Author: Afifa Sayeed

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Free Pattern Friday – Spark Tee

Happy Free Pattern Friday! I hope you are enjoying the beautiful summer sun on this holiday week. This Friday, we are releasing a brand new pattern knit using one of our most Pop-ular yarns.

The Spark Tee was designed by Afifa Sayeed using Bamboo Pop Sock in one of the newest colors we released last year. Bamboo Pop Sock is a sock-weight yarn comprised of bamboo, cotton, and PBT; the perfect fiber blend for hot days.

The Spark Tee is the perfect essential for a casual day out. An open mesh-style stitch pattern is worked on the main body, giving this tee a stretchy, breezy feel. The mesh pattern is easy to memorize, making this tee a great choice for knitters of all skill levels.

You’ll knit the Spark Tee flat in pieces, starting with the Front. Although seaming knits may not seem like the most fun part of a project, they add structure and integrity to the final piece, which is great for elastic yarns like Bamboo Pop Sock.

After seaming, stitches are picked up around the armholes as well as the neckband to create the ribbed edging. The ribbing offers a nice textural contrast to the mesh pattern.

Designer Afifa Sayeed chose color 702 Ecstatic for the Spark Tee. I love how playful and sunny this shade looks. Bamboo Pop Sock has a unique self-shading print throughout, so any color you choose will result in an exciting finished piece. If I made the Spark Tee, I would choose color 706 Serentiy; pink and purple are my favorite colors!

Don’t forget to shop our sitewide July 4th sale this weekend only!

Happy crafting,

Aubrey

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Free Pattern Friday – Sunshine Throw Worsted

This Free Pattern Friday we bring you a lighter-weight version of our fan-favorite Sunshine Throw. Meet the Sunshine Throw – Worsted designed by Rachel Brockman.

Just like it’s cousin, the Sunshine Throw, the Sunshine Throw – Worsted uses our smooth and sumptuous Cotton Supreme yarn, the difference being that the first uses the yarn held doubled for a heavier weight throw. In comparison, the second uses the yarn held single for a lighter-weight throw perfect for warmer weather. Machine washable and dryable, this easy-care yarn is the ideal choice for any project that will see a lot of attention.

This weekend only, get 20% off Cotton Supreme through Sunday, June 23rd. What color will you choose for this elegant throw?

Keep on crafting on!

Afifa

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Free Pattern Friday – Kiki

Happy Friday! If you’re in the mood to create something cute, this week’s free pattern release is just for you!

Kiki the kitty was designed by Rachel Brockman and is knit using Ricorumi Nilli Nilli. This loveable plushie is ready for a hug!

Kiki is constructed by knitting in the round, beginning with the body. You’ll work upwards and shape the head next, then pick up stitches and create the legs. The arms and tail are also picked up and worked from the body, and the ears are made separately and sewn on.

Kiki’s face is embroidered on with a tapestry needle after everything is complete, with two safety eyes needed for finishing. I love the idea of customizing Kiki’s facial features! You could embroider a different style of mouth, or even cheek details to evoke an expression.

A circular shaped belly patch is knit separately and sewn to the body after you finish the construction. I love this adorable detail and how it makes the body even more three-dimensional. Kiki’s doll-like body shape makes it excellent for snuggling up at naptime, or just when you need some extra comfort.

Pictures are included in this free pattern to aid with the construction of this toy, so don’t fret if you haven’t knit a stuffed animal before! We know you’ll feel so proud of your finished friend.

Nilli Nilli is the newest addition to the Ricorumi yarn family! This velvety-soft DK weight chenille yarn is made of 100% polyester, and comes in adorable 25g mini skeins. With 30 colors to choose from, you can make Kiki uniquely yours! Ricorumi Nilli Nilli is a perfect option for crochet amigurumi projects as well, and we have two beautiful pattern books to support those who love to crochet!

Check out these adorable pattern books, Underwater World, and Mini Me from Ricorumi for even more inspiration on what can be made with Nilli Nilli and the other yarns in the Ricorumi family! We can’t wait to see what you’ll create next.

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

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Flash Pattern Friday – Gingham Blankie

We are heading into summer by offering both a knit AND a crochet version of the Gingham Blankie for today’s Flash Pattern Friday.

Designed by Rachel Brockman, both versions of the Gingham Blankie are made in our soft, smooth Uptown Bamboo DK. These blankies are perfect for bringing along to your next park outing or as a whimsical addition to your home decor. Each blanket is comprised of 49 individual squares worked from the center out, making these the ideal portable project. The squares are sewn together to form the blankie, and the borders are applied as a finishing touch.

