This easter you can add an Emotional Support Chicken to your family … or a whole clutch! Use Berroco Vintage or Drops Air for a slightly fuzzier, cuddlier chicken. I’ve suggested a slightly smaller needle size for this project because stuffies always benefit from being knit at a slightly tighter tension.
Yarn Options
Berroco Vintage: 1 skein of MC, 1 ball of CC, and 9m each for wattle, crown and beak.
Drops Air: 2 balls of MC, 1 ball of CC, and 9m each for wattle, crown and beak.
It’s time to start thinking about starting your holiday gifts … and what better gift than a cozy little bit cashmere to keep someone you love warm. A single skein of Nordic Eco Cashmere DK is enough to make the larger size, and you can even use slightly larger 4.5mm/US7 needles with this yarn.
The Sophie Scarf is worked back and forth in one piece, from tip to tip in garter stitch with built-in i-cord edges. The smaller size Sophie Scarf reaches around the neck once, while the larger size can wrap around the neck twice.
This is a great project for newer knitters, but check out our Skills Page for good video tutorials. If you want a larger project or gift see below and check out the Sophie Shawl or the Sophie Hood.
Size
Small (large)
Length from tip to tip: approx. 80 (102) cm [31½ (40¼) inches]
September 30th is Canada’s official National Day for TRUTH and Reconciliation, but before it was a federal holiday it was know as Orange Shirt Day. While every day should be Orange Shirt Day, I thought today was a good time to revisit some Canadian Indigenous contributions to knitting.
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Indigenous Designer: Jessie Mae Martinson
I found some gorgeous patterns by Jessie Mae Martinson, an incredibly talented indigenous designer from the US (I tracked her down through BIPOC in Fiber). She designs pretty little tops & bottoms, great for warm weather. Her patterns are size inclusive and priced on a “choose what you pay” scale.
To make the sweater above choose a fingering weight yarn (Cascade Heritage, Artfil Belle, Fibre Co Amble, Fleece Artist Merino Slim are all perfect, Fibre Co Meadow would also be lovely) as the base and pair it with a fuzzy yarn like Drops Kid Silk. The base yarn will be the dominant colour and the mohair will create a halo effect.
Indigenous Designer: Jennifer Berg
Jennifer Berg is another great Indigenous knitwear designer! Jennifer wants to bring Native American design into the Knitting Community and represent her people (Dine) with enthusiasm and inclusion.She shares her culture and encourage others to learn more about the Native people that live in the surrounding areas. She loves being Navajo and believes that the movement for inclusion of all Races, genders, and ethnicities in the knitting community is important and such an example to the rest of the world that people can and will fight for one another with Love. Also 5% of all of her self published patterns go to the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women & Children https://www.csvanw.org/
Olsen is non-native, but has spent much of her life living in Tsartlip First Nation, where her children and grandchildren now live. She is also author of the very recently published Unravelling Canada: A Knitting Odyssey (2021) and Working with Wool(2010), which received the Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal for Historical Writing. She has several knitting patterns available as downloads on Ravelry. I’ve only just discovered Olsen’s work, but if you’ve read her books please let me know what you thought!
If you want to make the cowl above, I suggest using Cascade Heritage in colours 5742 Silver Grey Heather, 5631 Charcoal Heather, and 5672 Black. This pattern also includes a link to a video of Sylvia Olsen demonstrating Intuitive Colourwork (I don’t know what that is either, but it sounds interesting, I might have to buy the pattern to find out).
It would also be GORGEOUS made with Fibre Co Amble in Scaefel Pike (light brown), Fair Hill (medium brown), and Saddleback Slate (dark grey) …. the colours are all heathered, so they keep that ‘sheepy’ look, but they are soft as a puppy, so you can skip the itchy, sheepy feel.
Should you now be feeling inspired to whip up your own Cowichan sweater, consider Canadian designer Jane Richmond’s West Coast Cardigan, whichis not a real Cowichan sweater, but is respectfully inspired by the traditional style of the Cowichan Sweaters of the Coast Salish people. I suggest using Drops Andes, or for a more contemporary look try a blown yarn like Drops Wish.
