The possibilities are endless

I saw these Christmas stockings on Instagram and emailed the designer (Faye Kennington - ukeeknits on Instagram) right away to ask if I could share with you.

With 24 colourwork charts to mix and match, this pattern offers 512 different possible options for customizing your own stocking. And that’s even before you take colour combinations into account! Everyone in the family can have a unique stocking that reflects their personal style. 

The stockings are worked cuff to toe, beginning with an i-cord hanging loop, i-cord cuff top and stranded leg. Continue with a short-row heel, stranded foot and grafted toe. 

Top Down Christmas Stockings includes a full picture tutorial on lining stockings with fabric.

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

The stockings are knit in worsted weight yarn. Cascade 220 is a great choice with lots of colours. 

Here is another set.

With 24 colourwork charts to mix and match, this pattern offers 512 different possible options for customizing your own stocking. And that’s even before you take colour combinations into account! Everyone in the family can have a unique stocking that reflects their personal style. 

The stockings are worked toe-up with a solid colour toe and a stranded foot. Prepare for an after-thought heel, add the stranded leg patterns and finish the top of the stocking with a i-cord bind-off and loop for hanging. Then finish the solid afterthought heel with Kitchener stitch.

This pattern is also available on Ravelry.

We are collecting hats, mitts and scarves for Mission Services in Hamilton. We missed doing this last year and I know that Mission Services is very appreciative of our donations. Here are donations that were made a few years ago.

For every pair of mittens, hat or scarf you bring in we will add 500 points (maximum 1000 points) to your Needle Emporium account. 

Tin Can Knits has some great patterns for hats and mitts.

These are the Worlds Simplest Mitts (pattern free) and there are many sizes in many different thicknesses of yarn.

Barley is a simple hat pattern.

Thank you in advance. If you aren’t familiar with Mission Services here is a bit about them and their services.

More than a meal, we are a non-profit, multi-social service agency who believes every person deserves access to healthy food, safe housing, and opportunities for tomorrow.

We accomplish this by offering professional services in a caring and dignified manner for every person who comes through our doors — without regard to faith, race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, educational status, or sexual orientation.

The community we hope to create is one that is healthy and resilient. It’s a place where everyone has access to healthy food, safe housing, and opportunities to enrich their futures and participate in the social and economic life of our neighbourhood and city.

Toward this ambitious goal, we serve more than 20,000 people each year.

Help us make our city a great place to live for everyone.

Here is the link to their website.

If you don’t live in the Hamilton area please think about knitting for an agency in your community.

Coming in November

We will have a new book in the store on November 19th. I will put the book online for preorder at the beginning of November.

Worsted – A Knitwear Collection Curated by Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimée is a knitwear collection featuring 14 patterns by 10 incredible designers. The designers all have their unique style and speak to many kinds of knitters. Now they come together to form a beautifully cohesive collection. You can find garments such as sweaters and cardigans and accessories like shawls and hats, with techniques ranging from stripes and stranded colourwork to cables and textured stitch patterns.

Photos © Laine

I am a huge fan of Norah Gaughan and her design in the book is amazing.

More coming soon. That is a theme right now. Our suppliers are waiting on shipments and all we can do is be patient. The new Lykke Cypra needles have arrived in port in New York and Lykke is waiting for them to be delivered. I will be adding these to the website in the next few days for preorder.

Coming soon, LYKKE "CYPRA" interchangeable knitting needles! Believed to have health benefits and antibacterial properties, these copper needles can be allowed to patina over time for a set that's beautifully unique. You'll love working with Cypra.

Patinas for a unique look.

Can be polished back to it's original luster.

Available in 3.5" and 5" interchangeable sets.

 

Happy Birthday Boscoe. 2 years old. He is a great dog (most of the time 😘). We love him and we’re going to keep him for a while longer.

Spoiler

It’s Thursday night and I’m not finished Clue #2. Clue #3 comes out tomorrow morning. Yikes, I need to get knitting.

Right now it is long rows of knitting, purling and slipping stitches. Somehow this makes it feel like the shawl is growing faster than the wedges at the beginning.

The I-Cord loops took a long time. I can tell you that by the end of them I might have had a few choice words for Stephen but now that I’m looking at the shawl they look cool.

