Tuuli designed a lovely shawlette to use up all those left overs. Be creative with the stripes or knit up the shawlette using two or three colours.
Yarn
140 g of Eco Cashmere DK in various colours. The sample shawl was knitted with Kiruna (main colour, used 60 g), Alta (white, used 15 g), Levi (green, used 20 g), Whiskey (red-brown, used 15 g), Inari (light blue, used 15 g) and Ivalo (pink, used 15 g). Each pompom used approximately 2 g of yarn.
Needles and notions
4.5 mm / US 7 circular needle or needle size to obtain gauge
Measuring tape, darning needle, pompom maker
Gauge
14 sts x 25 rows 10 x 10 cm/ 4 x 4 inches in garter stitch
Abbreviations
k knit
kfb knit into front and back of the same stitch
m1l with the left needle pick up the bar between stitches from front to back, knit into the back of the lifted bar
m1r with left needle pick up the bar between stitches from back to front, knit into the front of the lifted bar
PM place marker
ssk slip two stitches one at a time as if to knit, slip them back onto left hand needle, knit slipped stitches together through back loops
sl1 wyif slip one stitch with yarn in front
st(s) stitch(es)
INSTRUCTIONS
With main colour cast on 7 sts.
Row 1 (RS): sl2 wyif, k1, m1l, k1, m1r, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif
Row 2 (WS): k1, sl1 wyif, k4, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif
Row 3 (RS): k1, sl1 wyif, k1, kfb, k1, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif
Row 4 (WS): k1, sl1 wyif, k1, k5, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif
Row 5 (RS): k1, sl1 wyif, k1, kfb, k to last 3 sts, k1, sl1 wyif, k1
Rows 6-8: k1, sl1 wyif, k1, k to last 3 sts, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif
Repeat Rows 5-8 until you have 15 sts on the needles. Work from now on 4 rows with contrast colour and for rows with main colour. You can change the contrast colour after every two stripes as in the sample shawlette or use your own stripe sequence. When the shawlette is approximately 30 cm/ 12 inches wide and the next stripe is knitted with main colour, work four rows without increases.
Rows 9-11: k1, sl1 wyif, k1, k to last 3 sts, k1, sl1 wyif, k1
Row 12 (WS): k1, sl1 wyif, k1, k to last 5 sts, ssk, sl1 wyif, k1, sl1 wyif
Repeat Rows 9-12 until you have 15 sts left on the needles. Continue to only with main colour until you have 7 sts left. Bind off sts and weave in ends. Make 5 pompoms (diameter approximately 4 cm/ 1.6 inches) and attach them on the lower edge of the shawlette.
Wishing you lovely knitting time,
Tuuli and Joanna
]]>If you don't have a dog or a cat who steals and somewhat destroys your yarn, the potholders are a fantastic way to use up all the leftovers you have which aren't enough to knit anything usable. In the picture the larger potholder is before felting and the smaller after.
Happy knitting,
Joanna
FELTED POTHOLDER PATTERN
Size
Before felting app. 22x22 cm/ 8.75x8.75 inches, after felting app. 19x19 cm/ 7.5x7.5 inches
Yarn
40 g of Eco Cashmere (100% Cashmere of which 50% is recycled; 150 m/ 164 yds per 50 g), the sample potholder was knitted with colourways Alta and Nero.
Gauge
Gauge is not crucial for this project, mine was 14 sts x 26 rows in garter stitch
Needles
8.00 mm/ US 11 circular or straight needles
Notions
Darning needle
Instructions
With yarn held doubled, CO 30 sts with long tail cast on.
Row 1: Slip 1 stitch with yarn in front, knit 1, slip one stitch with yarn in front, knit to last 2 stitches, slip 1 stitch with yarn in front, knit 1.
Repeat Row 1 until the potholder is a square or until desired length. Bind off all sts loosely and weave in ends.
Felting
You can felt the potholder multiple ways - by hand, in the washing machine or in the dryer.
If felting by hand or in the dryer, wet the potholder throughly with hot water and add generously soap or dish washing liquid and agitate the potholder a bit. If you use the dryer, rinse the potholder, put it in the dryer in a laundry bag with dryer tennis balls and wet a towel or two, depending on their size, and put them in the dryer too. If you don't have a laundry bag or dryer balls, heavy wet towels will do the trick also. Put the dryer on high setting and let it run (checking the potholder now and then) until the potholder has felted to your liking.
If you will felt the potholder by hand, it's good to use some rubber gloves to protect your hands. Keep the potholder wet and add soap or dishwashing liquid if necessary and start rubbing, beating, rolling, bashing, agitating etc. the potholder so long that it has felted to the size you want.
If you use the washing machine, put the potholder in a laundry bag and put some heavy towels to the washing machine with it. Use around 60 C/ 140 F temperature and the highest spin setting your machine has and start the machine.
When the potholder has been felted, shape it if needed and let dry flat.
]]>
I just finished part 1 of my summer holiday and haven't knitted that much, the Eco Cashmere hanks are giving me some dirty looks every time I walk past their nesting box - they want to end their hank-phase and become the jumpers, hats and mittens I've told them they will be. Well, as long as the warm weather continues, in hank form they shall remain. One has to take advantage of the warm weather so I have been washing rugs, bedding, curtains, throws, knitwear, sofa covers, dogs, rugs again and so on. And loitered around and enjoyed the summer.
