Mystery Knit-Along (MKAL) “Knit IN” 2021

Our MKAL is underway as of January 16, 2021, but you can still join in the fun!

Please email pottstownknitout@gmail.com to get details on how to donate and receive your pattern code.

Join us to talk about your journey and share photos on our Ravelry page:
https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/brookside-knits/4090607/

Purls of Wisdom has kits available for the MKAL. Check that out if you need yarn for your project. www.purlsofwisdompa.com

Philly High Fiber is offering a 10% discount for all participants with 10% of the total sales going to Stretch the Ride:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/PhillyHighFiber?coupon=STR10
Coupon code is STR10

Laurie Ermentrout is a Mary Kay consultant and has met the PhillHighFiber challenge – 10% discount and 10% sales to STR.
https://www.marykay.com/Lforte4
Coupon code is also STR10

We will be pulling names for Raffle Baskets on a weekly basis. Again, check this website for details.

Thanks for all of your support! We are going to have a great time!!

Brookside Knits

Check out the raffle baskets.

2021 Pottstown Knit “In” Mystery Knit-A-Long

Hello Knitters!

As you know, we are unable to have our annual in-person Knit Out in January of 2021. In its place, we are having a Mystery Knit-A-Long (MKAL) that will run for 6-8 weeks starting January 16, 2021. Each week a clue will be released for a scarf/wrap in 2 sizes called “Stretch the Ride”, designed by Joy Jannotti in collaboration with other Brookside knitters. The minimum donation to participate in this MKAL is $20.00 with all the proceeds going to our charity, Stretch the Ride. For more information about Stretch the Ride, visit their webpage http://strpottstown.com/.
In addition to access to the the MKAL pattern, you will also receive an entry to our Basket Raffle.

To register, please email info@pottstownknitout.com for additional information.

After we receive your check, you will receive a confirmation that includes the links and codes you will need in order to make this beautiful Stretch the Ride shawl/wrap. The unique code will give you access to the pattern on Ravelry.com. You do not need to have a Ravelry account in order to use these links and codes. However, if you do have a Ravelry account, you can download the pattern into your library (if you log into Ravelry.com before you download it). Also if you have the pattern in your Ravelry library, you will get notifications when each clue is dropped. Members of Ravelry will also be able to participate on the group page where we can share our progress and ask questions. There is no charge to join Ravelry.

If you do not want to participate in the MKAL but would like to donate to our charity, simply make out a check to “Brookside Knits” for $20.00, or any amount, and send it to the same address below. Also, pass this information along to anyone who you think might be interested in participating and helping us raise money for Stretch the Ride.

Please include your name, address and email address along with the check. The pattern will be available as a PDF document; there will not be any paper copies distributed.

 

Mystery Knit-Along Fundraiser

Dear Knit Out Participants,

The members of Brookside Knits want to let you know that we will not be able to have an in person 2021 Knit Out. Given the current restrictions and rules, it would impossible to hold an indoor gathering of that size. We are all very disappointed that our event will not be held in the traditional venue. However, we are pleased to announce that we will hold a virtual event.

We are going to sponsor a Mystery Knit-Along (MKAL) that will run for approximately 6-8 weeks with a clue to the knitted object released each week. The object will be a wrap/scarf called the Stretch the Ride Wrap. There are two sizes, and it can be knit in either worsted or fingering weight yarn. There will be a charge of $20 to participate in this event with all of the proceeds going to our charity, Stretch The Ride. We hope that this MKAL will be an effective way to keep our Knit Out event alive and well until we can return to our in person event in 2022.

You will be receiving an e-mail in the next few weeks inviting you to register for the MKAL, and it will include the yarn requirements. Some of our vendors will be offering kits for the MKAL, or you can use your existing stash. The e-mail will also give you instructions on how to register for the MKAL and where to send your registration fee. We have also invited our vendors to sell their products to participants via their online stores. More details to come.

Thank you all for your support over the years!  We hope that you will participate in our MKAL this year and support Stretch The Ride.

Regards,

Brookside Knits

2017 Spring Knit Along Update

Brookside Knitters love a challenge, and this summer we have certainly been challenged in our choices of knit along projects.

Changing Light Wrap

Some of us who have chosen the Changing Light wrap have gotten past the “pinhole” cast on (several times, but we did it), while others have advanced past the center diamond and have now entered the “second sock” stage in completing the two ends. Janet’s Changing Light is now complete.

Changing Light by Jane1

Changing Light by Jane1

I must say, photos don’t do justice to the lovely yarns in these wraps, but you’ll get to enjoy them all in January.

Are you new to Ravelry?

The main page for the Changing Light pattern gives you lots of information.  We like to browse the Projects other knitters have completed deciding on a pattern or before choosing our yarn. Look to the right side of the page. In the About this Pattern box, find the projects link at the bottom.  At the time of this writing, it shows “106 projects, in 630 queues.” Click there. Click on the link above the photo to see notes each knitter made (yarn choice, errata, and so on).

 

Baa-ble Hats and Cowls

A few of us challenged ourselves to two-color Fair Isle knitting. Joy and Janet knit Baa-ble Hats, while Sandi and LuAnn chose the I’ll Pack a Cowl for Rhinebeck spinoff pattern. These are fun projects with tie-ins to matching items (mittens, mug cozies, children’s items).

Baa-ble Hat by Joy

Baa-ble Hat by Joy

Baa-ble Hat by Janet

Baa-ble Hat by Janet

I'll Pack a Cowl for Rhinebeck by LuAnn

I’ll Pack a Cowl for Rhinebeck by LuAnn

I'll Pack a Cowl for Rhinebeck by Sandi

I’ll Pack a Cowl for Rhinebeck by Sandi

 

Spring Knit Along Ideas

We once again invite you to join with Brookside Knits members in a spring 2017 knit-along. We hope you will join us not only in knitting now but also in sharing at next year’s Knit Out.

