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The Read Along Knit Along is Here!

October 2, 2017 Leave a Comment

The Scarf of Dreams by Heidi Gustad - a mystery knit along design inspired by The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

After months of planning, knitting, designing, testing, editing and re-editing, it’s time for our Read Along Knit Along featuring The Night Circus! I’m so exited!

Queue & Buy the Pattern / Join the Ravelry Group / Does your library have The Night Circus?


The blog (here) is where you can find new tutorials as they’re posted and enter the giveaway (scroll to the bottom of this post and look for the entry box). We’ll be discussing the pattern & book on Ravelry, and you can get in on sharing and seeing everyone’s work-in-progress pics on Instagram – just use & look at #RALKAL. And in case you’re in the Chicago area, we’ll be doing RALKALIRL (Read Along Knit Along in real life, get it?) at Firefly Fiber Arts, which is right by the Damen Blue Line stop.

The Scarf of Dreams – Clue 1

The first clue is finally available! If you preordered the pattern on Ravelry, the update of clue one should have arrived in your account last night. If you still need to get your hands on the pattern, you can get The Scarf of Dreams right here. (Psst! You can save 20% in the shop by signing up for the Hands Occupied newsletter in the sidebar.) While you’re there to grab clue 1, don’t forget to join the Hands Occupied Ravelry Group, which is where we’ll be discussing the book & the pattern for the next 6 weeks.

Clue 1 of The Scarf of Dreams by Heidi Gustad - a mystery knit along design inspired by The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Anticipation

Actually, I lied about having planned this KAL for months. To be honest, it’s been years! No joke – I’ve been planning a knit along featuring The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern since before I’d fully developed the Read Along Knit Along concept last year. I first solicited yarn support from Leading Men Fiber Arts at the Stitches Midwest conference in August 2015 after seeing a skein of their Soliloquy yarn in Poison Apple. Between the appropriately-dramatic name and gorgeous red color, I knew it was the perfect yarn for a design inspired by The Night Circus. I’d had the book on my to-read list forever, but as a librarian, there’s always a million things to read for this or that book group, review project or committee. When I finally read The Night Circus, I fell head over heels for it, due in no small part to the role red, handmade scarves play in the story. BUT! Since I know some folks will be finally crossing TNC off their own to-read lists during this RALKAL, I’ll refrain from spoiling anything beyond the phrase “red scarf” and the following quote, which seems appropriate for RALKAL day 1:

“What kind of circus is only open at night?” people ask. No one has a proper answer, yet as dusk approaches there is a substantial crowd of spectators gathering outside the gates.

You are amongst them, of course. Your curiosity got the better of you, as curiosity is wont to do. You stand in the fading light, the scarf around your neck pulled up against the chilly evening breeze, waiting to see for yourself exactly what kind of circus only opens once the sun sets.

For week 1 of this RALKAL, we’re knitting clue 1 of The Scarf of Dreams and reading Part 1: Primordium of The Night Circus. You can 100% read ahead if you like, but in the spirit of a good mystery knit along, we’ll focus our chat for this first week on just clue 1 and part 1. Here’s a break down our reading and knitting schedule for the next 6 weeks:

  • Oct. 2: Clue 1/Week 1 Section 1 & Part 1: Primordium
  • Oct. 9: Clue 2/Weeks 2-3 Section 2 & Part 2: Illumination
  • Oct. 23: Clue 3/Weeks 4-5 Section 3 & Part 3: Intersections
  • Nov. 6: Clue 4/Week 6 Section 4 & Part 4: Incendiary & Part 5: Divination

I, for one, will be listening to The Night Circus on audiobook. Of course, audiobooks and knitting go hand in hand, but this audiobook is really good. It’s narrated by the legendary Jim Dale. He’s such an epic narrator that you might even have heard of him from his audio work alone. He’s the guy whose whimsical voice brought the entire Harry Potter series to life on audio, and he narrated the utterly-charming (and unfortunately short-lived) TV show Pushing Daisies. I know audiobooks aren’t for all knitters, but consider this paragraph my strong case in favor of giving this book in particular a shot. ;)

Giveaway

This RALKAL prize pack is basically what I wish I could get for Christmas every year. There’s a skein of Leading Men Fiber Arts Soliloquy yarn, the yarn The Scarf of Dreams was designed with, in the Evil Queen colorway. Plus, there’s a gift pack of Eucalan Delicate Wash in 5 amazing scents, as well as a Love+Leche lotion bar featuring two adorable, nuzzling sheep. The bar even comes in a drawstring bag that works great as a mini project bag.

Leading Men Fiber Arts' Soliloquy yarn in Evil Queen
To enter the giveaway, use the box below. Open to US, UK, Canada, Denmark, Germany & Australia. If you’re on mobile, you’ll need to click a button that takes you to the entry page. If you’re on the desktop site, you’re all good to go right here! Full terms & conditions available by clicking the link in the box provided.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway prizes were provided by Leading Men Fiber Arts, Eucalan & Love + Leche.