In the previous blog post I talked about swatching and knitting a baby hat is an excellent, fast little knit you can use for swatching for knitting in the round. I've knitted mine in basic stockinette stitch and added one round stripes to keep my interest going. A small item like this is an excellent way to get some use for those leftovers which are lurking around. You can add more stripes, knit the hat in colour blocks, add any texture adjusting the stitch count if necessary.
Happy knitting and if you happen to be in US, have a lovely 4th of July!
xxx,
Joanna
Sizes
To fit head size 33-38 (38-43, 43-48, 48-53 cm/ 13-15 (15-17, 17-19, 19-21) inches
Yarn
20 (20, 30, 40) g of Eco Cashmere (100% Cashmere of which 50% is recycled; 150 m/ 164 yds per 50 g), the sample hat was knitted with colour ways Kiruna and Inari.
Needles & notions
3.5 mm/ US 4 and 4.5 mm/ US 7 (80 cm/ 32 inches or longer for magic loop) circular needle, or DPNs or size to obtain gauge
markers, tapestry needle for weaving in ends
pompom maker or ready made pompom
Gauge
20 sts x 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm/ 4 x 4 inches stockinette stitch with larger needles after blocking
BRIM
CO 64 (72, 88, 96) sts with smaller needles with long tail CO or with your preferred method. Join to work in the rnd being careful not to twist the sts and place BOR marker to indicate beginning of the rnd.
Rnd 1: *k2, p2; rep from * to end of rnd
Repeat Rnd 1 until the brim measures 3 (3, 4, 4) cm/ 1.5 (1.5, 2, 2) inches measured from the CO edge.
BODY
Change to larger needles.
Rnd 1: k all sts
Repeat Rnd 1 until hat measures approximately 10.5 (12, 14, 16.25) cm/ 4.25 (4.75, 5.5, 6.5) inches.
CROWN
Rnd 1: *k2, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd; 48 (54, 66, 72) sts
Rnds 2-4: k all sts
Rnd 5: *k1, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd; 32 (36, 44, 48) sts
Rnds 5-7: k all sts
Rnd 8: *k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd; 16 (18, 22, 24) sts
Rnd 9: k all sts
Rnd 10: *k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd; 8 (9, 11, 12) sts
Cut yarn and pull it through the remaining sts tightly and thread the needle through to the inside of the hat. Weave in ends and block. Attach a pompom if desired.
]]>
Thankfully when you knit a lot, you kind of know what you're doing and it's not mega crucial to knit a large swatch. And as many of you know, swatches do lie, especially when knitting a larger item like jumper or shawl. Because of this, when I'm uncertain how the yarn will behave when knitting a jumper or cardigan, I block it while it's on the needles just before sleeve separation to see if the fit will be ok. With shawls and wraps I don't find this necessary as you can affect the size quite a bit while blocking the finished item.
Knitting flat vs. in the round quite often gives you a different gauge and the circumference of the item when knitting in the round also might affect the gauge - at least I knit tighter with small circumference like sleeves. To compensate the gauge difference, I tend to go up with the needle size for sleeves. Knitting a simple baby hat can also be a good sample, if you don't have any babies to gift it I'm sure there are charities close to you who would be happy to receive it.
Because this blog post needed a picture, I had to call Tuuli, Nordic Yarn's another designer to help out, she does things properly and knits a lot of swatches, as you can see from the picture, those swatches are just a fraction of her vast swatch stash!
There are tons of advice for how to swatch, but I recommend you to find the way that suits you and keeps knitting enjoyable. There might be some mishaps along the way, but you can always frog. Or not, but that's another story. Anyways, hope you're enjoying the summer and knitting!
xxx, Joanna
]]>
The weather has been getting warmer and warmer and we even had a short heatwave over here in Finland. Now it's back to a bit cooler temperatures and lot of rain so we still have excellent knitting season going on. During the summer I tend to knit lots of hats, mittens and socks as they are small projects which are easy to take with you to the beach or a trip. Also summer tends to be a quite busy season especially if you live in a detached house - my garden requires a lot of time and the house is trying to hint that it would love to have a new layer of paint - so easy, fast knitting projects are satisfying to work with.
I designed a set for easy summer knitting and to use up some of those left overs. I hope you enjoy them, they certainly are my little German Spitz Pixi's (pictured with Tia wearing the set) favourites. Thankfully Pixi loves only to carry them around, so don't have to knit a new hat or mittens every other week!
With 2 hanks of Eco Cashmere in two colours of your choice you can knit both the Pala-hat and Palat-mittens in sizes S and M, for size L you will need a 10-15 g more of main colour.
Happy knitting and stay warm!
Joanna
Sizes
S, M, L, to fit head size 50-52, 54-56, 56-60 cm/ 20, 22, 24 inches
Yarn
40 g of Eco Cashmere in MC and 10 g in CC (100% Cashmere of which 50% is recycled; 150 m/ 164 yds per 50 g). Sample shown in colourways Pallas (MC) and Nero (CC).
Needles
3.75 mm/ US 5 circular needle or double-pointed needles for brim
4.5 mm / US 7 circular needle or needle size to obtain gauge
4.5 mm / US 7 double-pointed needles (or needle size to obtain gauge) for crown if not worked with the magic loop technique
Gauge
20 sts x 30 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches in stockinette st on larger needles after blocking
Notions
Darning needle
Tape measure
Brim
CO with CC 96 (104,112) sts with smaller needles with long tail CO or with your preferred method. Join to work in the rnd being careful not to twist the sts and PM to indicate beginning of rnd. Cut yarn and join MC.
Rnd 1: k all sts
Rnd 2: *k1, p1; rep from * to end of rnd
Repeat Rnd 1 until brim measures 3 cm/ 1.25 inches from CO edge.
