Afghan Knitalong – Block Fourteen

Block Fourteen is live!

14 Well Plaid with title_blog

Block two of our month of plaid!  Where our last block used stripes raised above the fabric of the square, Block Fourteen “Well Plaid”  creates lines of color flush with the rest of the square.

Amy Gunderson achieves this by working one vertical stitch in the row in reverse stockinette, then applying the contrasting color to the purled stitch using a crochet hook.  It’s rather ingenious.  The video shows how it’s achieved.

Neat, eh?  It’s a bit like picking up one laddered stitch, except with an entirely new color of yarn.  I love the way this looks!

As always, you can share your thoughts and work with us here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group.    Check back in two weeks for a new technique and a new block!

Free Pattern Friday – Heavenly Henley

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Jubilation Heavenly Henley 5 blog

We’ve got a treat today!  The Heavenly Henley by Emma Welford.

Jubilation Heavenly Henley 4 back blogThis is a great combination of solid Merino XF, a soft extra-fine merino, and Jubilation Kettle-Dye, also extra-fine merino but single-ply in a riot of bright colors.  It’s a great way to use variegated yarn as a bold accent.

And speaking of accents, check out the back!  I love this little detail.  You could choose to include or omit it, depending on your taste.

Emma is a thoughtful designer, in that she considers the impact of the final piece as well as the process of knitting.  If you haven’t seen her Convertible Cowl from our Poetry at Home e-book, take a gander.

Convertible Cowl 4-shot 100

This has been a popular garment because it’s so versatile.  Like the Heavenly Henley, it’s a great use of multicolor yarn, in this case Poems 100% wool.  We’re so happy to have the chance to work with Emma again.

Happy knitting, everyone!

Throwback Thursday – Ruffles and Ribbons

It’s Throwback Thursday!

TT Ruffles and Ribbons

Awww!  Today’s Ruffles and Ribbons blanket was originally designed for Bella 4-ply, an acrylic/nylon blend.  It’s a good choice since it’s machine washable, but we have a couple of even better yarns that fit the bill now.

We’re recommending either Little Bird (344yds/100g) or Uptown Baby Sport (361yds/100g) instead.  Personally, I think I’d go with Uptown Baby Sport.  Both are soft and would work nicely, but Baby Sport has just a little bit more loft, which I think would fit well for this project.

The yarn is held doubled for the body, which is knitted on 5mm/US8 needles.  Then use just one strand of yarn and a US Size 4 circular needle for the ruffled edging.  It’s a good means of getting different effects from the same yarn.   Pretty adorable!

Happy knitting.  We’ll see you tomorrow for Free Pattern Friday!

Free Pattern Friday – Superwash hats!

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Parfait and Here and There hats_DeluxeWorstedSuperwash_blog

Today, a little love for both the knitters and the crocheters!  Both use Deluxe Worsted Superwash (220yds/100g), the popular machine washable version of our Deluxe line of wools.

Here and There hat_DeluxeWorstedSuperwash_blog First, the knitted Here and There Hat.  Amy Gunderson uses right and left twists to create colorful slanting columns up the length of this cap.  A Luxury Fur Pom-Pom tops it off with an extra pop of color.  I love these pom-poms.  They’re pre-made with an attached thread that you can just tie onto your work.

Parfait Hat_DeluxeWorstedSuperwash_blogNext, the crocheted Parfait Hat.  Two colors of Deluxe Worsted Superwash topped off with a Luxury Fur Pom-Pom.  Adorable!  I tried this one on, and it looked really cute.  Sometimes it’s hard not to steal the garments for myself!

On the other hand, making my own would be another excuse to crochet, and that’s always a good thing.

Happy crafting!

 

Throwback Thursday – Jenna Cardigan

It’s Throwback Thursday!

TT JennaFall is almost here – or so they tell me.  Those of us here in the South still have a little longer to wait.  Maybe knitting a lovely cool weather design will help hurry things along!

