Tag: Lace

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Free Pattern Friday – Tamara Triangle

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Tamara Triangle in Papyrus (pattern link here).

There’s a sweet story behind today’s sweet design, so I’m going to let designer Rachel Brockman tell it in her own words.

“The Tamara Triangle is named after a dear friend of mine – one who inspired me to learn to knit (and one who has been pining for an oversized shawl).

“As such, this pattern goes out to all of the people in our lives who have inspired and encouraged the craft of knitting – whether it’s a family member, a friend, a local yarn shop, or yourself – I think we can all agree that it’s great to reflect and feel grateful for those influences. ”

The shawl is worked from the top down in cotton/silk Papyrus, beginning with a garter tab cast-on. Most of the shawl is worked in stockinette stitch, making it excellent for a knit night with friends.

The edging requires a bit more concentration, as the lace is worked on the right and wrong sides of the work. Fear not, though, the pattern is a repeat of just six rows. As a bonus, the lace is aesthetically reversible. If you prefer the look of reverse stockinette, flip it around.

We hope you have an excellent weekend, and find time to connect with old friends.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern – Fleurette Lace Pullover

Summertime can be a tough time for a needlecrafter.  It’s hot, and a big project can weigh heavy in your lap, but you don’t want to put down the yarn.  Fortunately, there’s always cotton!

Woman outdoors wearing cknitted cream lace pullover in Cotton Supreme DK.

To beat the heat, try the Fleurette Lace Pullover in Cotton Supreme DK (pattern link here).

Sized Small to 3X, this raglan-sleeved pullover features waist shaping, and is knitted from the bottom up in pieces. It’s quite stylish with a contrasting tank underneath.  This is a nice three season piece.

Closeup of lace pattern in knitted Fleurette Lace Pullover

The lace pattern is both written and charted, and covers front and back.  It calls for Cotton Supreme DK, the lighterweight version of our popular Cotton Supreme DK.  It’s very pretty as shown in a natural 702 Ecru, but there are a lot of ways to go with this one.  Maybe a pretty pastel?

Five pastel hanks of Cotton Supreme DK with a blossoming cherry branch

Or go dark, with something light showing through beneath?

Hank of Navy Cotton Supreme DK yarn

We hope you stay cool, and keep on crafting.  Have a great day!

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Small Pleasures – Blue Oak Shawl

A couple of weeks ago, I very briefly mentioned our new e-book, Small Pleasures.  It’s a set of designs using what is fast becoming a favorite, Bella Cash.

e-book cover titled Small Pleasures showing hands wearing blue knitted fingerless mitts

This collection is perfect for me, because I am all about the accessories.  I like instant gratification, and I’m always paranoid that I’m going to get to the end of a sweater and I will have miscalculated somewhere and it won’t fit. Not that this has ever happened to me.  Ahem.

But let us not dwell on the failures of the past, let us move on to newer and more beautiful things – namely, my new shawl obsession, Blue Oak.

Woman in woods wearing blue and gray knit shawl

I asked designer Rachel Brockman about this, and she kindly shared her original swatch and concept.

pink and white knitted swatch on wooden background

“It all started with my playing with slip stitches and stripes, but wanting it to have a little something special. I’m a sucker for triangular shawls, too. They are easy to wear and soothing to knit. It was never my plan to make this in pink and white, as shown in my swatch – but I think it gets my design through quite well and I was thrilled about the final results.”

Blue Oak Tree

Rachel’s concept for the edge lace was inspired by the Blue Oak tree. The triangular shape of the shawl itself mirrors that.

Woman walking away down wooded lane wearing knitted shawl

Soothing indeed.

Woman looking at camera while holding edges of her worn Blue Oak Shawl

It sits nicely on the shoulders worn loose to the front…

…and is long enough to wrap for other styling options as well.

The grain pattern in this top-down piece is just a 4-row 2-stitch repeat.  I cast on for this yesterday and knitted a bit, and it only took about five rows after the garter tab before I didn’t have to think about it any more.

Peach and dark purple balls of Bella Cash yarn and knitted slip stitch swatch
Colors: 122 Amethyst and 119 Apricot.

Lace border of knitted Blue Oak shawl

The pattern is broken up by a band of contrasting color in the middle and in the ending lace.  Everything in the pattern is written and charted, except the grain pattern, which needs no chart.

Rachel offers some Bella Cash color suggestions:

“My choices for a personal project would have to be 126 Forest combined with 106 Oat or 116 Sage, as used in the sample. Of course, there is always 121 Cabernet and 124 Mustard (shown) if you’re feeling the Gryffindor love!”

Well, now I’m not sure whether to keep going with what I’ve got, or maybe go Ravenclaw blue. Decisions, decisions.

The Blue Oak Shawl is available on Ravelry as a single pattern, or as part of e-book Small Pleasures.  This won’t be the last time we talk about this e-book.  I’m a sock fiend, and there’s a pair in there I’m dying to cast on for.

Happy crafting!

