Our Next Berroco Knit-along!

We just wrapped up our Greenwood Shawl KAL on Friday, but we’re already looking ahead to the next KAL! Since the end of the year is a busy time for many of us, we wanted to be sure we got in another chance to knit together before everything goes a little crazy. This time we’re trying something a little different…

In the past, Berroco knit-alongs have been centered around one pattern. Participants could always use any Berroco, Lang, or Amano yarns they wanted to use, but the pattern was always pre-determined. This time, however, we’re making the yarn the feature focus, and the yarn we’re using for this KAL is Berroco Tuscan Tweed. We’ll have a blog post on Friday that goes more into the specifics of this yarn, but the short version is that Berroco Tuscan Tweed is one of the design team’s favorite yarns for fall—we’re suckers for tweed and this blend of wool, rayon, and mohair is a delight to knit with.

Since the focus is on the yarn, we figured we’d let you pick your pattern. That’s right—you can choose any pattern you want for this KAL. I guess we should call this a Knit- or Crochet-along, since you could also crochet any pattern you want. Want to knit a sweater? Go for it! Looking to whip up some hats for gifts? Those totally count. All we ask is that you use Berroco Tuscan Tweed to participate.

Obviously we’d love it if you chose to use one of our patterns from Booklet 380 Berroco Tuscan Tweed—not only did we put a lot of work into designing them, but we are also better able to help answer questions about the individual patterns.  We’ve got six patterns in our Tuscan Tweed book that you could choose. Woodbine is a bottom-up seamless raglan sweater with a fun cable repeat, topped off by a generous cowl neck. Trout Lily is a shawl worked from the bottom up in a easy-to-knit eyelet rib pattern. Harebell is a simple yet stylish long cardigan knit from the top-down.

Yew, shown at the top of the page, is a large rectangular stole with a stitch pattern inspired by fisherman ganseys. Witch Hazel is a quick-to-knit hat with an intriguing asymmetrical cable stitch pattern. And the last pattern from this collection, Bearberry, is the project I’m going to make for this KAL—it’s a top-down tunic with a generous cowl neck and clever shoulder-shaping construction. I’m just kind of stuck on which color I’m going to use.

If none of the patterns in Booklet 380 Berroco Tuscan Tweed catch your fancy, we’ve got a few other options (though again—you do not have to use one of these patterns). Adelaide is a new free cardigan knitting pattern from Alison Green that’s available in this week’s KnitBits email.

And Amy Christoffers’ Laurel Cardigan from Knitty Deep Fall 2016 is also free, and also worked in Berroco Tuscan Tweed. You can read more about Laurel in this blog post.

Our technical editor Alison Green also designed another cabled cardigan in Berroco Tuscan Tweed—Wickford appeared in the recent issue of Twist Collective. And Alison designed a hat that’s available in the new Creative Knitting Winter 2016 issue, called Ravenna.

Just to make sure we’re clear—you can choose any pattern that you want! If you want to check your library, here are some details that will help you. Berroco Tuscan Tweed is listed as a worsted weight yarn, with a recommended needle size of US 7–8 (4.5–5 mm), and a recommended gauge of 18–20 stitches to 4″ in stockinette stitch. And of course, you should always swatch to make sure you get the gauge listed for your pattern.

Are you going to participate in our Tuscan Tweed KCAL? We’ll be sharing our progress reports in our Ravelry group as we go along. You can also use #tuscantweedkcal on social media to share your progress updates. Hope to see you crafting away with Tuscan Tweed on the internet!