Currently Working On

It's been a while since I showcased what I've been working on, since it was all about the new Knitbot Store there for a little while. recently finished projects:

a bag for me

a quilt for friends

works in progress:

seedlings (my first ever!)

embroidery

tailoring my two wheeler dress - scary!

materials:

my cat knocks a tower of fabric away every day so she can sleep in her favorite spot - I insist on keeping the fabric there anyway

from sew deerly loved

from phat fabric

my next design project - if you're reading this Amy, I promise I've started working on it!

what is everyone else working on?

Featured Yarn: Canopy Fingering

Long time followers of mine know that I have always been a huge fan of The Fibre Company yarns.  Kate of Kelbourne Woolens posted an interview with me if you want to read more about my history with the yarn. Canopy Fingering is one of the two yarns I currently have for sale in the knitbot store, either as part of a kit or individually.

I want to let you what is so special about this yarn and why it might be a good choice for your Wispy or Featherweight Cardigans.

Canopy Fingering is 50% Baby Alpaca, 30% Merino and 20% Bamboo. It is a 3 ply yarn with a smooth texture and a medium-twist.  The recommended gauge is 32-36 sts over 4 inches, but for Wispy and Featherweight you can knit it on US 6 or 7 needles and achieve a gauge of 24 x 36 over 4 inches.

Like all of the Fibre Company Yarns, Canopy Fingering has a decent alpaca content, which adds a ton of softness, drape and warmth.  The merino adds warmth and softness.  The bamboo, unique to the Canopy lines, adds sheen and drape to the yarn, and produces a unique subtle heathery dye effect.

Though Wispy and Featherweight were specifically designed for lace weight yarn, as mentioned you can get the same gauge with a fingering weight yarn such as Canopy.  The added weight will be nice for knitters who don’t want their cardi, well, quite so whispery. In it’s beautiful earth tones it could easily become your favorite cardigan, going with everything in your wardrobe.  It’s unique blend will make it comfortable year round.  I wore a hat knit out of Canopy worsted to the beach last August!

Colors currently available in the knitbot store:

Yerba Mate

River Dolphin

Quetzal

Ginger

Coqui

Chiclet Tree

$13/ skein

200 yards

Shop Canopy Fingering

Wispy vs. Whisper

(Whisper photos copyright Interweave Knits)

I wanted to highlight the differences between Wispy and Whisper, as several knitters have asked.

1. Wispy has straight sleeves instead of flared.

2. There is 1.5" of rib at the cuffs and bottom edge.

3. Many knitters had trouble knitting Whisper's sleeves in the round.  When using double point needles, it is hard to avoid ladders because of the loose gauge.  This can be solved by using two circular needles or a 12" circular needle, but this wasn't a good option for every knitter.  The instructions for Wispy are written to knit the sleeves flat and then seam them.  Don't worry, it's a pretty short seam.  However, you can easily knit them in the round, there's no shaping it's just 1.5" of rib and then stockinette stitch.  After you cast on, join to work in the round and proceed, placing a marker at the beginning of the round of course.

4. Wispy comes in more sizes, including children's sizes!  I look forward to seeing the smaller versions you come up with as I haven't had a chance to make one yet, though I plan to, I already cast on in malabrigo lace Lettuce.

Still have questions?  Leave them in the comments below and I will answer them.  Later this week there will be print copies of Wispy and Featherweight available for purchase outside of the kit if you prefer a print pattern to the electronic download.

Enjoy your Monday, everyone!