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The Essential Guide to Machine Knitting with the addiExpress Kingsize

by Makers' Mercantile, posted in Book Review, Makers' Inspiration, Product Information

Knitters! Crocheters! Crafters of all types who love yarn!

If you haven’t heard about the addiExpress Kingsize yet, meet the knitting machine that will keep you busy in quarantine. This machine just got a brand-new pattern book released digitally as a complete companion guide; with 30 patterns, extensive instructions on how to get started, special techniques, and even troubleshooting!

“The Essential Guide to Machine Knitting with the addiExpress Kingsize” is a collaboration between our friends at skacel, and Hannah Mann (the designer behind Dear Ingénue on Ravelry).  

In this book you’ll learn about the machine, addi® (the manufacturer), details on fabric characteristics, how to set up your machine, and detailed photo step-by-step instructions for all included techniques, and of course 30 unique patterns. Some examples include finishing options, embellishments, on and off machine techniques, detailed yarn information, and even how to block your finished creations! It truly is an all-in-one guidebook, suitable for any skill level or ability!

We especially love the variety of patterns, which are arranged by level of difficulty and range from hats, to sweaters, and even home décor! Each pattern lists what types of skills are needed, materials, helpful hints, and a time estimate for how long each project may take to complete. Designed to lead you from zero experience, to knitting machine professional.

Ready to make the most of machine knitting this holiday season?

Available on our website as a digital download!

PLUS, the addiExpress Kingsize machine just came back in stock, and is ON SALE!

Wondering why they call it the “Express?” Because it’s capable of knitting hats, scarves, and more in under an hour! Able to make tubes, flat panels, increase, and decrease, the type of projects possible are only limited by your imagination.

We can’t say enough good things about this new book, we’re sure it will become an essential tool for beginners and experts, alike!

Treat yourself or pick up a copy for a crafty friend or loved one!

Digital copy only, printed copies coming soon!

Last Minute Holiday Gifts

by Makers' Mercantile, posted in Information, Makers' Inspiration

The holidays are just around the corner, and we feel time ticking by as we inch towards the moment handmade gifts need to be sent on the journey to the lucky recipient. 

Need some ideas about what to make or buy for your deserving friends and family? The Makers' team has compiled some ideas here of gifts to make and give.

Monthly Subscriptions

Give the gift of creativity all year long! Choose from our three subscription box offerings: Sock of the Month, Hat of the Month, or our kids box, the Craft Corner. Each priced at just $27 a month, all boxes come with instructions, materials, and gifts to keep the crafter creating. 

Our subscription programs run monthly, and you can cancel any time.

Learn More

Embroidered Llama

Wayyyyy too cute. This little embroidered llama sends love across the miles. Make it and send it along with other goodies to one of your friends. 

Learn More

Big Lace Shawl

Big stitches and big yarn means a quick knit. As an added value, we are including an addi US 10.75 fixed circular 47" long needle, and a printed copy of the pattern to make this wonderfully huge big lace shawl. Running out of time? You can simply gift this HUGE cake of Donegal tweed, the pattern, and needle to the knitter in your life.

Learn More

Twined Knitted Mittens

Twined knitting is a technique that involves the wrapping of yarns around each other after every stitch. It requires yarns that are twisted opposite each other. In this kit, you'll find "S" twist and "Z" twist yarns specifically created for this purpose. Make these fun mittens as a special gift and learn a new technique at the same time!

(or, give the kit as a gift and let that special person in your life get to experience the magic of twined knitting!)

Also in the kit, you'll receive a download code for the Kerstin mitten pattern (a $ 7 value!) Check out the project page on Ravelry HERE.

Learn More

Victorian Knit-Along Scarf

From the mind of Franklin Habit comes this beautiful lace scarf. Using just one hank of Infinito, a bevy of lace stitches harmonize as the yarn color shifts slowly from light to dark. 

Purchase one hank of Infinito now through 12/1, and we will include a copy of the pattern as our gift to you (a $5.00 value).

In addition, you can review the tutorial videos from our KAL HERE.

Shop Infinito

Aumuller Korbwaren Sewing Boxes

These heirloom-quality sewing boxes from Aumuller Korbwaren are made in Germany of 100% Beech Wood and finished with a clear, hard-wearing varnish.

Perfect for sewers, kntiters, crocheters, and crafters of all kinds. 

Heirloom Boxes

Make your own Woolbuddy!

Fun as a gift to make and then give (or a great all-inclusive kit to give to a lucky recipient) the Woolbuddy kits offer a collection of adorable animals that are just waiting to be crafted. Click the button below to see the options.

