It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Ravine in Fibra Natura Lina (pattern link here).
We’re very aware that some parts of the continent are still blessed with cold weather. But here in North Carolina, we’re moving into the holiday weekend with what meteorologists are calling a “death ridge.”
Picture ants under a magnifying glass.
Are we going to let that stop us from knitting? Heck no! We just have to adjust our projects, that’s all.
A little overripe works best.Step one: prepare for the heat. Toss some grapes in the freezer before you hit your LYS. Also, be sure your ice cube trays are full. You’ll be glad you did later.
Step two: choose a short-sleeved, breezy project. Ravine fits the bill. Cool and comfy, this classic wide-necked tee is perfect for summer.
Step three: pick a heat-friendly yarn. Lina is a linen/cotton blend that’s perfect for summer, and it’s going to feel great in a top like Ravine. Other possibilities: Cotton True Sport or Little Bird.
Step four: Cast on and chill out. The grapes are a fitting snack for this, because your hands won’t get grimy and you can keep knitting as you nosh. The ice cubes? If you’ve got a blender, try Kool-Aid slushies – super cheap and refreshing.
We hope you have a safe and relaxing weekend and Memorial Day.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Fern Wrap in Garden 10 (pattern link here).
Fern Wrap originally appeared in print, as part of Garden Book 4: Garden Romance (also available as an e-book on Ravelry). Today, we’re setting it free!
This wide stole features tiny flowers in the space-dyed colors of Garden 10 cotton, bordered with a solid shade.
Worked flat, the Fern Wrap is finished with a tidy single crochet edging.
This shawl is written with a right side and wrong side to help you stay on track, but is reversible when worn.
We hope you enjoy this summery, delicate crochet piece. Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Besties in Adore (pattern link here).
Awww! This sweater is sized from 3 months to six years, so whatever size your little best pal is, you’re set.
Not only do these work in a variety of colors, but there’s also plenty of opportunity to customize yours with adorable buttons.
We show them in machine washable Adore in the traditional pink or blue, but I think these would look awfully nice in neutrals. How about 130 Cream, with 129 Sand and 128 Gingerbread? Or go even darker with 127 Hickory?
That would be one spiffy-looking little Bestie.
We hope you have a great weekend. Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Towanda Socks in Deluxe DK Superwash (pattern link here).
I’ve written before about making socks for my dad, but I’m not sure I’ve mentioned my mother. So, everybody say hi to my mom!
Hi, Mom!
Yes, the baby is me. There aren’t enough good adjectives to describe my mom, so we’re just going to go with “amazing.” In writing this, I backspaced over at least 20 astounding things that she’s done that demonstrate her incredible character, but none of those really capture it, so let’s just go with “amazing” and move on. I could wax rhapsodic about my mom all day, and we have socks to talk about!
I knitted my very first pair of socks for my mother, over a decade ago. She treasures them, and takes excellent care of them and everything else I’ve knitted her. So to the list of her good qualities, we’ll add “knitworthy.”
When Mom asked for a pair of basic warm house socks, I knew the perfect yarn. This isn’t the first pair I’ve made in Deluxe DK Superwash, and it won’t be the last. She also requested blue – her favorite color – so I went with 856 Teal Rustic. The rustic colors in the Deluxe Superwash yarns have great depth of color – an almost (but not quite) tweedy look.
A lovely blend of aqua, violet, and navy. Perfect.
Now, I know she asked for “plain” but I felt like an eye-of-partridge heel wouldn’t be too distracting. It’s also my favorite heel, so that settled it.
Toe up, around the heel, then on to the leg!
Because these were done on US Size 4 (3.5mm) needles, they went very fast! And there’s plenty left over. Perhaps I could use that for coordinating colorwork in my own pair? Hmm…
I named these socks Towanda after her hometown in Pennsylvania, a spot we’ve visited in many happy trips. I think it’s time to go back again, for a hike in some homemade socks.
I leave you with one more picture of my mother and me, from many years ago. We were just grabbing breakfast after working on a Habitat for Humanity house, on their first all women-built home. Like I say, a very knitworthy person.
We wish you a joyous weekend, full of connections to the people you care about.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today’s free pattern is Saltwater in Unity and Unity Beyond (pattern link here).
Earlier this month, we released an e-book of designs in our Fibra Natura family of yarns.
