First, it’s a neat example of how to work the same stitch pattern flat or in the round. Row one is the same on both, but of course when you’re working in the round things are a bit different because you’re never reversing directions. In row 2, stitches are knitted for the flat back-and-forth of the scarf, but purled in the round for the hat.
The second reason to like this set:
It’s pretty cool what you can do with a pom-pom maker and a self-striping yarn like Major. You can plan out the colors, or just go with the flow. This little half-and-half topper happened organically.
Plus, let’s face it, what isn’t improved by the addition of pompoms?
The cowl looks great doubled over and scrunched – or if you’re in a silly mood like designer Tori Gurbisz, wear it however you please. Very “Cat in the Hat,” Tori. You’ll definitely turn heads.
Luscious, right? Well, we also did a long version, for those who like to loop their cowls around.
This version uses one skein of Deluxe Worsted wool as a backdrop for the variegated Bamboo Bloom. We chose a more subdued color palette for this combo. The large version is the same height as the small, but twice as long. Here are the stats! FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Height: 15¼”
Circumference: 61”
Needles: US Size 11 (8 mm) 32” circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle
We’re loving this pattern and are having a great time with other color combinations as well. Here’s one that features two hanks of Bamboo Bloom Handpaints in 311 Bonsai and two skeins of Wisdom Yarns Poems in 602 Bruges.
The pattern is a simple linen stitch that you can easily master. In the coming days, we’ll be sharing other color combinations in this rewarding pattern.
What a pretty, practical crochet project! Two balls of Fibra Natura 100% hemp Java makes this charming bag. Make each side separately from the center out, then use the halves as templates for cutting out a lining. Join the second side to the first, then add the lining and handles and you’re good to go.
We’re big boosters of Java, partly because it’s such an earth-friendly yarn. Hemp is a hard-wearing renewable plant fiber that will soften some with washing. We like it for all sorts of home decor projects, like the knit sampler washcloths pictured at right.
Without a lining, this crochet piece would make a good market bag. With the lining, it’s a versatile warm-weather accessory.
We love going to LYSes and getting feedback on yarn and designs. That’s what we were doing when we brought a Bamboo Bloom Handpaints cowl around to local shops to get their take. Like us, they fell in love with it.
This is the Hanasaku Cowl, designed by Tori Gurbisz. Hanasaku means “bloom” in Japanese. With its bursts of color the name seemed apt. We were going to hold off on releasing this until Spring, but we just could’t wait. Besides, winter is a great time for this burst of color.
It’s available in both large and small versions – the small version is pictured above. As pictured, the pattern calls for:
MATERIALS
Small
Wisdom Yarns Poems (100% wool; 50g/109 yds)
• 601 Arles (MC) – 1 skein
Universal Yarn Bamboo Bloom Handpaints (48% rayon from bamboo, 44% wool, 8% acrylic; 100g/154 yds)
• 313 Kanji (CC) – 1 skein
Needles: US Size 11 (8 mm) 24” circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge
Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle
This pattern is only available at your LYS. The experts there can download it for you and help you put together the perfect color combo. It’s a simple knit, made in the round. If you can work a knit stitch and use a circular needle, you can create this cowl.
We’ll feature the longer version in another blog post.
Sometimes you just want to make something fun and quick, you know? Inside Job fits the bill.
This basic hat flies by in our Uptown Bulky anti-pilling acrylic yarn (87yds/100g). It’s worked from the bottom up in the round, with US Size 11 (8mm) needles for the ribbing and US Size 13 (9mm) needles for the brim. Top it with a cute pompom, and voila!
What makes this hat a little different is that it’s worked in reverse stockinette. The plain striping shows on the inside, and the more intricate patterning shows on the exterior. Hence the name “Inside Job.”
So cute! This little envelope purse is made in Fibra Natura Java (219yds/100g), a 100% hemp yarn. Fast-growing and vegan, hemp is a natural fiber that’s easy on the environment. It works beautifully in this quick-to-knit project.
The clutch is worked flat, then seams, edging, and a button loop are added in single crochet. No lining is needed.
We hope you enjoy this stylish little free project.
The Summit Scarf from our Colorful Commute e-book features triple knotted fringe. It is an easy way to add a lot of visual interest to your project. It may look complicated, but it’s really quite simple and doesn’t take much more time or effort than plain fringe. Today I’ll show you how to do it!
Step 1: Begin as you normally would when adding fringe to a project, for this scarf I cut 21” strands of yarn. Then, holding two strands together as one, I attached groups of fringe to the edge of the scarf, about one group every other stitch.
Step 2: Take half of one group of fringe knot together with half of next group of fringe 1” below first row of knots. I did not split the first and last groups of fringe.
Step 3: Repeat for another row of knots. To finish, trim fringe evenly.
That’s all there is to it! You can keep adding more rows of knots to create some really amazing and intricate looking fringe, use longer strands of yarn when increasing the number of knotted rows. Beads can be placed above the knots (or even in place of the knots) to add some sparkle – there are so many possibilities.
Today, I have another tutorial involving a crochet hook to go along with our In Transit e-book. The Trade Street Cowls and Hat pattern uses contrasting applied crochet lines to create vertical stripes. The lines are added to the purl columns in the finished pieces.
The Trade Street Hat and Cowls feature an applied crochet stripe. No carrying colors on the back side! The pattern comes with both long and short versions of the cowl.
It can be a lot of fun choosing the color for the applied crochet lines, and there are a few options, depending on the look you would like to create. Using a solid color in Uptown Bulky that also appears in the Main Color produces a plaid-like effect. With Classic Shades Big Time as the Contrasting Color, there are a ton of options – choose a highly contrasting section of the color repeat to make the stripes pop, use a section that is neutral or similar to the Main Color for more subtle stripes or choose a section with quicker color changes for gradient stripes.
Let’s get started!
Once you have finished and blocked your cowl or hat, you are ready to add the applied crochet lines.
Step 1: Holding yarn beneath work, insert crochet hook through the center of the first purl st in a column.
Step 2: Pull a loop of yarn through to the front of the work.
Step 3: Insert hook through the next st up in the same purl column, pull a loop of yarn through to the front of the work (2 loops on hook), pull the second loop through the first loop (1 loop on hook); repeat along entire column.
Step 4: When entire column is complete, break yarn, leaving a 3 to 4 inch tail and pull through last loop.
Step 5: Pull tail to wrong side and weave in ends.
Keep going until all of the purl columns have applied crochet lines.
Will you go for subtle or bold stripes on your Trade Street Cowls and Hat?
It’s made with one ball each of two colors in Uptown Bulky Amplify, a super soft anti-pilling acrylic with lots of bounce.
Knit it up on size 13 (9mm) needles, alternating balls to create the colorful striping. It’s super-easy. Just work straight garter stitch, then sew the ends together. You can wrap this baby up to four times around your neck. Just decide how much “squoosh” you want.
We hope you enjoy this thick and quick simple project in one of our most squishable yarns.