Body
Change to larger needles.
Rnd 1: k all sts
Repeat Rnd 1until the body measures approximately 17 cm/ 6.75 inches from the CO edge. Cut MC and join CC. Repeat Rnd 1 until hat measures approximately 21 cm/ 8.25 inches.
Crown
Rnd 1: *k2, k2tog; rep from * to the end of rnd; 72 (78, 84) sts
Rnds 2-4: k all sts
Rnd 5: *k1, k2tog; rep from * to the end of rnd; 48 (52, 56) sts
Rnds 6-7: k all sts
Rnd 8: *k2tog; rep from * to the end of rnd; 24 (26, 28) sts
Rnd 9: k all sts
Rnd 10: *k2togl; rep from * to the end of rnd; 12 (13, 14) sts
Bind off
Break yarn and pull it through the remaining sts tightly. Weave in ends. Place the hat in lukewarm water and let it soak thoroughly. Gently squeeze out the excess water. Place on a towel and roll in to remove further moisture. Lay on flat surface and let dry completely.
Sizes
S (M, L), finished hand circumference approximately 16.5 (20, 23.5) cm/ 6.5 (8, 9.25) inches
Yarn
40 g of Eco Cashmere in MC and 10 g in CC (100% Cashmere of which 50% is recycled; 150 m/ 164 yds per 50 g). Sample shown in colourways Nero (MC) and Pallas (CC).
Needles
3.75 mm/ US 5 circular needle or double-pointed needles if not worked with the magic loop technique or needle size to obtain gauge
Gauge
22 sts x 34 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches in stockinette st after blocking
Notions
Darning needle
Tape measure
Cuff
CO with MC 36 (44, 52) sts with long tail CO or with your preferred CO method. Join to work in the rnd being careful not to twist the sts and PM to indicate the beginning of the rnd.
Rnd 1: *k2, p2; rep from * to end of rnd
Repeat Rnd 1 until cuff measures approximately 7.5 cm/ 3 inches. Divide sts on two needles so that you have 18 (22, 26) sts on both needles. Knit 6 rnds.
Gusset increases and separating thumb
The gusset increases are worked only on needle A, on needle B k all sts.
Right hand
Rnd 1: k15 (19, 23), PM, m1r, k to end of rnd
Rnd 2: k to M, SM, m1r, k to end of rnd
Repeat Rnd 2 until you have 17 (21) 25 sts after M.
Next rnd: k1, place next 14 (18, 22) sts on scrap yarn, CO 2 sts, RM, k to end of rnd; 20 (24, 28) sts on needle A
Next rnd: k all sts
Next rnd: ssk, k2tog, k to end of rnd; 18 (22, 26) sts on both needles
Continue to k all sts until the mitten reaches the bottom of your pinky finger nail. Cut MC and join CC. K all sts until the mitten just about covers your pinky finger and start decreases.
Left hand
Rnd 1: k3, m1l, PM, k to end of rnd
Rnd 2: k to M, m1l, SM, k to end of rnd
Repeat Rnd 2 until you have 17 (21) 25 sts before M.
Next rnd: k to M, RM, place next 14 (18, 22) sts on scrap yarn, CO 2 sts, k1; 20 (24, 28) sts on needle A
Next rnd: k all sts
Next rnd: k16 (20, 24), ssk, k2tog; 18 (22, 26) sts on both needles
Continue to k all sts until the mitten reaches the bottom of your pinky finger nail. Cut MC and join CC. K all sts until the mitten just about covers your pinky finger and start decreases.
Decreases (both hands)
Rnd 1: k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts on needle A, ssk, k1, k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts on needle B, ssk, k1Rnd 2: k all sts
Repeat Rnds 1-2 until you have 24 sts left, 12 sts on each needle. Repeat Rnd 1 only until you have 12 sts left, 6 sts on each needle. Cut yarn and BO sts with kitchener stitch.
Thumb (both hands)
Transfer the held sts on a needle. Starting form the middle of the CO sts, with MC pick up and knit 2 sts, k14 (18) 22 sts, pick up and knit 2 sts form the CO.
Rnd 1: k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1; 16 (20, 24) sts
Rnd 2: k all sts
Rnd 3: k2tog, k to 2 sts before end, ssk, 14 (18, 20) sts
Continue to work in the rnd in Stockinette st until thumb is just shy of the desired length.
Decreases
Rnd 1: k2tog (-, k2tog), *k1, k2tog; rep form * to end of rnd; 9 (12, 13) sts
Rnd 2: k all sts
Rnd 3: k1 (-, 1), *k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd; 5 (6, 7) sts
Cut yarn and pull yarn through the remaining sts tightly.
Finishing
Weave in ends and block.
ABBREAVIATIONS
CC: contrast colour
CO: cast on
k: knit
k2tog: knit two stitches together
m1l: with the left hand needle pick up the bar between the stitches from front to back, knit into the back of the lifted bar
m1r: with left needle pick up the bar between the stitches and knit into front of the lifted bar
MC: main colour
p: purl
PM: place marker
rep: repeat
RM: remove marker
rnd(s): round(s)
st(s): stitch(es)
Easter has strong religious connections still to this day but if we put the matters of belief aside, I think it's all around the world about bunnies, painted eggs, daffodils and lilies not forgetting chocolate eggs which are my favourite Easter treat. But most of all, it is a holiday in many countries and you get to spend some wonderful time with your family. Of course as this pandemic is still going strong, it might not be a family gathering for most of us but we can still give a call to our loved ones and be connected.
