Winter of Colorwork KAL: Introduction

One of the perks of working here in the Brooklyn Tweed office is getting to see and try on samples for upcoming collections well in advance of their releases — though, for our queues, this can be as much a curse as it is a blessing! We know a pattern is special when we all flock to the same design. While we have a special spot in our hearts for every item in our upcoming Winter 19 collection, we were especially drawn to Gudrun Johnston's Pascal Cardigan. Garter stitch, colorwork, and plush Quarry — surely few can beat it in feats of coziness! Plus, its woodsy three-color motif struck us as being enjoyable for stranded colorwork knitters of all levels, and just the right thing to get us out of the winter doldrums. With all this in mind, we figured — two summers ago was our Summer of Lace; why not make this winter our Winter of Colorwork? Won't you knitalong with us? For our Winter of Colorwork KAL, we'll be knitting the Pascal Cardigan and sharing our tips and techniques for working each part of the cardigan — choosing colors, swatching for stranded colorwork, sweater construction, and (yes!) steeking, to name a few. However, you're also welcome to join us by knitting any colorwork pattern in our archive or any colorwork pattern using Brooklyn Tweed yarn.

The pattern for the Pascal Cardigan will be available on January 16 with the release of our Winter 19 collection, but if you’d like to start planning your project, you can download and print our Pascal Coloring Sheet to get started with choosing your colors. Many of our Retail Stockists will be joining in on the Pascal fun as well, so don't forget to get connected with a BT stockist near you!

[button link="https://www.brooklyntweed.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/pascal_coloring_sheet.pdf"]Download a Pascal Coloring Sheet [/button] For those of you interested in purchasing yarn to knit Pascal ahead of the pattern launch, this is the yarn, yardage and sizing information:

34¾ (39½, 44, 48½, 53¼, 57¾)” [88 (100.5, 112, 123, 135, 147) cm] circumference at chest (buttoned) The finished chest measurements are the same for both the Women’s and Men’s version.

Quarry Yarn: (WOMEN’S) [MEN’S] (6, 6, 7, 7*, 8, 9) [6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9] skeins of Main Color (MC); (1) [1] skein of Color 1 (C1); (1)[1] skein of Color 2 (C2) *Note: Women’s fourth size uses almost all of seven skeins. You may wish to consider purchasing an extra skein

Chunky weight wool yarn: (1025, 1135, 1275, 1400, 1550, 1675) [1060, 1195, 1335, 1470, 1615, 1740] yards MC; (90, 100, 110, 115, 125, 130) [90, 100, 110, 115, 125, 130] yards C1; (105, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160) [105, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160] yards C2

How to Join the Winter of Colorwork KAL

First, choose your favorite yarn and knitting project that features stranded colorwork (yoke motif or allover motif — as long as it's stranded, anything is fair game!). The project should be knit using BT yarn, worked from a BT pattern, or both. If you already have a WIP, feel free to join the KAL to finish your project or ask us questions if you're stuck.

If you choose a stranded colorwork pattern that specifically involves steeking, you can also participate in the Fringe and Friends Steekalong, run by Karen Templer of Fringe Association. (Knit one, KAL two!)

Then, head over to the Winter of Colorwork KAL Chatter thread on Ravelry to introduce yourself and share your plan for what you’re going to knit. Feel free to include any questions or topics you'd like the KAL to address.

Blog Schedule

January 9 — Selecting Colors for Stranded Colorwork Knitting

January 16 — Pattern Selection, Fit and Swatching with Your Colors

January 23 — Cast-On and Knitting Pascal: Beginning the Sleeves

January 30 — Knitting Pascal: Beginning the Body

February 6 — Knitting Pascal: Joining the Sleeves to the Body

February 13 — Knitting Pascal: Steeking

February 20 — Knitting Pascal: Finishing

February 27 — Winter of Colorwork KAL Wrap-Up*

* We’ll be posting each week to the blog, but do know that you can continue working on your project after the last blog post. We’ll continue to respond to questions in the BT Fan Club Forum on Ravelry, as well as admire your shared projects and participate in group discussions!

In addition to joining us on Ravelry, please use the KAL hashtags listed below on any and all social media posts you make that share your project and progress. We’ll be re-posting images from participating knitters throughout the KAL.

The official cast on date for the KAL is January 23. We look forward to knitting, and learning, alongside you!

#BTWinter19

#BTWinterofColorworkKAL

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That is one helluva good looking man in that Pacal design. Well done! So tempting.

Janet on May 15, 2019
Hi Dawn,

There will be — look out for when the whole collection launches on January 16!

Best,
Jamie Maccarthy | BT Customer Service

Korina Yoo on May 15, 2019
Hello Susan,

Some rewriting of the pattern may be required in order to resize the garment for an aran or DK weight. We aren’t able to re-gauge patterns individually, nor can we confirm the yardage requirements for this kind of modification, but I’m happy to provide you with some information on the topic you may find helpful!

You’ll want to start with a swatch of the yarn you wish to substitute and your measurements (or the measurements of the person who’ll be wearing the garment). Based on your swatch/gauge measurement, you can then choose the pattern size needed to obtain the correct finished measurements/dimensions, and make adjustments to get the size you want in your substitute yarn.

You might have to look at these two resources, which talk in more detail about adjusting for gauge differences:

https://fringeassociation.com/2016/02/22/how-to-account-for-gauge-differences/

https://blog.tincanknits.com/2016/04/07/how-to-knit-a-garment-at-a-different-gauge/

Hope this helps!
Jamie Maccarthy | BT Customer Service

Korina Yoo on May 15, 2019
Hello,

The sizes listed for all of our patterns directly relate the the measurements of the finished garment. Feel free to have a look at our “Selecting a Sweater Size” resource page here for more information: https://www.brooklyntweed.com/selecting-a-sweater-size/

Jamie Maccarthy | BT Customer Service

Jamie Maccarthy on May 15, 2019
Hello Susan,

Thanks for reaching out!

The men’s and women’s versions share the same range of chest sizes. However, the body and sleeve lengths are different and there is waist shaping for the women’s version. The length of the men’s version ranges from 17½"-18½" and the length of the women’s version ranges from 15"-16" (armpit to hem).

You don’t have to join another KAL to get help with and resources on steeking. Our stranded colorwork resources (including steeking) are available to anyone, whether or not they join in our KAL. However, if you do choose to knit Pascal with us, or any other colorwork pattern that involves steeking, you can enter your project in our KAL (we’d love to support you in learning a new skill!) and in Fringe Association’s Steekalong — one project, two KALs!

Hope that helps,
Jamie Maccarthy | BT Customer Service

Korina Yoo on May 15, 2019

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