New Store Project: Groovy in Noro SGSS

Groovy

I just finished blocking our Groovy made with Noro Silk Garden Sock Solo.  The yarn is deceptively puffy, and we accidentally used the wrong needle size (3.5mm/US4) and it came out a bit too tight for my liking. You can go up a size or two, to 3.75mm or 4mm needles (US5 or 6) and it'll worked great!  The pattern was simple, not at all complex, well written and easy to follow. You can make your wrap/scarf deeper without doing math. The yarn is pretty, slightly tweedy, a slightly textured single ply. I tried blocking with both Soak and Eucalan and preferrred the Eucalan for this yarn - it makes it soft and pouffs it up. The garment is very flexible, it can be worn as a scarf, wrap or shawl, a great accessory for any wardrobe!

You'll Need:

• 2 skeins Noro Silk Garden Sock Solo (colour 9)
• 3.75mm/US5 or 4mm/US6 - 29" circular needles
• Row counter
• Pattern
• Eucalan (optional, for blocking)

SALE Noro Prism Kits

Prism Kits

I wear this shawl all the time in the store, so much in fact that we had to make a second sample for the store.  People are constantly asking me what it is and how to make it. It's a free pattern from Ravelry, and is really easy - the yarn does all the work. Our samples were made with two skeins of Noro Silk Garden Sock in two colourways: one main colour and one contrast colour (you can also use Noro Silk Garden Sock Solo for the contrast colour). The colours are carried up the side and alternated every other row - no cutting yarn, no weaving in endless ends.  Added bonus, it's on sale until the end of May!

Kits includes:

• 2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden Sock (or Noro Silk Garden Sock Solo)
• pattern

Kit does NOT include:

• 3.75mm/US5-32" (or longer) circular needles
• stitch markers

SHOP ONLINE HERE

New Store Project: Lala's Simple Shawl

Lala's Simple Shawl

Fresh off the blocking mat, we just finished up this shawl and it is great! The pattern is FREE, Lala's Simple Shawl. We made it extra big, and it is super cozy and a truly stunning wrap. I didn't realize that when triangular shawls are made really, really big, they don't really look very triangular when worn. 

Yarn

We used the new Noro Kureopatora yarn and it was PERFECT! It's a single ply, woollen spun yarn, which means it's light, airy, and warm. It feels a bit coarse in the ball, but it softens up in your hands while knitting, and even more so after washing in Eucalan and blocking. It's also got amazing yardage, we only needed 3 skeins to make this great big wrap! Oh, and the yarn is on SALE until the end of May!  If you want a Summer friendly version you can substitute 4 skeins of Noro Taiyo (also on sale).

Pattern

The pattern (Lala's Simple Shawl) is definitely beginner/novice friendly, so much so that I got a little bored and threw in a few modifications: 

• Instead of increasing with a yarn over down the middle, we used a backwards loop cast on.
• I got bored with the stitch pattern and threw in some variety: see stitch & crossed stitch  (see our Ravelry page for the nitty gritty). 

Materials

• 3 skeins Noro Kureopatora, colour 1001 OR 4 skeins Noro Taiyo
• 5.5mm/US9-40" (or longer) circular needles
• 2 stitch markers

Crochet Day! FREE Augusta Shawl

Photos: Fairmount Fibers

Augusta Shawl

A simple something, light and easy for spring and summer. Use a light cotton like Cascade Ultra Pima Fine, which is easy to wear all year round, and crochet's like a dream, and won't break the bank. I think this pattern would also look amazing made with Freia Ombre Lace with it's gradual colour shift, or Schoppel Crazy Zauberball. 

• Cascade Ultra Pima Fine (7 skeins: 1 in each of 3 lightest colours, 2 in each of 2 darkest colours)
• 3.25mm/D hook (a 3.5mm/E hook would be fine too)
• FREE pattern

New Store Project: Rikochan

Photo: Knit-O-Matic

Rikochan

Rikochan is a very versatile spring & summer wrap, made for fun knitting and wearing. We made ours with Berroco Maya, an extremely soft, light and airy cotton yarn, perfect for all year wear. We made our Rikochan exactly to directions, used 7 skeins, but had the better part of a whole skein of each colour left over (you could cheat and get away with 5 skeins, it's a generously sized garment).