Every country has their own Easter traditions, here in Finland on Easter children dress up as little witches. They wear colourful clothes, cover their heads with scarves and with little freckles painted on their cheeks they go house to house carrying baskets and old coffee pots filled with decorated willow twigs wishing you a healthy year saying: “Virvon, varvon, tuoreeks terveeks, tulevaks vuodeks; vitsa sulle, palkka mulle.” As an exchange for the decorated willow twig they are expecting a small treat like chocolate eggs.
To have some Easter on your needles too, Tuuli has designed a cute Easter colourwork Munat-pattern (eggs in Finnish) for Fine Merino, perfect for those left overs and to try out stranded knitting if you're new to it. You can use thinner or thicker yarn if you want, this will obviously alter the size of the eggs.
Happy knitting,
Joanna and Tuuli
PATTERN INFO
Sizes
Height approximately 6-8 cm/ 2.5-3 inches.
Yarn
6-10 g of Fine Merino in two colours (100% Merino; 150 m/ 164 yds per 50 g).
Needles
2.50 mm / US 2 circular needle for Magic Loop or double pointed needles or needle size to obtain gauge
Notions
Darning needle
Tape measure
Marker
Toy stuffing or plastic eggs
INSTRUCTIONS
Cast on 6 sts with main colour, PM to mark beginning of the rnd. Join to work in the round.
Rnd 1: kfb x 6; 12 sts
Rnd 2: *kfb, k1; rep from * to end of rnd; 18 sts
Rnd 3: *kfb, k2; rep from * to end of rnd; 24 sts
Rnd 4: *kfb, k3; rep from * to end of rnd; 30 sts
Rnd 5: *kfb, k4; rep from * to end of rnd; 36 sts
For 6 cm/ 2.5 inch egg stop here and begin colourwork chart A. Work Rnds 1-5 from the chart.
Rnd 6: *kfb, k5; rep from * to end of rnd; 42 sts
Rnd 7: *kfb, k6; rep from * to end of rnd; 48 sts
For 8 cm/ 3 inch egg stop here and begin colourwork chart B or C. Work Rnds 1-16 from the charts.
Decreases
Charts B and C start here
Rnd 1: *k2tog, k6; rep from * to end of rnd; 42 sts
Rnd 2: k all sts
Rnd 3: *k2tog, k5; rep from * to end of rnd; 36 sts
Rnd 4: k all sts
Chart A start here
Rnd 5: *k2tog, k4; rep from * to end of rnd; 30 sts
Rnd 6: k all sts
Rnd 7: *k2tog, k3; rep from * to end of rnd; 24 sts
Rnd 8: k all sts
Cut yarn and thread it through the remaining sts. Weave in the ends inside the egg. Place the plastic egg inside or fill with toy stuffing, pull yarn tight and thread through the sts once more, cut yarn and weave in the end.
CHARTS
]]>Winter has decided to stay around a bit longer this year here in Finland so instead of spring gardening we are shovelling snow. It would be wonderful to see some of nature's luscious green already but we have to wait patiently. As St Patrick's day is tomorrow, one could suspect that the cranky leprechauns got bored mending shoes for other fairies and decided to use their magical powers and delay spring just for fun of it.
St. Patrick's Day is on March 17th and celebrates St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. The week around St Patrick's Day usually involves Irish speakers using more Irish during Seachtain na Gaeilge, the Irish Language Week. Since 2010, famous landmarks have been lit up in green on Saint Patrick's Day as part of Tourism Ireland's "Global Greening Initiative". The Sydney Opera House and Sky Tower in Auckland were the first ones to turn green in honor of St. Patrick and Ireland.
On Saint Patrick's Day, it is customary to wear shamrocks, green clothing or green accessories. It is said that the leprechauns cannot see green so if you don't cover yourself with green you're in risk of being pinched by a leprechaun. If you're lucky you might catch one and force him to tell where he has hidden his pot of gold. Or maybe you've caught a knitting trickster and he has a hidden a pot full of cashmere!
After a long winter one craves to see some green outside (besides the evergreens) so if the winter is persisting knit something green to wear and avoid getting pinched! Here's a free hat pattern Apila, which means shamrock in Finnish.
Happy St. Patrick's Day, kiss an Irishman if you can!
xxx,
Joanna
Sizes
One size, to fit head size 53-58 cm/ 21-23 inches.
Yarn
1 hank of Eco Cashmere (100% Cashmere of which 50% is recycled; 150 m/ 164 yds per 50 g). Sample shown is knit in colourway Levi.
Needles
4.5 mm / US 7 double-pointed needles or needle or needle size to obtain gauge
Gauge
17 sts x 28 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches in stockinette st after blocking
Notions
Darning needle
Tape measure
Abbreviations
CO cast on
k knit
p purl
pm place marker
psso pass slipped stitch over
rep repeat
rnd(s) round(s)
sl slip
ssk slip two stitches one at the time as if to knit, place
them back on left hand needle and knit together through
back loops
st(s) stitch(es)
tbl through back loop
BRIM
CO 96 sts with smaller needles with long tail CO or with your preferred method. Join to work in the rnd being careful not to twist the sts and pm to indicate beginning of rnd.
Rnd 1: *k5, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 2: *k2, p1, k2, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to end of rnd
Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until the body measures approximately 20 cm/ 8 inches from the CO edge or until the body is approximately 3 cm/ 1.25 inch less than desired length.