And if journal articles aren’t your speed, I also found a nice little article in a lifestyle Magazine from Victoria: The Story of the Cowichan Sweaters.
A Canadian Indigenous Knitting Tradition
I also came across an older documentary made in 2000 for the NFB about the Coast Salish Knitters. I like this film, it’s older, but it addresses the complicated and often exploitative history connected with the makers of these sweaters. For us knitting is a leisure activity, but it’s important to keep in mind that for many of the families involved in the production of these sweaters, knitting meant the difference between starving and survival.
It just goes to show, you can take the girl out of the library and put her in a store full of yarn, but apparently, you can’t take the library out of the girl!
This easter you can add an Emotional Support Chicken to your family … or a whole clutch! Use Berroco Vintage or Drops Air for a slightly fuzzier, cuddlier chicken. I’ve suggested a slightly smaller needle size for this project because stuffies always benefit from being knit at a slightly tighter tension.
Yarn Options
Berroco Vintage: 1 skein of MC, 1 ball of CC, and 9m each for wattle, crown and beak.
Drops Air: 2 balls of MC, 1 ball of CC, and 9m each for wattle, crown and beak.
It just goes to show, you can take the girl out of the library and put her in a store full of yarn, but apparently, you can’t take the library out of the girl!
This easter you can add an Emotional Support Chicken to your family … or a whole clutch! Use Berroco Vintage or Drops Air for a slightly fuzzier, cuddlier chicken. I’ve suggested a slightly smaller needle size for this project because stuffies always benefit from being knit at a slightly tighter tension.
Yarn Options
Berroco Vintage: 1 skein of MC, 1 ball of CC, and 9m each for wattle, crown and beak.
Drops Air: 2 balls of MC, 1 ball of CC, and 9m each for wattle, crown and beak.
Isn’t it interesting that as the days get shorter we fell the need as human beings to bring divinity closer to us and into our homes. As I was reminded last night, there are a lot of cultures that celebrate holidays at this time of year … Divali just passed us, of course there is Christmas and Hannukah, the soltice (which is what it’s all about), Kwanza, and Dec 8th is Bodhi Day (the day celebrating the Bhuddha’s achieving enlightenment).
How do you like to decorate for the holidays? Which colours are you feeling the need to bring into your life right now? There are a lot of decoration projects & pattern ideas out there (see the links below) but I’ve rounded up a few for you that have caught my eye …
I can totally see myself getting caught up in making these bows …. either a bunch for myself or give them as little gifts. They’re very charming, kind of semiotically neutral, and essentially a pretty basic knit. The December Bow is worked back and forth in one piece from tip to tip in garter stitch with i-cord edges. The work is folded into a bow and sewn together at the end following the diagram with instructions that can be found at the end of the pattern.
Another winter creature, the snowperson is a delight for everyone’s eyes. To help your snowpeople stand tall, try putting some metal washers in their bottoms (you can get them at the hardware store) – it will improve their balance immensely.
Yarn Options
Double knitting weight yarn is perfect for this project – many people like the simple grace of a pure merino like Sandnes Garn Double Sunday for this type of project. If you want to keep things cheap ‘n cheerful go for Berroco Vintage Baby (it comes in 50g balls), or if you want a village of snowpeople you can also opt for Berroco Vintage DK in 100g skeins.
Aren’t granny squares (and circles) are best?! This is my idea of a great holiday ornament … use lots of colour or do any colour combination you want, or even monochrome – whatever floats your boat!
Yarn Options
Double knitting weight yarn is perfect for this project – many people like the nuanced Scandinavian colour palette of Sandnes Garn Double Sunday for this type of project. If you want to keep things cheap ‘n cheerful go for Berroco Vintage Baby (it comes in 50g balls), or can also opt for Berroco Vintage DK in 100g skeins. You can also use Sudz Crafting Cotton and a slightly larger 3.5mm crochet hook.
Ok, it doesn’t look exactly like a dove, but peace is a seasonal themes and in my opinion birds never go out of style! This FREE pattern is a VERY simple crochet project (it’s just a circle) and comes with full tutorial instructions.
