February’s Beanie Brigade features Pishkun, a 100% non-superwash MT & WY Rambouillet with 255 yards per 100g, and a heavy DK / light worsted weight. This yarn has that unmistakable Rambouillet bounce; plenty of body and a woolly feel that makes it a fun to knit with. It holds its shape beautifully and shows off even the simplest stitches!
The featured colorway, This Little Light of Mine, is a sunny yellow that brings a welcome sense of warmth to chilly late winter knitting. It’s a versatile shade thats cheerful while still feeling grounded and natural, making it a perfect fit for the Basic Beanie by Tin Can Knits. Clean lines and thoughtful construction let the yarn to do the heavy lifting, resulting in a beanie that’s reliable, wearable, and a quick knit.
We’re excited to share a conversation with Tin Can Knits about the inspiration behind the Basic Beanie and their design process.
Basic Beanie Pattern
February Designer: Alexa Ludeman and Emily Wessel of Tin Can Knits
Q: Tin Can Knits is a true team effort; according to your website, the two of you have been knitting together since 2010. How did your collaboration first get started?
A: Emily and I first met while working at our local yarn shop. We became friends and Emily suggested we write a pattern together. But I said "No, we should do a whole COLLECTION". We did 9 Months of Knitting together (I was pregnant with my oldest, Hunter, at the time) and the rest is history! That's sort of how we run our business still...one of us has a small plan, and the other makes it a BIG plan.
Q: On your website, you say, “We LIKE pretty, but we’re not ABOUT pretty. We’re about FUN.” After more than 200 published patterns, how do you keep the fun alive in your patterns and avoid getting bored or burned out?
A: We really still design just what we like. What brings us joy and what we think will be fun to knit, a fun puzzle to solve in writing the pattern, and something that will be fun to wear.
Q: You’ve made huge strides in making your patterns extremely accessible, with extensive educational resources to support knitters. Why is that educational piece so important to your design process and to Tin Can Knits as a whole?
A: We love knitting, so we want as many people as possible to love it too! It's just one stitch at a time, but learning something new can be daunting. We want knitters to feel like they can step a little outside their comfort zone, and take it step by step.
Q: The Basic Beanie is written for a wide range of gauges from sock to aran weight. This is no small feat, especially with the very extensive size ranges you’re known for. What motivated you to create a single pattern with so many options built in?
A: A ribbed beanie is just such a classic! We wanted knitters to be able to choose their favourite skein and knit one for anyone on their knit-list. I've had a Basic Beanie on the needles pretty much constantly since we released the pattern, it's some simple rhythmic knitting and a great gift.
Q: We all love a cozy worsted-weight hat which ultimately lead us to choose Pishkun for this pattern, but do you each have a personal favorite kind of yarn or weight when it comes to hats?
A: Pishkun is one of my very favourite yarns! I love that it's both soft and woolly, and I've so enjoyed knitting with it. Bodhi's purple beanie is knit up in Pishkun and it's a fave for sure. Sometimes I'll knit a lighter weight hat, for the shoulder seasons here on the coast, but I have to agree, a worsted weight hat is where it's at!
Q: We’re always obsessed with the bright, happy color palettes in your patterns, which inspired the cheerful yellow for this month’s Beanie Brigade yarn. What advice would you give knitters who want to step outside their color comfort zones?
A: Emily often has to teach me this lesson. Whenever we're making a palette she'll throw something in that I don't think will work at all, but she's always right and it makes the whole thing work. Knitting with bright colours is just such a JOY. It makes me happy to see those colours running through my fingers!
Q: Are there any new techniques or design elements you’ve been playing with lately that you’re excited to explore in future patterns?
A: We've been working away at making our patterns even more accessible with our app. We love having lots of sizes, options, and even multiple yarn weights, but in our app you can view our patterns in a simplified and customizable way. You'll see the instructions for just your size, and you can change your preferred units, font size, etc. It's free to download, give it a try!
February Pre-Order
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