CROWN
Rnd 1: *ssk, k1, k2tog, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd; 72 sts
Rnd 2: *k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd
Rnd 3: *k3, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 4: *k1, p1, k1, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to end of rnd
Rnd 5: *sl1 knitwise, k2tog, psso, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd; 48 sts
Rnd 6: *k1, p1, k1tbl, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd
Rnd 7: *ssk; rep from * to the end of rnd; 24 sts
Rnd 8: k all sts
Rnd 9: *ssk; rep from * to the end of rnd; 12 sts
Rnd 11: k all sts
BIND OFF
Break yarn and pull it through the remaining sts tightly. Weave in ends. Place the hat in lukewarm water and let it soak thoroughly. Gently squeeze out the excess water. Place on a towel and roll in to remove further moisture. Lay on flat surface and let dry completely.
]]>This month I will talk about Nordic Yarn Baby Camel and give some ideas what to knit with it.
First, the yarn. Baby Camel is 100% baby camel and has 230 m/ 252 yds per 50 g hank and is fingering weight. Suitable needle size varies according what you are knitting but generally size 2.5-3 mm/ US 1.5-2.5 could be recommended. I have tried different needle materials and have found that I prefer metal tips as the yarn slides smoothly on them. If I would knit a garment or a shawl with Baby Camel I would go up with needle size, the lovely subtle halo ensures that the fabric does not look to open. Camels produce longer fibres than sheep, which results in a more durable finished product. And the bonus is that harvesting camel hair is done by hand so the humpies do not experience any discomfort, quite the opposite, they are happy to get rid of their old coats.
Secondly, what is Baby Camel suitable for? Well, for almost anything. It is absolutely fantastic yarn for garments, hats, cowls, shawls, wrist warmers and mittens; anything that comes in touch with your skin as camel wool fibre is finer than most merino sheep wool, making it often feel just as soft as cashmere. It would be especially suitable for thermal underwear as a camel’s hair is thermo-regulated and has both strong warmth retention and air permeability – this translates into warm yet breathable fabric. It would make fantastic wrist, ankle, shoulder etc. warmers for people suffering through the cold months. Surprise your grandparents with a lovely gift!
And don't forget the babies! Blankets, garments, accessories, whatever comes to your mind. You could also knit with two strands together to make extra warm but still light weight items to keep your baby warm and happy.
And, well, socks, not the most durable yarn for them as there is no man made fibre to strengthen the yarn but as I have a tendency to knit socks from almost any yarn I've made a pair, Baby Camel Socks. I use them as bed socks and as a liner for thicker wool socks on the very cold days and they have withheld fine with the light use.
February's free knitting pattern is Kaneli (cinnamon in Finnish) Hat, a basic slouchy with rolled edge, perfect for late winter and early spring.
Sizes
S (M), to fit head size 50-52 (54-56) cm/ 20 (22) inches
Yarn
1 ball of Baby Camel (100% baby camel; 230 m/ 251.5 yds per 50 g).
Needles
2.75 mm / US 2.5 and 3.25 mm / US 3 circular needle or double pointed needles or needle size to obtain gauge
Gauge
30 sts x 40 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches in stockinette st after blocking
Notions
Darning needle
Tape measure
Markers
Brim
With smaller needles CO 124 (132) sts with long tail CO or with your preferred method. Join to work in the round being careful not to twist the sts and PM to indicate the beginning of the round. Knit 6 rnds.
Rnd 1: *k2, p2; rep from * to end of rnd.
Repeat Rnd 1 until brim measures approximately 3 cm/ 1.25 inches including the rolled edge.
Change to larger needles and knit all sts until the hat measures approximately 21 cm/ 8.25 inches.
Crown
Rnd 1: *k2, k2tog; rep from * to end of rnd; 93 (99) stsRnd 11: k all sts
Break yarn and pull it through the remaining sts tightly. Weave in ends.
FINISHING
Place the hat in lukewarm water and let it soak thoroughly. Gently squeeze out the excess water. Place on a towel and roll in to remove further moisture. Lay on flat surface and let dry completely.
Abbreviations
CO cast onBy this date I have knitted quite many meters of Eco Cashmere so thought to talk a bit about this luxury Italian cashmere yarn itself and give some ideas what to knit with it.
First, the yarn. Eco Cashmere has 150 m/ 164 yds per 50 g hank so it would be generally be classified as sport weight yarn if looking only at the length per grams. But because how Eco Cashmere is spun it is DK weight as you can knit it with larger needles than sport weight yarn. It is also suitable for worsted weight patterns due the loftiness. For hat bodies and garments I use size 4.5 mm/ US 7 needles, the brims have to be knitted with smaller needles and I have found that size 3.75 mm/ US 5 works great. For items where more drape is wanted, like shawls and wraps, I use size 5 mm/ US 8 needles. What needle size to use is of course quite a personal preference as everyone has their personal knitting “hand writing”.
When it comes to what kind of needles to use I have found that I prefer metal tips instead of bamboo or wood with Eco Cashmere. Cashmere does not have the same memory as for example as merino wool so it does not spring back that well. This has to be remembered when knitting items which need to hold their shape and use smaller needles than usual if necessary. Blocking Eco Cashmere is a bliss, it dries unbelievably fast.
Secondly, what is Eco Cashmere suitable for? Well, for almost anything. It is absolutely fantastic yarn for garments, hats, cowls, shawls, wrist warmers and mittens; anything that comes in touch with your skin as cashmere is soft as puppy paws and does not make your skin itch. It is great for baby garments also for this reason, but of course you must take into account that it is not machine washable so maybe not knit bibs and diaper covers with it. As there is no man made fibre in Eco Cashmere it is not suitable for hard wearing items like socks.
