Brookside Knits extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in our yarn crafters events over the years. After 19 wonderful KnitOut gatherings, we’ve made the difficult decision to bring the event to a close. It was always a true labor of love, but the time has come for us to move on.
We will always cherish how special these gatherings were, which were made memorable by our talented participants, vendors, the gracious Brookside Country Club staff, and the passionate organizers who brought it all together.
Thank you all!
MKAL 2021 Raffle Prizes
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Congratulations to Laurie E. from Perkaskie, PA. Winner of one of our wonderful baskets!
Everyone who donates to this project is eligible for a chance to win one of these great prizes. Winners will be announced in the coming weeks throughout the project.
Knit 1, Sip 2, Repeat Wine
New Baby Hat Patterns for Knit Out 2020
We are introducing four new patterns this year. Each is designed and regularly knitted by a Brookside Knitter. Each fits the needs of the hospital where we donate hats.
The first pattern is designed for worsted-weight yarns (#4). Worsted yarn is especially good for winter hats. A specific needle size, gauge*, and number of cast-on stitches are listed. When knit to gauge, this hat will be 4-1/2” wide (9” around) as shown in the photo. Click 2020 Worsted Knit Out Hat for f this pattern.
The second pattern is specifically designed for DK yarns (#3). DK yarn is thinner than worsted. There are some nice DK cotton yarns for summer hats. The needle size, gauge*, and cast-on stitches differ from the hat above; the finished hat should be just under 5” wide. Click 2020 DK Knit Out Hat for this pattern.
The third pattern is designed for sport-weight yarns (#2). There is a wide selection of pastel colors and patterns available in sport-weight yarn you can use baby hats. This hat should be just over 4” wide. Click 2020 Sport Knit Out Hat for a copy of this pattern.
The fourth pattern is designed for fingering-weight yarns (#1). This weight yarn is especially suitable for preemie hats. Because the yarn is fine, there is leeway in the sizing. The width should be about 4”. Click 2020 Fingering Knit Out Hat for this pattern.
Measuring *gauge is often forgotten by knitters of charity items. Here is an easy way to get around knitting a separate gauge swatch. Knit one hat. Lay the hat flat. Use a gauge ruler to measure the number of stitches you knit in the middle of the hat. If it matches the gauge on the pattern, you are knitting to gauge. If you have fewer stitches than recommended gauge, your hat will be larger than recommended. Use a smaller needle if needed to obtain correct gauge.
Choose a yarn that is soft and washable. Check yarn labels for weight. Do not use a heavier yarn in a pattern designed for a lighter yarn. Add stripes, change the color or interchange cuffs. Add NO loose things like buttons or pom poms.
Vogue Knitting Live with Janet & Joy
January 19 was a cold and sunny day. We took the bus from Emmaus with Conversational Threads to Vogue Knitting Live at the Marriott on Times Square in New York City.
First, we stopped at the coat check and ditched our coats for the day. We arrived early—even before the market doors opened—but the market had overflowed into the lobby area, so we were able to start browsing right away.
The whole day was a mob scene of people wearing their creations, booths selling yarn and other sundries, fashions shows and glimpses of knits stars.
We saw designer Caitlin Hunter,
podcasters Eric Lutz of Sticks & Twine,
Miriam & Christina of The Chelsea Purls and
Melissa & Lisa of Espace Tricot,
fashion shows by Rowan and Koigu yarns, and
vendors including Dina from The Knitting Place and
Cindy from our own Conversational Threads .
We browsed, bought, ate, and drank in the day, enjoying every minute.
At festivals like this, some independent yarn dyers will dye a batch of yarn in an exclusive colorway, only available at that show. We purchased some yarn by Life in the Long Grass, a dyer from Ireland, in their special event colorway called Vogue.
2019 Charity Donations
January 20 Update:
Thank you to everyone who knitted and donated baby hats and chemo caps at Knit Out. We are very grateful.
This year we received 152 baby hats this year, a virtual rainbow of colors. The statistics by color: red hats (48), blue hats (22), green hats (22), yellow hats (19), brown hats (15), white hats (8), gray hats (8), orange hats (6), and purple hats (4). There are striped hats, solid hats, crocheted hats, knitted hats, gathered hats, lacy hats, fair isle hats, and, well, every imaginable hat. Here are some photos to illustrate.
Brookside Knits donates about 40 baby hats each month to the maternity ward at Pottstown Hospital.
Chemo caps are donated to the hospital as we receive them. We try to find community groups in the Pottstown area to receive other donations.
January 10, 2019
Brookside Knits will once again collect charity donations at the upcoming Knit Out.
2019 Charity Hats
Over the past twelve months, we have donated some 40 baby hats a month to the Pottstown Hospital’s maternity ward. That comes to nearly 500 a year, and a good part of those hats are your donations brought to the Knit out.
We enjoy knitting and donating special hats for holidays. If you were a bird on our shoulder, you would find colors change monthly. In addition to the classic baby pinks, blues, and yellows, you would find lots of green for spring and even more green for football season. 
Red is plentiful for baseball season as well as Valentine’s Day and Christmas. Orange pumpkins are possibly the most popular fall hats, and blues join in for patriotic holidays.
Donated baby hats should be soft and washable. They should not have pompoms or buttons that might harm a baby. They should be sized for preemies (4″ across) or newborns (5″ across).
We also collect chemo caps and Knitted Knockers to be donated to the cancer center.
You will find a basket (or two) for your donations as you enter the lobby. Drop them off as you’re waiting to check in. Thank you for caring!
A Fun Day at Rhinebeck!
It was a great day!
