Looks Brand New

Porto Connection is a new shawl pattern from Isabell Kraemer that you can purchase on Ravelry.

The PORTO CONNECTION shawl is worked flat (sideways), increasing along one edge to create a slightly asymmetrical triangle. Stitches are increased in pattern and then onward into the 1x1 ribbing. The slip stitch stripe design means that you only work with one color on any given row. The combination of easy slip stitch pattern stripes and the ribbing give this shawl a sophisticated yet casual look.

The shawl is knit with heavy fingering weight or sport weight yarn. 

Our backyard was a mess. There were white fluffs everywhere because the dogs love to rip apart stuffed toys outside. We were also missing most of the pegs that hold the turf down. Fred loves to pull them out. They are buried in the grass but he finds them and works on them until they come loose.

AGL who put in the artificial grass came today to clean it up.

It looks brand new again. I have threatened the dogs (no more fluff and no more pulling out the pegs) but I don’t think they listened to me.

All fluffs are gone and they bring in a special machine to fluff the grass up. 

While Beth was at home with AGL I was at dad’s meeting with the men who came to clean out his garage and mom’s sewing room. They filled a trailer with junk and both spaces look amazing. The only problem with them doing the sewing room was we took a TV off the wall and took down all mom’s wall hangings. Now the painters are coming tomorrow to repaint the room. 

Fred would stay outside all evening if we’d let him.

Baseball is on and the hockey starts soon. Have a good evening!!

New Akari

I was out of the store yesterday and Lynn filled in for me. Mr FedEx brought a box from Noro. Here are the three brand new colours of Akari.

42

38

43

"Akari" is a soft, worsted weight multi fiber blend that features organic silk and cotton. 

Translated to "light" or "glimmer" in English, the silk adds a beautiful sheen to this yarn. It is a delightful choice for knitting and crocheting multi-season garments. 

SKEIN WEIGHT 200g

YARDAGE 482m/528 yards

GAUGE 4-5 sts. = 1" / Worsted weight

COMPOSITION 26% Silk, 21% Cotton, 15% Viscose, 14% Mohair, 12% Wool, 12% Polyamide

We knit this Nightshift with Akari and it was one of the most popular samples in the store. One of the colours has been discontinued but I think this combination with be close

This is 17 and 38.

While Lynn was working I was at my dad’s with our friend/handyman Chris. Chris’ wife works with Beth and he did most of the work on our bathroom at the cottage. Chris and I changed almost every lightbulb at my dad’s and cleaned every light fixture. His condo has never been as bright as it is now. Then he did small chores of things that needed to be done but dad can’t do anymore. Tuesday the movers are coming to take out some furniture. Thursday the stager is coming to set up the condo and pictures should be taken on Friday. Then Beth and I need to hurry up at our house.

Don’t forget that the store will be closed on Wednesday. Nothing house related. I have a few doctor’s appointments and when they give you a day you take it. 

It’s a good thing he is cute

Wool & Pine has a new pattern. This is the Sea Glass Cardigan and you can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Every stashbuster’s dream! This seamless raglan cardigan is knit from the top down, allowing you to play with virtually any yarn combo. For our sample, we used Charlotte DK yarn by Sugarplum Circus in Celery (green sample), Sea Glass (blue sample), and Twig (brown sample) for the main color, paired with DK, worsted, and fingering weight yarn held double for the contrast colors. It’s perfect for using up those tiny scraps in your stash!

No Weaving in Ends
Our innovative i-cord solution means you can knit with ease, leaving the hassle of weaving in ends behind.

No Purling Colorwork
Enjoy seamless knitting with our unique, top-down, steekless raglan design – only knit on the right side!

Effortless Finishing
Create a secure and smooth edge for your buttonband or shawl collar with no steeking, cutting or sewing required.

Our video tutorials will show you how!