Enter the Jenna Cardigan.  Originally knit in Dolce Merino, this would look great in both Merino XF and Deluxe DK Superwash wool.  The nice thing about the substitution is that while this would have taken 16 balls of Dolce Merino for a size 2X, it uses fewer than eight balls of Deluxe DK Superwash.  I love a beautiful sweater that won’t break the bank!

We wish you breezy fall weather – and happy knitting!

 

AFGHAN KNITALONG – BLOCK THIRTEEN

Block Thirteen is live!

13 Afghan Knitalong Plaid to the Bone

Plaid!  I don’t know why I didn’t think about this as an option, but I love it.  Little squares within the square.

Plaid to the Bone uses elongated stitches to create raised lines that cross the surface of the stitch and give texture.  Amy shows us how that works.


Just a few extra wraps, dropped on subsequent rows.  Easy peasy.  I must confess to having gotten a little sneak at the next block, which is also a variation on plaid, and I can barely wait for everyone else to see it too.

As always, you can share your blocks (and feedback) with us here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group.    Check back in two weeks for the next block in the series!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Croc-a-Scarf!

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Croc-aScarf in Classic Shades

Rawr!  It’s the Croc-a-Scarf in Classic Shades!

This crochet piece is worked lengthwise in crocodile stitches, creating a crescent that follows the shape of your shoulders.  Self-shading Classic Shades, shown here in colorway 733 “Jubilant,” provides effortless color.  What a vibrant and fun crochet project!

Throwback Thursday – Back to School Vest

It’s Throwback Thursday!

TT Back to School Vest

Today, we feature the Back To School Vest.  This vest was originally designed for Deluxe Worsted Concord Tweed, a member of the Deluxe Family that had flecks of color throughout.  It was exactly the same weight as Deluxe Worsted and Deluxe Worsted Superwash 100% wools, making it a perfect match for those yarns.

If you’re looking for a more tweedy look, I have to mention Llamalini. I mention it because it’s a gorgeous yarn, but also because we just got in four new colors and really, I’ll take any excuse to knit something out of Llamalini’s blend of linen, royal llama, and silk bourette.  So luxurious.

The Back to School Vest is knitted in the round up to the armholes, then back and forth to the shoulders.   This is pictured as a top, but would also work well as a layering piece.  I can see this with a pair of jeans over an untucked shirt for a look that says, “yes, I look this good without even trying.”

Happy knitting!

Free Pattern Friday – Idyll Hat and Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

_DSC0075_Ariana hat and cowl_blog

Today, the Idyll Hat and Cowl in Ariana.

We just got a new yarn in, and as so often happens, we got super excited and had to make something new!  Ariana (100g/91yds) is a unique yarn.  It’s a kind of a mesh tube made of bamboo with a squishy polyamide filling.  Based just on the pictures I’d seen, I knew it would have excellent stitch definition, but I wasn’t expecting it to be so soft to the touch.  I’m always up for a bulky-weight squeezable yarn!

The pattern is both written and charted, and works up quickly on US size 10 needles (size 9 for the hat).  Maybe my “to knit” list is getting too long, but I don’t care, this is getting added.  There’s always room for a super-soft hat and cowl!

 

Throwback Thursday – Garter Rib Cowl

It’s Throwback Thursday!

TT Garter Rib Cowl

Today, we share the Garter Rib Cowl.  Originally designed for Cashmere Fleur de Lys, this pattern would provide plenty of style in any worsted weight yarn, particularly one with a bit of spring to it.

This would be a great two ball project in Uptown Worsted 100% anti-pilling acrylic, as well as Deluxe Worsted or Deluxe Worsted Superwash 100% wool.  It would be a three ball project with a bit more drape in Llamalini, but with the heathered tones of that linen/llama/silk bourette blend, it would be a great look.

I’ve got some Deluxe Worsted left over from my 30 Day Sweater KAL project, and this looks like the perfect project for it.  A simple two-row repeat on size 9 needles sounds like a great break from back-to-school insanity.  Let’s all knit and relax!