Get Ready for the January KAL!

As you frantically knit late into the evening in order to finish all of your holiday gifts, it's hard to look ahead to next month.  But look ahead we must!  So what will you be knitting in January?  How about knitting a pair of socks in Michelle Hunter's next Progressive Needles Knit Along!   

What will they look like?

The unique sock pattern is knit two-at-a-time on a long set of circulars using the "Magic Loop" method. The socks are for either men or women, and feature techniques new to Michelle's KAL series.  The pattern is for novice and experienced sock knitters alike. 

So what will the socks look like?  We don't know!  That's the fun part of a "mystery" knit-a-long.  Michelle assures us that these socks will have us looking at our stitches in a whole new way!

CoBaSi in Iris Blue

The socks are knit in CoBaSi by HiKoo. It's a cotton, bamboo, and silk blend (get it?  CottonBambooSilk?) that also has a generous amount of elastic. If you have been looking for a wool-free sock yarn, look no further! This soft yarn will not irritate or overheat, it is machine washable, and you can choose from over 25 colors.  Bonus: We have CoBaSi on sale at 20% off!

Never done a KAL?  It's easy ... Michelle will reveal the pattern on her website in four segments, every Thursday in January starting on January 2nd.  Have a question?  No problem ... Michelle posts photos and online video instructions.  It's like having a knitting tutor right by your side.  How much does it cost?  Nothing!  You don't have to register or pay any fee to participate. You may even win some cool prizes from Skacel.

You will need:

• Two skeins of CoBaSi by HiKoo yarn.  Michelle's sample is knit in Iris Blue (Color # 12), but you have over 25 colors to choose from so be creative!

• One size US #1 / 2.5mm 40" circular needle.  As always, adjust the needle size if necessary to achieve a gauge of 8.5 stitches per inch.  

Michelle used the new addi Sock Rockets, which are temporarily back ordered.  Yikes!  We will most likely get them back in stock before the January KAL begins.  You can Pre-order your set today and they will be shipped to you as soon as we receive them.  Or, you can substitute addi's other 40" circular needles, the classic addi Turbos or the delightfully pointy addi Turbo Lace.  Give us a call if you have any questions on your needle selection!

The Building in Color Blanket

Is one pair of socks not enough to keep you busy in January?  Are you ready to build your colorwork skills?  Michelle Hunter's NEW book Building in Color is expertly designed to introduce the novice to essential colorwork knitting techniques one skill at a time - all while knitting a beautiful sampler blanket.  The book contains ten different colorwork techniques that you knit separately then seam together to create a colorful blanket.

The featured blanket requires seven skeins of three different colors of HiKoo's Simplicity yarn (for a total of 21 skeins).  Michelle recommends using a dark, medium, and light color for the best effect. She used the colors Natural, Ghost Chili, and Chocolate Milk to create her awesome sample.  Simplicity yarn is buttery soft, machine washable, and available in a huge selection of colors ... perfect for a blanket and perfect for colorwork!  Bonus: the yarn is 20% off!

You can pre-order the Building in Color book today and we'll ship it to you as soon as it arrives in early January or pick out your yarn with the book and we'll send you everything when the book arrives!

Happy Knitting . . . . Amy