Design Details

This V-neck raglan cardigan is knit from the top down, allowing you to focus on the fun part—playing with colors and yarns! With flattering V-neck shaping, you’ll get a great fit, and the only purl stitches are in the ribbing for the shawl collar (or buttonband), hem, and cuffs.

Our video tutorials reveal a game-changing solution for handling yarn ends. Our easy steekless i-cord technique eliminates the need to weave in ends and ensures you knit only on the right side of the fabric—no purling colorwork! This method also creates a secure and smooth selvedge for your cardigan without the need to steek, cut, or sew your knitting.

Speaking of colorwork, the entire cardigan is knit using a basic stranded colorwork technique called 1x1. This means you alternate between the main color and the contrast color every stitch, creating a beautifully blended effect.

We’re also offering two collar options to complete your raglan cardigan: the cozy shawl collar as shown on our green and blue samples and a classic V-neck buttonband style as shown on the brown sample. Whether you opt for toggle buttons or traditional ones - or none at all, the possibilities for closures are endless. We can’t wait to see how you make this cardigan uniquely yours!

Construction Details

Sea Glass Cardigan is knit from the top down using a faux “in-the-round” technique with raglan increases. This method involves sliding the stitches back to the beginning of the row after each round, eliminating the need for wrong side colorwork.

After splitting for the body and sleeves, the body is continued in the same faux “in-the-round” construction, finishing with 2x2 ribbing.

Before working the sleeves, the ends are secured using our innovative i-cord technique, detailed in the pattern with video and photo tutorials. This eliminates the need to weave in ends. The sleeves are then worked in the round and finished with 2x2 ribbing. Finally, you pick up stitches for either a button band or shawl collar, giving you flexibility in the final look.

Another order is on the way from Emma’s and it should be here at the beginning of July. There will be 6 brand new Theme Packs. All colours are coming in Practically Perfect Sock and Super Silky. Minis would be a great addition to your stash for the Sea Glass Cardigan.

We can’t tell you what our colorways look like (although you know we are DYEING to), but if you have a customer blindly looking for a coordinating color, “After Dark” and “Grayscale” are both safe bets this year! This years colors are very different than years past, so there should be no concern over getting the same sort of colors again.

The last day to order the Smalliday 2024 sets has been extended. You still have time to preorder your kit.

Fred has a hot spot so now he’s wearing a cone. Beth bought the blow up kind which took all of us to blow up. No one was paying attention and Fred has already chewed the strap that holds it together. It’s a good thing he is cute.

Kaleidoscope

Tin Can Knits has a new pattern that you can purchase on Ravelry. Meet Kaleidoscope.

Assemble scraps! This simple stripey blanket is all about playing with colour. Try new combinations, throw caution to the wind, and ENJOY!

Sizing
Sizes: Stroller (Crib, Small Throw, Large Throw) sizes. 

Stroller: 27” wide, 31” long 
Crib: 35” wide, 41” long 
Small Throw: 46” wide, 51” long 
Large Throw: 52” wide, 61” long

Sample shown is Large Throw sized. 

Yarn
800 (1400, 2200, 2800) yards total, in yarns that may vary from DK to Aran. 

You can also use sock yarn held doubled, but will need double the yardage. 

This sample is made in a wide range of odds and ends, ranging from sock yarn held doubled, through sport, DK, worsted, and Aran weights. 

Needles
US #7 / 4.5mm 
(or as required to meet gauge)

The Kaleidoscope pattern is also available in the Tin Can Knits app! 

Click here to download the app, or to learn more. 

• only see the size instructions you need 
• tick through the pattern and make notes 
• support is just a tap away 
• adjust the settings to suit you!

This afternoon dad decided that we needed to clean the vent hood on the bbq. At first he was just reaching then he went in the house and grabbed the ladder. YIKES. Most of the time I was standing behind him just in case. After he finished the vent hood was shining. 

New Colours are Coming

We have three brand new colours of Noro Akari coming next week.

