This is part 2 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.
It’s Day 2 of our 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection! When I think of winter (my favorite season), I immediately think of the beautiful, quiet feeling when snow is falling. I have always loved snow, and just the sort of magical feeling it brings. Snow brings nostalgia with it as well; memories of making snowmen and sledding in the neighborhood with my sister when I was growing up.
Quiet Snow by Susan Chestnut
The details of individual snowflakes is always something that has fascinated me as well. They look like tiny gemstones! I’ve often imagined I’d eventually move to a place where it snowed all the time, but alas, here in Charlotte, we maybe see snow once or twice a year. I love Charlotte for many reasons, so I’ll deal with the lack of snow.
Snowflake captured by John Entwistle
That feeling of a quiet snowfall was my inspiration for the Day 2 of Winter kit, the Falling Snow cowl. Large cowls are a great winter knit project. You can wear them with anything, and their classic look works well for everyone regardless of your personal style.
Our Deluxe Worsted yarn is a no-brainer for winter projects. It is 100% wool, always keeps you warm, and comes in lovely colorways for the winter season. This as a base for the project was perfect, but it needed a little something more.
That something more needed to be Penna. Penna is one of our newest yarns, and one of my absolute favorites. It is a lace weight blend of baby suri alpaca, merino, and nylon. The nylon gives strength, where the alpaca provides a fluffy, soft halo that gives an ethereal quality to projects. I chose to work the Falling Snow cowl with the two yarns held together throughout, which gives dimension to the gray tones, and that lovely halo reminds me of fresh snow on the ground. The lace pattern is reminiscent of snowflakes sprinkled all over the cowl.
This kit would make a great gift for a beginner knitter looking to grow their skills knitting lace. Since it is an all over repeat, you can really get the hang of working a lace pattern.
No matter whether you choose to wear the Falling Snow cowl open, or doubled up, it is a cozy knit that has an elegant appearance. Remember, this kit, along with the others from our 12 Days of Winter collection are available at your local yarn store! Click here to find a shop that carries our yarns near you.
This is part 7 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.
We’re a week into the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection for 2019, and we hope you’re enjoying everything we’ve shared so far. Today we’re introducing an earthy green cowl that’s sure to hold your interest. Say Hello to the Mountain Pines Cowl, designed by Jennifer Sadler. This deliciously squishy cowl features twisted stitches that form the shapes of evergreen trees. Knit in soft, plump Deluxe Chunky, this is a fairly quick project that will keep you warm all winter long.
Jennifer, who is based in Asheville , North Carolina, got her inspiration from pine trees. Here is what she had to say:
“Here in the North Carolina mountains, pine trees are easily found – there are actually six different kinds of pine trees native to the state. I love how in the winter they stay green, adding a touch of color to an otherwise brown landscape, and when it snows, the branches let the snow pile up, creating a pillow of white on top of the green needles. The Mountain Pines Cowl pays homage to those green monster trees.
The pine tree motif is much simpler than it looks to knit. It uses twisted stitches, and no cable needle! Once you’ve experienced the ease of twisted stitches, you’ll want to incorporate them into your knitting as much as possible – they create a wonderful visual texture, with hardly any extra work.”
-Jennifer
I couldn’t agree more with Jennifer – twisted stitches are a joy to work, especially when you get the hang of them. It eventually feels intuitive and you’ll be glad to have this skill in your toolbox. The Mountain Pines Cowl uses purl twists, so that’s what we’ll focus on in this tutorial. You’ll learn the Left Purl Twist (LPT) and the Right Purl Twist (RPT). The Left Purl Twist (LPT) leans to the left, and the Right Purl Twist (RPT) leans to the right. We’ll cover the LPT first, followed by the RPT.