Yarn Options
Double knitting weight yarn is perfect for this project – many people like the nuanced Scandinavian colour palette of Sandnes Garn Double Sunday for this type of project. If you want to keep things cheap ‘n cheerful go for Berroco Vintage Baby (it comes in 50g balls), or can also opt for Berroco Vintage DK in 100g skeins. You can also use Sudz Crafting Cotton and a slightly larger 3.5mm crochet hook.
Sun Star Snowflake and Flower Star Snowflake make the prettiest winter decorations, no matter which holiday you celebrate (or even if you don’t celebrate a holiday). Hang them on a tree, or in garlands across a mantle or just off a book-case. These little decorations also make delightful (and fast) little gifts.
Yarn Options
Any fingering weight yarn will do for these little gems: Berroco Vintage Sock is a popular, economical option, or you can opt for the amazing colour selection of Cascade Heritage (also still a very good price). If you want a multi-coloured yarn that knits in a long colourway and shifts try Schoppel Zauberball Cotton, or for a hand dyed yarn Artfil Belle.
There are a lot of wreath patterns out there, for all seasons and occasions, but I just kind of enjoyed this one because it’s so leafy – I love the idea of using different shades of greens and different textures of yarn to recreate a natural abundance.
This must be one of the easiest patterns goings …. a simple tree ornament. This pattern is great for less experienced knitters … that pattern PDF even has links to video tutorials for the skills.
This adorable little tree is a simple crochet (only chain and single crochet are used), and it comes with a free video tutorial to walk you through it! Make one, make a forest, and decorate them with little beads for ornaments or leave them in their natural state.
Gnomes can be knit mini (ornament) sized with fingering weight yarn, or start upsizing with a thicker yarn and make yours a super-gnome! Whatever you choose will be marvelous …. you’ll never stock gnoming! Go down approximately 1 mm from the recommended needle size to get a tight tension.
How adorable are these little chickens?! These hens knit up quickly with about 25m of worsted weight yarn (or two strands of a DK or Sport weight held together – about 50m) and are perfect for creating a cute and festive atmosphere. And when they hide a chocolate egg, it’s even more fun! Or use one to keep your soft-boiled eggies warm? Or just keep them around the house and invite them for a coffee clutch …
Yarn Options
I like the idea of rustic, tweedy-looking chickens using Drops Soft Tweed hold 2 strands together with 5mm/US8 needles).
I can totally see myself getting caught up in making these bows …. either a bunch for myself or give them as little gifts. They’re very charming, kind of semiotically neutral, and essentially a pretty basic knit. The December Bow is worked back and forth in one piece from tip to tip in garter stitch with i-cord edges. The work is folded into a bow and sewn together at the end following the diagram with instructions that can be found at the end of the pattern. The money from the sale of December Bow will go to Save the Children in the time period between the 1st of December 2022 and 1st of December 2023.
Another winter creature, the snowperson is a delight for everyone’s eyes. To help your snowpeople stand tall, try putting some metal washers in their bottoms (you can get them at the hardware store) – it will improve their balance immensely.
Yarn Options
Double knitting weight yarn is perfect for this project – I love a textured yarn like Drops Soft Tweed, but I know some people like the simple grace of a pure merino like Sandnes Garn Double Sunday. If you want to keep things cheap ‘n cheerful go for Berroco Vintage Baby (it comes in 50g balls), or if you want a village of snowpeople you can also opt for Berroco Vintage DK in 100g skeins.
There are a lot of wreath patterns out there, for all seasons and occasions, but I just kind of enjoyed this one because it’s so leafy – I love the idea of using different shades of greens and different textures of yarn to recreate a natural abundance.
This must be one of the easiest patterns goings …. a simple tree ornament. This pattern is great for less experienced knitters … that pattern PDF even has links to video tutorials for the skills.
This adorable little tree is a simple crochet (only chain and single crochet are used), and it comes with a free video tutorial to walk you through it! Make one, make a forest, and decorate them with little beads for ornaments or leave them in their natural state.
Gnomes can be knit mini (ornament) sized with fingering weight yarn, or start upsizing with a thicker yarn and make yours a super-gnome! Whatever you choose will be marvelous …. you’ll never stock gnoming! Go down approximately 1 mm from the recommended needle size to get a tight tension.
