It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Flourish Scarf in Uptown Super Bulky (pattern link here).
This pattern is proof that you can have both lace and instant gratification.
Knit on US size 13 (9mm) needles, this beautiful scarf is only 21 stitches across.
Make it as long or as short as you like – it’ll go quick in Uptown Super Bulky.
There are plenty of color options – you can stick with the 423 Mint Green in the model or branch out!
We hope you have a great new year, and continue to flourish and grow.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Jora knit in Adore (pattern link here).
Even though this was available before as a pay pattern, I am super-excited to see it available for free now. This one’s been in my queue for a while now, and with holiday crafting done (the Sequoia in Deluxe Bulky Superwash I started for my daughter last year turned out great), I might finally have time to make something for myself!
Jora was originally part of the Attire to Adore collection (Ravelry link), an e-book of knit sweaters in machine-washable Adore designed to be beautiful and comfortable wardrobe staples. Jora didn’t get as much attention as some of its fancier sisters (the Willow Cardigan is also in my queue!) but to me, this design is the perfect “classic with a twist.”
This would be so easy to dress up or down. We styled it here with jeans, but imagine this over a skirt, with a coordinating pendant resting against the solid field of the sweater. Pretty!
This design ticks the “simple but not boring” box for a wardrobe staple. It’s not all stockinette – there’s an elegant, flowing cable down each sleeve to create interest and lengthen the line.
We designed the originals in this collection in cool blues and grays, but I’m thinking… maybe autumn tones?
127 Hickory, 128 Gingerbread, 111 Banana, 131 White
Decisions, decisions. Have a fantastic weekend.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Garden Gold Wrap in Garden 10 Metallic (pattern link here).
It may be a little late to get started on your holiday wardrobe for this year, but you can still get a jump start on your next big occasion.
Kristin Hansen’s shimmering Garden Gold Wrap uses Nazli Gelin Garden 10 Metallic for a beautiful shine.
Ooh… aah…
“Nazli Gelin” means “shy bride” in Turkish, and it’s easy to imagine this shawl in white for a wedding, or in a coordinating color for an honored guest.
For extra effect, Kristin Hansen has added beads to the lace motifs. This is a challenging and rewarding knit that will turn heads.
We hope you have a great weekend, filled with comfort and joy. Happy crafting!
I don’t know about you, but I often pair my crafting time with binge-watching my favorite shows and movies. Lately, like pretty much everyone else I know, I’ve been watching the Mandalorian. Everyone who has been watching this show is pretty much obsessed with the child – and how can you not be? He’s sooo cute! Knitters and crocheters alike have clearly been inspired, and there are already loads of patterns on making a baby alien of your own. When I laid eyes on the Baby Keychain Ornament, designed by Vivianne Russo, I couldn’t resist joining the fun and making one. Luckily we’ve started carrying the perfect yarn for it!
Ricorrumi DK yarn skeins from left to right: 058 Silver Grey, 054 Ecru, & 047 Pistachio. Also pictured: button eyes and 3.00 mm crochet hook, along with the Baby Keychain Ornament.
We recently became a distributor of Rico Design’s adorable Ricorumi line. We’ve all been completely smitten with the adorable kits and mini-skeins. They’re simply irresistible. Plus, notions such as the button eyes and crochet hooks are available, so you can easily grab everything you need.
Are you just melting from the cuteness? I know we are!
When it came to my attention that the little skeins of yarn would be great for making all the green baby patterns around, I immediately grabbed some yarn and notions to get started. I’ve picked out several colors that would be perfect for creating one of your own – and want to share some of the other great patterns to choose from.
For the project I crocheted, I used 058 Silver Grey for the carriage, 047 Pistachio for the body, and 054 Ecru for the collar. Below are some of the other color options that would work equally well. Ricorumi DK yarn skeins from left to right: 051 Mastic, 054 Ecru, 057 Chocolate, 058 Silver Grey, 047 Pistachio.