Lynn knit Andrea Mowry’s Travelers Cowl (pattern purchased on Ravelry) with one ball of Akari and had yarn left over.

I have been slacking on my blog posts for the past few weeks and I’m sorry for this. Everything is good at home but we’re crazy busy. We put in an offer (that was accepted last night) on a new house. There is a large in-law suite for dad and it isn’t in the basement which is hard to find. Dad is doing well and is continuing to improve. I will have a bit longer drive to work and Beth’s drive will be shorter. Now we need to sell our houses. 

Here is the start of my This or That MKAL. I am starting with path B. Cleaning, purging, packing and arranging for odd jobs to be done has really cut into my knitting time.

If you are making the wrap there is an update to the pattern.

That’s my shoe!!!

Color Popportunity Socks

Stephen West has more information for his Surprise Sock Along 2024. You can purchase for the Color Popportunity Socks on Ravelry.

Sign up for the Sock Along by purchasing the Color Popportunity Socks. You will immediately receive an introductory PDF followed by a set of instructions (Clue) each Tuesday in July starting July 9! 

SCHEDULE
Clue 1 - July 9 
Clue 2 - July 16 
Clue 3 - July 23 
Clue 4 - July 30

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5) 

Finished Measurements: 6.5 (7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5)″ / 17 (19, 22, 24, 27)cm leg and foot circumference. Measurements taken after blocking. These are the measurements of the sock. 

Socks are designed to fit an actual foot circumference of 7.5 (8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5)″ / 19 (22, 24, 27, 29)cm. The socks are designed to fit with negative ease. Choose a size with a finished foot circumference measurement that is approximately 1″ / 2.5cm smaller than your actual foot circumference. Measure your foot around the center part of your foot. For example, if your actual foot circumference is 9.5″ / 24cm, then knit Size 3 of the sock. The sock should fit nice and snug on your foot with negative ease. 

The length of the foot is easily customizable. 

How do I make sure my socks fit?
Watch my video and learn how to measure your foot to select your size here. 

Yarn: Fingering weight

Yardage: MC - 437yds / 400m (1 skein 100g) 
CC1 - 92yds / 84m (1 mini skein 20g) 
CC2 - 92yds / 84m (1 mini skein 20g) 
CC3 - 92yds / 84m (1 mini skein 20g) 

You will have leftovers of each color. These yarn amounts will produce a complete pair of socks, the right sock and the left sock. 

This design will also look amazing with 1 self-striping yarn instead of the 3 CC’s. If you use a yarn like Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy, then you can use one ball (100g) for all of the instructions that use a CC (CC1, CC2, & CC3). You will need about 279yds / 255m total for the CC. Get creative with color and customize your Color Popportunity Socks!

Wow is it hot here this evening. This is great weather for sitting inside and working with yarn 😉. I was worried about my gardens but we had crazy rain this afternoon. I think they’ll be okay for a few days. 

Long Distance Father’s Day

Dad, Beth and the dogs are at the cottage and I stayed home for the weekend.

Beth made pancakes for breakfast. They looked really good and I was very jealous. What did dad get for Father’s Day? A new wallet because his little friend Fred chewed on his old one.

This is Stephen West’s Mossy Marled Raglan (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

Choose two colors of fingering weight yarn and hold them together throughout this marled sweater project. The top-down pullover begins with a folded hem in twisted rib. Then moss stitch is worked in the round as you increase with raglan shaping. I used two colors of West Wool Bicycle, a non-superwash merino wool. This soft and lofty fiber produces a super squishy and cozy fabric. The simple stitches and straight forward instructions make this sweater ideal for beginner sweater knitters. Enjoy mixing your yarns together as you knit this comfy sweater.

Le Petit Lambswool from Biches & Buches would be a great option if you want a commercial dyed yarn. 

Photos © Stephen West

There are a few rows knit on my This or That MKAL but I won’t share yet in case you haven’t started yours. I have some laundry to do and then I’m going to knit a few rows before bed.