I am happy to finally announce our next in store KAL: the badger and bloom sweater! You can choose from the unisex version which has no short rows and straight sleeves, or the feminine one with bell sleeves and short row shaping.
This sweater will meet February 7th, 28, and March 14 from 11-1 at the shop.   We will also be open to the public Feb 7 and 28!
I have put together some kits featuring plump and either Merino Aria or Tundra. I already started mine to make sure everything worked out since the pattern seemed different than what we normally do. This is the most fun project I have knit in a year! The spincycle will be your contrast color and the merino aria will be the background color. The pattern is written without errors and just do what she says and it will all work out.   I did choose to do the Italian co but Ruth did the old Norwegian (both fine).  I used an 8 for my neck ribbing, a 10 for the color work and a 9 for the body.  I am knitting a size lg or size 5 and have included enough yarn for this size in the kit price.
 As always, all yarn must be purchased from knitting off Broadway in order to participate in this Kal. Please note the slight date changes above for our meet ups.

Not joining us for our knitting retreat this September?  You can knit along with us from the comfort of your own home- hopefully outside on the porch!  

I spend the entire year deciding on a retreat project.  When I am at this years retreat, I keep my eyes and ears open for what might be next years project.  I have to knit it up months ahead incase it does not work.  It is a challenge to find a project that is not too hard, not too ambitious, pairs well with wine and conversation, flattering on a variety of body types, yet makes everyone learn something about their knitting during the process.  Knitting should be joyful not stressful.  We always talk about what kind of knitter we are, and for me it is becoming more and more apparent that I am a color motivated knitter.  Even though I did the most subtle of colors, the shine and depth of the colors kept me motivated.  I didn't want to follow the directions for picking up around the neck but I DID follow them and it worked out great.  This is a great project to really boost confidence on picking up stitches.  I would knit this again for sure...  but in something crazy like TML held triple.    

The project details must remain a secret until the start of the retreat, but I am happy to share them with you via email.  I have my sample complete and it is at the shop available for you to try on until the start of the retreat. 

This kit includes enough yarn to knit up to the size large, a cute goodie, and the pattern which will be emailed to the email provided from your order (or send me a message with your ravelry name or different email).

Disclaimer: some kits may have a felted tweed from a different dye lot.  It will not be noticeable since you are working with 3 strands at all times: one felted tweed of each color, AND a mohair. 

I was able to knit this in a week of moderate knitting time.  This is a bit oversized so if you are short, you should consider going down a size. 

This project is on a 10.5 and size 9 needle.  I did a regular ribbed bind off on the needles I was using for the rib.  I also did the upper back as my gauge swatch and it was perfect after blocking. 

PLEASE NOTE: if you are going on the retreat I have a whole other batch of kits for you, and some extras.  These are for those who are not attending the retreat.  If you don't see any colors you like now, there MAY be some leftover from the retreat that I will post at the end of September.  Wednesday, September 24-29 I will not be shipping out orders since I will be having a grand time on the retreat.  Whatever extra "goodies" that are not sold by the retreat start will be coming with me to the retreat!  

When Susan asked me in early July if I would test knit a mystery KAL, I originally declined because I have a hard time when things don't line up perfectly... She asked me again because "I am a very technical knitter", and then I happened to have some yarn lying around at the shop that looked good together, so I agreed!
Normally when I knit a mystery, I never keep it a mystery since I like to see what I'm doing to make sure it is correct. For this, sometimes I was knitting ahead of the designer, or right along side her. I'm always learning something when I knit; this time I learned that it's okay to not be perfect, it really will work out. I also took my own advice of ," just trust the process and the colors will all work together somehow".
The designer is keeping lots of things a surprise until the 21st... But you can pick your yarn kits now and purchase your pattern on ravelry. I used 4 skeins of Spincycle Dream state, and 5 coordinating skeins. I will not have much left at all when I am done and there are plenty of ways to make the project even bigger if you want (debating... Plus it would be fun to do my own thing!!).
I've sweetened the deal by adding some comical grave stone stitch markers by Katrinkles. My favorite says "stuck on sleeve island", or other cute markers. Each kit is $265 for 9 skeins of yarn and a pack of stitch markers. Shipping is included, the pattern is not.  YOu can get the pattern here.
This project was great to work on in between or alongside other projects. You can do one section a day more or less but this project was a joy to take with me on vacation.