That said, I will knit a pair of bed socks with Eco Cashmere as my freezing toes need some luxury warmth during the cold winter months. I am also dreaming of snuggling under an Eco Cashmere blanket, maybe if I start now I will have one by the end of this year! As Eco Cashmere is 50% recycled cashmere yarn, what ever you will be knitting with it you will be creating sustainable fashion with your needles!
Speaking of cold weather, the temperature seems to be dropping again in Finland so here is January's free pattern.
Pipo hat which will keep your head warm during the cold winter months. Pipo hat is worked in the round from bottom up in soothing 2/2-rib holding Eco Cashmere doubled for extra warmth.
Sizes
S/M, M/L, to fit head size 52-56, 56-60 cm/ 20-22, 22-24 inches.
Yarn
2 hanks of Eco Cashmere (100% Cashmere of which 50% is recycled; 150 m/ 164 yds per 50 g). Sample shown is knit in colourway Alta.
Needles
6 mm / US 10 circular needle or needle size to obtain gauge
6 mm / US 10 double-pointed needles (or needle size to obtain gauge) for crown if not worked with the magic loop technique
Gauge
15 sts x 21 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches in 2x2 rib yarn held doubled after blocking
Notions
Darning needle
Tape measure
Ready made pompom or pompom maker (optional)
Abbreviations
CO cast on
k knit
p purl
PM place marker
p2tog purl two stitches together
rep repeat
rnd(s) round(s)
st(s) stitch(es)
Brim
With yarn held doubled CO 60 (68) sts with long tail CO or with your preferred method. Join to work in the rnd being careful not to twist the sts and PM to indicate beginning of rnd.
Rnd 1: *k2, p2; rep from * to end of rnd
Repeat Rnd 1until the body measures approximately 26 cm/ 10.25 inches from the CO edge or until the body is approximately 4 cm/ 1.5 inches less than desired length.
Crown
Rnd 1: *k2, p2tog; rep from * to the end of rnd; 45 (51) sts
Rnds 2-3: *k2, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd
Rnd 4: *ssk, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd; 30 (34) sts
Rnds 5-6: *k1, p1; rep from * to the end of rnd
Rnd 7: *ssk; rep from * to the end of rnd; 15 (17) sts
Rnd 8: k all sts
Rnd 9: k1, *ssk; rep from * to end of rnd; 8 (9) sts
Bind off
Break yarn and pull it through the remaining sts tightly. Weave in ends. Place the hat in lukewarm water and let it soak thoroughly. Gently squeeze out the excess water. Place on a towel and roll in to remove further moisture. Lay on flat surface and let dry completely. Attach pompom after the hat is dry. Wear proudly!
We hope you enjoy this free hat pattern and our Eco Cashmere info. We would love to see your Pipo hats so don't forget to tag us on Instagram, our handle is nordic_yarn.
Best regards,
Joanna Ignatius
Designer at Nordic Yarn
]]>We thought it would be nice for everyone to get to know Tuuli, to learn more about her motivation and approach to her design work as one of the Nordic Yarn designers. Tuuli lives in Helsinki, Finland.
Tell me a bit about yourself?
I’m 57 years old passionate artisan. Really don’t know what else I could be as almost everyone in my extended family are artisans.
What is your earliest memory of knitting?
I learned how to crochet when I was around 6 years old. Next I got interested in cross stitch and embroidery. A couple of years later my mother and grandmother taught me how to knit a sock - I found it quite boring, knitting was so slow compared to crocheting! The needles were slippery and made odd tinkly sounds. The yarn was some horrible squeaky acrylic. I really couldn’t get my head around how to turn the heel.
How did you learn to knit?
Slowly! Learning how to purl was awfully difficult. In Finland we can choose between crafts and woodwork at school, I preferred woodwork. In my 20’s I decided it’s time to learn how to knit and with help from my mother-in-law I finally mastered to turn the heel. I have to admit I don’t like knitting sock to this day, thankfully I have an old school friend who keeps my sock drawer full.
When my kids were small I knitted for them and in my 30’s I started to study to become an artisan. During my studies I finally got the grip with knitting and found the vast possibilities of knitting.
Which needles you prefer to knit with?
My absolute favorite needles are either Addi’s metal and bamboo or Seeknits bamboo circular needles. For me it’s important that the circular needles have a long and flexible cable as I use magic loop technique a lot. I prefer to knit everything with circular needles, I think I have around 100 of them! I might knit some swatches with DNP’s.
What is your favourite item to knit?
Jumpers and hats, definitely. Baby clothes are nice also, they are so fast to knit. I also enjoy darning, at some point I thought of becoming a professional darner.
Do you have any hobbies besides knitting?
Jogging, sewing and watching Netflix.
What do you do for relaxing?
Knit. I have always multiple WIP’s and some I never finish, but it doesn’t bother me. I have never made any rules for myself regarding knitting, if I don’t feel like knitting something, it will stay in the WIP basket, sometimes forever. I knit in meetings, bus, car, when visiting friends, you name it, basically everywhere where one can knit.
Where do you get inspiration for your designs?
Quite often the yarn itself is the inspiration, sometimes inspirations arises from a need. When I see an interesting stitch pattern I play around with it to see how I could incorporate it in a design. Quite often the inspiration is in the details - how to get increases, decreases and other construction details look beautiful. I might try different methods for days on a swatch.
How did you start designing knitwear?