If you prefer a stand-up figure, Vivianne Russo also designed The Child – Green Baby. We’re also loving Yazmina Nieblas‘ version, which includes the little bowl of bone broth. She created two versions so you can play around a bit more with the colors shown above.
For this version we suggest 051 Mastic for the collar, 054 Ecru for the main garment, 057 Chocolate for the bowl, and 047 Pistachio for the body.
Even if you’re new to crochet (like me), these patterns are really simple. They’re mostly comprised of single crochet and simple increases. Plus, being so small, you can create them in no time at all. If you’re still reluctant to crochet, there are knit versions, too. Plus, Ricorumi DK works equally well with knit projects.
Lucky for us, KnitHacker has already created a comprehensive list of both knit and crochet patterns that are perfect for making a child of your own. Find the crochet list here (link) and the knit list here (link).
Head to your local yarn store to grab your skeins of Ricorumi DK!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Dragonfly Pullover in Angora Lace (pattern link here).
I was delighted when Pantone made Basic Blue their color of the year for 2020. I’m all about blue in all its shades. So this lace-hemmed pullover in Angora Lace color 212 Denim is a dream come true.
Lovely details like drop shoulders and 3/4 length sleeves give this a simple and calm, but engaging, feel.
And that body! A surprising and fun hemline, leading to islands of interlocking lace, rising to a sea of fine stockinette. It’s a great way to show off your knitting while still letting the piece do what every sweater should do – show YOU off to your best advantage.
Angora Lace 211 PeacoatAngora Lace 210 Cerulean
If you really want to lean into the blue, Angora Lace has several tones, including these two solids which echo 2020’s Basic Blue beautifully.
Angora Lace 111 Calm
Or go with a multi for all or part of it. There are so many options.
We hope you have a fantastic, stress-free weekend, and find time to embrace some peace and joy for yourself. Happy crafting!
New years bring a lot of good things with them. Things like resolutions, new knitting projects, and of course: Pantone’s Color of the Year.
Pantone researches trends in media, fashion, culture, entertainment, art, and more to forecast what color will be best for the coming year. This color decision will then trickle into products created in many industries like fashion, interiors, and yes, yarn! What is the color of the year, you ask? Well, it is 19-4052 – Classic Blue!
“Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era. ” – Pantone.com
With a lot of things in nature being blue, and it’s inherent quality as a calming color, blue appeals to everyone. The shade chosen, Classic Blue, is a strong foundation color that is suggestive of the sky at dusk. As you can see with the yarns above, we have an abundance of blue to choose from in our yarn offerings, and plenty that mix blue with other stunning shades.
Some of our yarns that offer this rich blue shade are Bella Chenille in Indigo, and Fibra Natura Flax in Fierce Blue. Blue yarn for all seasons!Dona and Donnina, which are both 100% extrafine superwash merino wool yarn, offer great stitch definition have some fabulous blue shades. Below we’ve featured a couple of the patterns available in our Dona Color Kit – Blues.
The Color Shift Hat and Mittens from our Dona Kit in Blues The Staccato Shawl from our Dona Color Kit in Blues Deluxe Worsted and Deluxe Chunky are great staple yarns to stock up on for future projects throughout the year. Colbalt is the blue shade available that best matches the Pantone Classic Blue. The Switcback Cardigan (below) from our Deluxe Men Collection features gorgeous blue colorwork!
The Switchback Cardigan from our Deluxe Men Collection using Deluxe Worsted Major , Bamboo Bloom, and Uptown DK Colors are all yarns that have beautiful multi-colored blue shades. Any pattern you knit or crochet with these yarns is sure to be rich with color and texture.
Flying V crochet blanket using Uptown Worsted Luxor, our new mercerized Egyptian cotton yarn, is perfect for lightweight knit and crochet projects and comes in a wide array of colors including Royal Blue. Knit the Navona Wrap shown below and add a Color of the Year accessory to your closet!
