The Lilas Cardigan knitalong began last night. It is not too late to get in on this! Here is the pattern.

Photo by Hilary Smith Callis

Last night, most selected their yarn and started swatching:

Everyone chose O-Wool balance for the project, but other options would be the Cascade Sierra, Berroco Weekend or Spud and Chloe Sweater. We are hoping to get to the raglan shaping next Thursday. This week is mostly focused on that giant collar, which is lots of easy stockinette stitch.

If you want to follow along, here is the thread on Ravelry.

Kirby is also helping out with the knitalong, as you can see:

O-wool Balance is a blend of 50% merino wool and 50% cotton with a tweedy and earthy look. The cotton keeps it cool while the wool content softens it up and makes it wonderful and flexible to work with. The yarn is certified organic, which means that it is made from organic fiber and spun in a sustainable way – the mill uses vegetable oil in its machines and meet strict standards for waste water management.

I think it would be wonderful for a light Spring or Summer cardigan and have been looking for something special to throw over a tank top for those cooler Summer evenings. I found this pattern and would like to host a knitalong for it!

Pattern: Lilas Cardigan

Source: download for $5 from the author or on Ravelry.

Sizing and Yarn requirements: 690 (800, 885, 995, 1080, 1190, 1275) yards for finished sweater bust size when closed: 28.5 (33, 36.5, 41, 44.5, 49, 52.5)”which requires 5 (6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10) hanks of O-Wool Balance.

Experience required: this is a great first sweater project. It is worked in one piece and has a raglan sleeve style top. Ability to knit and purl and some experience working increases or working in the round would be helpful.

Photo courtesy of Hilary Smith Callis

The sweater closed in the front:

Photo courtesy of Hilary Smith Callis

Lilas Knitalong!

Join us this Thursday, May 6 to select your yarn. Any worsted weight fiber will do, should you decide not to use O-Wool. We will start the neckline during Stitch in Space Thursday night! Our goal is to finish the sweaters before Stitch n Pitch, which is May 21st. That gives us three “Stitch in Space” weeks to meet up, solve problems and get the pattern moving along. If you aren’t sure that you can work the project, come in and ask! We are happy to help outside of Stitch in Space too.

Spring is the time for new beginnings, and many have found it to be an appropriate time to sign up for charity walks and races or join marathon training programs.  The ladies here at fibre space™ have put together a training program for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon, a new race that will head over the amazing bridge into Maryland on September 19th. With so much time to train, we started this weekend with a three mile run (for those who have previous running experience) and a one mile walk for those new to running. If you are interested in being part of the weekly meet ups (Sunday mornings), please send an email to our group.

In honor of our new exercise routing, we have a few projects that might help you feel inspired too.

Runner’s Companion – Michelle M. Cho

Photo by Michelle M Cho

Available online free through Ravelry. Strap your Ipod Nano in tightly with this little project. It is worked in Cascade Fixation, a cotton and elastic fibre available at the shop in a variety of bright colors.

Pedicure Socks by Ruthie Nussbaum

Photo by Ruthie Nussbaum

After those long hard runs, your feet might be a little rough around the edges. Slip on these pedicure socks and head off to the spa to get your toes done! The pattern is available for free from Knitty.com and uses a worsted weight wool or wool blend. Try them in Berroco Weekend for a lighter summer feel.

Wristbands by Anastasia Vishnivetskaya

Photo by Anastasia Vishnivetskaya

With the summer heat starting so early this year, I am on the hunt for a good way to wipe the sweat away during a long run. These wristwarmers will do just the trick! The project uses any fingering weight yarn and will be available free from the author’s site soon.

The Spring Spud and Chloe trunk show is here for your viewing pleasure! We have 10 garments scattered throughout the store in Spud and Chloe Outer, Sweater and Fine. All of the patterns are available at the shop.

First, thank you to everyone who came out on Thurday to Del Merei Grille for the Knitalong, to benefit the MS Society. Mary reports that she was able to raise over $250!!

If you weren’t able to make it but want to help Mary and her team at Del Merei Grille to meet their fundraising goals for the society, you can:

Make Checks payable to:
National MS Society
in the memo write:
Team Del Merei Grille

Mail to:
National MS Society
1800 M Street NW
Suite 750 South
Washington DC 20036

The Entrelac for Earth Day retreat yesterday was fab and I will have a whole report on that later today.  First, Laura T. has informed me that she successfully completed this gorgeous dress for her daughter without any help from me. Part of me is a little sad at Laura’s new found liberation from my private lessons and classes Another part of me is super happy that she is now knitting so wonderfully on her own! Really, I don’t really intend to keep you all forever ….you have to go off and create on your own at some point!