The First Bloom Beanie that we will be making together during our Learn to Knit Coaching week calls for 1 skein (approx 60 yds / 55 mm / 100 g) of Daisy Chain yarn in the color of your choice. This handspun yarn is a mix of mostly wool, a little mohair and 1% sparkling Angelina fibers. Each colorway is different.

If you would like to use yarn that you have on hand or may be able to find locally, we've created this list of substitutions that are similar. We have not tested the pattern with these options so please note that if you use a yarn other than Daisy Chain you will still want to make sure your gauge matches (don't worry, we will go over this!) and you may need additional yardage.

We've also found a few knitting needle alternatives to the size US 15 (10mm) / 16" KnitPro wooden circular needles we will be using and those can be found at the bottom of this list.

Recommended Yarn Substitutions for Daisy Chain

*Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick

*Plymouth Yarn Encore Mega (and Mega Colorspun)

*Malabrigo Rasta

*Malabrigo Caracol

*Manos Del Uruguay Franca

*Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok North

*The Fibre Company &Make Super Bulky

*Berroco Bestie (likely would need 2 skeins!)

*Lopi Joklalopi

*Lang Yarns Bold

*Urth Yarns Lanalpaca

*Rowan Big Wool

*Cascade Lana Grande

*Amano Mamacha (likely would need 2 skeins!)

*Cascade Pacific Bulky

*Madeline Tosh ASAP

Knitting Needle Substitutions

*Knitter's Pride US 15 (10mm) / 16" wooden circular needles (Exact same needle as the KnitPro, just labeled differently in different countries)

*Lykke US 15 (10mm) / 16" driftwood circular needles

*Clover Takumi US 15 (10mm) / 16" bamboo circular needles

*KnitPicks Options US 15 (10mm) / 16" wooden circular needles

*Chiagoo US 15 (10mm) / 16" bamboo circular needles

*Prym US 15 (10mm) / 16" bamboo circular needles

*Zen US 15 (10mm) / 16" wooden circular needles

If you have any questions at all, please reach out via email to hello@knitcollage.com and we'll be more than happy to help!

Have you ever dreamed of creating your own knitwear? Have you been unsure of where to even begin or has learning to knit been a struggle and you find it impossible to actually finish a project? Or maybe, you learned to knit a long time ago but you forget the stitches and you want to come back to it?

If any of those sound like you, I’d love to invite you to our first ever Learn to Knit Coaching Week! This is an immersive weeklong experience designed for brand new knitters who are starting from absolute zero. Together, we will learn and master the foundational skills of knitting and go from yarn and needles all the way to a finished hat in less than 7 days!

Within this coaching week experience, you’ll get:

* An easy-to-follow, step-by-step video class on how to knit the First Bloom Beanie from start to finish. Within this course, you'll get all the basics - how to knit, how to purl, how to cast on, how to bind off, what to do when you make a mistake, how to hold your needles and yarn and more!

*A bonus set of videos on everything from favorite tools to how to needle felt ends and other tips and tricks for knitting success.

*A downloadable workbook that includes the pattern and our best tips and resources for knitting success.

*Six Live Zoom Q & A Sessions with me, your teacher, and the Knit Collage coaches (myself, Cheryl and Pia) to answer any questions that might come up - replays will be available if you miss attending live!

*Expert help when you need it - both live on Zoom and within the Knit Collage App.

*Access to a welcoming, kind and energetic community of fellow learners to cheer you on and hold you accountable to finishing your project.

*Finish with a final zoom and celebration party!

*A beautiful hat that you can feel proud to rock out in the world because YOU MADE IT!

Over the past 8 years, I’ve taught thousands of makers from all over the world everything from the most basic stitches and how to simply cast on, to more advanced techniques. Along the way, I’ve watched these makers experience benefits of a consistent making practice that go way beyond just knitting.

Relief from stress, greater self confidence, increased creativity, and a healthy tool that you can lean into any time whenever life gets challenging — these are just a few of the many, many side benefits of knitting and making things.

When you’re first starting out learning a new hobby or skill, that’s when you need the most support. Don’t go it a lone! We’ve created this coaching week to be the ultimate support system so that you can finally make progress and succeed at learning to knit!

You have two options for how to join in on this immersive beginner knitting experience:

*Virtual Option - Have or want to source your own yarn? You can join in on all facets of the Learn to Knit Coaching week for just $10! Sign up right here at this link. If you’re looking for yarn suggestions that will work for this pattern, we’ve created a list for you right here.