The Navona Wrap in Luxor 105-02 Royal Blue
These are just some of the patterns we’ve designed that feature the Classic Blue shade. Remember, you can knit any pattern in any color you want! We hope you are just as excited as we are about the color of the year for 2020 and are ready to fill your stash with blue yarn. Happy knitting!
Blue yarn for everyone!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Woodlands Yoke Pullover in Deluxe Chunky (pattern link here).
This beauty by Sandi Rosner has been in my queue for a while, but with forecasts of an especially chilly winter this year, I think it’s finally getting bumped to the top.
The main color here is Deluxe Chunky 5003 Musket. The neat thing about this color is that it’s undyed – this is the actual color from the sheep. It’s got a heathering effect that it gives good color depth even to large fields of knitting.
Sandi Rosner has designed a beautiful Fair Isle pattern here. There are actually quite a few colors in the Deluxe Chunky palette that would go nicely in this sweater, depending on whether you wanted to stick with the original autumnal shades or go more toward jeweltones or monochromes. I’m still mulling mine over – another reason it keeps slipping from the top of the queue – dithering over too many good options!
Maybe 91905 Rust Heather? I don’t know!!
We hope you stay comfy and cozy this weekend.
This is part 12 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.
We can hardly believe it, but it’s the final day of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. For Day 12, we’re wrapping things up with the Twinkle Cover, knit using ever-popular Uptown Worsted.
The Twinkle cover features a lovely all-over lace pattern. This circular blanket is created using pi-shawl construction, made popular by the queen of knitting, Elizabeth Zimmermann. Pi-construction begins at the center, then, at regular distances, you simply double the stitch count. The best part? There are just a couple of increase rounds in this whole blanket. The most concentration is required at the beginning of the pattern. After the central increases are complete, the outer rings both feature easy-to-memorize lace motifs.
We have to admit – blocking this blanket will take some effort, but the pattern guides you through the process with some tips and tricks. Steam-blocking is suggested, which might sound risky considering this is an acrylic blanket, but it ensures that you’ll never need to block again. In this case, “killing” the acrylic is a good thing.
Ultimately, this is a project that’s sure to get compliments when you have visitors. It would make a stunning gift, too. We hope you love it.
Thank you so much for joining us for the third 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. This year we’ve curated a collection of everything from accessories for your head, hands, and heart to beautiful home decor items. There is a mix of projects from beginner to advanced. We so enjoy bringing this collection to life each year and hope you enjoy the kits just as much. Remember, you can find all of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection at your local yarn store. Here’s to a crafty, fun-filled winter spent with your loved ones!
This is part 11 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.
It’s Day 11 in the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. We can’t believe how quickly time seems to be going. Before we dive into today’s kit and post, I’d like to take a moment to highlight that today is Small Business Saturday. We’re right in the midst of what is arguably the biggest shopping period of the year. As you gear up for the holiday season, don’t forget to support your local small businesses. For those of us who love all things yarny, it’s the perfect day to show some support to your local yarn stores. Without them, we wouldn’t be a business at all! Local yarn stores are front and center of the fiber community – offering a space to learn, socialize, and of course, purchase some yummy yarn.
And now, onto today’s kit (which you can find at your local yarn store).
Today we’re excited to introduce the Trinket Socks, knit up in deliciously soft, yet strong, Bella Cash. This is a great all-around yarn, but here in the office, it has become a favorite for knitting socks. Thanks to the superwash merino, they’re machine-washable and easy to care for. Cashmere adds a touch of luxury, and nylon ensures these socks will be strong enough to last for ages. These socks feature a lace and twisted stitch pattern that is addictive to knit, and quick to work up.
Speaking of twisted stitches – we have a tutorial to share today. If you can recall from Day 7 of Winter (the Mountain Pines Cowl), we shared a tutorial on Right and Left Purl Twists. Today, we’ll be showing you how to knit a regular Right and Left Twist – no purling necessary. Note that for today’s tutorial, we’re using Deluxe Chunky so that it’s easier for you to see.