A common friend of mine introduced me to Tia and it came up that they need some designs. I thought to give it a try. At first the actual pattern writing was a bit of a pain. At the moment I find grading the most time consuming part, Excel helps a bit with it. Best part of designing is the beginning - trying out different needles in various sizes, swatching different stitch patterns, getting ideas about the construction.
Is there any particular knitting techniques you love/dislike?
I love magic loop technique, I use it to all items which are knitted in the round. For items knitted flat I use circular needles also, they are so flexible compared to straight needles. I love different textures, stockinette stitch becomes quite boring after awhile. Seaming is something I try to avoid as much as possible! I also enjoy weaving in the ends and blocking, it is rewarding to finish the knitted item. Unraveling is still something I don’t do happily but have learned that it’s something that has to be done if the idea doesn’t work for some reason.
Do you ever have time to knit something for yourself?
Hats and scarfs, not bigger items. My kids, especially the youngest one, make wishes (a lot of them) what I could (should) knit for them. Knitting for the family, designing and daywork doesn’t leave too much time for knitting for myself.
How do you find Eco Cashmere yarn to knit with?
Eco Cashmere is really soft, light weight and warm to knit with, it slides smoothly on the needles. Cashmere behaves very differently from for example lambs wool - it isn’t stretchy and doesn’t spring back to form. This has to be taken into account when designing and knitting with cashmere yarn. After knitting with Eco Cashmere even the softest wool feels quite harsh for a moment. Most luxurious yarn!
Do you have an all time favorite finished knitting item?
I think it is always my last design, which is currently Arki jumper. I think I will develop the something new based on the design!
Do you have any knitting disasters?
Ask how many! I think the top one disaster is a large beanie knitted from unspun wool. I desperately tried to felt it in the washing machine but the result was more like a thick sided barrel which covered even your shoulders. I couldn’t even make a bag out of it as it was too stiff!
We are very lucky to have Tuuli on our team and hope she will be designing her beautiful patterns for us for years and years to come ❤️
]]>
Back in the 1960s, it was possible to buy used, high-quality wool clothes from Finland up to 50,000 kilos a year. Erik's mother had contacts in Finland and clothes were sent from Finland to Italy to the company owned by the couple. In Prato, the material was processed and resold. Over the years, clothing production moved out of Finland and less and less material was coming to Italy. When Erik's father died of cancer, the mother returned to Finland with her two sons.
Erik grew up and just like his father, he also met a beautiful Finnish woman, Tia. Her mother was working in the Finnish State Department, her stepfather was Italian and their home language was French. They lived all over Europe and in The United States, and Tia got to know different cultures and languages. When she met Erik, she had just moved back to Finland from Venezuela and was studying international business and marketing. Their eyes met in a restaurant owned by Erik in Helsinki, and there was no going back. They found out that their backgrounds, education, and skills fit together. They started creating a new kind of thread of life, together.
-I am really proud of our yarns. When we started, we were the only company in the world that made cashmere yarn this way. Today, our competitors’ yarns are of different types, they are thicker and the fibers are short. The knitwear does not become very durable. Our yarns are by far better quality.
The raw material is recycled and half of it is cashmere goat’s virgin wool from Mongolia. Nordic Yarn buys wool from nomadic tribes whose goats are not intensively produced, says Erik. - We know where the wool comes from so accurately that we could nearly point out the exact goat. Our criteria is very precise.
Part of the yarn’s recycled raw material is second hand clothing. Some of it comes from surplus material from the large fashion houses like Versace, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy or Arman. We do not break the fiber and repaint the material. Our color technicians manufacture the yarn color according to the original material. Only the new virgin wool will be dyed with eco-friendly colors. They are always sought in exactly the same shade.
-So if you knit from Nordic Yarn’s yarn, you will also knit in high fashion. And compared to a brand new yarn, we use 73% less water and about 50% less electricity. We also do not use harsh chemicals. So our carbon footprint is much smaller, Tia says.
Prato has the world's best expertise in the field. Nordic Yarn's colors are carefully designed by a color technician. The yarn is spun mechanically, but the coils are made by hand. Each tangle maker has their own unique style.
At first, Erik and Tia acted as agents for other Italian yarn companies. -We traveled around Europe and also went to St. Petersburg. I knew about five words of Russian, but even so we managed to get a few big clients, Tia laughs. The couple's daughter Valentina was still a toddler when Erik and Tia wanted to start something of their own after working for others.
-We were wondering how we could combine our own sales and marketing and Erik’s experience in the textile recycling. Erik's name had a good reputation in Prato's yarn spinning mills. There is hardly a textile industry in Finland anymore, so I was wondering what the Finns would need: yarn, of course, as many knit warm accessories and clothes. Even the primary school kids already know the basics of knitting, Tia smiles. The couple eventually ended up making their own yarn.
-We didn't want to make the same sock yarn that the world is already full of. We wanted to sell high-quality yarn, which must also include sustainable values. We ordered various yarn samples from Erik’s acquaintances and decided to focus on cashmere especially for ecological reasons. I also saw sustainability as a marketing asset and a future trend. And this is exactly what has happened. Now, in addition to cashmere yarn, we also have 100% camel wool yarn and merino wool yarn. They also take into account both quality and sustainable development, Tia says.
At some point of their lives, the couple began to feel like they would get along better as coworkers rather than a married couple. After divorcing, they decided to set up a limited company and work full time for their business. -It must have seemed crazy to others. After some growing pains, everything started to work out. The company is like another child to us, Erik and Tia describe.