Now a few more rows before bed. I hope to get myself caught up over the weekend.

Skylights

Sarah has a beautiful new sweater. This is Skylights by Tanis Lavallee (pattern purchased on Tanis’ website).

Can a sweater be light and drapey while at the same time being cozy and chunky? I think this sweater design proves that the answer to that question is a resounding YES! I really went for it with the design details, combining lace, cables, nupps, a wide neckline, an oversized fit and of course those statement puff sleeves! Knit at a loose gauge to create flattering drape, this sweater practically knits itself. You’ll be wearing your new favourite sweater before you know it!

I did the first size. 

I knit the body and part of an arm in one ball of Akari and ended the neck with about 5 meters of the third ball of mohair left. I have a 4th ball that I didn’t start. I knit the sleeves slightly longer so I’d get 4 balls of mohair if you want the body longer or are worried you’ll run out. 

This is sweater was knit in a week! It is such a fun sweater if you need a break from knitting something more intricate or just need an inspirational boost! Instant gratification. Akari is beautiful yarn and so soft! It feels like you are wearing a cloud! 

I like the added mohair as well. I chose a colour that blends well but I think it would have been fun to mix in a mohair with some extra colour! 

Oh and I did the Jenny super stretchy bind off as I can’t seem to get the tubular bind off to be my friend lol!  

Sometimes knitters have colour bias when they see a finished garment. They need to knit it in the colour that was pictured. I switched the photos to black and white so you will pick the colour that you like the best.

The yarn is Akari from Noro and Biches & Buches Le Petit Mohair & Silk. This will make a chunky weight yarn. When Tanis says you need 800 yards for the smallest size that means 800 yards of each yarn.

For the Mohair & Silk I would suggest choosing Light Grey, Grey Beige or Off White. The colours are light and don’t fight with the Akari.

Lynn and I photographed all the balls of Akari this afternoon and updated the website. I think that this will show the colours better.

Photos © Andrea Mowry

Andrea Mowry published a new pattern yesterday. This is Stria - pattern purchased on Andrea’s website. (Not the shawl so I’m hoping that’s coming next week.)

Thanks to being able to connect virtually, many of us who used to knit alone have now made friends far and wide to knit with! The Instafriends KAL celebrates this every fall by gathering virtually to knit together. This year I wanted a “go-with-everything” cardigan that is welcome over dresses or T-shirts or under overalls. An easy-to-wear, maximum squishiness, stripes for all occasions cardi! This sweater is worked from the top down, seamlessly. The sleeve stitches are put on hold while the body is finished and then returned to the needle. You can, of course, modify it to have any length body or sleeves. Do take into account that modifications will affect the yardage required, and if length is added to the body, you may want to add an extra button/buttonhole. 

Here is the link to #instafriendskal2021.

The cardigan is knit in fingering weight so your options are endless. On Ravelry a few people have used Dyed in the Wool for the stripes. Another thought is Noro Silk Garden Sock. I would use one colour of Dyed in the Wool or Silk Garden Sock and let the yarn make the stripes for you.

Frank

Meet The Frank Shawl - a new pattern from Joji.

A very easy and stunning shawl, inspired by the work of artist Frank Stella, this design is a study in geometry.  

Triangular pieces are assembled together to create a spectacular wrap with a unique shape that is both beautiful and stunning to wear, with many tips, all in different shades. 
I played with a gradient of grays, and my favorite color, gold, to give this shawl a vintage vibe. 

The Frank Shawl is constructed as 3 triangular sections, joined together when working the last one of them. 

The shape of this shawl is very intriguing. I purchased the pattern and can’t wait to try it. Wait, I have a few projects ahead of me. This might be a good project for Lynda. 

Joji says that the pattern is for a beginner knitter. I have read through the instructions and you need to know

• Knit
• Slip one
• Make 1 right
• Make 1 left
• Yarn over
• SSK
• K2tog 

Photos © Joji Locatelli

Joji used 4 colours of Madelinetosh Merino Light. I had fun playing with colours this morning. Kits are available online and in the store.

The pattern is available on Joji’s website.

As I’m writing I’m flipping between baseball, football and hockey. Beth and Jackson are out for a walk - I hope they hurry. 

I’m on Section 4 of Clue #1 on my MKAL. It’s time to knit.