On the cover: Jetton by Amy GundersonLakeside Retreat is a generously sized collection of both knit and crochet patterns in natural fibers. With 16 designs included, we realized we had enough to lift out a pattern to release for free. The choice was Saltwater by Rachel Brockman.
This beautiful triangular shawl is knit from the top down in solid Unity and variegated Unity Beyond. These yarns are a unique blend of cotton, wool, bamboo, and linen designed to drape beautifully and lend an earthy texture to finished pieces.
Lightweight and airy, Saltwater combines garter and stockinette with simple striping to create a lovely understated shawl.
To finish it off, a crochet border is added. Rachel was thinking of little sandcastles when she added this charming design touch.
I’m eyeing this for myself, but we just released some brand new colors in Unity and Unity Beyond, and I’m loving the way they pair up. What do you think of solid 113 Alizarin and multi 208 Sunrise? It would certainly be a dramatic take on the design!
Or maybe let the sun shine in with 115 Cob and 207 Springtide. What a decision!
We hope you have a relaxing weekend. Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Hydrangea in Classic Shades Frenzy (free pattern link).
Lovely for the season in pink and peach variegated Classic Shades Frenzy, the Hydrangea Top is a fun crochet project.
Motifs, an easy mesh pattern, and tailored edgings keep your interest in this tunic, sized from XS to 4X.
Stitch patterns are lacy and open, making this garment excellent for layering over tanks and dresses in the spring or fall.
What a fun piece for warmer weather!
We hope you have a joyous weekend.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Lofty Rug in Bella Chenille (free pattern link here).
How cool is this? A member of our design team was inspired by the nifty bobble stitch seen in this tutorial at Kristen McDonnell’s Studio Knit, and immediately realized just how soft and springy it would be in plush Bella Chenille.
She was right. It’s soft and touchable, and just perfect for bare feet.
Personally, I’m always looking for new things to try, and this fits the bill. What an interesting tool to have in your repertoire! Here’s Kristen’s video of how to work this stitch. As Kristen says in the video, you’ll make a few mistakes at first. But it looks like you’ll have fun doing it!
We hope you keep a spring in your step this weekend.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Trawler cap in Bella Cash (pattern link here).
I’m a big fan of brioche. Stretchy and sculptural, it looks beautiful, and it’s not as hard as you might think. After my first brioche hat, I felt so proud of myself – I wore it everywhere. But the truth is, once you’re into the rhythm of it, it’s just as easy to “read” in your knitting as standard ribbing.
In this seafarer-inspired cap, Rachel Brockman uses two colors of fine Bella Cash held together on a US4(3.5mm) needle for a marled, denimy effect.
So, here’s my confession: up until now, when I’ve done brioche in the round, I’ve winged the decreases and just kind of… hoped they came together okay. Rachel, however, has beautiful decreases marching neatly toward the crown. This is going to be a great technique to learn.
Bella Cash 122 Amethyst and 118 Orchid
I’m considering using different colors, though – maybe something violet? Amethyst and Orchid look awfully nice together.
We hope you have a great weekend. Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today the Silver Poncho in Radiant Cotton (pattern link here).
This is one of those patterns that’s both pretty and easy.
It’s composed of two rectangles, crocheted separately and then seamed at the edges, leaving space in the seams for head and arms.
What helps keeps this lively instead of boring is the use of two different crochet patterns in each rectangle. It gives the piece texture and holds your attention as you work. Radiant Cotton works very well in this piece – it’s a smooth non-splitty Egyptian cotton with a light sheen. The definition it gives is a boon to crochet work.
Beautiful Spring colors!
(Knitters wanting to try this yarn – we actually have a brand new Radiant Cotton collection geared toward basic wardrobe pieces that you can pair with anything, called Spring Capsule. You can find it at this link on Ravelry.)
We hope you have an amazing weekend, full of yarn and joy.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!Shawl pin by Jul Designs.
Today, the Mountain Lights Shawl in Deluxe Worsted Superwash (pattern link here).
How beautiful is this?
The Mountain Lights Shawl has a body that uses ridges and texture to create a rustic feel…
But then… that border! It’s simple and symmetrical, but wide enough to really let the right bright color shine.
The inside is interesting, too. Wrap it around, and you’ll still have something to show off. Deluxe Worsted Superwash gives excellent evenness and stitch definition. Just one ball of each color will make the whole shawl.
The pattern produces a shawl that has its own voice. Just cast on and hear it sing.
Ready to fly across the mountain.
Happy crafting!