Closeup of texture on knitted Blue Oak Shawl

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Vibrance in Lace – Flow Cardi

This summer, I’ve been looking for just the right piece to wear over a tank or short sleeves, to go with a kicky spring-toned skirt that I bought on impulse.  I didn’t have to look far – Rachel Brockman delivered the perfect design in the Flow Cardi.

woman wearing knitted loose light green cardigan

The design is part of our new Vibrance in Lace e-book of patterns for new yarn Finn.  For me, this works perfectly because it’s loose and airy, and if I’m going to wear a skirt (rare for me!) then I definitely want to be comfortable.

The six-row lace repeat isn’t hard to keep track of.  Worked flat in pieces from the bottom up, you’ll be making the sleeves at the same time as the body, casting on and binding off to create the dolman sleeve shape.

The model here is wearing a Medium/Large, which gives her a generous 20″ of ease.  The pattern is sized from XS to 4X.

Looks great open, or fastened with a pin or closure.  I like the use of Finn for this pattern – its alpaca content provides a soft halo, which gives a touch of blur to the edges of the lace and softens the look even further.

I’ve made my swatch.  I can’t wait to cast on.

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Free Pattern – Halfway Home Shawl

When we launch a new yarn, as we did this year with Finn, we also publish free patterns made in that yarn so that crafters can have instant inspiration.  Halfway Home was one of several published this Spring that never got their day on the blog.  Time to fix that!

Woman looking over shoulder wearing purple knit lace shawl

This is Amy Gunderson’s Halfway Home Shawl in Finn (pattern link).

Violet shawl knitted in Finn yarn.

It’s lovely worn, but I also had to take a picture of it here in the studio just to show its striking shape.

Woman outdoors wearing garter stitch and lace knit shawl

The corner that the model is holding is the starting point for this slightly oblong shawl.  It begins with just 7 stitches. Five Herringbone Lace Columns grow out of the left side of the shawl and are continued up to the top edge.

Young woman modeling knitted triangular purple shawl

Increases occur only at the left side of the piece, creating a right triangle shape. The lace pattern is an easy-to-memorize 4-row repeat.

Two balls of Finn yarn from Universal Yarn

We use Finn, a blend of acrylic, superwash merino, and enough alpaca to give it a bit of a halo.  It’s a nice touch of luxury.

Detail closeup of purple shawl crafted in Universal Yarn Finn

It’s easy to customize size in this shawl, as most of the body is maintained in garter stitch. Just be sure to reserve enough yarn for the final 10 rows of garter stitch and you’re good!

Have a great week – and happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Sakura Dress

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Sakura Dress in Bamboo Pop (pattern link).

There’s just something magical about Spring.  It’s hard to resist the call of the outdoors when the first blooms are poking up.  It always puts us in mind of growing things, including the little people in our lives.

Enter the Sakura Dress.

This lightweight raglan-style piece is sized from newborn to 4 years.  Worked in the round from the bottom up, this sweet little knit uses one of my favorite warm-weather yarns, Bamboo Pop, in two coordinating colors, 215 Soothe and 125 Darling Pink.  I’m already thinking of what other colors might work – maybe light green with variegated 209 Jungle Life?  Or a lavender with purple?  These are the tough decisions, folks!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Spellbinder

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Spellbinder Cowl in Alpaculence (pattern link here).

We named this the Spellbinder for obvious reasons – it’s simply spellbinding.

Knitted pink and gray lace cowl pinned at the shoulder with a pewter shawl pin
Alhambra shawl pin courtesy of Jul Designs (http://juldesigns.com/)

An easy-to-memorize lace pattern in a single skein of soft, shimmering Alpaculence creates a beautiful, lightweight cowl that can easily be dressed up or down.

Be aware: the cowl shown took 92 grams of a 100 gram ball.  Be sure your gauge is correct to prevent the possibility of running out of yarn!  Swatching in advance can prevent trouble at the finish.

We hope you have a magical weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Darcy Vest

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Darcy Vest in Bella Cash.

This is a great transitional piece for the cool weather that’s coming up.  (Cool weather is coming up, right?  Because here in the South, we’re very ready.)

Yes, there is a key in the pattern.This vest is worked traditionally, from the hem up in pieces.  The Lovely Lace pattern lives up to its name – simple, but pretty.   It’s written and charted, and the pattern contains a schematic.

We’re big fans of Bella Cash here, as you may have gathered from recent Free Pattern Fridays like the Dulcet Wrap.  The yarn is a lightweight fine merino/nylon/cashmere blend that’s pleasant to work with and looks beautiful knitted or crocheted up.

We hope you enjoy this free pattern.  Have a great weekend, and happy knitting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Hibiscus Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Hibiscus Scarf in Garden 10.

It’s summertime, but that’s no reason to skip the pretty accessories! This scarf calls for two balls of Nazli Gelin Garden 10 mercerized cotton, using one of the variegated shades in that yarn. The colors in this cotton are rich and saturated.

The body of this shallow shaped scarf is knitted at the same time as its border. As with all stockinette, this scarf will curl some, allowing bits of the lace to peek through depending on how you wear it.

This is a lovely lightweight piece that won’t sit heavy on your lap as you work it.

We hope you have a great weekend.  Happy knitting!