Crazy weather, sunny and warm, then cloudy and chilly and a ten-minute torrential downpour. Thank goodness we were in a building during the rain.
I met so many of the designers and podcasters I know. The designer of the sweater I made and wore, Caitlin Hunter, took my picture.
Everyone wore something they made. It was a great people watching day. We met many of our knitting friends throughout the day.
Among the most popular sweater patterns modeled today were the Zweig (my sweater), the Ninilchik, the Tecumseh, all colorwork sweaters. Colorwork hats were everywhere too. Beautiful creative pieces.
Brookside members and their friends: Eileen, Theresa, Janet, Eileen, Joy, Kathy, Vicki after getting off the bus.
Just an overall upbeat and exciting atmosphere. Craftsy people are just the best!
I bought very little, one gradient yarn pack for the yoke of a sweater and a large project bag from Nancy at Tika Bags. But just looking at all the yarn was so interesting. I did splurge and had a hot apple cider donut and then later a cold fresh apple cider. Yum!
The animals–all varieties of sheep, llamas, alpacas, goats–were wonderful. One llama was very friendly and liked having a selfie taken with him. He kissed Joy’s cheek while she was taking a selfie. All such beautiful sweet animals that give us fiber for our craft.
Just had to share my thoughts on this memorable experience. One of my highlights. Rhinebeck is tops for me!
Thanks again to Conversational Threads for a most enjoyable bus trip.
Janet Kakareka contributed this article about her experience at the 2018 New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY.
Brookside Knits Goes to the Library
Brookside Knits went to the library for World Wide Knit-in-Public Day.
Five members–Sandi, Janet, Carol, Laura & Beth–each spent several hours at the Pottstown Regional Public Library. They were joined by members of the public, the library staff, and the Friends of the Library. Visitors asked about knitting groups in the area and how to learn to knit.
Beth, Winnie, Carolyn & Laura at the Pottstown library
Carol, Laura, Janet at the Pottstown library
Sitting around the table, members and visitors worked on small knitting projects, exchanged ideas for new projects and yarns, and talked about upcoming events and what they were knitting. Projects included a prayer shawl, socks, shawls, baby hats, and a sweater. We had a grand time and are looking forward to 2019.
Supporting our Vendors
We are so very fortunate to have such wonderful vendors for the Pottstown KnitOut. Each and every year they bring a vast variety of yarn and knitting supplies. The owners and others who work their tables are always knowledgeable and very friendly and helpful.
If you would like to continue to support our vendors during the rest of the year, they can be reached through their shop websites or Etsy shops. The right-hand column of this page provides links to most of our vendors.
We would also like to thank Alyssa and Ed from the Center for Alternative Therapies for volunteering their services at the Knit Out.
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- Nature Buttons
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- My Sister’s Bags
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- Mountain Laurel Yarn
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- A2Z Fibers
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- Illusion Ranch
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- Tika’s Bags
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- Purls of Wisdom
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- Misha’s Obsessions
Glimpses of Your Knitting
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- Fair Isle yoke
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- Fair Isle yoke sweater
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- Fox Paws Shawl
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- Self-striping pieced blanket
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- Unicorn stripes
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- Earthtone stripes
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- Self-striping lace shawl
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- Lace capelet
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- Purple & yellow stripes
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- Crocheted butterfly blanket
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- Flecked mittens & neckpiece
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- Baby hat with stripes
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- Punching kit with tools
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- I’ll Pack a Cowl for Rhinebeck
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- Beads in progress
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- Beaded work
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- Beaded lace shawl
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- Lace shawl
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- Lacey sweater
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- Red, black & white stripes
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- Cable cowl class project
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- Cable poncho
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- Cabled cape
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- Cable cowl class project
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- Shawl pin from Nature Buttons
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- Alpaca coat
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- Changing Light Shawl
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- Changing Light shawl
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- Orange sweater with Irish motif
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- Lace & stripes
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- Sweater of thick & thin yarn
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- Garter stitch shawl
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- Variegated garter stripes
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- Bulky gradient yarn
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- Ribbed fingerless mitts
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- Crocheted purple and white baby blanket
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- Milky Way shawl
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- Pink raglan sweater
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- Garter stitch
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- Magenta lace
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- Spring green lace
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- Corcheted lace
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- Cowl in cross stitch crochet
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- Crocheted blue and white striped baby blanket
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- Patriotic hat with pompon
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- Christmas Stocking
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- Quilted Jacket
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- Fade sweater
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- Modular fan shawl at A2Z Fibers
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- Brightly colored mitered blanket
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- Lace shawl with teal
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- Blue & white shawl
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- Drachenfels
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- Lace & garter stitch
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- Variegated shawl
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- Red & green garter stitch
Glimpses of the 2018 Knit Out
This year’s Knit Out filled the senses.
The sounds of friends sharing their projects, the new ideas and skills they learned in workshops, and their memories and plans.
The smell of coffee in the morning and the taste of grilled chicken, crispy salads, and hot soup at lunch.
The sights of works-in-progress and finished works, your projects and your neighbors’. All sorts of crafts–knitting, yes, but also crocheting, beading, punching, quilting. Modular shawls, mitered afghans, pieced works, lace stitches, fair isle patterns, cabled cowls, fuzzy pompoms, textures and colors of all sorts.
The feeling of awe as we watched Show and Share. One such piece was the beautiful Faroe Island-style shawl above, knit in one piece with a center, back panel and wings that spread out like a snow angel. Small pattern adjustments allowed the shawl to stay in place at the shoulders.
We are putting together a slide show for you all to enjoy of glimpses of your work and ours.