I find it entertaining and I don’t get bored.

Mini Sampling Suggestions:

  • Pattern: Cheers
  • Use short, 5″ or 6″ double pointed needles. I find the longer 7″ and 8″ ones are too fussy.
  • Needles that are less slippery are better than more slippery, especially if you are working with fine yarns or summer yarns (cotton, bamboo and other cellulosic fibres, silk, rayon … anything that doesn’t have any ‘grab’).
  • Feel free to elaborate and modify the pattern: change the style, needle size, ribbing, increases, etc.
  • You don’t have to make sweaters – you can try mini-hats, mini-mittens, mini-socks, mini-pants, or an easy-peasy pennant.
  • If you like the sweaters but get tired of making the same vanilla sweater over and over check-out Berroco’s annual Minutia patterns; every holiday they put out new free patterns for little tree ornaments, including sweaters, hats, mitts, socks and more.

Now, I’m not advocating you sample yarns this way, this isn’t a “you must”, or a “you need to”, or a “you should”. This is me and it fits my needs, so file it under the Free to be You an Me tab as “you might like to, but you also might not, which are both cool”. I own a yarn store and have to test yarns out to see if I think clients are going to enjoy working with them and love the projects they make with them. You have to do what works for you. I share my experience in hopes that you’ll feel inspired in some way to do something that brings you enjoyment. I can only be me, you can only be you, so you do you, I’ll do me, and we’ll share and inspire each other!

Berroco Yarn Tasting Kit

This season Berroco is doing something neat and is making their Spring Yarn-Tasting kits available to the general public (via their retailers, like us). It contains samples of the new yarns they are launching or promoting this season, which you can swatch and work experiment with. I receive one of these kits every season and I dutifully swatch with my sample to get a feel for the different yarns. It helps me decide what to order for you, but also it gives me insight into what’s out there, even if I don’t want to carry it (sometimes people come to me looking for something specific and I can special order it for them).

A Yarn Tasting Kit might be for you if:

  • You are thinking about making a spring/summer project (or two) and want to find a yarn that makes you happy.
  • You like swatching (some people sincerely do enjoy it, they exist, I know them).
  • You’re allergic to wool (or know someone who is) and want to try-out some alternatives (5 of the 6 yarns included in the kit are wool-free).
  • You’re stuck in a bit of a rut and you’re ready for a gentle exercise to help you moving outside of your comfort zone.
  • You like ‘NEW’.
  • You don’t like ‘NEW’, but you’re tired of being afraid of it (file this under ‘comfort zone’ above).

What you’ll get in your Yarn Tasting Kit:

  • 6 Mini balls (10-20g) of each new spring yarns (plus a few spring favorites): Summer Sesame, Zinnia, Chai, Ultra Wool Handpaint, Medina, and Remix Light
  • Yarn Tasting Menu
  • Berroco Spring ’21 Newsletter
  • Berroco Spring ’21 Lookbook
  • Berroco Alpaca Sticker
  • Thank you note with a 50% off pattern coupon code!

EVENT Sock Lab!

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Sock Lab Sock Puppet .jpg

Sock Lab

Wednesdays 5 to 8 pm, Oct 17 – Dec 14

Co-Hosted with Jonathan from ‘Your Fibre Intake‘

After a successful first knitting lab earlier this year, we are co-hosting with Your Fibre Intake a second edition, this time targeting socks!

Most people who participated to the first edition had a lot of battle stories about socks: they don’t fit, don’t like how the toe box feels, hate picking up stitches, fear knitting with fingering weight yarn, second sock syndrome, the list goes on. We think this kind of project is perfect for a collective lab: it’s more motivating when other people join in!

Bring your yarn and needles (or buy some at the store), a pattern (we’ll have a few for inspiration during the first few sessions). You can start a new project or bring in something you’ve been working on for a while, it’s up to you. We’ll be your cheerleaders, provide support, encouragement and fun! Join in person or online — commenting here or on Instagram, and make sure to share your progress and especially lessons learned!

Sock lab is different than a class – it’ a collective experience, a support group, a grass-roots exchange of ideas and motivation. If you need extra instruction you can hire one of our pros for $5/15 minutes. If you’re a beginner and want to take a full-on class with hands-on instruction, we offer those as a workshop or in private lessons.

This event is drop-in, there is no sign up in advance, there is no cost to join, and coincides with our weekly knit night. All you have to do is show up, introduce yourself, and have fun!

WHEN: Drop-In, Wednesdays from 5 pm to 8 pm, October 17 to December 14, 2018

WHERE: Knit-O-Matic, 1382 Bathurst Street

HOW MUCH: FREE to attend (one-on-one instruction is available for $5/15 minutes)

NOTE: If possible, we request anyone attending our social events please refrain from wearing perfume and bringing foods containing peanuts, as they are common allergens.

YARN SWAP Oct 14

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Yarn Swap sign with frame png.png

NEXT SWAP: SUNDAY OCTOBER 14, 1-3 pm

$5 – Proceeds go to the Red Door Women’s Shelter

It’s that time of year again … time to tidy up your yarn stash and purge the stuff you’re never going to use. That’s right, you can bring us your shame and leave your guilt in our yarn swap bins with the assurance that the yarn that didn’t work out for you will have a second (or third, or fourth) life in a new home.
What do you do at a swap? Bring in the yarn and needles you don’t want and take home whatever you like from our swap bins. The leftovers are donated to charities, and don’t be embarrassed by the quality of the yarn you bring, whatever is left over is donated to charities like Street Knit, West Toronto Support Services, and Gilda’s Club, most of whom prefer acrylic!
If you want to donate but can’t make the date please feel free to drop it by when we are open, sealed up in a plastic bag. The only yarn we can’t accept is anything that is strongly scented (cigarette smoke or perfume). We are also a drop-off point for Street Knit and Knitted Knockers of Canada.
  • $5 to participate in the swap (proceeds go to the Red Door Women’s Shelter)
  • Drop-in, no need to sign up
  • Everyone is welcome, all skill levels
  • Location: 1382 Bathurst St, Toronto ON
  • In-Store only, NOT ONLINE