Author: Aubrey

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Free Pattern Friday – Pathways Poncho

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Pathways Poncho in Papyrus (pattern link here).

Papyrus is one of those yarns that we can’t get enough of – a textured cotton/silk combination that’s light and interesting.  Crafters seem to like it too, and are putting it to good use. I really hadn’t thought of using Papyrus for Amy Gunderson’s Silver Blossom Tee, but after seeing the beautiful job that Raveler Sally9 did on hers,  it’s going in my queue.

The Pathways Poncho looks more complicated than it is.  The key here is mock cables, giving the illusion of cabling with no actual cable needle required.

Knit the front and back flat, then join the two pieces and add edging and buttons, and you’re done.  With the yarn’s cotton content, this piece will work well in warmer weather.

We hope you have a fantastic knitting, full of fun projects.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Right Turn Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Right Turn Shawl in Bamboo Pop (pattern link).

This is Amy Gunderson’s design, but she kindly let me name this shawl Right Turn.  At the time, it reminded me of a particularly colorful city street.  However, I may have mis-named it.  Sure, it looks like it veers sharply, but that’s not what the construction actually does.

You start at the top, and do an increase on either side of the center spine and at each edge.  So really, it’s more like a gradual broadening of the horizon as you keep going.

Begin with garter stitch, then move to slip-stitch to easily make the two-color stripes.  Back to garter, then polish it off with an i-cord bind-off.

It’s made in Bamboo Pop, a great summertime yarn that has 52 colors.  It’d be easy to have the stripes accent whatever color is most prevalent in your wardrobe.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Cassia Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Cassia Cardigan in Good Earth and Good Earth Adorn (pattern link).

The weather here can’t decide what it wants to do.  One minute it’s Spring, the next it’s Summer.  We need something that will straddle the line.

The Cassia Cardigan is a geat layering piece over a tee.

Knit this piece flat in three pieces – the back, and each half of the front.  Then seam and add the solid border (shown in Good Earth cotton/linen).

Although the stitch pattern for this cardi is simple, you’ll still want to pay attention.  The detailed decreases that makes this such a striking piece occur at different rates in different places.  We’d recommend a read-through before starting to ensure smooth sailing later on.  Actually, we always recommend that, but we’re sometimes guilty of diving in first and winging it.  It’s just human nature when you have a beautiful project ready to go.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

 

 

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Free Pattern Friday – Nebula Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Blue and white brioche knit stole in Classic Shades Sequins Lite yarn

Today, the Nebula Stole in Classic Shades Sequins Lite (pattern link here).

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.

brioche knit fabric held in place by Jul Designs shawl pin
Shawl pin by Jul Designs

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.

Brioche knitted stole wrapped around dressform

The texture in this pattern really help the sequins in Classic Shades Sequins Lite catch the light.

Detail including sequins in yarn of two color brioche knit stole

Whether your idea of “nebula” is this…

Composite image of the Crab nebula
The final frontier.

…or this…

Watch out, Thanos.

…we think this celestial project fits the bill.

Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Citrus Pouch

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Citrus Pouch in Good Earth and Good Earth Multi (pattern link here).

I’ll tell you, we’re lucky to have found designer Rachel Brockman.  Here, she has created a practical and cute little notions pouch in Good Earth cotton/linen blend.

The pouch is worked in two separate rectangles which are seamed together.  Then add the zipper, and voila!

The orange sections are a 10-stitch repeat that’s charted in the pattern.   For those who loved last week’s Spring Stripe Rug but wanted some practice on tapestry crochet first, this is a great little project that uses the same technique.

We hope you have an awesome weekend.  Now I’m off to fix up a little Springtime Citrus Cooler – the Citrus Pouch gave me a craving!

Happy crafting!

 

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Free Pattern Friday – Spring Stripe Rug

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Spring Stripe Rug in Fibra Natura Java (pattern link here).

I love this rug because it uses  my favorite stitch – half double crochet.  This was the very first crochet stitch I learned, after the base chain.  I love it in a self-shading yarn like Poems or Classic Shades.  Just hdc-ing around and around until the ball runs out makes a very pretty cowl.  And since this is a stitch I’m comfortable with, this rug might be the perfect project for branching into crochet colorwork!

I’m already a fan of 100% hemp Java for home decor projects.  I was about to cast on for a larger version of the Java Jive Rug Mug to put under the cat’s food and water dishes in the kitchen, but… this week’s pattern has me wondering if crochet wouldn’t be even better.  It’s always great to brush up skills on a beautiful project.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Skipper Sweater

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Skipper Sweater in Bella Cash (link here).

Don’t you love it when cute and practical meet?  The cute: this striped sweater with its nautical feel, sized from 3 months to 4 years.

Work it in the round up to the armholes, then divide it for shaping. Near the end, you’ll add the ribbed buttonbands at the arms for a nice finish.

The practical: that buttonband! I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to get a wiggly baby’s head through a neckhole, but it’s kind of like… well… I’m just going to leave this here.

Yep, that’s about right.

As a parent, I’m also delighted by the choice of Bella Cash for this.  The yarn is machine washable, but with its cashmere content it’s also baby-shower-worthy.  Its palette has a good range of pastels and other kid-friendly tones, too.

All in all, this pullover gets the knitter/mom seal of approval.  Now if you’ll pardon me, I have to go watch some more cat videos.  It just never gets old.

Have a great weekend, 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 – Scruncher Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Scruncher Scarf in Whisper Lace and Cotton Supreme Batik (pattern link here).

I. Love. This. Pattern.

Look at how simple that is.  This is exactly the kind of pattern that I would have loved as a beginner, and that I still love when I want to make something beautiful and not look away from binge-watching Jessica Jones.

Because it’s dropped stitches on a larger needle (US size 10 1/2), this pattern makes the yarn go a long way.  One ball of Whisper Lace wool/silk for the solid bands, two balls of self-striping Cotton Supreme Batik for the wider variegated stripes.

Because the fabric is so loose and drapey, it scrunches up effortlessly – hence the name Scruncher Scarf.  Here it is in an alternate colorway, folded in half and wrapped for an accessory that straddles “skinny” and “full.”

Obviously, this would be a great one to experiment with, colorwise.  I’ll bet your LYS could put together some fantastic color combos.

We hope you have an amazing weekend.

Happy crafting!