Living in this Orange Sweater

So, I don't know about you all, but I am pretty much living in the same limited range of clothing right now. My daughter is calling my daytime sweatpants my "pandemic day pants," and I have been mostly been cycling through different versions of PJs with layers depending on how chilly it is. But this sweater has been with me since that surprising snow storm that graced us that first weird weekend before we knew what was coming.

This orange Felix Pullover is like a cozy hug on our chilly mornings, and it's light as a feather. I love the color that our sweet Melissa helped me choose. It's nice and cheerful, but still heathered and interesting. My dear friend made one in the loveliest of deep bottle greens, which she is also pairing with sweatpants.

The pattern is an easy knit by a fabulous designer, and my size large only used 8 balls of Lopi, which we have in lots of great shades. Just give Sally a call at the shop between 11 and 1 during the week or email her anytime to find out what we have in stock.

The design was so popular, the designer released a cardigan version, which I am pretty sure I need to make next. I'll definitely need to choose a color that goes with my pandemic day pants.

Call 503.288.4568 between 11 and 1 Monday-Friday!
Email closeknit.sally@gmail.com anytime!

Wool Sweaters Done Just in Time for Summer

Well, I am really good at finishing up wool sweaters as the weather warms up.

I have been working on my Flaum for more than three years, and I am thrilled be wearing it a few times before the weather turns warm. This one is from Amirisu and knit up in Cascade 220 with a bit of mystery dark grey for the last inch of ribbing and tubular cast off. I learned some new tricks with this one, friends.

I had never tried Fisherman's rib, and I love it! It is a little like brioche but easier to repair when I made mistakes. I did, however, snag it the first day I wore it, so look out for sharp edges with this stitch. Good thing I know how to fix that sort of thing.

I also learned how to do a tubular bind off without having to separate all the knit and purl stitches onto separate needles. This new method still takes a long time, but the finished results are well worth the time.

I started my Felix in March, so I don't feel quite so silly finishing it up in the summer. Again with the tubular cast on and bind off on this one. It is so light and lofty. The designers compares it to the weight and warmth of a down jacket, and she is spot on.

I'm finishing up the first sleeve tonight and about to embark on the second. On a US10, this lovely Lopi knits up in no time at all.

I will wash these two and then pop them in the freezer for a few days to make sure I won't have any moth holes in the fall when I unpack these new friends. Maybe then I will cast on something for summer that should be finished right around October.

Eye Candy

It has been decided. My Felix will be orange.

I stopped in the shop and used the tried-and-true method of holding yarn up to my face and asking Melissa to tell me which one looked best. She humored me and chose this one.

I still LOVE that Galaxy colorway, and I might go back to get some yet...maybe for a Sundottir or a Treysta so I can play with some of those other colors in there. But the Felix will be orange.

Lopi Time?

I would really like to make this.

Pic borrowed from Rav pattern page.

It's the Felix Pullover from Amy Christoffers. I feel like she really knows what I'm going to like and puts out a design right when I'm needing it. I don't know how she does it.

The sweater is worked at an open gauge for this yarn on a US10, so it would knit up super fast, and the finished sweater would be light and lofty. We have a fair bit of Lopi in the shop (more than this), so it seems like I should just choose some and cast on. I love this Galaxy, but we are waiting on a restock.

This red is stunning, too, but I'm also leaning toward a light grey or heathery green.

I would only need nine or ten balls, which would make this a very economical impulse sweater. Which color do you all think I should choose? How quickly can I whip this up with all of life's distractions? We shall see.

Eye Candy

The Léttlopi has arrived! The colors are trickling into the shop, but we already have an awesome little sample to share. The Pasture and Woods Mitts are so sweet and fun to knit using three colors of Lopi. There's even a matching hat! (The patterns are $4 each on Ravelry.) Photos of the gorgeous yarn to come as soon as the whole lot of it arrives.

Lopi-a-long

If you want to be part of the Lopi-a-long, come in or call today. Sally is ordering yarn!

Lopi Knit-a-long

Pic borrowed from Ravelry page.

Any Lopi lovers out there??? We are hosting a knit-a-long for this gorgeous Kate Davies sweater, Ásta Sóllilja. The knit-a-long starts January 10 during Open Knit Night, 6-9PM. If you want to use Lopi, come in before Christmas to order your colors. If you aren't a Lopi lover, you can make it out of any Aran weight yarn. Adrienne will be hosting the knit-a-long, and is even willing to help you steek this into a cardigan if that's more your jam. Give us a call with any questions, and come join us for the knit-a-long!