Check out the selection

FiberStories: Simpliworsted

by Makers' Mercantile, posted in FiberStories

Aside from the variety of color options, Simpliworsted by HiKoo® is most loved for its brilliant fiber content that makes it machine washable. It is ideal for items for children, as well as blankets or other projects that need to be washed more regularly. The bit of nylon helps this yarn hold its shape, and the Merino and acrylic give it fantastic stitch definition. 

Make a colorful striped blanket, crochet gorgeous granny squares, or create a textural cabled masterpiece that can be sent off to a worthy recipient without any worry about how they might care for the item.

Want more inspiration? On our website you'll see Simpliworsted colors in the same area as Simpliworsted Multi, Marled, and Metallic, but Simpliworsted Spray is listed separately.

Shop Simpliworsted


  • 55% Merino, 28% Acrylic, 17% Nylon
  • 140 yards per 100 gram hank
  • Approximately 4 stitches per inch on US 10 (6.00 mm) needles
  • Recommended size J (6.00 mm) hook
  • Aran Weight
  • Winding required
  • Machine wash, tumble dry low
  • Made in Taiwan

Pattern Inspiration

Weekender
Owls
Twice as Nice
Retro Mittens
Peyton Bomber

FiberStories: Lifestyle

by Makers' Mercantile, posted in FiberStories, Information

Luxurious, 100% extrafine merino wool. What could be better?! This supre soft yarn is prepared in so many color options that you are certain to find one (or three!) that strike your fancy. Lifestyle by Zitron is presented in pre-wound 50 gram balls. Want more yardage and some color gradients? We encourage you to consider Unisono. It is essentially the same yarn as Lifestyle, but is prepared in 100 gram hanks and has more multi-color choices. 

Want a multi-colored yarn to go with Lifestyle? You are in luck! Ambiente by Schoppel-Wolle is an idential yarn base, but it has been space dyed so that when it is knitted, a pattern that resembles Fair-Isle appears!

  • 100% Superwash Merino 
  • 170 yards per 50 gram ball
  • 6.5 sts = 1 inch on US 2 - 4 (2.75 - 3.50 mm) needles
  • Recommended crochet hook: US D (3.25 mm)
  • Fingering Weight
  • Winding not needed
  • Hand wash cold, lay flat
  • Made in Germany
Discover the colors

Pattern Inspiration

©Dela Hausmann

Cowl Birds

©Jutta Buecker

Drachenfest
Peplum Cardigan

© XRX, Inc.

Spring Thaw Socks

©Atelier Zitron

Lillesand Cowl

FiberStories: Kenzie

by Makers' Mercantile, posted in FiberStories, Product Information

HiKoo® Kenzie is made in the beautiful country of New Zealand! In fact, it's comprised of New Zealand merino, angora and alpaca (and just a touch of silk noils), making it a warm and lightweight yarn.

Unlike many yarns, Kenzie is woolen spun! This makes it a perfect yarn for colorwork projects which benefit from a yarn that blooms. Speaking of bloom, this yarn will bloom over time and wear, making it even softer! Project like sweaters, blankets, and accessories will become heirloom items.

With so many colors to choose from, there's something for everyone in our lineup. Plus, it's ready-to-knit in a convenient skein!  

  • 50% New Zealand Merino, 25% Nylon, 10% Angora, 10% Alpaca, 5% Silk Noils
  • 160 yards per 50 gram skein
  • Approximately 5 stitches per inch on US 6 - 8 (4.00 - 5.00 mm) needles
  • Recommended size H (5.00 mm) hook
  • DK Weight
  • Winding not required
  • Hand wash cold, lay flat
  • Made in New Zealand

Pattern Inspiration

© Westknits

Kenzie Shawl

©Donna Smith

Baa-Ble Hat
Missoni-Inspired Lap Blanket
Briar Rose Brioche Loop
Emmett

Happy Hour KAL with Marie Greene of Olive Knits

by Makers' Mercantile, posted in Knit Alongs, Make Together, Olive Knits
Here in the Pacific Northwest our favorite pre-Pandemic outings were for Happy Hour. Typically offered between 3 – 5 PM, meeting a friend for Happy Hour was often the most looked-forward-to date on the calendar. It meant meeting at a favorite local haunt to share a tasty bite to eat and maybe a glass of wine (at a discount!). For me, Happy Hour is about stepping away from the stresses of the day to savor the last bits of daylight with a friend. 
Click on the video (above) to watch Marie tell you all about it!

