Free Pattern Friday – Double Up Hat

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Image of an oatmeal-colored hat on a gray background

Today, the Double Up Hat in Amphora and Whisper Lace (pattern link here).

Remember the adorable baby in the Sunset Slouch?

Image of a small toddler wearing a multi-colored hat with a pompom on top
Awwww!

His mom Krista designed a hat for us this week!  Krista works in Customer Service here, and this is her source of inspiration:

Image of a set of wire storage cubes filled with balls of yarn
Yes, we do work in paradise.

This is a small section of the big wall of sample balls that she sits next to in Customer Service.  We keep these to send to magazines and shops who want to touch the yarn for themselves, but of course since we’re all crafters here we also eye them hungrily ourselves.  It’s only natural that we sometimes look at them and think, “you know, these would go great together!”

The Double Up Hat combines brushed DK/light worsted Amphora and superfine Whisper Lace wool/lace blend to make this worsted weight hat with a subtle heathered look.

Closeup image of the ribbed brim and body of a knitted hat

The two yarns together create a lovely halo effect.

I’ve been wondering how this would look with Whisper Lace in one of the more variegated tones.  Let’s grab a selection from the Big Wall o’ Yarn to see.

Image of two gray balls of yarn resting on a black surface
Amphora 115 Castle and Whisper Lace 212 Stonework

I may have a new project to add to the queue.

Have an excellent weekend, everyone.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Candy Stripe Set

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Candy Stripe Set (pattern link here).

How’s everyone today?  Here in the Piedmont of North Carolina, we expect to get our first snowfall of the year!

Mind you, it will probably only be a dusting, but hey – it’s snow!  Those of us who are big kids at heart are ready to run outside and catch snowflakes.  Of course, because we’re adults, we’re also ready to then go back inside and knit something warm.

Perfect timing for the Candy Stripe Set!

Knit in machine washable Adore, the entire set is knit in the round.  That includes the scarf, which shows stockinette on both sides.  It’s a bright set to stand out on a gray day.

We hope you have a merry and bright weekend.

Happy knitting!

Free Pattern Friday – Essential Bag

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Essential Bag in Java (pattern link here).

Everyone could use a good carry-all bag, and this crochet project fits the bill perfectly.  It’s worked in 100% hemp Fibra Natura Java for sturdiness and style.

This ultra-functional bag is worked in the round beginning in the center of the base. The simple design allows plenty of room for creativity in color choice and variations on striping.  It’s a classic as-is, but I can also see it with a bold color – maybe red? – for the stripe just below the handles.

We hope you have an excellent weekend.

Happy crafting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Tiltawhirl Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Tiltawhirl Cowl in Classic Shades Frenzy (link here).

I have to say, as its creator, I’m feeling pretty good about today’s Free Pattern Friday.  It was incredibly easy – just knits and purls – but you’d never know it to look at it.  For that, credit goes to the yarn, Classic Shades Frenzy.

a ball of multi-colored yarn with a label reading CLASSIC SHADES FRENZY.

a closeup of a diagonally ribbed purple knitted fabric

It’s a thick yarn with enough variation in color to give a simple design additional interest.

This cowl uses a diagonal rib pattern.  The beauty of doing this in the round is that if you wish, you can simply cast on the required number and k2p2 all the way around every row until you’ve reached the desired width of your cowl.  This took just one ball, and it made a cowl long enough to wear loose or to wrap once for extra warmth.

For mindless knitting, I tend to favor simple designs on big needles that I can work on while chatting or watching TV, and this fits the bill.  Now that the weather’s turned, this would be a great knit-night project!

Have a wonderful weekend, and be sure to make time for yourself.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Button Up Hat and Scarf

It’s Free Patterm Friday!

Today, the Button Up Hat and Scarf in Dona (link here).

The weather’s cooling off here, so it’s time to dust off all those “winter is coming” images…

…and to cast on for something toasty!

The Button Up Hat and Scarf is a matched set in Fibra Natura Dona superwash merino. This cozy cabled set is brightened by the pop of color of a buttoned garter stitch band.  Thread the scarf through to keep it snug.

The written and charted all-over eyelet and cable pattern creates a raised texture that’s quite warm.

We hope you enjoy this taste of winter!

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Almas Poncho

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Almas Poncho in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash (link here).

Fall is upon us, and we felt the need for something toasty!

Almas is knit seamlessly in the round from the top down. It can act as a shoulder/bust warmer for a brisk walk in the woods, or can be scrunched up and worn as a cowl paired with your favorite winter coat.  We like the rustic quality that Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash gives this cozy piece.

As a short poncho or capelet, it can be worn collar up or down, as you wish.

With just a touch of stranded knitting, this project is a nice introduction to the Fair Isle method of changing colors in your work.

We hope you have a delightful weekend.

Happy knitting!

Free Pattern Friday – Little Acorn

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Little Acorn in Adore (pattern link).

Little Acorn comes to us from Anita Closic, proprietor of A Garden of Yarn in Chadds Ford, Pa.  Like so many LYS folks, Anita’s a sweetheart – she also gifted our customer service team (Katie and Angie) with scarves, which they haven’t stopped raving about. Nobody appreciates crafting like crafters!  Thanks, Anita!

Little Acorn is a reference to the seed from which mighty oaks grow. It’s a lovely topper that’s sized from baby through adult, with just one skein of Adore (100g/273yds) required for any size.

The hat is worked from the scalloped brim up, in the round on US size 6 (4mm) needles, or whatever gets you gauge.  Accent it with coordinating buttons for a special touch.

We hope you enjoy this pattern – and if you’re ever in southeastern Pennsylvania, stop in at A Garden of Yarn and say hi to Anita!

Happy knitting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Collar Cowl in Major

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Collar Cowl in Major (pattern link).

Don’t you love it when a yarn does half the work for you?  Self-striping Major makes this knitting project super colorful.

This collar cowl is perfect as an extra layer just beneath your coat during blustery winter days. The cowl is worked in the round from the bottom-up with shaping intended to perfectly hug the neck and shoulders. The result is an especially warm accessory.

Worked in bulky-weight Major, this cowl is also a quick knit. Since one skein is enough for two cowls, why not make one for yourself and another as a gift for someone special?

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.  Happy knitting!

Free Pattern Friday – Pipping Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Pipping in Little Bird (link here).

First things first: how’s everybody doing?  Currently, the projected path of Hurricane Irma is moving west of us, so it looks like Universal Yarn here in NC will miss the worst of it.  But we’re worried about all of you, in the midst of fire and flood.  Please stay safe.

For those wanting to take their mind off things, we offer this crochet shawl in Little Bird (100g/346yds), a lightweight acrylic that’s cottony soft.  Pipping is a sweet crochet confection – a bit of normalcy that we all could use right about now.

This asymmetric shawl starts on its longest edge and decreases along one edge. Cut the ends after each color change, and work them in as you go to save time in finishing.

This is an easy pattern to customize with your own colors – you’re not locked in to just three.  Use as few or as many as you want.  The pattern is both written and charted for your convenience.

We hope you have a safe and restful weekend.  We’re thinking of all of you.

Happy crafting!

E-book Color Fusion at a glance

Have you seen it? Amy Gunderson and Tori Gurbisz have released an e-book of seven colorful patterns designed for Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash.

Color Fusion is available on Ravelry as an e-book or individual patterns.

Take a look!