It is summer! Time for knitting things that do not sit in our laps. And time to learn new things…

The Sampler Knitting Tote is a KAL designed to challenge us to learn new techniques or stitch patterns -- and the cool thing is even if you do not love the stitch pattern, you are only making an 8” x 8” square!

There are two patterns to choose from: The Intermediate Tote and The Adventurous Beginner Tote.

The bag is 12 squares. We will release two squares per week for 6 weeks beginning June 18th.

The Intermediate bag is made with 6 colors of Berroco’s Vintage worsted -- an affordable, durable, and machine washable yarn. You need a total of 7 skeins -- one each and two of the darkest. The Adventurous Beginner Tote uses 2 colors, 2 skeins of the lightest and 3 skeins of the darker or roughly 1,050 yards.

There are tons of needle sizes requested because of the different techniques. Most of the squares are made on a US 7 and the US 6 is used only for picking up stitches and is the only one that should be circular.

If you are a customer of HOKC, we will have classes each Wednesday, one during the day and one in the evening to explain the more complex stitches. If you are not in SoCal I also shot YouTube Videos for each technique and will share the links of each of the updates. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0l2FoAuCBuedA0tydrIA8A/...

We are setting up a Q & A thread on Hands on Knitting Center’s Group page to keep everyone up to date. https://www.ravelry.com/groups/hands-on-knitting-center

I created both an Intermediate and Adventurous Beginner Version. The squares are totally interchangeable so feel free to download both patterns and pick and choose.

The Intermediate Square Motifs are:
Mitered Square and Farrow Rib
Intarsia and All Over Cables
Herringbone Stitch and Guernsey
Mosaic and One Color Brioche
Your Initial and Centered Cable
Plaited Basket Weave and Beaded Guernsey

The Adventurous Beginner Motifs are:
Mitered Square and Farrow Rib
Intarsia and All Over Cables
Chevron Stitch and Guernsey
Mosaic and No-Purl Rib
Your Initial and Centered Cable
Woven Basket Weave and Beaded Guernsey
(most of the motifs that are the same are simplified in this version)

YouTube Links for the skills:
How to Read a Chart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb_4d6LKGvc&t=12s

Mitered Square: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LshyJEMJfI&t=6s

All Over Cables: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Os63OcFOA2I

Herringbone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWySK5he9Qk

One Color Brioche:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtNzE_cb9zU

Intarsia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_vlmTSW7A0&t=1s

Mosaic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgAp0mDk_EM

Centered Cable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzPjK0hrXhM&t=66s

Plaited Basket Weave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_PmGDYUOxw

Adding Beads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zozley6Zsug&t=18s