Episode 371: The 12 Weeks of Gifting

Can you believe there are less than 12 weeks until the start of the holiday season? In this episode, Lee and Stacey chat about our annual 12 Weeks of Gifting, a series of free patterns released once a week leading up to the winter holidays. They share the concept behind it and how it began as well as how patterns are selected for it. Both of our hosts also created new designs for this year’s set of 12 patterns and describe their creative process for them.

In addition to 12 Weeks of Gifting, there’s so much more going on! The Axiom KAL just started, so producer Andi hopped on to join Stacey in discussing starting the sweater. Lee and Stacey also …

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Starting Axiom and KAL Resources

Today is the day to cast on your Axiom Sweaters! Because the pattern is knit in pieces and seamed, the order you knit the four pieces is up to you. If you’re new to knitting cables, we suggest starting with your back or sleeves to get you feeling confident about your project, and we’ll have some tips for working the cables later this month on this blog. To stay on track, we recommend aiming to take about 15 days per piece, leaving you plenty of time for assembly and finishing by the end of the KAL on December 15th.

Be sure to check out our Learning Center for resources, and use the hashtag #AxiomKAL on Instagram to share …

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Free Downloadable October 2023 Calendar

Happy October! It’s time for sweater weather and warm cozy evenings. To celebrate, we have your free monthly calendar wallpapers. Enjoy these October 2023 wallpaper images (free download for you!) — featuring an assortment of autumnal colors in Curio, Twill, Stroll Tweed, High Desert Tweed, Wonderfluff Ombré, Gloss DK, and Andean Treasure.

How to get the Wallpaper:

To get the free downloadable calendar background of your choice (smart phones, tablets, or desktop computers), simply click on the image of your choice to go to the full-size photo. For desktop, right click the image and “Save As”; for smart phones and tablets, tap and hold to “Save Image”.

If you try to save the calendar without opening the full image you will get a WebP file. Please be sure to click on the image before saving it!

Free October 2023 Wallpaper for Desktop:

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How to Convert a Seamed Sweater to Seamless

Axiom is a great pattern to try changing from seamed to seamless, and many Knit Picks team members are planning to do that with their own projects. Patterns can be followed precisely, or they can be used as a creative jumpstart, to be adapted as each knitter prefers. Like with most pattern modifications, when converting from seamed to seamless, a lot of frustration can be avoided by asking the right questions before getting started and doing a pinch of prep work.

To get started, there are a few questions …

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Episode 370: Yarn Thrift Stores with Zeb from Disco Fibers

Every knitter ends up with yarn they don’t plan to use and don’t know what to do with, and that’s the problem Zeb from Disco Fibers is looking to solve! He joins our hosts Lee and Stacey to talk about starting a yarn thrift store in the Portland, OR area that helps get unused yarn out of the back of the closet and into the hands of knitters that will love it.

Plus, Andi joins Stacey to discuss our upcoming KAL, where we’ll all be knitting the Axiom Sweater by Claire Slade! Andi and Stacey chat about their yarn choices and some modifications to the pattern.  

Mentioned in this Episode

Lee’s cardigan project in Swish Pops (Ravelry link)

Swish Pops yarn

Twisted Stitch Sourcebook …

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Worsted Weight Yarns for Cables

The Axiom KAL begins October 1st, 2023, so now is the best time to begin picking out yarn to have it ready to cast on by the 1st! The Axiom Sweater was designed using Wool of the Andes Worsted, but this pattern lends itself to substituting other worsted weight yarns that cable well. The key attributes to look for are good stitch definition and elasticity to make well-defined cables and ribbing that holds its shape. Here are the yarns we think are best to use and why!

High Desert Worsted or High Desert Tweed

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Join the Axiom KAL!

Sweater Weather is finally here, and we’re excited to announce that our next knit-along will be the Axiom Sweater by Claire Slade! 

Just the Details

What: Knit the Axiom Sweater along with us

When: October 1st – December 15th 2023

Skills to Know: CO, BO, knit, purl, increases, 2×2 cables, getting gauge, seaming, picking up and knitting

Why: To make a beautiful cabled sweater with others

We chose the Axiom Sweater because it’s a great choice for a first cabled sweater, as well as being gender-neutral and size inclusive. It’s a simple, seamed, drop-shoulder pullover knit …

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Episode 369: Cool Tweed Fall

A rainbow of High Desert Tweed hanks of yarn

We’re back from summer break and ready to start planning our autumn knits! Dozens of new colors of old favorites and a handful of brand new yarns have come out since we last recorded, and Lee and Stacey are excited to share with you the development process of a few of their favorites.

There isn’t just new yarn! There also are new patterns, and Stacey and Lee chat about our new tweed home collection that comes out the same day as this episode, Stay In & Knit: Tweed Patterns for Home as well as the transitional, lacey collection from earlier this summer, Nature Walk: Lace Patterns. 

Plus, the end of the Ice Fire KAL is …

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Free Downloadable September 2023 Calendar

Happy September! To celebrate, we have your free monthly calendar wallpapers. Enjoy these September 2023 wallpaper images (free download for you!) — featuring our September Yarn of the Month Swish! (starts September 6th)

How to get the Wallpaper:

To get the free downloadable calendar background of your choice (smart phones, tablets, or desktop computers), simply click on the image of your choice to go to the full-size photo and then save it!

Free September 2023 Wallpaper for Desktop:

Free September 2023 Wallpaper for Tablet:

Free Blank Wallpaper for Zoom:

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