We may be finding new ways to connect these days, but we can still mark those hours from 3-5 once in a while to connect with our favorite people. What time shall we meet for Happy Hour? Choose 3 PM, 4 PM, or 5 PM by selecting the same number of pattern repeats on your yoke.

jOIN THE CONVERSATION

Share your project progress with fellow Makers' in the Olive Knits Student Lounge HERE, and on social media using the following hashtags:

#HappyHourKAL
#OliveKnits
#MakersMercantile
Shop Sueño
Buy the Happy Hour Pattern

Happy Hour KAL Party!



Sign up for these FREE events, and you will receive invitation emails with information on how to join the virtual meetings on the day of the event. Learn about accessing our online events HERE.


Monday, 10/19, 5-6pm (Pacific) | Happy Hour Cast on Party

Monday, 11/2, 5-6pm (Pacific) | Happy Hour Check in 

Monday, 11/30, 5-6pm (Pacific | Happy Hour Show and Tell

Sign up now

Materials

DK | Hikoo Sueño | 80% superwash merino, 20% viscose from Bamboo | 255 yards/233 m in 100g

Main Color: 950 (1100, 1250, 1388, 1483, 1560, 1642, 1728, 1820) yards/ 868 (1005, 1143, 1269, 1356, 1426, 1501, 1580, 1664) meters
Contrast Color: 175 (187, 200, 212, 229, 243, 257, 273, 289) yards/ 160 (171, 183, 194, 209, 222, 235, 249, 264) meters

Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Finished bust/chest measurements: 32 (37, 41, 46, 50, 52, 57, 63, 66) in / 81.28 (93.98, 104.14, 116.84, 127, 132.08, 144.78, 160.02, 167.64) cm
Yoke Depth: 8.9 (9.2, 9.9, 10, 11.3, 11.3, 11.5, 12.5, 12.8) in / 22.61 (23.37, 25.15, 25.4, 28.7, 28.7, 29.21, 31.75, 32.51) cm

Note about choosing size: Choose the size that gives you a finished measurement that is 2-4 in/5-10 cm larger than your actual chest/bust measurement.

Needles
Note: Adjust your needle size, if necessary, to obtain correct gauge. You may need to go up or down a needle size to reach the recommended gauge – that’s perfectly normal.


US Size 3/3.25mm (16 in/40 cm) circular needle – neckline (for a looser neckline, go up a needle size)

US size 4/3.5mm (24 in/60 cm) circular needle – upper body

US Size 4/3.5mm (32-40 in/80-100 cm) circular needle – as needed for body stitches

US size 3/3.25mm (24-40 in/60-100 cm) circular needle – lower body ribbing

US Size 4/3.5mm (12 in) circular or DPNs or Magic Loop – sleeves

US Size 3/3.25mm (12 in) circular or DPNs or Magic Loop – cuffs

FiberStories: Gesa & Flo

by Makers' Mercantile, posted in FiberStories, Product Information

From left to right: Fauke, Flo, Gesa and Wiebke

Do you ever wonder where yarns get their names? Well, in the case of Gesa & Flo by Zitron, the answer is adorable. Gesa and Flo are the grandchildren of business owner Klemens Zitron. 

We think the name is fitting, especially since this yarn (just like all the yarns from Zitron) is certified safe for children. From the production to the dyes and materials used, it has been tested to ensure that there are no harmful substances in the product. Make that baby blanket and let the little one teethe on the corner with no worry. 

Gesa & Flo comes in 25 gram balls that each contain about 98 yards. Made of 16 micron count ultra fine superwash merino, it comes in lots of wonderful colors. It's ideal for stripes, slip stitch, mosaic, intarsia, or even cables! Looking for a companion yarn with more yardage? Consider Feinheit. 

So, we ask you. What could be better? A certified organic, safe-for-babies, superwash, super-soft yarn with a myriad of color options that is produced by a small family company... and it's named after those sweet babies!

What will you make with Gesa & Flo? Share your projects with us on social media using the hashtags: 

#MakersMercantile     #Gesa&Flo     #AtelierZitron

  • 100% Ultrafine Merino
  • 98 yards per 25 gram ball
  • Approximately 7.25 stitches per inch on US 2-4 (2.75 - 3.50 mm) needles
  • Recommended size E (3.50 mm) hook
  • Fingering weight
  • Winding not required
  • Machine wash cold, lay flat
  • Made in Germany
    • Get the yarn

    Pattern Inspiration

    © Andrea Bierbach-Macha

    Frühlingstuch


    Child's Striped Tunic

    ©Franklin Habit

    Five-Hour Baby Jacket

    #MonthForMakers – an Instagram Adventure

    by Makers' Mercantile, posted in Information, Makers' Inspiration

    Join your fellow Makers' for our September Instagram Challenge! Use the daily prompts as inspiration to post submissions on your Instagram account. Each day brings provides a prompt.

