Moon and Turtle - Official Preview!
Say hello to your new favourite designer duo, Kiyomi and Sachiko Burgin, twin handknit designers from Toronto / Tkaronto, Canada! We’ve long admired the twins’ talent to infuse unique and contemporary design details with classic knitwear styles, and we’re honoured to publish their first collaborative book, Moon and Turtle: Knitting Patterns with Variations!
Moon and Turtle contains 9 knitting patterns (4 garments, 5 accessories) which showcase an edgy, urban aesthetic! All the designs are customisable - think tall versions, adjustable sleeve-lengths, different necklines, and gender-neutral patterns - so that they can be worn by as many people as possible!
The duality associated with identical twins is thoughtfully embedded into every aspect of Moon and Turtle. From the designs to the title of the book itself, there’s a quiet harmony in the idea that two things or people can be visually similar but also appreciably distinct. We were charmed by Moon and Turtle, and we’re sure you will be, too! 🌕🐢
As the secondary part of the book's title promises, there's a number of different variations for each pattern. Therefore, we haven't included the specific yardage here, but rest assured that this information is provided in the book.
Kinsan // Briggs & Little
Yarn weight: Sport-weight
Gauge: 22 sts & 30 rows = 10cm / 4” over St st on 3.5mm needles, after blocking
Needles: 3.5mm / US 4 circular needles, 60-100cm / 24-40” length (depending on size worked) AND needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round; 3.25mm / US 3 circular needle, 60-100cm / 24-40” length (depending on size worked), 40cm / 16” length for neckband, AND needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Finished chest circumference: 86 (96.5, 106.5, 117, 127, 137, 147, 157.5, 167.5)cm / 34 (38½, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66)” – to be worn with up to 15cm / 6” positive ease
Ginsan // Briggs & Little
Yarn weight: Aran-weight
Gauge: 16 sts & 23 rows = 10cm / 4” over St st on 5mm needles, after blocking. 30 sts & 52 rows = 10cm / 4” over double knit pattern on 3.75mm needles, after blocking.
Needles: 5mm / US 8 circular needle, 100cm / 40” length AND needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round, plus a spare needle for pockets and Three-Needle Cast-Off; 4mm / US 6 circular needle, 100cm / 40” length, AND needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round, plus a spare circular needle for grafting; 3.75mm / US 5 circular needle, 100cm / 40” length, plus a spare circular needle for grafting
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Finished chest circumference, including bands: 102 (112, 122, 131, 141, 149, 159, 168, 178)cm / 40 (44, 48, 51½, 55½, 58½, 62½, 66, 70)” – to be worn with approx 20-25cm / 8-10” positive ease
Pokapoka // Qing Fibre
Yarn weight: 4ply + lace-weight held together
Gauge: 28 sts & 40 rows = 10cm / 4” over St st with yarn A (Merino Single) on 3mm needles, after blocking; 28 sts & 36 rows = 10cm / 4” over St st with yarn B (Kid Mohair Silk) on 3mm needles, after blocking.
Needles + hook size: 3mm / US 2½ circular needle, 40cm / 16” length AND needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round; 3.25mm / US D crochet hook (or larger) for Crochet Provisional Cast-On; Two 3mm / US 2½ double pointed needles for working I-cord stalk (optional)
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4)
Finished circumference: 46.5 (49.5, 52, 55)cm / 18¼ (19½, 20½, 21¾)” - to be worn with approx 6cm / 2½” negative ease
Trionyx // Viola
Yarn weight: DK OR lace-weight
Gauge: DK Version: 15 sts & 40 rows = 10cm / 4” over Fisherman’s Rib pattern on 4.5mm needles, after blocking; Mohair Lace Version: 14 sts & 34 rows = 10cm / 4” over Fisherman’s Rib pattern on 4.5mm needles, after blocking
Needles: 4.5mm / US 7 circular needle, 100cm / 40” length; 5mm / US 8 circular needle, 100cm / 40” length
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4)
Finished circumference: Adjustable, see pattern
Zener // Akara Yarn
Yarn weight: 4ply
Gauge: 32 sts & 46 rows = 10cm / 4” over St st on larger needles, after blocking
Needles: 2mm / US 0 needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round; 2.25mm / US 1 needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round
