It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Chasing Vines Cowl in Cotton True Sport.
We’ve had a recent rush of rain here, and everything is green and growing and glorious. I was reminded of this again when looking at these photos from Jonas Farms, home to many a happy horse here in North Carolina.
Their hay fields ready to be cut…
Hay fields at Jonas Farms, May 2016
And after more than a thousand bales have been put up.
“Last stack of over 1000 bales picked up in two days.”
Breathe deep, and imagine the glorious smell of cut grass, times infinity. You can’t help but think of green and growing things.
Enter the Chasing Vines Cowl.
Continue reading “Free Pattern Friday – Chasing Vines Cowl”
Crocheted in Rozetti Yarns sparkling sequined Cotton Gold (200yds/25g), this scarf is named Florin after the golden coins you might find in a dragon’s hoard.
Credit: Lauren aka IguanaMouth
Wait, wrong hoard. Although I do want that hoard.
Credit: Blensig on DeviantArt
There we go. The glittering gold sequins catch the light in dramatic fashion. Having worked with this yarn personally, I can tell you that those sequins are really on there – I’ve never had one come loose.
Cotton Gold works great paired with another yarn to add some bling (Crinkle Cowl, anyone?), or on its own as in this one-ball scarf.
The body of the Florin Scarf is worked in two directions. First, the main scarf body is worked to one end, and the End Section is crocheted. Then the other End Section is crocheted into the beginning chain of the other side of the scarf body. Finally, a border is worked around the entire outer edge of the scarf. Lastly, put on your glittering masterpiece and feel like the fabulous person you are.
We hope you have an amazing weekend of crocheting and enjoying your yarn hoard!
Self-striping yarn can be a blessing or a curse. It looks so pretty, but sometimes when you actually knit it up it does unexpected things… and not in a good way. That’s one reason Cotton Supreme Batik is a great choice for this pattern. The striping repeats are very predictable, and they don’t overpower the lace pattern.
This two-ball scarf in color 37 Mint Flower uses k2tog and yo to create its eyelets, making this a good basic lace pattern for beginners. It’s more sophisticated than a simple netting, but there’s nothing too fiddly to deal with.
I love the way the striping matches up on both sides, and the way the lace shows rather than the yarn. If you’re going to bother with a pattern, you want your work to show!
We hope you have a great weekend, with plenty of time to enjoy this beautiful May weather.
Last week we featured the simplest possible pattern, so we thought it was time to share something more complex. Gorgeous, right? And in Cotton True Sport (100% Pima cotton; 50g/197 yds) it’s seasonally appropriate.
This scarf is a 20 row repeat, charted across all 93 stitches. Increase over the first half of the repeat and decrease for the second to create the diamond border. The panels in between are simple yarn overs combined with k2tog to create an airy eyelet.
We hope you enjoy this lovely free pattern from Amy Gunderson.
This one is actually my design, and it started as an experiment. I was curious to see how the stripes in Uptown DK Colors (273yds/100g) would work in a really long row. The answer – great!
This could not be easier. There are actually two possible ways of knitting this one-skein cowl.
One is as written in the pattern: cast on an even number (192), place a marker, join for knitting in the round, and then alternate rounds of *k1, p1* and *p1, k1*. Bind off after 5″, or whatever width floats your boat.
The other, which you may find even simpler, is to cast on an odd number (191), join for knitting in the round, and then just *k1, p1* continuously around until the piece is as wide as you want it to be.
I had enough yarn left over to do a few more color repeats, had I chosen to keep going. This would be a great project for a beginner, or for anyone who wants something they can pick up and set down without worrying about where they are in the pattern.
We hope you have a relaxing weekend, with plenty of time to work on the project of your choice.
Breathtaking, isn’t it? Universe (246yds/50g) is the yarn we created specifically for our tenth anniversary, and it’s unlike anything else out there. A cotton/linen blend held with a metallic strand, wrapped in polyamide for greater strength, it’s perfect for lacy shawls and scarves like the Starry Road Scarf.
