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!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Paper Doll Sweater in Dona (pattern link here).
When our Sales Director Yonca was with family for Thanksgiving, her niece asked for a custom made sweater.
(She didn’t actually write a note – it was more of a “puppy dog eyes” situation.)
She wanted a top kind of like what Yonca was wearing, but different in this way and that way, and a pullover, not a cardi… before long, it was an entirely new sweater. Fortunately, Yonca’s niece is very knitworthy.
Yonca designed the sweater in Fibra Natura Dona, a machine-washable 100% extra fine merino. It’s an excellent choice for luxurious projects that you won’t have to baby when they get a little dirty.
This sweater features a cabled yoke that goes all the way around.
And here it is, modeled by the giftee!
She was so excited to receive it! The only feeling better than getting a treasured handmade gift is giving one. We foresee other projects in this charming young lady’s future!
If you’d like to print a sweater to match the real thing, here’s a paper doll sheet, with some accessories for good measure. We hope you make time for play as well as work this weekend.
Happy crafting!
St. Patrick’s Day is nearly upon us, my fiber friends! For most folks celebrating this Irish holiday, this is going to mean green, green, and more green!
I can remember showing up to elementary school one day (yes, a very long time ago) on March 17th sans green. I quickly learned that this was quite dangerous, as anyone who noticed was pinching me relentlessly! I found a green marker and made several green shamrocks on my hands, arms, and face so that I could avoid the torture of the pinch.
If you’re finding yourself with nothing green to wear this year, why not crank out a knitted green hat? Patty’s Hatty is knit in extrafine superwash merino DK weight Dona. Dona is soft and squishy and feels great on the skin.
You’ve got a few days left – what are you waiting for?
Everybody in the whole cell block Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
No, it’s from the way the solid Adore surrounds striped Adore Colors to create cells of color.
Although what you sing while you knit it is your business.
Slipped stitches create the pattern here – no need to work more than color at a time. Using a striped yarn as the background gives it that extra burst – Uptown DK Colors would be a good choice to use, as well.
Looks complex, but in reality, it’s very easy. Knit a tube in the round, slipping stitches where appropriate, then seam up the ends. Voila!
We hope you have a wonderful weekend. Savor your freedom before Monday rolls back around! Happy crafting!
Need a little boost to get you going? How about a gorgeous and wearable cabled coat?
This is the Hickory Grove Cardigan (Ravelry link) in Deluxe Worsted 100% wool.
Check that patterning.
Since our last Monday Motivation was the colorful Mod Tiles Cardi, we thought we’d focus this time on what you can do with a solid knit fabric and a lot of creativity.
Amy Gunderson used a variety of techniques to make this a breathtaking design. It begins at the hem with twisted rib, then moves to broken rib accented by 3×3 cables.
Then twisted stitches rise to make traveling diagonal lines that mimic an hourglass shape. Because of the large size of the repeat, this section is charted only.
Add the edging, and shape the collar with short rows. It’s the details that make a garment shine.
Cardigans not your thing? There’s also the Hickory Grove Pullover (Ravelry link), also in Deluxe Worsted wool. Like the cardigan, the pullover is knit in pieces and seamed.
It features the same elements as the cardigan – 3×3 cables and twisted stitches on the front, but for practicality’s sake the back is left plain. The beautiful color, 13113 Garnet, carries the show without need for embellishment.
Two innovative designs, featuring matching elements. Choose the one that suits your style.
If you like these designs, you should check out Amy’s e-book Deluxe Cable Collection (Ravelry link). It’s full of classic knitted pieces with beautiful finishing touches.
We hope your week is off to a great start, with many more good things to come.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, March Fog in Alaska (pattern link here).
This is an apt day to introduce this pattern, because today, the 1st of March, it is indeed foggy in Charlotte.
But not quite this foggy.
It’s been more of a hazy mist, but the colors and fuzzy feel show where March Fog got its inspiration.
March Fog is wide enough to be a stole, but works well wrapped like a scarf, too.
Knit in Rozetti Yarns lofty Alaska, this crochet accessory is fluffy and warm, with a bit of foggy haze about it.
The stole is crocheted lengthwise in a very easy all-over mesh pattern. As written, this took exactly two balls of each color (902 Peach Puff and 905 Stormy). You might want to grab an extra ball, just for safety’s sake.
