Tag: accessory

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Free Pattern Friday – Malawi Earrings

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Malawi Earrings in Yashi and Yashi Iro (pattern link here).

Hot enough for ya? It is here, so we’re looking with delight at some of the great designs in Yashi and Yashi Iro 100% raffia that are out there.  We saw Gwen Buttke McGannon’s First Light Rug in the Summer 18 issue of Interweave Crochet and thought, “yes.  that’s what we need.”

Something cool and light.  And as always, designer Rachel Brockman does not disappoint.

These fun summer accessories don’t take much work, but they look great.

All the notions  you need are some jewelry findings, and a crochet hook to pull your favorite colors of Yashi into a loop.

If you can make fringe, you can make this jewelry.

A few beads to finish them off, and you’re set.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend, and that you stay cool.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Right Turn Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Right Turn Shawl in Bamboo Pop (pattern link).

This is Amy Gunderson’s design, but she kindly let me name this shawl Right Turn.  At the time, it reminded me of a particularly colorful city street.  However, I may have mis-named it.  Sure, it looks like it veers sharply, but that’s not what the construction actually does.

You start at the top, and do an increase on either side of the center spine and at each edge.  So really, it’s more like a gradual broadening of the horizon as you keep going.

Begin with garter stitch, then move to slip-stitch to easily make the two-color stripes.  Back to garter, then polish it off with an i-cord bind-off.

It’s made in Bamboo Pop, a great summertime yarn that has 52 colors.  It’d be easy to have the stripes accent whatever color is most prevalent in your wardrobe.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Nebula Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Blue and white brioche knit stole in Classic Shades Sequins Lite yarn

Today, the Nebula Stole in Classic Shades Sequins Lite (pattern link here).

I’m a big fan of one-color brioche, but I had never done two-color brioche before tackling Rachel Brockman’s Sweet Little Cowl in Cottonwood.  I don’t know why I thought it was going to be hard.  It’s not.  Rachel shares another brioche pattern here, this one knitted flat.

brioche knit fabric held in place by Jul Designs shawl pin
Shawl pin by Jul Designs

The great thing about the Nebula Stole is that it’s reversible – it’ll look stunning with either side facing out, which opens up a world of possibilities in styling.

Brioche knitted stole wrapped around dressform

The texture in this pattern really help the sequins in Classic Shades Sequins Lite catch the light.

Detail including sequins in yarn of two color brioche knit stole

Whether your idea of “nebula” is this…

Composite image of the Crab nebula
The final frontier.

…or this…

Watch out, Thanos.

…we think this celestial project fits the bill.

Have a great weekend, and happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Citrus Pouch

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Citrus Pouch in Good Earth and Good Earth Multi (pattern link here).

I’ll tell you, we’re lucky to have found designer Rachel Brockman.  Here, she has created a practical and cute little notions pouch in Good Earth cotton/linen blend.

The pouch is worked in two separate rectangles which are seamed together.  Then add the zipper, and voila!

The orange sections are a 10-stitch repeat that’s charted in the pattern.   For those who loved last week’s Spring Stripe Rug but wanted some practice on tapestry crochet first, this is a great little project that uses the same technique.

We hope you have an awesome weekend.  Now I’m off to fix up a little Springtime Citrus Cooler – the Citrus Pouch gave me a craving!

Happy crafting!

 

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Free Pattern Friday – Spellbinder

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Spellbinder Cowl in Alpaculence (pattern link here).

We named this the Spellbinder for obvious reasons – it’s simply spellbinding.

Knitted pink and gray lace cowl pinned at the shoulder with a pewter shawl pin
Alhambra shawl pin courtesy of Jul Designs (http://juldesigns.com/)

An easy-to-memorize lace pattern in a single skein of soft, shimmering Alpaculence creates a beautiful, lightweight cowl that can easily be dressed up or down.

Be aware: the cowl shown took 92 grams of a 100 gram ball.  Be sure your gauge is correct to prevent the possibility of running out of yarn!  Swatching in advance can prevent trouble at the finish.

We hope you have a magical weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Scruncher Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Scruncher Scarf in Whisper Lace and Cotton Supreme Batik (pattern link here).