Filed Under: Knit Along Tagged With: kal, knit along, ralkal, ralkalirl, read along knit along, the night circus, the scarf of dreams

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad (she/her) is a craft book author & designer specializing in yarn crafts. Her work combines vintage and modern design elements, prioritizing color and graphic motifs. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), and I’ve been helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010. I got my start here, as a blogger, and since then I’ve shared more than a few tutorials here and on YouTube as I’ve grown as a pattern designer. 🧶 

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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts

handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer 🧶
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern fits with no ease vs. 4” of positive ease. There’s a bit more length to the cotton (brighter color) sample, but both are cropped and feature shoulder seams designed to sit an inch back onto the shoulder instead of on top, giving it a little swing. Length is easily adjustable for folks looking for less of a crop. 
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Pattern: Bevelled Tank by @handsoccupied for @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn summer 2024. Available for free from Hobbii at the 🔗 in my profile.
Yarn pictured: @kelbournewoolens Skipper and Camper. 
Dress form is adjusted to a 36” chest and ~5’3”ish in height. 
Human has a 40” chest and is 5’5”.
Both skirts are vintage.
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #handsoccupied #intarsia #handmade #knitting #colorwork
Let’s talk about fit and ease! . During the Beve Let’s talk about fit and ease!
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During the Bevelled Tank design process for @pompommag, I knit 2 samples using 2 different @KelbourneWoolens yarns. One was in Skipper (100% cotton, second photo) and the other was in Camper (100% 2 ply wool). The Skipper sample was knit for a 36” bust, which measures in at 40” with 4” of positive ease. And I knit the Camper Sample for my 40” bust with a 44” finished measurement. (BTW, I’m 5’5” for folks that find that measurement helpful in visualizing fit.)
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Based on the size chart for the Bevelled Tank, that means I knit one size 3 sample and one size 4. As designed, I conveniently fit a size 4 as intended with 4” of positive ease. When I wear the 3, there is no ease at all because the garment and my body are both 40” in size. Comparing the 2 garments, you can see how the fiber content (cotton vs. wool) and fit (no ease vs. 4” of positive ease) makes a difference in the look and feel of the finished garment. 
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These samples are a great way to compare what ease looks like on different bodies. While I can fit both a size 3 and 4, the garment with no ease feels more like pajamas or a bralette when I wear it. On the other hand, when I wear the one with 4” of positive ease, I feel comfortable enough to wear it to work, even as a crop top. Plus, it leaves me with enough room to layer it with a nice button down if I’m not feeling the cropped look one day. 
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I’m curious - how would you style this tank? Would you modify it with a few stockinette rows for added length? I’m so curious now that this pattern is finally out in the world. :) 
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #bevelledtank #handsoccupied #knitting #intarisa #handmade #kelbournewoolens #croppedsweater #summerknits
After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m ba After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m back with a brand new pattern in 9 sizes, and it’s FREE as part of @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn’s summer design collection! (Link is in my bio.)
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In my December newsletter, I announced that I was soliciting test knitters for a pattern that had originally been selected for the summer ’24 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly magazine. However, the magazine ceased publication after its spring ’24 issue, leaving in-progress designs unpublished. (It happens.) As a result, I’d begun the long process of editing, testing, and photographing the pattern for independent release through the Hands Occupied pattern shop and Ravelry.
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Before I was done with that process, Pom Pom Quarterly’s former editors reached out with an exciting proposal for the pattern. Post-magazine, they’ve begun to partner with yarn companies to produce high quality pattern collections. They wanted to include designs from the would-be current issue of Pom Pom Quarterly in a new collection for Hobbii yarn, including my Bevelled Tank. I worked with the same technical editors I would have for the magazine on this one, and as you can see from the photos, Pom Pom’s team did an amazing job of styling the garment to the beautiful standards they’re known for.
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You can learn more about the pattern on my blog and get the free pattern from Hobbii yarn - links to both in my profile. I’ll post sizing info in the comments for quick reference too. 🧶
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #knitting #intarsia #sponsored #colorworkknitting 
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Photos: @dianascarrunz 
Model: @angel.jade_
Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vi Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vintage knitting pattern from 1938 called the Fernlace Pullover. A pattern so nice, I knit it twice.
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Yellow version 💛: knit with Despondent Dyes’ Vintage Vixen Sport after attending a @squidneyknits vintage knitting retreat in 2019 & learning *so much*. Paired with a self-drafted circle skirt pattern. 
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Blue version 💙: knit with @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Sky Blue. Paired with the 1940s Boardwalk Duet sewing pattern from @decades_of_style 
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Head to my stories for 🔗🔗 to the handmade wardrobe blog posts I wrote about each take on the Fernlace Pullover, working with a vintage pattern, where to find vintage patterns (including the one I used), & some thoughts on sizing. 
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Image descriptions available in alt text. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadewardrobe #fernlacepullover #vintageknitting #vintageknittingpatterns #knitting_inspiration
Frogging is a word in the knitting world that mean Frogging is a word in the knitting world that means to rip out your knitting. It’s called frogging because frogs say “ribbit,” and when you’re tearing out your knitting, you will “rip it” out, and that sounds like ribbit. No really. 🐸 Did you know this fun fact? 
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P.S. I did like this design concept, but to make the pattern more knitter friendly as well as more wearable, I am making some tweaks to the construction. Excited to share when it’s ready! 🥰🧶
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Yarn: @blueskyfibers Woolstok North in Morning Frost & Highland Fleece 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #frogging #blueskyfibers #knittersofinstagram #blueskymakers #knittingvocabulary #bsfmakers #knitdesign
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