Left Purl Twist Start by making a swatch. Swatches are not only crucial for getting the finished item you want but are also great for practicing new stitches. Work in your pattern until you’ve reached the two stitches you need to twist. I’ve highlighted these stitches in purple so it’s easier to see. As you can see we have a knit stitch and a purl stitch on the left-hand needle. We want to change their positioning by moving the knit stitch over the top of the purl stitch.Admittedly, the LPT is just a bit more complex than the RPT. It might feel a little fiddly until you get the hang of it. Remember the order of the stitches from the previous photo? The order of the stitches from right to left was Knit, Purl. For the LPT, the first step is to purl the second stitch on the left needle through the back loop. This stitch is highlighted in blue. As you can see, the first (knit) stitch on the left needle remains in place. After you purl the second stitch through the back loop, do not drop the first and second stitches off the left needle. Next, move your yarn to the back of the work and knit the first stitch on the left needle. Now you can drop both the first and second stitches on the left needle. These stitches are highlighted in purple. After you drop them, you’ve completed the LPT. Notice how the stitches have changed position, and the knit stitch now leans to the left, over top of the purl stitch. Well done, now on to the RPT!Right Purl TwistWork in your pattern until you’ve reached the two stitches you need to twist. I’ve highlighted these stitches in purple so it’s easier to see. Here we have a purl stitch that precedes a knit stitch. We want to change the position of these stitches, so that the knit stitch leans to the left, over the purl stitch. Begin by knitting two stitches together, but do not drop the stitches from your needle. As you can see, the two stitches remain on the left needle, but there is now a new stitch on the right needle. Bring your yarn to the front, then purl the first stitch on the left needle. Now you can drop the two stitches on the left needle – I’ve highlighted them in purple so it’s easier for you to see. And that’s it – you’ve completed your RPT. Notice how the knit stitch now precedes the purl stitch.
I hope you find this tutorial helpful, and I hope that it drums up excitement for you to start knitting this lovely cowl. Like Jennifer, I’m a big fan of coniferous trees, so this design sings to me!
Remember, you can find the 12 Days of Winter Kits at your local yarn shop. Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Splatter Lace Cowl in Fibra Natura Dona (pattern link here).
This beauty comes in two sizes, with the long calling for four balls and the short needing just two.
Perfect for a little pop of color.
Dona’s extra fine superwash merino gives excellent stitch definition to this pattern. It’s a simple repeat to memorize, with the star-shaped “splatter” given form by 5-in-1 decreases and 1-in-5 increases!
It may sound daunting, but you’ll pick it up faster than you think. And it’s worth it for the beautiful texture that shines through in a saturated solid color yarn.
Have a fantastic weekend, friends! Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Slate Shawl in Cashmere Lusso (pattern link here).
First things first: we have a new yarn.
This is FibraNatura Cashmere Lusso.
What’s in Cashmere Lusso? Cashmere – and more cashmere! It’s a special blend of 50% virgin cashmere and 50% recycled cashmere, culled from cashmere sweaters. We worked with a mill in Italy to bring this environmentally responsible cashmere to the U.S.
What’s it good for? Wrapping yourself in luxury. Above, it’s pictured with the OTHER free pattern Cashmere Lusso pattern this week, the Twisted Dee Cowl (pattern link here). Yes, this week we are very lucky to have not one but TWO beautiful designs from The Yarnslayer herself, Adrienne Larsen.
Adrienne used twisted stitches combined with cables in this gorgeous accessory. Wear it wrapped, as shown, or long and flowing…
…or pinned, as you wish.
Shown with the Regulus Celtic Lion Shawl Stick from JUL Designs (link)
An intricate, but rewarding design with a modern “twist” (no pun intended).
The Slate Shawl, on the other hand, is a classic triangular lace piece.
The blending of cashmere sources in Cashmere Lusso gives a rich, textured effect to plain stockinette…
…while not obscuring the beautiful (and beautifully blocked!) lace. The lace is both written and charted – take your pick.
Magnifica.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend, and that you treat yourself to the finer things in life – both material and otherwise. Happy crafting!
Everybody in the whole cell block Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
No, it’s from the way the solid Adore surrounds striped Adore Colors to create cells of color.