I. Love. This. Pattern.

Look at how simple that is.  This is exactly the kind of pattern that I would have loved as a beginner, and that I still love when I want to make something beautiful and not look away from binge-watching Jessica Jones.

Because it’s dropped stitches on a larger needle (US size 10 1/2), this pattern makes the yarn go a long way.  One ball of Whisper Lace wool/silk for the solid bands, two balls of self-striping Cotton Supreme Batik for the wider variegated stripes.

Because the fabric is so loose and drapey, it scrunches up effortlessly – hence the name Scruncher Scarf.  Here it is in an alternate colorway, folded in half and wrapped for an accessory that straddles “skinny” and “full.”

Obviously, this would be a great one to experiment with, colorwise.  I’ll bet your LYS could put together some fantastic color combos.

We hope you have an amazing weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Hazy Hat and Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Hazy Hat and Pullover set in Uptown Worsted Mist (pattern link here).

I actually have a lot of thoughts about this pattern, because

1) I love cables, and

2) I heard the “colorful language” around here as the pattern swelled to 4… 5… and finally to 9 pages.  That’s what happens with extended sizing (although we don’t really consider it “extended”), and full charts and written instructions.

The consensus is that it was worth it.

There are quite a few things to love here, like sizing from Small to 4X in the pullover…

detailing like twists along the sleeve and texture within the front cables…

and how nicely this does in Uptown Worsted Mist, which is variegated enough to add interest but not so much that it overwhelms a lovely design.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend, and that you take time to do something for yourself.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Hecka Good Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Hecka Good Scarf in Uptown Worsted and Uptown Worsted Mist (pattern link here).

This scarf is a good example of how in a simple design, the placement of color can make a dramatic impact.

The lighter parts are Uptown Worsted Mist, with subtle shading. It’s accented by solid Uptown Worsted, with elements like the end stripe placed to tie the whole thing together. That said, it’s actually an easy knit – all knits and purls.  Give it a try!

We hope you have a great weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Heartsbloom Hat and Mittens

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Heartsbloom Hat and Mittens in Bella Cash (pattern link).

Happy Groundhog Day!

Punxatawney Phil has spoken – he’s seen his shadow, which legend says means six more weeks of winter.

Whatever, Phil.  We’re right on the cusp of Spring, with a few flowers poking out, but also snow in the forecast.  What to do?

How about a cute little toddler topper (say that five times fast)?  It definitely won’t take six weeks to knit, but it does have plenty to keep you interested, in the form of cables and seed stitch.

We like that the cables on each mitten each twist in a different direction.  It’s the little things.

Bella Cash is a great choice for this – its cashmere content keeps it very soft, but the nylon makes it hard-wearing and machine washable.  Great for knits like this, sized toddler through children’s large.  Plenty of pastels and brighter tones to choose from, too.

Whether the weather turns to Spring or not, we hope you have a great weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Sailing Stone Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Sailing Stone Shawl in Deluxe Chunky Naturals (pattern link).

Are you familiar with the phenomenon of sailing stones?

In the early 1900s, a prospector noticed large stones leaving meandering tracks across a section of Death Valley, as if they had decided to go travelling.  The paths baffled scientists until 2014, when the mystery was finally solved with the use of GPS and time-lapse cameras.

At times, the area would flood and freeze, and as the ice broke up, it would be blown across the  shallow floodwater pond, with embedded rocks dragging paths along the desert.  The ice melts, the pond evaporates, and all that’s left is tracks in dry sand behind rocks that aren’t where they used to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5u_hy3BR9UM

The natural  colors and meandering paths involved in this phenomenon reminded us of twisting cables in our Deluxe Chunky Naturals.  These tones are undyed – the color you see is the color of the sheep.

Which brings us to the Sailing Stones Shawl.

One nice thing about this shawl – the cables are reversible.  Take a look at the “wrong” side.  Still quite lovely.

Five skeins in the main color, 50003 Musket, makes a generously sized 52″ x 38″ accessory.

Contrasting color applied i-cord and tassels set this design apart.

This would be lovely to wrap up in on a chilly day or night.

We hope you keep a little mystery in your life, and that you make time for yourself this weekend.

Happy crafting!