These days, Erik has a girlfriend and Tia is about to marry her Maltese fiancé Sebastian in 2021. -We are all good friends, and often have dinner together. Divorce in Italy is usually dramatic, the Italians find our situation uncommon and consider it very modern, Tia says.
The year 2020 has brought new kinds of challenges, but also a lot of good. During the covid pandemic, people have been into home made things - home baking has been so popular that the stores have run out of yeast and yarns started flying off the shelves.
-The trend is visible over the world. We can’t say that covid is the only reason. But we’ve got feedback from customers saying that getting a yarn package delivered to their home cheers them up. An eco-yarn that exudes luxury, our lovely cashmere takes knitting to the next level. People knit something completely different than socks with our yarn. An English nurse wrote us telling how tough everyday life has been. She said she was having two days off, and she was going to focus on knitting cashmere yarn jumper and wanted to thank us, Erik says.
-I’ve probably knitted two pairs of socks and a collar in my life. The shoemaker’s children go barefoot. I divide my time between the company and family life. I’m going to add knitting in my routine though, Tia says. I’m really proud of our yarn. When we started, we were the only company in the world making yarn of 50% virgin wool and 50% second hand cashmere yarn.
All Nordic Yarn designers are Finnish. The company wants to proudly highlight being Finnish and Nordic. Two of the designers live in Finland and one in Italy. -Our company is growing steadily. In the future, we want to become a household name. We are strong in the US and Canadian markets right now. We maintain our line, but we are also expanding our product range. I would also like to do another type of good that's related to doing by hand and well-being, Tia emphasizes.
-Our company is more than just a thread, it's also a thread of life. For example, both the well-being of cashmere goats in Mongolia and the well-being of people, such as helping a cancer patient through cashmere headgear, are important to us. This has touched Erik personally. -My mother suffered from cancer and wore a headdress knitted from cashmere yarn when there was no more hair, Erik says.
In Italy, there is nowhere near as much knitting as in the North. - Young women may still think that knitting is for grandmothers. In Finland, on the other hand, young hipsters, including men, have been knitting by hand for years. The same trend is in England and the United States. In New York, all fashionistas knit. Knitting has experienced a new rise. We’ve got a lot of really good feedback about our yarns, and we’re proud of our products. They are a matter of our hearts, Tia and Erik rejoice.
The holiday season is approaching fast and there seems to be still
so much to do, especially knitting. I do recall myself making a
promise last year that next year I’ll sort out all the holiday
stuff well beforehand and don’t leave things to the last minute.
Planning is half of the work, they say so hey, I can congratulate
myself for executing at least half my task!
But I think I’m not alone with this problem. I’m sure there is at
least a couple of knitters trying franticly finish the gift
knitting somewhere in between work, family, holiday shopping, gift
wrapping, decorating and cooking. I have still two hats to knit
and made the decision that two pairs of socks will be a New Years
gifts instead as lets face it, there aren’t enough hours to get
everything done.
Next week I will enjoy the holiday season without rush, enjoy
food, watch some movies and knit brainless stuff. Be with my
family and loved ones, go for long walks with the dogs and knit
more brainless stuff.
I designed a fast and easy free knitting pattern for you. It is
called Sydän, which means heart in Finnish. You can attach them to
gifts, use them to decorate table settings, knit multiple hearts
to make a garland or just give one to your loved one.
Wishing you lots of heartwarming moments on this holiday season!
xxx, Joanna
SYDÄN PATTERN
6-8 g of Nordic Yarn Eco Cashmere, the sample heart was knitted
Abbreviations
cdd slip two stitches at the same time as to knit, knit one
stitch, pass slipped stitches over
k knit
kfb knit into front and back of the same stitch
k2tog knit two stitches together
p purl
PM place marker
RM remove marker
SM slide marker
ssk slip two stitches one at the time as if to knit, place
them back on left hand needle and knit together through
back loops st(s) stitch(es)
Instructions
Cast on 2 sts using long tail cast on method. Kfb into both sts, 4
sts. Slide the sts back to other end of needle, pull yarn tightly
at the back of the work, kfb into every sts, 8 sts. Join to work
in the round careful not to twist the sts.
Set up rnd: *k1, PM, m1r, k2, m1l, PM, k1; repeat from * once more
Rnd 1: k all sts
Rnd 2: *k1, SM, m1r, k to M, m1l, SM, k1; repeat from * once more
Repeat Rnds 1-2 until you have 44 sts. Knit four rnds.
At this point turn the work inside out and weave in the tail from cast on.
Next you will shape the top.
Rnd 3: k1, RM, ssk, k5, k2tog, RM, k1. Move the next 22 sts on a
holder. K1, RM, ssk, k5, k2tog, RM, k1, 18 sts on needles
Rnd 4: k all sts
Rnd 5: k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1, 14 sts
Rnd 6: k all sts
Rnd 7: k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, 10 sts
Rnd 8: k1, cdd, k2, cdd, k1, 6 sts
Cut yarn leaving 25 cm/ 10 inch tail. Sew to closed using
kitchener stitch.
Place the held 22 sts on needles. Join yarn and work Rnds 3-6.
Weave in the tail closing the gap between the tops. Stuff the
heart almost full. Work Rnds 7-8, add more stuffing if needed and
close the top using kitchener stitch. Thread the tail through the
heart to the bottom, pull tightly and cut yarn, the tail will
retract inside the heart.
You can sew on a ribbon, crochet or make an i-cord for a loop to
the centre top of the heart. You can also sew a jingle bell on the
bottom.