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November 4, 2014November 4, 2014

Holiday Helper – Light and Breezy

Halloween’s behind us, which means it’s time to kick our holiday knitting into high gear. Or, if you’re me, it’s time to actually *start* your holiday knitting. I’m sure all of you are busy weaving in ends on that heirloom blanket that you started back in January, but maybe – just maybe – you are in the same boat as I am and are suddenly remembering that one person you wanted to make something special for who slipped your mind.

Worry no more! From now through the end of the year we’ll be highlighting some relatively quick designs that will still satisfy your recipient without driving you crazy. This week, let’s look at a couple of light and easy projects in warm-weather yarns.

The free High Tide Shawlette is made in Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray. This took just one hank, albeit with only a few yards left over. There’s still enough time to make this lovely triangular shawl on US Size 8 (5mm) needles before the holidays roll around. Denim print is going to be big next season, so it’ll be very on trend for your giftee.

The free Botanical Scarf takes just one skein of Good Earth Adorn cotton/linen blend. This is a luxury yarn that feels great but won’t break the bank. This is another one on US Size 8 (5mm) needles. With an easy-to-memorize pattern, this would be great to take along in the plane or car home for the holidays. And again, Good Earth Adorn has that subtle earthy look that’s going to stay in fashion for a long time to come.

My main problem with starting holiday gifts early is that they stay around my house and I think, “You know, this would look great on me.” And then I wind up having to knit another gift.

We wish you great willpower and happy knitting!

October 31, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Bella Chenille Two-fer

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, we have not one, but two new patterns! First, in honor of Halloween, the Little Cub Hoodie in Bella Chenille. I’m a sucker for baby clothes that look like little animals. This one is sized from six months up to four years, so it’ll fit a variety of little cubs.

Bella Chenille is a great choice for this – I did a Sunday Swatch in Bella Chenille back in June and put my piece through the washing machine and laid it flat to dry. It came out just as soft as it was when it was first knit. I’d have no hesitation making a baby garment in Bella Chenille.

Next, the It’s A Party! Onesie in Bella Chenille Multi. The Multi coordinates with the solid very well, as you can see in the detail on the cuffs and neckline. Front and back are knit flat separately, then the sleeves are added. Adorable, and a quick knit on US size 10 1/2 needles.

We hope you enjoy these two soft projects. Happy knitting!

October 30, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Sparkling Snowman

It’s Throwback Thursday!

Last week’s Happy Little Elf proved so popular that we thought we’d keep the (snow)ball rolling. Here’s the Sparkling Snowman!

Another absolutely adorable design by Michele Wilcox, we’re again recommending Uptown Worsted 100% anti-pilling acrylic. It’s soft, long-lasting, and machine washable.

I’ve got this little guy beside me right now. For those wondering, the mittens are part of the arms, but the sweater and hat can be removed. The original snowman’s hat is lightly sewn down to keep it on for photography and trunk show visits, but that’s not mandatory. If he gets too warm, we can take it off.

The little broom is optional, but should be easy to find in a craft store. The more I look at this little fella, the more I think maybe he needs a candy cane. Or how about a tiny hockey stick, and embroider your favorite player’s number on the sweater? He’s got kind of a Wayne Gretzky nose going on.

However you dress your snowman up or down, we wish you happy knitting!

October 27, 2014November 24, 2014

AFGHAN KNITALONG – BLOCK SEVENTEEN

Block Seventeen is live!

Bobbles! Square Seventeen is called Snowball Effect, and it’s easy to see why. The little bobbles really do look like little snowballs rolling down a hill.

Our new block comes with not three new videos. First, let’s look at Amy’s tutorial on the method of making bobbles called for in the pattern.

Next, knitting backwards! This is something I’ve always wanted to learn. So much less time-consuming than turning your work for short rows.

