Toque Off
We decided to continue the small project fun for the rest of the summer so… welcome to Toque Off!
Just like our Sock-A-Palooza and Mitten Mania, we’re going to run a fun competition to see how many hats we can get made during the month of August.
You are welcome to join in the fun whether you've never knit one or 100. We’ll be doing a few draws at the end and have different ways for you to enter depending on your skill levels. (Check out the details below.)
Want to learn? Let me know if you’re interested in having a class and I’ll put one together.
Need supplies? I'll be sending in orders shortly if you are looking for needles or specific yarns and colours (especially if you want to match your mittens). We’ve got a variety of yarns perfect for hats in store right now depending on the weight you want to use.
Need patterns? Ravelry has over 178,000 of them. Some are knit, some are crocheted. Some are plain, some are complicated. Some are long, some are short. Check out the search I started here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#query=hats&sort=best&view=captioned_thumbs&page=1.
Toque Off is a hat making competition for the month of August. It's just some fun to see how many hats we can create in 31 days. And there will be prizes.
Make sure to join in our Knots & Thoughts (Facebook Live chats Thursday nights at 6:30). I'll be sharing tips on hat knitting and answering your questions throughout the month. And the winners will be announced on our September 4th Knots & Thoughts.
Below are all the details for the fun. Whether you've knit 100 hats or starting your first one, there is a place for you.
Toque Off Rules:
Beginner - anyone who hasn't knit a hat before or is just learning.
Intermediate - anyone who has knit a few hats but isn't obsessed with knitting them.
Advanced - those hat knitters who always have one on the go. Try challenging yourself with something new (ie. new pattern, add a stitch pattern to your plain hat, etc.).
Each entry will need to weigh at least 50 grams. A hat that weighs 85 grams or more, will count as two entries. A hat that weighs 130 grams or more will count as three entries.
A "hat" can be baby hats, kid hats, headbands, etc. but you'll need to knit more than hat per entry. The entry needs to weigh at least 50 grams. (A kitchen scale works great for this.)
We’re also including hoods, scarves, cowls in this competition. Basically anything that covers the head and neck areas will count. If you are wondering if something will work, please ask before starting the project.
If you use any of my patterns, you’ll get an extra entry. (I currently have 27 hat patterns available in store and on Ravelry, as well as 11 cowl patterns.)
You can use any weight of yarn from fingering to chunky weight to make hats. They can be knit or crocheted.
All entries must be posted in our Sweet Yarnies group by August 31st at 11:59PM. (If you can't do this, let me know and we'll work it out.) Make sure to include:
• which group of hat makers you are in
• the hat pattern and yarn you used to make them
WIP (work in progress) entries:
Starting WIP – a Starting WIP is a hat that is already on the needles. To be included as an entry, the WIP needs to be less than halfway through the hat (check the schematic or measurements in your pattern). One entry per customer. We'll have WIP posting days on July 30th & 31st where you can share your submission for your Starting WIP. Watch for the reminder.
Ending WIP – an Ending WIP is a hat that you didn’t quite finish during Toque Off. The WIP needs to be more than halfway through the hat. One entry per customer. We’ll have a WIP posting day September 1st where you can share your submission for be your Ending WIP. Watch for the reminder.
All entries must be posted in our Sweet Yarnies group on the scheduled days. (If you can't do this, let me know and we'll work it out.) Make sure to include:
• which group of hat makers you are in
• the hat pattern and yarn you used to make them
If you have any questions about Toque Off, please contact the store and I'd be happy to answer them.