Each Gingham Blankie features 3 colors of Uptown Bamboo DK, a blend of 80% anti-pilling acrylic and 20% bamboo. This easy-care yarn has excellent stitch definition with the bamboo content adding a touch of sheen to your finished project. The crochet version is shown in 502 Lily, 507 Peach and 508 Coral while the knit version is shown in 502 Lily, 519 Bluebird and 521 Chill. With 36 colors to choose from, you can make a Gingham Blankie that is truly your own.

To get the Gingham Blankie patterns for free  use the “buy it now” or “add to cart” links on the Ravelry pattern page for the knit or crochet version. Once the pattern is in your cart, enter the coupon code “FLASH” where you see the “use coupon code” link that appears during purchase. This offer is valid through Monday, May 27th to coincide with our Memorial Day Sale.

This weekend, our entire site (excluding Chiaogoo) is Buy 2 get 1 free! Ring in the summer with these special savings through Monday, May 27th.

Keep on crafting on!

Afifa

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Free Pattern Friday – Left of Center Cardi

Happy Free Pattern Friday! Have you ever heard the phrase ‘everything old is new again’? Over the years, we make choices to discontinue yarns for various reasons, but whenever possible, we try to keep our timeless pattern designs alive and thriving.

This week, we are releasing a reimagined version of the popular baby pattern, the Left of Center Cardi. Knit anew in two colors of Bamboo Pop, this layering piece will provide a punch of summery colors to your kiddo’s wardrobe.

The Left of Center Cardi is a nice relaxing project for knitters of a variety of skill levels. A textured pattern is worked throughout, featuring basic increases, decreases, and color changes. My suggestion for this cardigan would be to choose two colors with quite a bit of contrast to ensure that the textured stitch pattern stands out.

Raglan shaping for the sleeves provides a great fit, and the wide button band featuring 10 cute buttons gives you customization options! For our sample, we chose colors 139 Sundae and 226 Fresh Cut. Using a solid color with a multi makes this pattern even more exciting to wear! I have some alternative color suggestions below.

The Left of Center Cardi is free to download and is sized from 3 months to 2 years. Tell us in the blog comments which color option you like the best!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

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Free Pattern Friday – Ravishing Set

Happy Free Pattern Friday everyone! Today we are very excited to release the Ravishing Set perfect for your next day out on the town.

Designed by Afifa Sayeed, the Ravishing Set is knit using Rico Design Fashion Alpaca Superfine Heavens. This bulky-weight blend of alpaca and polyamide has a brushed, fluffy texture that is light, airy, and soft as a cloud. The six colorways of this stunning yarn feature self-shading hues that gently change from one to the next. Yarns like this are some of my absolute favorites to work with, they are such a treat!

The Ravishing Set is an on-trend beret and shrug duo. You’ll love the effortlessly chic results this pattern produces; it’s so easy to throw on over any outfit!

The Ravishing Set would be a great choice for beginner knitters looking to advance skills! Although you’ll be primarily working in simple stockinette stitch, both the beret and shrug feature a crochet provisional cast-on, shaping to create the silhouettes, and I-Cord bind offs for a polished finish. These skills can be applied to SO many knitting patterns.

I love a matching accessory set, don’t you? The shrug can also be styled more like a cowl if that is your preferred way to wear it. I think I’d choose color 005 Sundown if I were to knit this set for myself. Let us know which color you’d choose in the comments!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

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Free Pattern Friday – Mimosa Poncho

Happy Free Pattern Friday, Friends! Today, we bring you the Mimosa Poncho, the ideal transitional accessory for Spring.

The Mimosa Poncho is a light and airy layering piece that uses a simple zigzag lace for maximum effect. The poncho is knit flat from the bottom up, working along the narrowest side. Creative seaming after completion transforms a rectangular piece into a dazzling lightweight accessory.

This pattern makes the most of our highly variegated Sugar Saki yarn. Sugar Saki is a 50/25/25 blend of superwash merino, bamboo, and nylon and comes in a cheerful colorful palette of 5 colors inspired by sweet treats. The simple construction allows the yarn to do most of the work here, and the bamboo content gives your finished piece just the right amount of drape. This yarn is perfect for socks and lightweight accessories alike.

This weekend only, get 20% off Sugar Saki through Sunday, March 31st. Don’t miss out on your chance to get your hands on this fun yarn at a special discounted rate while you can.

Keep on crafting on!

Afifa

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FLASH Pattern Friday – Golden Fans and Gossamer Shawlette

Happy Free Pattern Friday! Today we are switching up the usual monthly schedule and offering a very special FLASH Friday to coincide with our sitewide St Patrick’s Day Sale. That’s right, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is here, and it’s actually a pot of Cotton Gold!

