It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Aeolis Throw in Deluxe Worsted Superwash and Classic Shades (pattern link here).
What a crocheted beauty!
This beautiful throw was originally part of e-book Classic Shades Book 5: The Plaza Collection. Today, we’re setting it free!
This is the only crochet design from that collection, and it takes full advantage of Classic Shades‘ self-shading quality.
Amy Gunderson used solid Deluxe Worsted Superwash for the main body and the ebony border, then chose Classic Shades color 734 Cool Blazes which had just enough of those tones to tie it together, but still be bold.
The result is a centerpiece of home decor, something to wrap around when you want to keep off the chill but still feel the vibrance of Spring.
We hope you have a warm and wonderful weekend.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Autumn Air Toboggan in Classic Shades (pattern link here).
Some may think of Fall as sweater weather, but for me, it’s finally hat time!
Goofing around in my Cold Mountain Hat.
So when we get a new hat pattern, and it’s this colorful, I am on board!
The Autumn Air Toboggan takes just one ball of self-striping Classic Shades. The easy basketweave pattern adds texture without getting lost in the vibrant colors.
And that pom-pom! I’m a sucker for a good pom-pom. It’s part of why I asked to write the blog post for Day 8 of Winter’s upcoming kit (oops, spoiler!).
Long story short: it’s a new free, one skein, colorful, easy hat pattern that I will totally be casting on for ASAP. Good thing you can never have too many hats. (It’s true, don’t look at me like that).
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Succulent Scarf in Classic Shades (pattern link here).
One of our favorite ways to use yarns with slow color shifts is in long repeats. Here, a 74″ (not quite two meters) long row in Classic Shades creates a beautiful striping effect.
For this scarf, we alternated two coordinating colors, 735 Smoky Denim and 747 Spring.
The crocheted spikes carry the colors over into adjacent rows, for a striking look.
Beautiful and warm. What could be better?
Have a wonderful weekend, and happy crafting!
I’m a big fan of one-color brioche, but I had never done two-color brioche before tackling Rachel Brockman’s Sweet Little Cowl in Cottonwood. I don’t know why I thought it was going to be hard. It’s not. Rachel shares another brioche pattern here, this one knitted flat.
The great thing about the Nebula Stole is that it’s reversible – it’ll look stunning with either side facing out, which opens up a world of possibilities in styling.
Today, it’s the crochet version of the Hanasaku Cowl, in Classic Shades Frenzy and Bamboo Bloom Handpaints (pattern link here).
We had a lot of requests for this! The original knitted Hanasaku Cowl (free from your LYS or for sale via Ravelry) was a very popular design, so it’s only fair that the crocheters get to take a crack at it too.
The long version of the cowl is shown, calling for two skeins of Bamboo Bloom Handpaints and two of Classic Shades Frenzy. The pattern also includes instructions for the short version, which takes just one skein of each.
Classic Shades Frenzy is slightly bulkier than the Poems called for in the knit version, but you could easily substitute it or regular Classic Shades for the Frenzy – it’s all about whatever colors speak to you.
We used our very newest Bamboo Bloom Handpaints color, 328 Sango, with Frenzy color 915 Madras. We were happy to see how the reds, blues, and blacks played off each other so dramatically.
For myself, one of my resolutions is to get better at crochet (so far, so good!) so I’m looking at giving this one-piece cowl a whirl. The advantage of working at Universal is having a ton of beautiful yarn to look at – what do you think of Bamboo Bloom Handpaints 313 Kanji and Classic Shades Frenzy 909 Attic Light? Although that 914 Botanica just peeking out behind it is also awfully nice. Decisions, decisions.
Your LYS would have some great ideas on color combos for you to put together.
We hope you enjoy this colorful crochet cowl. Have a fantastic weekend.
Perhaps my favorite fun challenge in designing knitwear is when I’m working with self-shading or patterning yarns. Much has to be taken into consideration in anticipation of these color changes. Some of my favorite things to do with shading yarn (like Classic Shades) happen in these projects – slipped stitches, intarsia, stripes, motifs, and directional changes.
This grouping of 11 knit & crochet accessories and throws was photographed by our own Rachel Brockman in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood here in Charlotte. It’s a hip section of the city that is full of graffiti and character.
This is the perfect time of year to highlight one of our most holly jolly colorways, 607 Zenith in Classic Shades Metallic. We’ve previously shown off this color, in this 2014 blog post with a knitted project, shown below.
Red, dark ash, green, and some silver sparkle. Love this yarn! The Bruges Noel Shawl is a triangular shawl that is worked sideways from one tip to the other. The stitches used are traditional crochet Bruges lace, constructed with strips of double crochet and connected with chain spaces. This shawl is worked in one piece. At 84″ (7 feet) long, this is a great shawl to wrap around yourself and show off. It’s a fun crochet project with the right amount of sparkle.
If bling isn’t your thing, this would work up at exactly the same gauge in self-shading Classic Shades, which has the same fiber content without the metallic strand. But if ever there were a time of year to sparkle a little, this is it.
Have you seen the New Bern Cowl and wondered how I created that faux cable look? Today, I’ll show you how, step by step!
It is a very simple technique, but brace yourself knitters…it does involve a crochet hook! Don’t worry though, if you can do a simple chain, you can do this.
Pretty easy, right? I can’t wait for you to try it out on your very own New Bern Cowl!
The Trade Street Hat and Cowls feature an applied crochet stripe. No carrying colors on the back side! The pattern comes with both long and short versions of the cowl.
Designer Tori Gurbisz suggests trying a contrasting color of solid Uptown Bulky for the stripe.
Wrap it around or wear it long. It’s your choice.
So easy! The New Bern Cowl calls for just two balls of Big Time and a US Size 15 (10mm) needle.
The vertical stitch in the New Burn Cowl is simple. Drop the stitch and pull it back up the column with a crochet hook.
The rib stitch is so stretchy and comfy that no buttonholes are required. The buttons nest neatly through the stitches.
You’ll want to keep the Kings Drive Shawl by the door so you can always have it handy when you go out. So pretty!
A central spine of shells provides a focal point for the Kings Drive Shawl.
Designer Amy Gunderson gave this shawl an light crescent shape so that it sits easily on the shoulders.
Wear the Kings Drive Shawl however you like – it always looks great.
Is there anything more perfect for entrelac than self-shading yarn?
Work the Euclid Scarf in one piece from end to end on US Size 15 (10mm) needles.
After finishing the body, add edging and decorative i-cord loops for the perfect final touch.
Stripes and lace? The mix works together beautifully in Tori Gurbisz’s Camden Wrap.
Knit the 70″ Camden Wrap in one long piece with bias shaping.
Wear the Camden Wrap long, toss it over a shoulder, or wrap up. Very versatile!
The Caldwell Poncho is worked in four identical strips that are joined with a crochet slip-stitch seam.
Wear this piece buttoned as a poncho or loose as a wrap. Your choice!
I’m a sucker for blues and greens. The beauty of multi-colored yarns is that I don’t have to pick between one or the other. They’re both there, as in color 911 Stranded of Classic Shades Frenzy. It reminds me of the rushing aquamarine waters of the Soča river that runs through Slovenia and Italy.
Photo: Andreas Resch – Everyone grab a WIP and let’s go.
The Swift Current Scarf uses crochet shells and open spaces – along with some aggressive blocking – to create an airy texture. For symmetry, the scarf is worked from the middle out in two halves. It’s a two-ball project- make one half with one ball, then go back to the first row to start the second half in the other direction.
We hope you have a glorious weekend, dreaming of beautiful places and making beautiful things. As they say in Slovenian, se vidimo kasneje!