*Full Kit Option - The kit option includes our special Daisy Chain yarn, the correct needles needed for this project. and a Knit Collage notions pouch with a tape measure and 3 fun flower stitch markers PLUS everything that’s included in the Learn to Knit Coaching Week virtual option. Grab a kit at this link here.

Registration is officially open now and we’ll kick off coaching week on Monday, September 15th.

I am so, so excited to give this a try and I so hope you’ll join us!

In today's yarn deep dive, I'd love to introduce you to Mixtape. In our Mixtape yarn, a little bit of all things Knit Collage combine for a stripe-tastic yarn mix of wool, screen printed cotton, boucle, and a hint of sparkly lurex. It's a colorful, textural explosion in every skein!

When we first released this yarn as part of our Spring Knitalong, it sold out within a few short hours. What feels like a very long wait is soon to be over! Mixtape yarn is finally coming back in stock next week! If it’s calling to you, I encourage you to sign up over on the product listing to be notified when it’s back in stock. It will be back in stock, along with the two new colors and Mixtape Sweater Kits, on August 6th at 10am ET.

Originally, Mixtape was created out of a desire to give new life to discontinued colors of our Serenity boucle and Wildflower cotton yarn. The idea was to mix in these remnants with some of our existing yarn line and create a self striping yarn unlike any other in our lineup. Monika, who runs our India team, and I laid out pretty much every color we had and got to work. We created 5 unique colorways, which I'll introduce to you below, in that original run and then this summer when I was back in India we designed 2 more! All 7 colorways will be coming back in stock next week!

The first colorway is Kaleidoscope. This one is my absolute favorite because I love a good rainbow. Over 20 different yarns/colors make up the recipe for this colorway. It is truly so special.

Next up is Alchemy. I think of this one as our fall feeling colorway. It's gorgeous knit up--feels just like being at Rhinebeck. I loved Alexi from Two of Wands' Mixtape Sweater that she knit with it this spring.

Rambler is the colorway made with our neutral lovers in mind. It gently shifts between greys, cream and taupe with subtle pops of peach for a look that goes with anything. I love it paired with jeans, like knitalong participant Raye went with, but I could also see grounding a funky pair of pants with it. Love!

Ocean Calm is for all you blue lovers out there. It's a seaglass-esque mix of aquamarine, cerulean and bright greens and it knits up beautifully. I loved KAL participant Lori's long sleeve Mixtape Sweater in this colorway.

Next up is Wild Child. I absolutely live in my long sleeve Mixtape Sweater knit in this colorway. Wild Child is a mix of neon pink, neon purple and some golds. For me, it reads almost like a leopard print–– but more happy! I could not love it more.

Alongside our 5 existing colors of Mixtape, we have two new special colors coming that I have sneak peeks for! The first, shown above, is “Harvest Moon” and it’s a moody fall rainbow vibe designed by team member Julia Norris. As soon as she sent me the photo collage of the yarns she wanted to use for it my jaw hit the floor and the sample did not disappoint. It’s totally epic and I can’t wait to share it with you. Think of it as a more autumn version of a rainbow.

The second new color “Mountain Mist,” I designed around this special Spun Cloud Light collab color that we did with Vickie Howell a few years back. We don’t currently have plans to bring this Spun Cloud Light color back so this may turn out to be a limited edition colorway of Mixtape. Not sure yet!

Alongside the Mixtape restock, we will also be releasing the Mixtape Sweater pattern and kits out into the wild. The kit will come with my simple, easy-to-follow, video course on how to knit this sweater too--jam packed with over 30 video lessons to take you from yarn to a rocking FO (finished object!) in no time :)

I designed this pattern based on the Serenity Stripe sweater by Laurel Gervitz. This sweater is all about customization–– sleeves/no sleeves, mock neck or scoop neck, you get to knit your own adventure!

These are just a few gorgeous Mixtape sweaters from our Spring KAL participants. Each one is incredibly stunning - just like their makers. It’s hard for me to not smile ear to ear while looking at these. Be sure and check out our Spring Knitalong Celebration Video if you haven't yet--it's beyond inspiring and SO MANY gorgeous Mixtape Sweaters to peruse!

Mixtape will be back in stock, along with the two new colors and Mixtape Sweater Kits, on August 6th at 10am ET. If it’s calling to you, I encourage you to sign up over on the product listing to be notified when it’s back in stock. Can't wait!