Although what you sing while you knit it is your business.
Slipped stitches create the pattern here – no need to work more than color at a time. Using a striped yarn as the background gives it that extra burst – Uptown DK Colors would be a good choice to use, as well.
Looks complex, but in reality, it’s very easy. Knit a tube in the round, slipping stitches where appropriate, then seam up the ends. Voila!
We hope you have a wonderful weekend. Savor your freedom before Monday rolls back around! Happy crafting!
The inspiration for this piece was the living willow fences, or hedges, or “fedges” that are woven from supple saplings into elegant shapes in the garden.
Mind you, it’s still winter, so the Deluxe Worsted Superwash colors we chose reflect a dormant living fence, while still keeping a warm wood feel.
Oh, the magic of Fair Isle.
If you were one of those admiring Amy Gunderson’s Twisted Yoke Pullover from the Fall ’18 Vogue Knitting…
…you’ll be pleased to find this uses the same technique. Twisted stitches create a depth that (pardon the expression) raises the design to the next level.
Amy has written this pattern in two sizes – the small size shown here…
How’s everybody doing? All caught up on your handmade gifts?
There are two kinds of crafters.
If you are, then good for you! If you’re not… join the club! Fortunately, there are still some quick, good-looking projects that you (and I) can make at the last minute. And if you still can’t quite finish, well… we have some options at the end of this post.
I made one of these myself, and it was fun and easy. The Classic Shades Frenzy is a smart choice because it lends visual interest without extra work – always a consideration when you’re on a deadline.
I actually wound up keeping this one.
As a little holiday gift, we’re running a giveaway of the Latta Park Hat and Mittens. (Also, consider signing up for our newsletter. Subscribers already heard about this!)
You can enter this coupon code by going to the Latta Park Hat and Mittens page on Ravelry, and entering FRENZY at the “use a coupon code” link that appears during purchase. Use it by 12/23.
Finally, if you’re just not gonna make it, we still have some options. How about a card to let your giftee know that their gift is on the way? We made a few printable options for you.
Regardless of how your holiday gifting turns out, we hope you’ll be able to make time to slow down and enjoy the season as best you can.
This cowl is named for the Bobby Darin song, that talks about how the singer’s true love is waiting across the waves. But it also hearkens to song’s original French inspiration, La Mer, with its visions of the sea dancing along the shore, shimmering under the rain.
Mixing the warmth of Revolutions‘ alpaca and mohair halo with the glitter in sequined Cotton Gold captures the feel of the light sparkling on the waves.
The main pattern is a three row repeat using very basic crochet stitches, making this a suitable project for an adventurous beginner.
The finished product has a warm and relaxed fabric, both dressy and practical. It’s easy enough to widen this cowl, if desired. It uses an 8 stitch repeat, so just start with more stitches in that 8 stitch increment and you’re set.
The Contours Cowl features lofty, all-over cables. If you thought cables make for a dense fabric, think again – Alaska is featherweight and soft as down, countering the density you might expect from the usual cabled cowl. It’s perfect to loop around your neck once or twice – and each styling option will keep you warm and cozy.
Knit seamlessly from the bottom-up, this cowl features an easily memorizable cable and slip stitch pattern on a background of reverse stockinette.
We hope you enjoy this week’s free pattern! Have a wonderful, craft-filled weekend!
Rachel Brockman has created a simple pattern that makes a lovely twisted eyelet fabric.
It’s just a three stitch, four row repeat that’s easy to find the rhythm of, providing just enough texture to the self-shading, sparkling Classic Shades Sequins Lite.
There are several different ways to go on color here. I love the flowery look of 405 Primrose shown here…
…or go full Autumn with color 403 Volcano…
…or try something less variegated, or even solid, for a more formal and wintry look.
This versatile piece looks great draped long, or wrapped to put more color and warmth in one spot.
We hope you have a great weekend, and that you find time to make something beautiful.
