Free Pattern Friday – Special Twist Vest

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Special Twist Vest blog

Today, the Special Twist Vest in Classic Shades Frenzy.

Yonca smiling_blogThe nice thing about having a sales manager who also knits and crochets is that a) she knows what crafters want, and b) sometimes she turns up at the office with amazing designs that we can convince her to share.  Here’s Yonca in one of her latest, The Special Twist Vest.  It’s another great example of letting the yarn do the colorwork.  Classic Shades Frenzy (158yds/100g) has enough variation that the piece shows soft stripes, not rigid ones.

armhole detail square_180When I saw this from afar, I thought it might be crochet, but it is in fact knitted.  Even better, it’s knitted in one big piece!  Start at one edge and work sideways, then bind off for the armholes.  On the next row, cast on across the bound-off stitches and keep knitting in pattern until you reach the next armhole.  After you’re done, go back and pick up the armhole stitches to add the seed stitch border.  Then fringe it!  A dramatic garment, particularly considering it’s essentially a big rectangle.  Well done, Yonca!

We hope you have a fabulous weekend.  Happy knitting!

Special Twist Vest rear blog

Free Pattern Friday – Sizzle Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

UptownDK Sizzle Scarf blog

Today, the Sizzle Scarf in Uptown DK.

We love this!  So bright and summery.  Two balls of Uptown DK (273yds/100g) in 139 Bright Salmon makes this long crescent-shaped scarf.  As fun as this is in one color, can you imagine it in two? It’s knit from the bottom up, so how about switching to a second shade after working the leaf lace?

We hope you have a great weekend, and make every pattern you touch your own.

Happy knitting!

UptownDK_NeonShawl2

 

Free Pattern Friday – Chasing Vines Cowl

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”

Free Pattern Friday – Florin Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Florin Scarf long blog

Today, the Florin Scarf in Cotton Gold.

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.

Now that's a stash.
Credit: Lauren aka IguanaMouth

Wait, wrong hoard.  Although I do want that hoard.

Credit: Blensig on DeviantArt

Florin Scarf detail blogThere 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!

Florin Scarf tied blog

Free Pattern Friday – Reversa-Lace Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

CS Batik Reversible Lace Scarf over shoulder blog

Today, the Reversa-Lace Scarf in Cotton Supreme Batik.

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.

CS Batik Reversible Lace Scarf one wrap blogThis 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.

Happy knitting!

CS Batik Reversible Lace Scarf passthrough square

Free Pattern Friday – Poppy Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Red Stole long blog

Today, the Poppy Stole in Cotton True Sport.

Red Stole wrapped blogLast 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.

Happy knitting!

Free Pattern Friday – Paprika Seed Cowl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Uptown DK Colors Seed Stitch Cowl wrapped square no graphic

Today, the Paprika Seed Cowl in Uptown DK Colors.

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!

Uptown DK Colors Seed Stitch Cowl long blogThis 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.

Happy knitting!

Uptown DK with rolled cowl_blog

Free Pattern Friday – Starry Road Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Universe Starry Road Shawl loose blog

Today, the Starry Road Scarf in Universe.

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.

Continue reading “Free Pattern Friday – Starry Road Scarf”

Deluxe Bulky Superwash – Two New Scarves

11 days until Christmas! 

Deluxe Bulky Superwash Tassel Scarf wrapped blog

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!

We introduced Deluxe Bulky Superwash 100% wool (100g/106yds) this Fall.  It’s a little thicker than our favorite Deluxe Chunky, and, as the name implies, it’s machine washable. That’s two of my criteria for quick holiday projects met.

Deluxe Bulky Superwash Tassel Scarf blogBest 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.

DBS Gray and Green Scarf long blogNext, 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!

Happy crafting!

DBS Gray and Green Scarf wrapped blog