Sizes: 1 (2, 3)
Finished leg and foot circumference: 19 (23, 27)cm / 7½ (9, 10½)”
Leg length: 12.5cm / 5”
Cesium Redux // Green Mountain Spinnery
Yarn weight: Worsted-weight
Gauge: 18 sts & 24 rows = 10 cm / 4” over stocking stitch with larger needle after blocking; One 27-st rep of Cable A = 11.5cm / 4½” wide
Needles: 4.5mm / US 7 circular needle, 80-100cm / 32-40” length (depending on size worked) AND 40 cm / 16” length for pullover only; 5mm / US 8 circular needle, 80-100cm / 32-40” length (depending on size worked)
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Finished chest circumference: 84 (95.5, 104, 115.5, 124.5, 136, 145, 156.5, 165)cm / 33 (37½, 41, 45½, 49, 53½, 57, 61½, 65)” – to be worn with 7.5-12.5cm / 3-5” positive ease
Kordy // Peace Fleece
Yarn weight: Worsted-weight
Gauge: 16 sts & 24 rows = 10cm / 4” over St st on 5mm needles, after blocking; 18 sts & 24 rows = 10cm / 4” over 2x2 Rib on 4.5mm needles, after blocking
Needles: 5mm / US 8 circular needle, 60cm / 24” length for yoke, 80cm / 32” length (or longer for larger sizes) for body AND needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round; 4.5mm / US 7 circular needle, 40cm / 16” length AND needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round
Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Finished chest circumference: 86 (96.5, 106.5, 117, 127, 137, 147, 157.5, 167.5)cm / 34 (38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66)” – to be worn with approx 10cm / 4” positive ease
Lewsky // Peace Fleece
Yarn weight: Worsted-weight
Gauge: 16 sts & 24 rows = 10cm / 4” over St st on 5mm needles, after blocking; 32 sts & 52 rows = 10cm / 4” over double knit pattern on 3.75mm needles, after blocking
Needles + hook: 5mm / US 8 circular needle, 60cm / 24” length; 4.5mm / US 7 circular needle, 60cm / 24” length, and a spare circular needle; 3.75mm / US 5 circular needle, 40cm / 16” length, and a spare circular needle; Crochet hook for provisional cast-on
Sizes: 1 (2, 3)
Circumference: 61 (66, 71)cm / 24 (26, 28)” – to be worn with approx 12-18cm / 5-7” positive ease
ESP // Akara Yarns
Yarn weight: DK-weight
Gauge: 24 sts & 26 rows = 10cm / 4” over colourwork pattern on 3.75mm needles, after blocking; 27 sts & 34 rows = 10cm / 4” over 1x1 Rib pattern on 3.25mm needles, unstretched after blocking
Needles: 3.25mm / US 3 straight needles (optional for Tubular Cast-On set up rows), and / or circular needle, 40cm / 16” length; 3.75mm / US 5 circular needle, 40cm / 16” length AND needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round
Sizes: 1 (2, 3)
Circumference: 46.5 (51, 55)cm / 18¼ (20, 21¾)” - to be worn with approx 2.5cm / 1” negative ease
***
Curious about the book's title? Let's hear from Sachiko and Kiyomi on their title choice: 'You may be familiar with the English idiom ‘like chalk and cheese’, which is used to compare two things that look similar, but in actuality are nothing alike. The comparison of the moon and turtle has a similar meaning in Japan. Tsuki to SupponSuppon / 月とスッポン (moon and soft-shelled turtle) is an idiom comparing the round shape of the moon to the roundness of the soft-shell turtle. Although they have the same shape, of course they are nothing alike. [...] We liked this idiom a lot when we first heard it, as we felt it pretty much summed up how twins are often perceived - looking the same or similar physically, while still being individuals. This collection of designs follows a similar idea.'
Click here to pre-order the twins' striking collection, or here to view the patterns on Ravelry! You can also view test knits of Moon and Turtle patterns here. We expect pre-ordered copies of Moon and Turtle to begin arriving with knitters from mid-August onwards. From 16th August 2021, the book will be available in all excellent yarn shops (our lovely stockists, of course), the digital-only version will be live, and if you have a print copy, your digital download code can be redeemed on this day, too!
With thanks to Moon and Turtle's photographer and graphic designer, Oliver James Brooks! Paul Tseng and Greg Moogk feature as models in the book, alongside Kiyomi and Sachiko! We can't wait to see your projects!