This weekend only, you can download the Golden Fans AND Gossamer Shawlette patterns for free on Ravelry using the code: FLASH. These popular accessory patterns show off our brilliantly sparkling Cotton Gold yarn. Let’s take a closer look!

Golden Fans features a stunning lace stitch pattern worked throughout. The written pattern includes instructions for both a scarf and shawl size of this accessory. Popular for weddings, Golden Fans is sure to stand out and get you tons of compliments on your knitting skills.

The Gossamer Shawlette is an ethereal accessory that will be the perfect topper to any outfit. This shawl has a triangular shape, and features a beautiful pointed edging. Wear this draped over your shoulders for a dressy night out, or style as a bandana for a sparkly addition to a casual look!

Cotton Gold is a lace weight yarn that is made with a cotton thread base that has metallic fibers and sequins strung throughout. Worked alone, it creates light and airy projects with a magical quality. Held as a carry along, it adds texture and dimension to any creation. Cotton Gold pairs extremely well with other cotton-based yarns like Cotton Supreme or Bamboo Pop, and yarns with a textured halo such as Penna or Rico Design Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk (pictured above).

Don’t forget to use the code: FLASH on Ravelry to get Golden Fans and the Gossamer Shawlette free this weekend only, and don’t miss out on our sitewide St Patrick’s Day Sale! You can get $25 off any order of $100 or more (before tax and shipping) through 11:59 PM EST on March 17th. Our sitewide sale doesn’t require a code, the discount will be automatically applied when your cart amount reaches the $100 before tax minimum. This is a great time to stock up on yarn for future projects!

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey

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Free Pattern Friday – Heidi Hood

What’s the thing to knit during transitional weather? Why, an accessory, of course! Today’s Free Pattern Friday brings you the Heidi Hood designed by me!

I designed this whimsical accessory specifically to show off the fun pops of neon in Bella Pom Pom against the dark background of 954 Phantom Heather in Deluxe Bulky Superwash. The Heidi Hood is just the ticket to keep your neck toasty while giving you the option to wear the hood up or down. This accessory is knit from the bottom up, starting with the neck. Fluffy Fisherman’s Rib is worked in the round in Deluxe Bulky Superwash until the neck portion is completed. Bella Pom Pom is then carried along for the hood which is worked flat, with a built-in I-Cord along the edges. The top of the hood is formed by grafting each half together.

Why did I choose to highlight Bella Pom Pom in this pattern? Because it’s the perfect carry-along yarn to transform a simple accessory into a head-turner. Throw in Deluxe Bulky Superwash and you’ve got yourself a squishy, cozy, fun-to-knit piece! With so many colors available in this bulky weight yarn, you can choose to either accentuate the neon pops against a darker shade or use a complementary color for a more subtle nod to neon.

This weekend only, get 20% off your order of Bella Pom Pom and Deluxe Bulky Superwash, through Sunday, March 3rd. What are you waiting for?

Keep on crafting on,

Afifa

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Free Pattern Friday – Sprezzatura Set

Happy Free Pattern Friday everyone! Today, we are releasing a set that is perfect for knitters of all skill levels: the Sprezzatura Set. Personally, I am a huge fan of relaxing knitting patterns that feel fun, yet not so complex that I can’t simultaneously talk to a friend or watch my favorite late night show. The Sprezzatura Set is a relaxing, fun knit that anyone can tackle, and a one ball wonder (we ALL love those). Let’s get into it!

Sprezzatura is an Italian word that means to have an an air of nonchalance. It is a beautiful word, befitting for this shawl and headband set that, once knit up, have quite an effortless appearance. The shawl is knit flat from tip to tip with directional increases and decreases that create the elongated triangle shape. A slip stitch edge is worked on the shawl; keeping everything looking tidy. Garter stitch worked throughout lets you focus on the shaping, and is part of why this pattern is perfect for a knitter looking to grow new skills.

The matching headband uses a provisional cast-on that is later unpicked and bound off using the I-Cord method. If this sounds intimidating, don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it in no time, and all of our patterns include stitch guides that thoroughly explain techniques used.

Designer Afifa Sayeed chose to use Rico Design Creative Melange Garzato Aran for the Sprezzatura Set. This aran weight wool and acrylic blend is perfect for simple stitch patterns like garter stitch, thanks to the self shading stripes that come to life as you knit or crochet. Creative Melange Garzato Aran comes in a 200g beehive style skein, and with over 700 yards, you can easily create this shawl and headband with just one ball! There are 12 stunning colors to choose from, tell us which one you would choose!

We hope you enjoy this week’s simple, yet stunning, free pattern release.

Happy Crafting,

Aubrey