Materials

• Berroco Maya: 4 skeins in neutral colour (5601), 3 skeins in contrast colour (5652)
• 5mm/US8-29" circular needles (or longer)
• Pattern

Photo: Knit-O-Matic

Photo: Knit-O-Matic

Photos: Quince & Co.

New Project & Kit: Shibui Mix Shawl

Our lovely and prolific Rosie just finished this store sample, the Shibui Mix no. 3 Shawl, made with sumptuous Shibui Staccatto and Silk Cloud! 

I was planning it as a kit for the upcoming Toronto Knitter's Frolic (please don't forget to take our survey), but it was so lovely I dropped everything and immediately whipped up the kits and put them out. I don't know if the kits will last the month until to the Frolic, but I'm sure I'll come up with something else, equally wonderful and clever.

Kits are available in store and in our online store.

Shibui Mix no.3 Kit 

• Shibui Staccatto ( 2 skeins)
• Shibui Silk Cloud (1 skein)
• pattern: Shibui Mix no. 3 (free with the kit)

You'll also need:

• 5mm-29" circular needles (or longer)
• stitch marker
• 5mm crochet hook (optional)

At Shibui, sometimes two strands are better than one. They are very into combining yarns to create incredible aesthetic effects. This shawl alternates stripes of a single strand of Shibui Silk Cloud (silk & softest kid mohair) and two strands of luxe Shibui Staccatto (squishy silk + merino with a slight sheen) held with Shibui Silk Cloud. The overall effect is soft and airy, yet also geometric - very modern, elegant, and never boring.

New: Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Silk Single

Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Silk Single  $34.97

Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Silk Single is a hanka-hanka burnin' love! Seriously, it's GORGEOUS. It is a luxe blend or merino, cashmere, and silk, twisted into a lush single ply. It's completely worth the indulgence, and it's made in Canada too! You can use it for socks, shawls, wraps, caps,  sweaters, wristlets, and anything else you can dream of - it'll make anything stunning. 

• 75% Superwash Merino, 15% Cashmere, 10% Silk
• 100g/392m
• 2mm to 3mm needles
• Hand or machine wash, lay flat to dry
• Made in Canada

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Summer Knit-spiration: Wingspan

More summer knit-spiration ....

Wingspan

Wingspan is a really cute little scafy-wrap that only uses 1 skein of sock yarn! It looks equally great with self striping yarn or semi solids. You can make it I think it's both a great summer knit but also a great holiday gift - it's always nice to double end your knitting.  It's also an easy knit that has a little technical interest and isn't too-too boring, and travels extremely well. Plus, the pattern is a freebie! 

Suggested Yarns

• Noro Taiyo Sock  $19.97 x 1 
• Noro Silk Garden Sock  $19.97 x 1 or 2 
• Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball $20.97 x 1 

Make a larger version by using a thicker yarn:

• Noro Taiyo $19.97 x 2
• Noro Silk Garden $11.97 x 3

Make a lighter, airy version by using a lace weight yarn:

• Zephyr Lace Weight  $17.97ea x 1
• Malabrigo Merino Lace  $11.97ea x 1

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com

Summer Knit-spiration: Color Affection

What to knit in the Heat?

Color Affection

I love this shawl. I've been eyeing it since it started making the rounds on Pinterest, and now that it's taken off in the blogosphere I've been hearing a lot of good things about it ("Addictive" is my favourite). You can make it with sock or lace weight yarn, nothing heavy in the heat. It doesn't involve too much thought, but it isn't too boring either.  Me likey!

