Happy Hour KAL with Marie Greene of Olive Knits

September 9, 2020September 15, 2020 by Makers' Mercantile, posted in Knit Alongs, Make Together, Olive Knits

Shown in MC: 1123 Blush CC: 1111 Cream

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

THE Happy Hour Starter KIT

Purchase 5 or more hanks of HiKoo© Sueño now through 10/1/20 and save 10% with code

HappyHour2020

Plus receive the Happy Hour Starter Kit as our free gift!

(valued at over $35.00)

Shop Sueño

The Starter Kit contains the following:

Happy Hour sweater pattern by Marie Greene
Exclusive Happy Hour notions bag
- made by the Makers' Mercantile team
- featuring the Happy Hour knit pattern motif
US 3 (3.25mm) 16" skacel Rocket 2 [Squared] circular needle by addi®
Party mix snack pack
Strawberry Daiquiri non-alcoholic drink mix
Cocktail umbrella (because why not!)
and more!

You don't need to do anything more than buy your yarn, and add the discount code to your cart. We will add the add the starter kit to your order when we ship!

Happy Hour KAL Cast On 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

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

September 4, 2020 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

Pattern Inspiration

Frühlingstuch

Child's Striped Tunic

©Franklin Habit

Five-Hour Baby Jacket

#MonthForMakers – an Instagram Adventure

August 31, 2020 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

August 28, 2020 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

Endpaper Mitts

Gauntlets

Design Submission Calls

August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 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

FiberStories: Simplicity Spray

August 14, 2020August 18, 2020 by Makers' Mercantile, posted in FiberStories, Information, Product Information

Audition Shawl

This yarn is a huge sigh of relief for fans of HiKoo® Simplicity who like larger projects! One 200 gram cake contains the equivalent of 4 hanks of Simplicity! That means many accessory-sized items can be made with one cake, while larger projects may only need 2-5 cakes.

Featured as Michelle Hunter’s final KAL before her hiatus, the Audition shawl (pictured above) takes one hank of Simplicity Spray, and 2 hanks of your favorite Simplicity solid 50 gram hanks!

Featured in a fun array of ‘spray-dyed’ colors, this mix of spray-tonal and spray-multi colors all match well together, making for fun multi-color and fade projects.

Tell us what you’d make with this yarn!

55% Merino Superwash, 28% Acrylic, 17% Nylon
456 yards per 200 gram cake
Approximately 5 stitches per inch on US 4 - 6 (3.50 - 4.00 mm) needles
Recommended size G (4.00 mm) hook
DK to light worsted weight
Winding not required
Machine wash cold, lay flat to dry
Designed in Seattle, made in Taiwan

Check it out!

Pattern Inspiration

Alzada

Serene Stole

la vie est belle

Four Seasons cowl

Discover the full color range of Simplicity Spray by HiKoo® HERE.

FiberStories: Edition 3

August 7, 2020August 7, 2020 by Makers' Mercantile, posted in FiberStories, Product Information

Gerhard Schoppel, yarn designer extraordinaire, active knitter and owner of Schoppel-Wolle, developed this yarn based on his experience knitting garments. Creator of the Zauberball series, Mr. Schoppel knew that the colorways of his well reknowned Zauberball Crazy were loved by sock knitters and shawl knitters alike, but they wanted more – they wanted something a bit thicker to knit garments and accessories with... so he took out the nylon and made the yarn pure Merino. He also thickened up the twist in order to create a heavier weight – a borderline Sport and DK weight, a more requested option for sweaters and accessories.

The color options, although not as vast as the Zauberball line, now has 14 colors. Two were added this season. The balls are put up in 50g, enabling you to buy many colors to mix and match for items such as the ZickZack Scarf by Christy Kamm and The Shift by Andrea Mowry – two favorites of knitters!

Lest we forget those of us who crochet! Edition 3 is also an excellent choice for those who crochet! With the yarn doing all the work of changing the colors, even simply granny squares look amazing!

Edition 3, not only being super soft, is a superwash as well, making it suitable for children’s items! Baby hats can be created with one ball, and small sweaters with as few as 3.

