Spring KAL & CAL

Hi Fiber Buddies! We wanted to make spring tops here at The Hook & Needle Nook, and you are invited to join us! We are planning on starting our tops on February 15th, during our knit group which meets from 1-4pm. You can find us at 1508 North Monroe Street, Spokane, Washington.

For the Knit-Along, we have picked the Ranunculus top by Midori Hirose! This pattern is very popular and highly customizable. You can use it to make anything from a cozy winter sweater to an airy summer top! Many knitters who have made a Ranunculus enjoyed the project so much, they have knit more than one.

Pattern details as taken from the pattern page on Ravelry:

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4)(5, 6, 7)(8, 9, 10, 11)

Finished bust circumference: 117 (123, 129, 134) (140, 146, 151)(157, 166, 174, 180) cm / 46 (48.5, 50.75, 52.75)(55, 57.5, 59.5)(61.75, 65.25, 68.5, 70.75)”

Yarn: You can use lace, light fingering to worsted weight yarn.

Long Sleeve: 520 (530, 560, 600)(620, 680, 710)(780, 820, 850, 860) m / 569 (580, 612, 656)(678, 744, 776)(853, 897, 930, 941) yds.

Short Sleeve: 370(390, 400, 440)(470, 510, 540)(590, 620, 650, 660) m / 405(427, 437, 481)(514, 558, 591)(645, 678, 711, 722) yds.

Needles: 6 mm US 10 circular needle as main needle. 5 mm US 8 needle for hem ribbing and finishing sleeve. Adjust needle size if necessary to get gauge.

Gauge: 14 sts x 20 rows = 10 cm 4“, with main needle in stockinette stitch after wet blocking.

Notions: 5 stitch markers, 1 for marking end of round and 4 for raglan & center front (I recommend to use a different color marker for end of round), tapestry needle, waste yarn, crochet hook (only for smaller neckline).

The pattern calls for yarn from lace to worsted weight, depending on the fabric you want. I have compiled some suggestions for you.

For a light weight spring/summer sweater:

• All of our hand dyed sock yarns would make a beautiful lightweight summer top! You can browse these stunning yarns online here or come on down to the shop to pick out the perfect skeins in person.
• Cascade Sarasota - 60% Cotton 40% Acrylic DK weight
• Cascade Pandamonium - 55% Cotton 45% Viscose DK weight
• Coastal Cotton Fine - 100% Cotton sport weight
• Jody Long My Little Sunshine - 60% Organic Cotton, 40% Acrylic sport weight
• Queensland Myrtle - 100% Lyocell from Eucalyptus ("Vegan Silk") worsted weight

For a luxurious sweater: 

• Stolen Stitches NUA Sport - 60% Merino Wool, 20% Yak, 20% Linen sport weight
• Elemental Affects Coastal - 50% U.S. Shaniko Wool, 25% Mulberry Silk, 25% Belgian Flax sport weight
• Elemental Affects Civility - 70% U.S. Merino, 30% Mulberry Silk sport weight 

For a cozy sweater:

• Malabrigo Rios - 100% Superwash Merino worsted weight
• Studio Donegal Soft Donegal - 100% Merino Wool worsted weight
• The Queensland Collection Falkland Worsted - 100% Fine Merino Wool worsted weight
• Cascade Cantata - 70% Cotton, 30% Merino Wool aran weight

For the Crochet-Along, we have picked the Coquette Yoke Top by Natalia Kononova. This elegant summer top suggests your use a fingering weight cotton blend yarn and a C-2 / 2.75 mm hook.

Pattern sizes :

S (M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X) 
80.5 (90, 99.5, 109, 118.5, 128, 137.5) centimeter bust
31 ¾ (35 ½, 39 ¼, 43, 46 ¾, 50 ½, 54 1/8) inch bust 

We have a few yarns here at the shop that we think would be perfect for this pattern!

The first is Jody Long's My Little Sunshine, a 60% organic cotton and 40% acrylic blend. It has 360 yards per 100 grams, and while it is advertised as a sport weight, it is as thin as many of the fingering weight sock yarns we have here in the shop.

For a more textured look, we have the delightfully tweedy Remix Light from Berroco. It is spun in France from 100% recycled fibers! It's a blend of 30% nylon, 27% cotton, 24% acrylic, 10% silk, and 9% linen. With 432 yards in each 100 gram skein, it would make a lovely lightweight top.

Another option for this top would be to pick out one of our hand dyed sock yarns in your favorite colors! You can browse these colorful skeins online here or come on down to the shop to pick out the perfect yarn in person.