Suggested Yarns

• Fleece Artist Trail Socks  $17.97 ea x 3
• Dream in Color Smooshy  $25.97 x 3
• Zephyr Lace Weight  $17.97ea x 3
• Malabrigo Merino Lace  $11.97ea x 3
• Madeline Tosh Merino Light x 3

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com

New Free Pattern - Frolic Shawl

New Pattern - Frolic Shawl

We introduced this pattern at the DKC Knitter's Frolic last weekend and now we are making it available for everyone! It's a quick & satisfying little spring knit, and only uses  2 skeins of yarn: 1 Noro Taiyo and 1 Berroco Remix. 

To see the projects go to the Ravelry Page, or download it directly from our website.  

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

'Miserable' Wrap

I love, love, love this wrap!  It is knit up on very reasonably sized needles (5.5mm) and then felted by hand. Gorgeous! And it's a freebie!

Les Miserables

• 3 skeins Malabrigo Lace
• 5.5mm needles
• 8mm needles (for the edges)

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Locavore Sweater/Shawl Pins

'Locavore' Sweater/Shawl Pins - $38.50

These sweater/shawl pins are stunning, and the ethical consumer in you will love them too!  They are hand made by a Southern Ontario artisan from 100% domestic woods, which are usually salvaged. They come in 5 natural shades, varying from white/birch to the dark you see above. You can wear the stick alone or with the round thingy, and the stick is just pointy enough, so it won't ruin your knits. They're beautiful, sustainable, and ethical!

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com.

New Knit-O-Matic Pattern - Leaf lace Shawlette!

You've been asking for it and finally our Leaf Lace Shawlette pattern is live!  It only takes 1 skein of Casecade Eco+ Heathers, which is a very cost effective project at $20.50 a skein. Check it out on Ravelry, of come on over and try it on at the store! The pattern only costs $5.75 - that's only 38 cents per leaf!



Size
S/M (M/L)
Depth: Both sizes are 11”/25cm from neck to bottom edge
Length Neck Edge: approx 30(34)”
Length Bottom Edge: approx 78(88)”

Materials
1 skein Cascade Eco+, colour 2452, approx 350 (420)m of chunky weight yarn
6.0mm-24” circular needles
Small cable hook
7.5mm-29” circular needle (optional, for cast off)

Gauge
16 sts & 21 rows = 4”/10cm in stocking stitch

Notes

• Shawlette is worked back and forth on circular needles
• There is no chart for this pattern, as the details are too complicated. All the instructions are written.

Vogue Knitting Shawls & Wraps

 
Vogue Knitting Shawls & Wraps  $31.95
This book has spring shawl-spiration is spades! It consists of 40 shawl & wrap patterns previously published in Vogue Knitting magazine over the last 10 (or more) years. As you'd expect, there is lots of lace, some easy and some more involved. But it is a real mix of style so there are lots of things in it for everyone. There are bulky yarns, colour work, cables, big wraps, little wraps, high fashion stuff, traditional looks, and lots of women on windswept beaches. Shawls and wraps are one of those ubiquitous projects because you ALWAYS need one to wear to that fancy event and they are such a perfect gift because they always fit and look very impressive.

Some of my particular favourites (keeping in mind that I am not a lacy knitter):

• Reversible Cable Rib Shawl by Lily Chin (Brilliant! She is a smarty pants!
  
• Medallion Wrap by Norah Gaughan (for those of us too big to wear her fascinating Cabled Bolero that is also made in medallions)
  
• Trellis Lace Shawl (wow! so worth the work!)
• Pinwheel Shawl by Teva Durham
• Lace Cape by Pierrot (I don't know where i would wear a cape, but it is just so lovely)
• Leaf Lace Shawl (maybe not quite so long)
• Tuck Stitch Wrap
• Eyelet Wrap (perfect for hand dyed yarns!)
  

New Books: Nature's Wraptutre

Nature's Wraptutre: Contemporary Knitted Shawls - $29.95
This is a great little book! Shawls are a great medium sized project but the patterns are frequently very involved and call for super-fine yarns. Not this book, no cobwebs here! There is a variety of shalws & wraps and they are all straightforward and knitted in yarns substantially thicker than the normal gossamer. There are some lace stitches and cables involved in some of the projects but none are complicated and all are accessible to lace/cable novices. Finally, a shawl book for the rest of us! :-)