Right TwistStart by making a swatch. Swatches are not only crucial for getting the finished item you want but are also great for practicing new stitches. Work in your pattern until you’ve reached the two stitches you need to twist. I’ve highlighted these stitches in purple so it’s easier to see. We want to change the position of these two stitches by moving the left stitch over the top of the right stitch.Begin by knitting two stitches together, but do not drop the stitches from your needle. As you can see, the two stitches remain on the left needle, but there is now a new stitch on the right needle. Next, knit the first stitch on the left needle. Drop both of the stitches from the left needle. You now have completed the Right Twist, and have two new stitches on the right needle. Easy, right?Left TwistWork in your pattern until you’ve reached the two stitches you need to twist. I’ve highlighted these stitches in purple so it’s easier to see. We want to change the position of these two stitches by moving the right stitch over the top of the left stitch.The first step is to knit only the second stitch on the left needle. This stitch is highlighted in purple. As you can see, the first stitch on the left needle remains in place. After knitting the second stitch, do not drop the stitches off the left needle. Next, knit the first stitch on the left needle. Drop both of the stitches from the left needle. You now have completed the Left Twist, and have two new stitches on the right needle.Here is what each set of twisted stitches will look like. Notice that the Left Twist leans to the left, and the Right Twist leans to the right. In the Trinket Socks, Right Twists and Left Twists are alternated to create an undulating panel.
The Right and Left Twists are a great addition to your knitting toolbox. You’ll find that they’re quite fun to work, and they can really make a stitch pattern interesting. I hope you’ve found this tutorial to be useful.
Notice those panels of twisted stitches – pretty!
Remember, you can find the Trinket Socks kit, as well as the rest of the 12 Days of Winter Kits at your local yarn store. Happy knitting!
This is part 10 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.
It’s Day 10 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. Today, the Snowdrift cowl designed by Adrienne Larsen. This design combines cables, twisted stitches, and eyelets to create a show-stopping winter accessory. It’s knit up in Fibra Natura Dona – one of our favorite yarns for knitting cables because of its superior stitch definition. Did we mention that it’s incredibly soft, too? For today’s post, we’ve asked Adrienne to share her passion for cable design with us. Here is what she had to say:
“I love cables. I love how they look and I love thinking about how they work. When creating a new cable pattern, I always break into two main elements: the ground and the squiggle.
The ground is pretty self-explanatory. The ground is what the cable is sitting on: the background. It is usually reverse stockinette stitch because it’s simple and doesn’t pull focus from the main event: the squiggle. If you want to add a little zing, the ground could be seed stitch or garter stitch. If you prefer a really smooth look, it can even be stockinette.
The squiggle is where you can really get creative. You can do a simple cable, which sits in place, and just crosses over itself, like in a 2×2 Right Cross. The squiggle can also move back and forth over the ground as a traveling cable. The stitches in the squiggle usually stay together and move on top of the ground. It can also move under or over other squiggles.
The stitches in a squiggle are classically groups of knit stitches. In this pattern, I decided to change things up by adding some twisted stitches and purls to some of the squiggles. If you look, the twisted stitch squiggles and the plain squiggles always stay that way, even when they move under or over each other.
I also added yarn-overs to some of the stationary squiggles. I didn’t like that you could see the underlapping stitches in the cables in the yarn-over squiggles, so I only placed them when they were stationary. I also only changed from twisted/purl combination squiggles to yarn-over squiggles after during an underlap, when possible where it could be hidden.
That’s just a few things that are considered when cable patterns are designed!”
-Adrienne
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a bit more about Adrienne’s approach to cable design. We think it’s fascinating and feel so lucky to have her designs in this kit collection. Remember, you can find the Snowdrift kit and the rest of the 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store.