    Download the Planner
    Have fun with your submissions, and let us celebrate the creative process together. Simply remember to tag @makersmercantile and use the hashtag #MonthforMakers on each of your challenge posts. Remember to follow us as well for more fun adventures. 

    Oh! Did we mention? There are 3 chances to win amazing prizes! Winners will be announced via Direct Message in Instagram.

    Visit our Instagram page

    We can't wait to see your month of inspiring images!

    FiberStories: Trekking XXL

    by Makers' Mercantile, posted in FiberStories, Information, Product Information
    The Trekking family of sock yarns from Zitron have been in the hands of knitters for over a quarter century. The name XXL refers to the size of the skein (now 100 grams vs the former 50 gram offering). The line is constantly updated with solids, heathers, varigated, and self striping colorways.

    Zitron is known as the "green yarn manufacturer" because each product in their line features all natural materials (with the exception of the nylon that is used for strength).

    We have also mentioned before about the Oeko Tex 100 class 1 rating that their yarns have earned. The rating means that the yarn is safe for not only next to skin, but also in the mouths of babies. 

    Check it out
  • 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon
  • 459 yards per 100 gram skein
  • Approximately 6.75-8 stitches per inch on US 0-2 (2.00 - 2.50 mm) needles
  • Recommended size US 4 (2.00 mm) hook
  • Fingering weight
  • Winding not required
  • Hand wash cold, lay flat
  • Made in Germany

    • Pattern Inspiration

    Socks Appeal Boxers
    Camouflage Socks

    © Yarnmonster on Ravelry

    Endpaper Mitts
    Gauntlets

    Design Submission Calls

    by Makers' Mercantile, posted in Information

    We love seeing your ideas, and welcome design proposals that celebrate creativity, crafting, and learning. 

    Patterns that include tutorial supplements (such as videos or photo-step by step guides) are ideal for unique or unfamiliar techniques. 

    Submissions

    Only digital submissions are accepted. Submissions should be in .pdf format and include the following:

    • Name, address, phone, and email information for the designer
    • Sketch or photos that represent the finished work. 
    • Drawings/schematics to show how the piece is constructed. Pay attention to sizing and proportion. 
    • Specifics of which yarn(s) are proposed for the project - refer to our website to view our yarn selection.
    • Image of a hand knitted swatch in the proposed (or similar) yarn. 
    • Description of the work, including notes on sizing, inspiration, and other information.

    Multiple submissions are welcome, but please send one submission per email. All submissions should be emailed to Hello@MakersMercantile.com - use "Design Submission" as the subject line, and include the theme (ex: Design Submission - Soaring). 

    Acceptance and Payment

    Once your proposal is accepted, we will create a contract outlining the terms of acceptance. Unless otherwise noted, we license for exclusive rights for a period of time, and then shared rights.

    Payments are made shortly after the sample and pattern has been submitted. Samples become the property of Makers' Mercantile unless otherwise noted.

    Current Calls for Submission

    Makers' Mercantile is accepting submissions for the calls listed below. If your idea does not fit into one of our current themes, feel free to submit it as well!

    hat of the month | Ongoing

    Our Hat of the Month packages are sent out each month. to subscribers. Each month, they receive:

    • Delicious yarn (often exclusive!) for the month's project
    • Exclusive knitting pattern
    • Invitation to join our monthly discussion KAL group in Ravelry
    • ...plus whatever else we decide to include! You never know what treats await!

    We are actively accepting proposals for original hat patterns for our monthly subscription boxes. 

    Sock of the month | Ongoing

    Our Sock of the Month packages are sent out each month. to subscribers. Each month, they receive:

    • Delicious yarn (often exclusive!) for the month's project
    • Exclusive knitting pattern
    • Invitation to join our monthly discussion KAL group in Ravelry
    • ...plus whatever else we decide to include! You never know what treats await!

    We are actively accepting proposals for original sock patterns for our monthly subscription boxes. View monthly unboxing videos HERE.

    View Mood Board

    Soaring | Spring / Summer 2021

    [via]

    Comfortable in our nests, we sometimes need a gentle nudge to take that first step. Pull back the curtains, open the windows, and discover today's beauty.

    • Streams of light through morning clouds
    • The woven texture of twigs that create a bird's home
    • A colorful plume of feathers
    • Textured stitches of knits, purls, and cables
    • A feather drifting across the peeling paint of an old park bench
    • Gentle breezes and the sound of children playing in the distance


    Submissions are due by Sunday, September 6, 2020
    View Mood Board