Holiday Helper – Pattern Sale!

Holiday crafting going okay?  Maybe you’re still looking for just the right design.  Don’t worry, we’re here to help!

Pattern Sale 1BIt’s our first online pattern sale!  From now through Monday December 1st, 2014, take 30% off of all purchases from our Ravelry store.  Just enter code 2014HOHOHO at checkout.

This includes e-books, pattern collections, and individual patterns.  Pick from favorites like Bamboo Pop Kids and Contrarian Shawls, gorgeous designs from Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton and Yumiko Alexander, and lovely cool-weather knits in the Deluxe family of yarns.

I just have to point out, there are quite a few great options in Garden Book 5.  That one book could knock out a lot of your gift crafting.  The fact that they’re very satisfying projects to make is a nice bonus.

We hope you’ll take this opportunity to pick out a great pattern, swing by your local yarn store (Small Business Saturday is this weekend!) and make something gorgeous for the people you love.  And include yourself in that list of people!

Happy crafting!

 

AFGHAN KNITALONG – BLOCK NINETEEN

Block Nineteen is live!

19 Tuckered Out with title_blog

Tuck in!  Block Nineteen is called All Tuckered Out because it introduces the tuck stitch.  It’s a little fold in the fabric that in this case creates a ridge.  This combines knitting back and forth as we did in the bobble and nupp blocks, but with a bit of a different spin.

Amy Gunderson has a video demonstrating this technique.

Amy mentions “knitting backwards” here, which is a technique you could use for Block 17 and Block 18.  Although we shared this as part of Block 17,  want to highlight it again here because it’s just so darned cool.

I can’t tell you how much time it’s going to save me not to have to knit back and forth over little rows.  This is a technique I’m going to practice until I’ve mastered.  This block looks like the perfect opportunity!

As always, you can share your thoughts and work with us here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group.    Check back in two weeks for the next block!

Free Pattern Friday – Coffee Beans and Sugar Cubes

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Uptown Bulky Two Hats_blog

Today, Coffee Beans and Sugar Cubes.

Two hats that can be completed with one ball of each color of Uptown Bulky 100% anti-pilling acrylic (100g/87yds).  Cute!  Knit on  size 11 needles, these go quickly and are a good way to practice your Fair Isle.

I’m loving the color, too.  That Uptown Bulky 416 Iron coordinates well with 421, Coral.  The coral is at the forefront of style at the moment – Sherwin Williams just picked Coral Reef as their color of the year.  Pretty!

We hope you enjoy this satisfying quick project. Happy knitting!

 

Throwback Thursday – Hearty Holiday Santa

It’s Throwback Thursday!TT_Hearty_Santa

This week, we asked our Facebook friends whether they’d rather see a knit or a crochet pattern today.  The knits won – but don’t worry, crocheters, we’ll have something for you next week!

Michele Wilcox’s Hearty Holiday Santa is mittens-down the most adorable Santa I’ve seen.  You just know that when he laughs, his belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly.

Santa was originally made in now-discontinued Classic Worsted Holiday.  We’re updating the selection to Uptown Worsted.  The 100% anti-pilling acrylic will stand up to quite a few hugs.

Make the legs, then the body and head, then add on details like ears, belt, and hat.  You can’t quite see it in the picture, but Santa has an adorable smile behind his beard.  We hope this project will make you smile too.

Happy knitting!

Free Pattern Friday – Four Stripes Pullover and Legwarmers

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Four Stripe Pullover with legwarmers_blog

 

So cute for Fall!  The Four Stripes Pullover includes matching legwarmers, perfect for staying warm on a crisp day.

Four Stripe Pullover back_blogThe set is designed for Merino XF (137yds/50g), an extrafine merino that’s machine washable and very soft.  The pullover is worked flat and seamed, with short rows shaping the curved rear hem.  Seed stitch borders the cuffs, hem, and neckline.

I love these cool tones.  This is one design where I wouldn’t change a thing.

Happy knitting!

Four Stripe Pullover front_blog

 

Throwback Thursday – Crochet Candy Stripes Stocking

It’s Throwback Thursday!

TT Crocheted Candy Stripes Stocking

Can’t you hear those sleigh bells jingling?  We had a Facebook message asking for this pattern, so we just had to set it free for the holidays.

The Crochet Candy Stripes Stocking is another great pattern from Michele Wilcox.  This was formerly part of a kit using Classic Worsted Holiday.  We’re recommending Uptown Worsted.  It’s soft, machine washable, anti-pilling, and able to last through the years.

I will freely admit that my crochet skills are not as strong as my knit skills (yet!) but this is a project I could tackle with no problem.  And I love the button panel.  It’s a great detail that makes the project.  I’m already thinking about who deserves a lovely stocking to hang by the chimney with care.

Happy crocheting!

Holiday Helper – Quick Cowls

Breathe in… breathe out…  knit one… purl two…

Everybody calm?  Good.  Let’s stay relaxed, because there’s still plenty of time to knit some lovely gifts for the holidays.  This week, let’s focus on quick and chunky knits.  Fortunately, we have an entire free e-book devoted to exactly this kind of pattern.

