Dearest yarn birds, 

This newsletter is brought to you by the letter B. B is for brrrrrrrrr, berets, beanies, and bobble hats. The last is a Britishism I know, and, just for the record, a bobble hat doesn't have a bobble aka pom pom.

 

I love to knit hats, even when they go wrong there is a way to make them right. Say your gauge goes awry (you swatched, of course you swatched, but things happen, you know) and your creation appears to be too big? Don't fret, don't create those decreases, just cast off and leave it as a cowl. Misread the pattern for the second time, 5 years apart, and miss the increases to the crown leaving the hat a wee bit too tight? Never fear, get creative and make a pencil case! The freedom that knitting and crochet affords us is to make beauty out of mistakes. The last situation is the plan for the Fair Isle hat that I realized as I started to do the decreases was missing some stitches. Oh well. It will be a beautiful pencil case.  

I also love hats because they're a quick, often one skein project, that can get plenty of use even for a knitter or crocheter in Tucson. You can wear them on a brisk morning or cold evening walk in the Old Pueblo. They can keep your noggin warm while camping at elevation in the summer (Mount Graham can get down into the 30's and 40's at this time of year.) You can send them to knitworthy loved ones in colder climes, or wear them on a snowy day on Mount Lemmon. Hats are awesome. Here are some of our favorites:

 

1. (Picture up top)  Luca wearing Two by Two designed by Anne Gagnon. A simple hat for a worsted weight yarn, this is a free Ravelry download

 

2. Ila wearing Lotus Flower Beanie by BKnitsHandmade below. This requires some big needles and a little strength, but knits up quickly in Super Bulky and it is so fun to see the colors of the varigated Malabrigo Rasta emerge behind a solid color. 

 

3.  I love the Two by Two pattern in the hat shown up at the top, but want some broader stockinette panels. The St. James by Francesca Hughes below is a cap knit in DK weight yarn and inspired by a Breton watch cap. It has a snug fit to the head, with a folded brim for sturdiness and no fussing with stitch details. The crown is simply decreased and secured. It could become your go to hat to accompany you on a hike or around a camp fire, or maybe just to a pub on winter evening.

4. Another worsted weight hat, Jelka by Isabell Kraemer, is a casual hat, worked in the round from the folded brim to the top. The cute pattern on this hat is knitted with only one color on any given round. Working slip stitches, you get a beautiful colorwork without having to carry two threads in one round, making it the perfect introduction to colorwork. 

5. Aslyn, designed by Vanessa Smith, is a fun-to-knit and easy-to-wear sport weight hat featuring beautifully simple textures that together have a dramatic effect. The hemmed, twisted rib brim transitions uninterrupted into a unique, allover lattice texture, which then blends organically into the crown shaping. This hat looks great in both variegated and solid colorways and worn either snug or slouchy!

So which one are you going to start with? Or perhaps you're up for a sweater? Are you going for the NaKniSweMo - National Knit a Sweater Month? We had a fair bit of interest in the sweaters in last week's newsletter so we're going start a Let's Get Festive knit/crochet session on Saturday afternoons separate from our Close Knit in the morning. See below for more information. Looking for a social knit session at another time, we've moved our midweek session to Thursdays from 1-3pm. Knit on, 

Tuesdays 3-5pm - Let's Gather By the Table QIA knitting & crochet group 
Saturdays 10:30-12:30/Thursdays 1-3 pm- Close Knit & Crochet

Saturdays 1:30 - 3pm - Let's Get Festive knit & crochet group

Sunday, November 6 - Knitting for Peace - Hugs from Tucson

 

Whether you're knitting a tiny sweater or a big sweater we will cheer you on to knit that sweater in a month during NaKniSweMo, or as you knit or crochet a hat as a gift or leaf for a garland - Join us on Saturday afternoons from 1:30 - 3 pm for a little festive knitting. We will have copies of the free patterns above to make and maybe share new pattern ideas each week for quick gifts. Sign up on calendly or call the store at (520) 305-4187 to save your spot.

There’s nothing quite like the lush, cosy feeling of handknitted socks! Quick and satisfying to make, small and portable, socks remain one of the most frequently handknit items today.

Pom Pom brings you Ready Set Socks, an exploration of sock designs for new and advanced knitters alike.

A collaboration with legendary sock maven Rachel Coopey, Ready Set Socks is the ultimate guide to sock-making! Get ready to experiment, discover the magic that is turning a heel, and become a seasoned sock knitter.

The book includes ten unique patterns in both 4-ply / fingering and DK-weight versions. From simple and speedy stocking and ribbed socks, to fancy mosaic knitting color combinations, you’ll be sure to find your perfect pair with this compendium of patterns to come back to again and again.

Knitting4Peace has a local peace pod! Volunteers will create items that are requested by those served. Our local peace pod will create items for the Casa Alitas program

Casa Alitas is a humanitarian aid project committed to providing assistance to asylum-seekers released from ICE and Border Patrol detention into our community. Many of those asylum seekers coming through Tucson are heading to sponsors in much colder climates. The group will meet on the first Sunday of the month from 1-3pm. Christine W. is the lead on this project. 

Let's gather by the table QIA+ Tuesday afternoons from 3-5pm. A dedicated knit and crochet time for LGBTQIA+ community and allies. If you would like to join us please sign up on calendly, or call (520) 305-4187 to save your place. 

Join us with your yarn craft around the table for Close Knit. This is a free session where we just hang out and craft and chatter. You can register via calendly, or by calling the shop (520) 305-4187. We're limiting it to 8 people during a session. Can't make it for the beginning of the session? That's okay just sign up for the whole session.