Finally, a new stitch! The SSP (slip, slip, purl) method of decrease is used because the lace is worked on every row, not just RS rows. While p2tog is worked on WS rows in place of k2tog, ssp is worked in place of ssk on WS rows. The ssp is left-leaning when viewed from the RS, just like ssk.

That’s it for this round, but we’ll be back in two more weeks with more bobbles!

Happy knitting!

October 26, 2014

Sunday Swatch – Poems Ribbed Stripe Scarf

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Wisdom Yarns Poems.

The weather has finally turned the corner from summer to Fall here in the South. Coming home from work, I had to smile at the smell of smoke from my neighbor’s fireplace wafting through the neighborhood.

When I was selecting my next project, I couldn’t shake that memory. Even with no fireplace in my own home, I can still knit something that reminds me of cool evenings outdoors.

Wisdom Yarns Poems was the obvious choice. 100% wool in self-shading tones just felt right for the season. The lighter color is 605 Lofoten, a colorway designed by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton. It reminds me of smoke and ash – and maybe toasted marshmallows, too.

The darker color is 607 Hearth, recently added to the Poems line when we had requests to expand our reds. True to its name, it has overtones of embers and flame.

The scarf itself is a simple 1×1 rib, slipping the first stitch of each row for a neater edge. Make two rows in each color – k1p1 to the end, k1p1 back, then switch colors. Couldn’t be easier. A US 8 (5mm) needle over 32 inches produced a scarf 5 inches wide. One ball of each color made a full length scarf for short me. Casting on 28 or 30 would get more length for a taller person.

The colors are varied but not wild – they’re just perfect to go with the earth tones and browns of Fall. I look forward to wearing this on a stroll up the street tonight. It’ll be my own bit of comfort and warmth.

Happy knitting!

October 24, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Snowlander Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today we’re featuring Snowlander, a design created by Linda Davis, who owns the fabulous LYS Tail Spinner in Richlands, NC.

Linda says, “Since the cowl seems to be a big thing from the Outlander series on Starz, I thought about doing one that was a little more classy. I used two skeins of Ariana and one skein of Bamboo Glam held together to do the pictured cowl. I’m calling it Snowlander.

I made a 5-stitch I-cord with the leftover Bamboo Glam, put on a pendant, and grafted the ends together to use as a neck piece. It can be worn with the cowl or alone.”

Ariana Bamboo Glam Snowlander necklace blog

Tail Spinner is in Eastern NC, not that from from the ocean, making Linda’s choice of focal point for the pendant even more fitting. I can see quite a few options for the pendant and the cowl, together or apart.

As a fantasy fan, I’ve been looking for another show to add to my lineup. If Outlander is inspiring gorgeous designs like this, I’m adding it to my queue tonight – and keeping my needles nearby.

Thank you so much for sharing this, Linda!

October 23, 2014October 23, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Happy Little Elf

It’s Throwback Thursday!We had someone on Facebook ask about this pattern a couple of days ago, and it reminded us of how close the holidays are. So today, we offer this formerly paid pattern, now set free!

The Happy Little Elf is an adorable Michele Wilcox design (we love Michele!) that was originally only available as part of a kit featuring Classic Worsted Holiday. We’re recommending Uptown Worsted as a substitute.

Uptown Worsted is 100% anti-pilling acrylic. As a former yarn snob, I was skeptical of acrylics until I squeezed my first skein of Uptown. This would definitely be soft enough for a beloved little friend who is also machine washable.

What I like about Uptown for this pattern is that it has a broad color palette. Our recommendations to match the original Happy Little Elf are pictured here, but there are a good variety of skin tones and jacket and shoe options if you want to personalize your elf.

Looking at elf pictures online (I love my job) made me realize just how standard this elf costume is in popular culture, and how versatile this little elf could be. You could make a little buddy, so to speak…

Buddy the Elf

…or you could make your own little offbeat elf to take on adventures.

We just got that 356 Bright Blue in stock. It’s like it was meant to be.

We hope you’ll enjoy making a little pal for yourself, or for someone in your life who could use some magic.

