Jean Greenhowe Designs Official Website - Jean Greenhowe knitting patterns, Newsletters

This Newsletter is in response to the number of enquiries from USA knitters, mostly regarding the availability of suitable yarn for my designs. First the knitting yarn.

Patons Astra
This yarn is produced in Canada, but it is also distributed in the USA. Full details and links to Astra yarn on USA websites are given later in this Newsletter, but here is some useful background information.

I use British double knitting yarn [DK yarn] in my designs and Patons Astra is identical in thickness to DK yarn. However, Astra has not been widely recognised in the USA as compatible with DK yarn, because there is some confusion regarding the ‘weight’ category.

In the USA, Astra is listed as ‘sport weight’ and in Canada as ‘DK/sport weight’. However, the proof of compatibility is on the Astra and DK ball bands which show that both yarns knit to exactly the same gauge. The measurements are over stockinette stitch, worked on USA 6 [4 millimetre] knitting needles:-

Patons Astra − 22 sts = 4 inches
Double knitting − 22 sts = 4 inches

Please note that the above standard gauges only apply to mainstream knitting such as garments.

I have Patons Astra samples on hand and can assure USA knitters that Astra will give the same results as DK yarn. Astra is a best-selling standard yarn which has been manufactured in Canada for many years. It is also produced in around 40 bright colours which I use in my designs.

Patons Astra – links to USA websites and stockists
Yarn Forward
Patons Website
Knitting Warehouse
Mary Maxim USA

Knitting needles
The gauges and needle sizes quoted previously are appropriate for knitted garments. I use smaller needles for my designs because stuffed items need to be more closely knitted, so that the stuffing does not show through the knitted stitches. Instead of the recommended 4mm needles intended for garments, I work on 3mm needles.

This presents a small problem for USA knitters, because there isn’t a precise equivalent to 3mm needles in American-sized needles. As a conversion I suggest USA size 2, which is 2¾mm in metric needle sizes. Using Astra and USA 2 needles, the doll or toy will turn out slightly smaller than the measurement given in the instructions. This is nothing to worry about because unlike garments, dolls and toys don’t have to ‘fit’ anyone or anything.

However, 3mm needles are available from Mary Maxim in Canada and here is the link to the relevant knitting needle page:-

If you can obtain a pair of 3mm needles and use Patons Astra, all the basics to knit my designs will be taken care of and the Jean Greenhowe Collection will be your knitted oyster!