Our members have made three suggestions for knit-along projects this year. Each will fit the tastes, needs, or skills of some.

Changing Light

by Jennifer Weissman is “a fully reversible scarf or wrap featuring stripes, lace and elegant pointed tips.” It uses three colors of fingering yarn, and has instructions for sizes Small and Large. Check out the Projects link for color ideas and plenty of pictures. There is a small, reasonable charge for the pattern, and, if you like, a kit is available at Craftsy.

Baa-ble Hat

by Donna Smith is “a quick knit and it makes an ideal introduction to Fair Isle colour work knitting.” It is designed for Aran/worsted weight yarns and is knit in the round. Smith also designed the Baa-ble Mittens and Cowl. There is a charge for each pattern. The designer reminds us that the gauge is quite tight so a gauge square is especially important. A clever Ravelry surfer will find an assortment of spinoffs of these patterns.

Pivot Cowl

by Purl Soho is a free pattern available on its website. A Danish term, “hygge,” stresses the cozy and content feeling you get knitting and snuggling up during the winter months: the Pivot Cowl is “hygge.” Simple garter stitch uses short rows that create the “pivot.” Purl Soho suggests their cashmere merino yarn in DK weight, but the many Projects listed on Ravelry offer other soft yarn suggestions.

Happy Knitting!

Drachenfels Knit-A-Long

Brookside Knits is having a group knit-a-long. We have chosen to knit the ‘Drachenfels’ shawl by Melanie Berg. We will show our shawls at the 2017 Knit Out. You are invited to join us in our knit-a-long. To do this, purchase the pattern on Ravelry, buy some yarn (or use your stash), and show us your results next year. Here are photos of some of the shawls we have completed. We will post more during the year.

Joy

Joy

Sandi

Sandi

Karen K

Karen King

Karen Kar

Karen Kar

Janet

Janet

Carol

Carol

Sharon's Shawl

Sharon

Summer Knit-Along

At last year’s Knit Out and Crochet Too!, some of you asked us to let you know what we planned for our next summer knit-along.

We found this easy-to-knit pattern in the newsletter from Knitter’s Edge in Bethlehem, PA and followed it to its source on Ravelry and the Knit Cafe.  It is called 504 King West after a streetcar route in Toronto.

The pattern is free.  The stitches are simple.  The recommended yarn is Koigu KPM, a fingering yarn, but other yarns that suit the gauge may be substituted.  They use two main contrasting colors, with a trim using small amounts of three other colors.

We know Brookside knitters will find many ways to create unique “asymmetrical neck wrappers.”  Join us and show yours off at next year’s Knit Out.

UPDATE:

Here are just some of the fabulous scarves made for the Knit-Along:

Vicky

Vickie

Sandi

Sandi

Joy

Joy

Janet

Janet

Brookside Summer Knit-Along 2013

At least six Brookside Knits members joined in on the annual summer knit-along. One of their choices was Leftie by Martina Behm (www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leftie). The name “Leftie” was chosen because Behm’s original scarf was made of leftover yarn, something all knitters have around. It was designed as “an asymmetrical shawlette,” narrower at the beginning and wider toward the end. As a result the stripes “swirl about your neck in a very flattering way.” The original was made with fingering weight yarn, but the pattern can be adapted to other yarns. A garter stitch is used throughout.

Joy's Leftie

Joy’s Leftie

Joy chose to knit her Leftie in Telemark, a sport-yarn from Knit Picks (3 balls, 150g) of garnet heather for the main color and a lighter colored contrast yarn. In the photo, her daughter models scarf.

Marilyn's Leftie

Marilyn’s Leftie

Marilyn chose black fingering-weight Chroma yarn, also from Knit Picks, for her main color with a self-striping Chroma as the contrast color. In the photo, Marilyn models the scarf herself.

Vickie's Leftie

Vickie’s Leftie

Vickie chose Knit Picks Chroma Fingering in Lollipop & Natural. She adds that she was able to carry the contrasting color along but believes she would cut and weave in the yarn if she knitted another Leftie. A Greek goddess models Vickie’s Leftie.

Carol's Leftie

Carol’s Leftie

Carol chose worsted-weight yarn and size 7 needles for her Leftie, knitted from her stash (or what she refers to as Junk Yarn). She has chosen a light grey tone of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes for her main color and darker contrast colors. Her scarf is displayed on a table, giving us a chance to see the whole pattern.

LuAnn's Wingspan Leftie

LuAnn’s Wingspan Leftie

Janet and LuAnn chose to knit Wingspan scarves. Their choice was a design by maylin TriCoterie Designs, seen as the first among several lovely variations (www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#query=wingspan). Maylin describes the wrap as “deceptively simple, knitted in one piece, shaped by short rows and completely knit in garter stitch.”

LuAnn used Ella Rae Lace Merino sock yarn (1 ball, 460 yd) and a size 3 needle. She wears her Wingspan as a shawlette with a starfish pin in her photo.

Janet's Wingspan Leftie

Janet’s Wingspan Leftie

Janet is, as we say, last but not least. Her photo shows three of her nine Wingspans displayed at The Yarn Gallery in Reading, PA. She knit in Noro Taiyo sock yarn and is planning a tenth in Noro silk garden. According to Janet, the pattern is addictive. She shared her Wingspan with five of her friends who planned a trip together to Poland.