Hi there! If you are new here, my name is Amy Small and I am the owner and founder of Knit Collage. Welcome! On January 1, we kick off our annual Winter Solstice Knitting challenge, where as a community we will knit either the Solstice Collared Dickie or Solstice Hug Cowl patterns by Knit Collage team member Cheryl Kubat. Hear all the details in the video below!

[VIDEO EMBED HERE]

Cheryl and Pia, our resident knitting coaches, as well as myself, will be here to support you and answer any questions that you may have along the way so that you happily finish with something you adore. Together, we’ll jumpstart your knitting practice, so that you get to experience the amazing benefits that come from knitting things – increased creativity and a healthy tool you can lean anytime into to bring about calm and peace, just to name a few! We kick the adventure off on Jan 1, 2025.

 

 

Inside the 10 day knitting challenge you’ll get:

* Easy-to follow video courses on how to knit both the Solstice Collared Dickie AND the Solstice Hug patterns from start to finish. You just need to know the very basic knit and purl stitches to join in! This will include around 30 videos total and these courses are yours forever.

* Techniques you’ll learn: swatching in the round, knitting in the round with magic loop, crochet tubular cast on, German short rows, rib knitting, needle felting ends, sewn bind-offs + so many more.

* A downloadable workbook with the patterns and our best tips and resources for knitting success.

* Daily live zoom sessions with me, your teacher, and the Knit Collage coaches, Pia and Cheryl, to help answer in-the-moment questions.

* Technical support in our Knit Collage App to answer all of your questions.

* A welcoming, energetic, and kind community of members to hold you accountable and keep you motivated to actually complete your project.

* All aspects of the challenge from the video tutorials as well as the community will be hosted in our brand new Knit Collage app. This is accessible from any device as well as any internet browser. 

* You have the option to order a yarn kit from us or use your own yarn. I’ve put together 10 different kits that combine our Spun Cloud yarns with our Mini Skein Sampler Kits. We are down to the very last mini kits so if you have your heart set on a color, grab it quickly!

* Finish with a closing celebration party and community fashion show!

We open up registration on Dec 17th at 10am ET for both the virtual option, priced at $28 and the yarn kit option which is $108 to $138 depending on the pattern you choose, your size and whether you go with a solid color or mixed mini skein option. I would so love to have you join us!

 

Here are the yarn, gauge and sizing details for both patterns if you know you'd like to go with the virtual option and want to source (or maybe spin?!) yarn on your own. If you purchased a Winter Solstice Kit from us, that's a great option to use as well.

 

Collared Dickie Pattern Details:

Skill Level: Beginner Knitter

Materials: 

1 (1, 1, 2, 2) skein(s) Spun Cloud (100% wool; approx. 100yds (92 m) / 200 g)

1 Mini Skein Sampler Kit (approximately 75 yds / 164-170g - 5 mini skeins of yarn included per kit, 17 yds /skein) 

OR

1 Winter Solstice Kit (approximately 205 yds / 565 g - 12mini skeins of yarn included per kit, 17 yds / skein)  The Winter Solstice Kit is a special, limited edition kit that was released for preorder in June and is no longer available for purchase.

 

**Please note any modifications to size or length may require additional yarn.**

 

Needle Size:

Size US 13 (9 mm) 24" / 60 mm circular needles or 3 mm smaller than larger needles

Size US 17 (12 mm) 32” / 80 mm circular needles forBody, or size needed to obtain gauge.

Size N/P / US 15 (10 mm) crochet hook, or 1 mm larger than smaller needle, for Crochet Tubular Cast On

Gauge: 

7 sts and 11 rnds = 4.25” / 10.5 cm in stockinette st worked in the rnd using larger needle, steam blocked

Note: Adjust needle sizes as needed to achieve gauge. We'll review this in detail as part of your video class!

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5)

Finished Measurements:  

19 (19.75, 21.25, 22.75, 24.75)" / 47.5 (49.5, 53, 57, 62) cm finished width from shoulder to shoulder

Fit Note: Recommended to be worn with 1-2" / 2.5-5 cm of positive ease at shoulder to shoulder measurement, depending on your preferred fit. Grayed out sample is shown on a size 1 on an 18" / 45 cm shoulder to shoulder measurement with 1" / 2.5 cm of positive ease. 

Pattern Designer: Cheryl Kubat

 

Solstice Hug Pattern Details:

Skill Level: Beginner Knitter

Materials: 

1 (1, 1, 2, 2) skein(s) Spun Cloud (100% wool; approx. 100yds (92 m) / 200 g) shown in Honeysuckle

1 Mini Skein Sampler Kit (approximately 75 yds / 164-170g - 5 mini skeins of yarn included per kit, 15 yds /skein) shown in Geode

The kits we will have will be this option, listed above!)

OR

1 Winter Solstice Kit (approximately 205 yds / 565 g - 12mini skeins of yarn included per kit, 17 yds / skein) shown in Jewel Tones. The Winter Solstice Kit is a special, limited edition kit that was released for preorder in June and is no longer available for purchase.

0 (0, 0, 1, 1) skein(s) Spun Cloud (100% wool; approx. 100yds / 200 g)

Needle Size:

Size US 17 (12.75 mm) 32” / 80 cm circular needles forBody, or size needed to obtain gauge.

For Size 1 only: Size US 15 (10 mm) 16” / 100 cm circular needles or the most comfortable needle size, gauge is unimportant. If choosing a different needle size, or gauge is different, yarn requirements may differ.

For Sizes 2-5 only: Size US 13 (9 mm) 16” / 40 cm circular needles for Neck Ribbing (or your preferred needles of same size forsmall circumference knitting)

Gauge: 

7.5 sts and 10 rnds = 4” / 10 cm in 3/1 Rib Stitch worked in the rnd using larger needle, steam blocked

Note: Adjust needle sizes as needed to achieve gauge. Then use a needle approx. 2.5-3 (3.5-4, 3.5-4, 3.5-4, 3.5-4) mm smaller than larger needle for neck ribbing)

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5)

Finished Measurements:  

To fit chest sizes 28-34 (34-42, 42-50, 50-60, 60-68)” / 71-86 (86-106.5, 106.5-127, 127-152, 152-173) cm.

Fit Note: Choose a size that will fit comfortably around your upper body at chest level. The ribbed fabric will conform nicely to a range of sizes, but you don’t want it to be so snug that it limits arm movement. Samples are size 2 shown on a 34”/86 cm chest and on a 42”/106.5 cm chest.

 

I so hope you'll consider joining in. On Saturday, I'll share a blog post with more pattern pics, yarn color combo details and a video lesson on how to choose the best size for your body.  I am so excited for it! AND If you are a beginner knitter, this is for you. Our team plus the video tutorials are there to guide and support you. When you're starting out, you need the most help and support - that's what this challenge is all about! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions!

Amy