Happy knitting!

October 17, 2014October 17, 2014

Free Pattern Friday – Cog Shawlette

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, something big and beautiful – the Cog Shawlette.

This fun accessory takes two balls of Classic Shades Big Time (color 801 Reef), the super-bulky big sister to self-shading Classic Shades. The pattern takes its name from the unique curved gear-like edging. Big yarn means quick knits, so we took the opportunity to work up a few different shawlettes to see how it looked in other colors. Answer: great!

Cog Shawl color 804 Grapevine blog — Color 804 Grapevine

From the pattern: “This shawlette is worked in one piece. First the Cog Edging is knit sideways. Without breaking yarn, crochet slip stitches are then worked all the way along the shaped side of the Cog Edging. Without breaking yarn, stitches are then picked up and knit along the straight side of the Cog Edging and the Shawl body is worked up and shaped with short-rows.”

Cog Shawl color 814 Jubilant blog — Color 814 Jubilant

Cog Shawl color 814 Jubilant backblog — Color 814 Jubilant – rear view

The unique construction makes this a great project to keep your interest, and the size 15 needles mean the work flies by. Perfection.

Happy knitting!

October 16, 2014October 16, 2014

Throwback Thursday – Celebrate Autumn Flora with Deluxe

It’s Throwback Thursday!

We’re not throwing back that far today, just a couple of years. But it’s the perfect time of year to highlight the free e-book Autumn Flora with Deluxe.

This e-book features eight patterns perfect for staying toasty, all using the Deluxe family of 100% wool.

All the patterns below are part of this cozy collection of colorwork and cables. Enjoy!

Pattern: Wraparound Leaves Beret and Mitts

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 12176 Teal Viper – 1 ball (MC)

• 41138 Brown Sugar – 1 ball (CC)

Pattern: Sheaves of Wheat Reversible Scarf

Yarn: Deluxe Chunky

• 3704 Gold Spice – 2 balls

Pattern: Poplar Beret

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 12182 Gold Spice – 1 ball (A)

Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted LP

• 06 Harvest – 1 ball (B)

Pattern: Felted Leaf

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 1 ball will make multiple felted leaves

Pattern: Big Leaf Mittens

Yarn: Renew Wool (Substitute Deluxe DK Superwash)

• 101 Sand – 1 ball (MC)
• 107 Cedar – 1 ball (CC1)
• 113 Garnet – 1 ball (CC2)

Pattern: Stranded Seed Pillow

Yarn: Deluxe Chunky

• 91901 Oatmeal Heather – 2 balls (MC)
• 3749 Forest – 1 ball (CC)

(There’s a gorgeous cabled edge on this one!)

Pattern: Autumn Leaves Cap

Yarn: Deluxe Worsted

• 71601 Blue Ombre – 1 ball (A)
• 12501 Oatmeal Heather – 1 ball (B)

• 3649 Forest Green – 1 ball (C)
• 41138 Brown Sugar – 1 ball (D)
• 91477 Red Oak – 1 ball (E)
• 12188 Heather – 1 ball (F)
• 12180 Eggplant – 1 ball (G)
• 12282 Hunter Green – 1 ball (H)
• 12181 Bronze Brown – 1 ball (I)

October 13, 2014October 14, 2014

Afghan Knitalong – Block Sixteen

Block Sixteen is live!

Building on our last mitered block, Miter Mayhem takes the opposite approach from Block 15. Instead of increasing outward, we’re decreasing at two corners to create the U shape.

Amy Gunderson uses a centered decrease to keep the corners nice and tidy. Here, she demonstrates how to “slip 1, k2tog, psso.”

I like the idea of using the removable stitch marker to keep track of where your decrease should be worked. Unfortunately, my stitch markers tend to disappear to wherever second socks go, so I often find myself short one when I need it. Well, if I must visit my local yarn store again, I suppose I must!

Please do 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!