Two decades old!!!! Thank you to all our patrons and students – you are the reason we are still here! An abbreviated history of The Knit Cafe The Knit Cafe opened its doors on October 8, 2003. On Queen St. West near Ossington Ave in Toronto, we chose our first home because it was close to where we lived. The beautiful space with original hardwood floors and a tin ceiling was a delight – we painted the store front orange! Back then we rubbed shoulders with small creative businesses and galleries. It was not the fashionable part of Queen St, it was a bit feisty and a bit scruffy – kinda like us ..read more

So, there are thousands of videos and tutorials out there that show you how to knit and purl. It has never been easier, thanks to social media sharing to pick up a new craft like knitting, but do some things get lost in translation as you skip from video to video? As a complete beginner do you really feel like you have all the tools you need to get started? The answer to this for many people is probably no. Here I will attempt to get you started on your knitting adventure and try to fill in some of those gaps between knit and purl. How to start knitting 1. Find your LYS. That’s “Local Yarn Sto ..read more

One of the things that keeps me fascinated with knitting is that there is always something new to learn. Not only are there centuries of knitting history to look back on but new knitters keep making stuff up! The other day I learned something new and it gave me a little jolt of joy so I thought I would share it with you. This new tip came from Brooklyn Tweed, a very special yarn company that The Knit Cafe has the good fortune to represent. Not only do they provide us with covetable yarns that are ethically and sustainably produced, but they also produce kick-ass knitting patterns and have wond ..read more

When The Knit Cafe began its journey 19 years ago we never would have thought that we would be shuffled off from place to place. From Queen Street to Roncesvalles and now to Dundas Street West – we do hope that we have now found our forever home. When folks ask about our new location, they ask first “is it bigger?”. The answer is – Yes it is – and although that was not the reason for our move we are happy to have some more elbow room. Space for classes and gatherings. You could say our new space needed a little bit of coaxing to get it ready, or you could call it a heavy duty reno! Here are so ..read more

Every single day in the last month knitters have been coming in The Knit Cafe looking for supplies to make a balaclava. Why are we so obsessed? Surely not all of us have been watching Audrey Hepbourne looking ever glamourous wearing her Balaclava in Charades? So how does one explain this Balaclava-mania? A hat and a cowl combined might be a very practical accessory but it really has not been in vogue for the last few decades. So why now? There is no way of knowing but like most things these days the rise in popularity of the balaclava may be due to the pandemic. A warm and wooly covering to t ..read more

Have you ever considered doing your own version of the  #MakeNine Challenge? This is a very popular hashtag on Instagram and other social media platforms to share crafting plans for the year ahead. It was inspired by the hugely popular “Best Nine” hashtag that often circulated around at the beginning of each year. Rochelle from Home Row Fibre decided that instead of looking at the past year she would look forward and make plans for the next. Choose 9 projects that you would like to make and share these goals. Sounds a bit daunting doesn’t it? Like publicly announcing your New Year’s resol ..read more

We’ve all been through a lot these last few years. We all deserve treats! Here are our picks for gifts for crafters of all kinds: For New Knitters My First Scarf Kits, My First Hat Kits, and Mini Scarf Kits from Loopy Mango Knit How – a great beginner book For beginners who have a tried a few scarves and are looking for their next project: Mohair Beanie Kit For Experienced Knitters Accessories from Coco Knits – row counters, stitch holders, tape measures, stitch markers, accessory rolls, mesh bagsFor Rug Hookers and Punch Needlers Check out the Rug Hooking and Punch Needle section of our shop ..read more

October is about the time I start wearing fingerless mittens. It is a small window of opportunity, when it gets a bit chilly, but not too chilly. They are great on the bike! We published our fingerless mitten pattern called Lickity Split Fingerless Mitts here on our blog many moons ago, but I thought it deserved an update. They were designed to be a good pattern to learn how to knit in rounds on double pointed needles. We taught this pattern for many years to our Knit 101 students. If you do not like double pointed needles you can also knit these mittens with the magic loop method or your fav ..read more

I think most people agree that the things they give and receive that are made by hand have extra special significance, but that doesn’t mean that these gifts are always a good fit. When I was a teenager I received a beautiful cable knit blanket made from natural-white wool from my grandmother that I still use and cherish now. I also received quite a few sweaters from her – made with exceptional skill and much love that languished in a drawer. I am sure I have given many hand knit things that have met a similar fate. Now that I am a knitter I really consider who I will make a gift for and when ..read more

The quick answer is no, but you probably should. I have noticed that most people view making a knitted swatch like a kind of “eat your vegetables” or “remember to floss” kind of task, but full disclosure: I love to swatch!! For me swatching is this lovely getting to know ya kinda time between me and my yarn. It’s when I take it out and see what it can do. How does it feel running through my fingers? What does the colour look like when it is knit up? What’s the texture really like? All these questions are asked and answered during the swatching stage. If I am not in-love after the swatch is do ..read more