100% Merino Wool

164 yards per 50 gram ball

Approximately 6 stitches per inch on US 2.5 - 4 (3.00 - 3.50 mm) needles

Recommended size E (3.50 mm) hook

Sport Weight

Winding not required

Hand wash, lay flat

Made in Germany

Explore Edition 3

Pattern Inspiration

Channeled Colors Brioche Loop & Scarf

Corkscrew Baby Hat

Zick Zack Scarf

FiberStories: Concentric Cotton

July 31, 2020July 31, 2020 by Makers' Mercantile, posted in FiberStories, Information, Product Information

Concentric Cotton was created after the success of it’s worsted weight, baby alpaca counterpart: Concentric.

This 100% Peruvian Pima Cotton, fingering weight alternative is truly a bundle of joy. With a generous 929 yards in each 200 gram cake, just one or two is enough to create nearly any project!

Best of all, this yarn is alluring for multiple crafts as crocheters, weavers and machine knitters will also appreciate the reasonable price point, lack of ends to weave in, and cake put-up for easily usability.

100% Pima Cotton
929 yards per 200 gram cake
Approximately 5.5-6 stitches per inch on US 4-6 (3.50 - 4.00 mm) needles
Recommended size G (4.00 mm) hook
Worsted Weight
Winding not required
Hand wash, lay flat
Designed in Seattle, Made in Peru

Check it out!

Pattern Inspiration

Mermaid Walk

Edie

Wilson

WeAreMakers

Poncho To Go

Discover the full color range of Concentric Cotton by HiKoo® HERE.

Accessing Online Events

July 30, 2020July 30, 2020 by Makers' Mercantile, posted in Information

Our online workshops and events are hosted through the Zoom app. The application can be downloaded on tablets, smartphones, or computers. Please be sure you have a stable, strong internet connection during the workshop. If you have used Zoom in other events, or to virtually visit with friends or family, then you probably know how to use the app!

Get the Zoom app

Test Zoom on your device

2 Days Before Class
A few days before the event, you will be provided with login information. Take a moment to check to ensure that you have the most up-to-date version of Zoom on your devics. Did you complete any homework necessary? Gather your materials and make sure they are all in one spot, so you are ready when it's time to learn.

15 Minutes Before Class
You will be able to join the event about 15 minutes before the beginning of the event. Be sure to have your materials kit, as well as paper, pen/pencil, and other notions you think you may need.

Set yourself up in a quiet location, and if possible, wear headphones. Turn off any television, radio, or other source of sound.

When Class Begins
Each attendee will be "muted" when they enter the room. We encourage you to stay muted, and to utilize the chat room for questions. Our instructors have assistants that will relay questions during the event, and as needed, will call on students to unmute themselves to ask questions.

Classes are only offered live and will not be recorded.

Refunds/Cancelations
Attendees can cancel and get a refund for the workshop portion of a class up until the time sign-in information has been delivered for the workshop. The materials fee is not refundable

Something Isn't Working
Having troubles? Try leaving the event, and then join again. If that doesn't solve the issue, restart your device and rejoin the class. If you continue to experience issues, please call 206-747-7121, or email us hello@makersmercantile.com

FiberStories: Boots

July 24, 2020July 23, 2020 by Makers' Mercantile, posted in FiberStories, Product Information

If you’re in the market for the look of a hand-dyed yarn, look no further than Boots from Schoppel-Wolle! Made from a blend of wool, cotton and nylon, this yarn is the perfect blend for socks, garments, shawls and more!

The shawl House Down Boots is a great example of this yarn’s versatility as it combines both knitting and crochet techniques, and blocks like a dream with just steam!

Pro Tip: To protect the hand-dyed beauty of this yarn, we suggest testing your preferred blocking method on a swatch which uses all colors to assess colorfastness before doing so on your final piece.

44% Superwash Wool, 42% Cotton, 14% Nylon
437 yards per 100 gram hank
Approximately 7 stitches per inch on US 0 - 1 (2.00 - 2.25 mm) needles
Recommended size B (2.25 mm) hook
Fingering Weight
Winding required
Hand wash, lay flat
Made in Germany

Check it out!

Want to dye your own? Shiloh is the exact same yarn base as Boots, which means you can dye your own colors, and then combine your handiwork with the colors already available! You can find this wonderful undyed yarn HERE just waiting for your colorful inspiration.

Pattern Inspiration

House Down Boots

Die Wiederkehr der Farben

Ringlet Socks

Birch Grove Socks

Discover the full color range of Boots by Schoppel-Wolle HERE.