Cute, right? This summery cap is crocheted in 100% raffia Yashi Iro (124yds/50g), the multi-colored sibling to solid Yashi (99yds/40g). We love this yarn. It’s great for home dec and accessories, and it’s really caught on with crocheters.
I always seem to start these posts with, “are you ready for the holidays?” There’s a reason: I am never ready for the holidays. If, like me, you’re searching for something fresh that will work up quickly, we’ve got you covered!
Best of all, we’ve already introduced a couple of free knit and crochet patterns for this yarn.
At right, the Nesting Diamonds Scarf. This one might seem a little ambitious for Christmas, but do what I do: “I’d love to do the dishes/vacuum/shop for your mother’s gift but I need to finish this scarf.” Boom. Extra knitting time and fewer chores.
On size 10 1/2(6.5mm) needles, this is a lovely tasseled scarf that won’t break the bank or take forever. The body simply knit and purl, with slipped stitches at the edges of the scarf to create a neater border. The pattern is written and charted – take your pick of what’s more comfortable for you.
Next, the Ambrosia Scarf. Long and luscious, the scarf loops around for a dramatic look. The puff stitch arcs make for a soft and inviting feel with a lot of visual interest. Crocheted on a US Size N-15 (10 mm) hook, this is another one that will go quickly but still be satisfying to make.
We hope you take some time to make something beautiful for yourself as well. You deserve a break to enjoy the holiday season!
Is it corny to say that Lightning Strikes hit me like a bolt out of the blue? Too bad, because it did. Amy Gunderson created this luxurious shawl using variegated Bamboo Bloom Handpaints (154yds/100g) and Deluxe Worsted 100% wool (220yds/100g) It’s such a great combo. The Deluxe Worsted comes in a multitude of shades. It’s easy to find a color to bring out whatever tone in the Bamboo Bloom you wish.
Short rows are worked back and forth in the contrasting color to create widening and narrowing rows of solid color, bending to a V-shaped lightning fork across the shawl’s spine. The natural thick/thin quality of the Bamboo Bloom helps soften the edges of the short rows into more organic curves. I love the fringe – it reminds me of rain in a storm.
Calling for one hank of Deluxe Worsted and two of Bamboo Bloom Handpaints, worked on size US Size 10½ (6.5 mm) needles, this is not a particularly time or money-intensive project, although it is one with electrifying results (pardon the pun). It’s also available as a kit from your LYS in the blue above, or with Bamboo Bloom Handpaints color 302 Koi Pond.
I’m considering making in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints 319 Forest Light for a friend with a Spring birthday.
Like a new meadow. I’ll just sit here and sigh contentedly for a few minutes.
How’re we doing? Still working through Thanksgiving leftovers? I ask because right beside me, I have a slice of the pumpkin apple bread that has become traditional in our family. Here’s the recipe.
It makes two loaves, so you can keep one for yourself and bring one in to the office to be a hero. However, I’m writing this from home – Universal offices are closed today – and I can tell you there’s no way this bread will last until Monday. Sorry, co-workers.
Just because the offices are closed doesn’t mean we didn’t prepare a beautiful pattern for you!
The Winter Shades Hat and Scarf combine two lovely yarns: solid Uptown Worsted (180yds/100g) and self-shading Classic Shades Metallic (175yds/100g). Both hat and scarf are knitted flat in a surprisingly easy slip stitch pattern. Knit the edging on US size 6 / 4mm needles, then switch to US size 10/6mm for the patterning on the body of the hat and scarf. In the picture above, the brim of the hat is turned up. In the picture below, it’s turned down for a slightly different look.
That charming model, by the way, is Jordan, the newest member of our customer service team. We thought this ensemble would look great on her, and she graciously agreed to be our guinea pig model. Thanks, Jordan!
We hope you enjoy the afterglow of Thanksgiving. We’re so grateful for your enthusiasm, talent, and willingness to share your voices so we can become better crafting partners to you.