The ending edge of the mesh pattern naturally forms cute scallops. After the main stole is complete, an edging is added to the beginning edge so that the two sides match. Don’t forget to block to open up that lace!
Snuggle up against early Spring winds – and happy crafting!
Ah, strawberries – I love them! Strawberry season has always been one of my favorite times of the year. It conjures fond childhood memories. I spent many, many days at my grandparents’ farm growing up. I helped out with chores, played on roundbales, petted the cattle, explored the land, collected eggs from the hens, helped bale hay – you name it, I probably did it!
We love how breezy and airy the fabric of this scarf is.
Every May we celebrated the strawberry season by plucking strawberries from the plant, placing them into a little wooden carton (eating many more along the way), and carrying them back to the house. We’d help my mother and grandmother prepare the strawberries for freezing. My sister and I would sell excess berries at a little produce stand we set up at the end of our driveway. When I was in my early teens, my grandparents moved to the mountains and extended family took over the farm. That meant we no longer picked our strawberries there, but that didn’t stop us! We simply picked our strawberries at another local farm instead.
This fabric drapes effortless around the neck and shoulders.
My long-winded story brings me to the real point of this post…it’s National Strawberry Day and we have a pattern that celebrates these sweet fruits! We’re highlighting the Strawberry Kiwi Scarfarita – a free pattern from our website!
Strawberry Kiwi Scarfarita
This pattern is perfect for spring and summer. It is knit using Fibra Natura Lina – a delightful blend of linen and cotton. This is the kind of accessory you could easily toss on during early mornings of strawberry picking come May – or as you plant your seeds well before! We know the air is still cool – heck it’s very cold in many places – but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream about the coming spring and summer.
Lina is just right for spring and summer knitting, and now is the perfect time to cast on!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Contented Socks in Angora Lace (pattern link here).
Recently we shared an article called “The Modern Trap of Turning Hobbies into Hustles.” It struck home with a lot of people. The pressure to turn our joy into dollar signs is real, and people were glad to have the reassurance that it’s not just them, and that your craft can be just for you to enjoy, with no pressure to make it “useful” in the monetary sense.
Angora Lace color 105 Paradise
I’ve had this experience many times, and I’ll bet you’ve had a similar one: I was making socks while waiting for my deli order to be ready, and the person behind the counter said, “hey, could you make me a pair, too?”
My stock answer now is, “No, but I can teach you how!” So far, there have been no takers.
Enter: the Contented Socks.
I do love a good heel flap.
I tend to make socks for other people – my spouse, my child, my parents… but it’s been a while since I made a pair just for myself. When I felt a ball of Angora Lace and realized how soft it was, I knew it was meant for me. I am every bit as knitworthy as the people dearest to me.
With that in mind, I decided on my favorite construction – toe-up, heel flap, but with a slip-stitch heel instead of my usual eye-of-partridge. I like the way the columns look with the stripes in the yarn.
For the leg, a simple four-row lace repeat. I will say – this lace pattern is stretchy, so in coming back around from the foot to the leg, if you have small ankles you might want to drop down by a multiple of 4 stitches. Either way, in knitting these, I had about 1/3 of a ball left over – probably enough to get a pair of ankle socks out of.
There are plenty of multi colors to choose from, as well as solids. And I really do recommend this yarn – it’s like holding a cloud.
I hope you find time to take joy in the things you do, not because someone else gives you permission to do so, but because you know your worth.
May you find both the small joys and big happiness.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Cable Cross Cap in Uptown Super Bulky (pattern link here).
Hello, Valentine! We’re going to keep today’s post short and sweet, because we’re still stuffed full of chocolates. Yes, Thin Mints count as chocolates. And yes, if you buy them for yourselves, it still counts as Valentine’s Day candy, and therefore there are no calories. It’s science.
Serving size: one sleeve
Following up on Rachel’s Valentine’s Day Post yesterday, we’re offering something pink and perfect.
The Cable Cross Cap works up fast on size 13 needles and takes just two skeins of Uptown Super Bulky, our thickest anti-pilling acrylic. It’s smooth and squeezable – a delight to work with.
Also, Thin Mints are vegan, so they’re health food.
What were we talking about again? Right! Knitting! The pattern is written and charted – really, a lovely quick cabled knit for when the mood strikes.
Speaking of the mood striking, did you know that you can locate Girl Scout cookie booths near you online? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need more yarn. And cookies.
Happy crafting!