Quick Cowls collects five patterns in bulky weight yarns that look good and work up quickly.

Get To The Point Cowl Classic Shades Frenzy_Facebook

The Get To the Point Cowl in Classic Shades Frenzy is always popular when we send it out for trunk shows.  In fact, it’s on the road again this month for a showing at Bourgee Boutique in Claremont, CA.  If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and see it.  Variegated Classic Shades Frenzy does the heavy lifting in making a striking design.  Just one ball on US Size 11 (8mm) needles does the trick.

Quick Cowls Ethereal Lace Cowl Mohair Mountain_Facebook

The Ethereal Lace Cowl is a lovely soft lace pattern that gets you a lot of bang for your buck.  One ball of Mohair Mountain (660yds per ball) will make five cowls on US Size 11 (8mm) needles.  That’s a lot of gifts from just one ball.  The pattern is both written and charted, so pick whatever you’re comfortable with.

Quick Cowls Everyone Likes Stripes Cowl DChunky_Facebook

The Everyone Likes Stripes cowl is another that knits up quickly on size 11 (8mm) needles.  With more than 120 colors of the called-for Deluxe Chunky 100% wool, this is a very easy piece to customize for your giftee.  This is also one that I would have to put away after knitting because otherwise I’d keep it for myself.

Quick Cowls Hairpin Cowl BBloom HP_Facebook

Hairpin!  This technique isn’t used as often as it should be!  The Hairpin Lace Cowl uses one skein of Bamboo Bloom Handpaints for the vibrant variegated stripes and one skein of Deluxe Chunky for the solid center and edge.   Unusual and beautiful.

Quick Cowls Lava Flow Cowl Superwool_Facebook

Finally, the Lava Flow Cowl uses just one skein of Superwool on size 17 needles.  We call it Superwool because it’s super stretchy.  This is a warm and soft cowl with a lot of “sproing” to it.  I’ve made this one myself – it’s a very fast and satisfying knit.

Breathe in… breathe out… we’re calm, right?  Let’s all keep knitting and we’ll all get to the holidays together in great shape.

Happy knitting!

Afghan Knitalong – Block Eighteen

Block Eighteen is live!

18 Nupp Beginnings with title blue blog

 

Last time, bobbles, this time, nupps!  Block Eighteen, Nupp Beginnings uses another kind of round raised stitch to create a similar festive effect.

By the way, did everybody but me know it was pronounced “noop?”  I’ve been saying “nuhp” all these years.   However, in this video, Amy pronounces it correctly as she shows us how to work one of these little popped-up stitches.

I love knowing several ways to do similar things, like this and bobbles.  As a crafter, it’s always good to have options!

We hope you enjoy learning this nupp technique.  Feel free to share your thoughts and work with us here, on Facebook, or in our Ravelry group.    We’ll be back in a couple of weeks with a new block and a new technique!

Free Pattern Friday – Crinkle Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Cotton Gold Crinkle Cowl blog

Today, the Crinkle Cowl in Whisper Lace and Cotton Gold.

This is a great example of how bringing two different things together can result in something spectacular.  Light and airy Whisper Lace is a laceweight wool/silk blend from our Fibra Natura line of natural luxury fibers.  It’s a great choice for delicate, light projects.

Pair that with sequined Cotton Gold from our Rozetti line and you’ve got the perfect amount of bling to turn a light confection into a glamorous accessory perfect for party season.

Knit it flat on size 5 needles, work the light shaping to help it sit gracefully on your shoulders, then seam it up.   Next step: be prepared to answer the sea of “where did you get that?” admiration with “What, this?  I made it myself.”

As much as I love this in black, I’m wondering how it would look in Whisper Lace 113 Tango and Cotton Gold 1092.  More to the point, I’m wondering how I would look rolling up to the office holiday party in a black jacket with this draped artfully around my neck.

Black’s a classic, but don’t limit yourself.  You do you!

Happy knitting!

Throwback Thursday – Winter Afternoon Sweater Jacket

It’s Throwback Thursday!

TT Winter Afternoon Sweater Jacket_blog

Luxury!  The Winter Afternoon Sweater Jacket was originally made in our Dolce Merino 50% fine merino/50% microfiber blend.  Sadly, Dolce Merino is discontinued, but we have several DK weight yarns that this garment would look great in.

First, Uptown DK 100% anti-pilling acrylic.  As you can see in the (free) Green Lace Scarf pattern at right, it holds cables well, making it a good choice.  We frequently recommend this for baby knits since it’s machine washable and durable, but it’s also a smart pick for adult garments that you want to last a long time.  Personally, if I’m going to invest time into knitting a jacket, I want to be able to show it off well into the future.

Next, Merino XF Superwash.  This is another one that is machine washable and sturdy.  As the XF in the name implies, it’s extrafine merino, so softness is not a problem.

Finally, Deluxe DK Superwash.  As seen in the popular free Wishing Cowl pattern at right, it’s another great choice for cables.  And again, it’s long-lasting and machine washable.

The Winter Afternoon Sweater Jacket is knit flat in the traditional style.  This would be a cozy project to spread out and knit on your lap on a cool night.  Lovely to make and to wear during brisk weather.

Happy knitting!