It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Blue Star Cardigan in Luxor (pattern link here).
We have designer Edie Eckman to thank for today’s crocheted beauty! Edie’s responsible for some truly stunning knit and crochet designs for us, like Branscombe from our newest Kingston Tweed collection.
Sized from XS to 4X, her Blue Star Cardigan is a classic crocheted piece in mercerized Fibra Natura Luxor Egyptian cotton.
This sweater body is crocheted flat in one piece from the bottom up. The front and back are separated at the underarms. Sleeves are worked flat and sewn in.
The pattern is intended for intermediate crocheters with the ability to work shaping while maintaining a color stitch pattern.
There’s no need to cut the color after each row – just carry it up. Edie Eckman has a great video on how to work this technique:
We hope you enjoy this lovely crocheted cardigan.
Happy crafting!
Have we all seen Knives Out? Or at least seen photos of Chris Evans wearing The Sweater?
Mend those holes!!
This pullover became such a rage on the internet that Evans wound up getting one for his dog for Christmas.
Who wore it better?
Fortunately, as crafters, we can create this look on our own, no costume department needed. If you or someone you know has sweater envy, we’ve got five sweaters (and one vest) for the knitter who wants to cast on some fashionable cables!
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1. Infinite Diamonds
We’re starting with the one that requires the least cabling, to ease into things. Infinite Diamonds (pattern link here) is knit in Fibra Natura Dona, a 100% superwash extrafine merino with a tight twist that really makes stitches pop.
No cables on the back, just plain stockinette. Infinite Diamonds is knit flat in pieces and seamed.
We love the windowpane effect given by the cables inside cables on the front panel. This is part of e-book The Dona Collection, featuring bold use of color blocking to create dramatic modern pieces. For a standalone design, though, let’s move to the world of magazines.
Carrying the pattern onto the pockets is a thoughtful design detail. If you’re confident working twisted stitches without a cable needle, you need never have to use one at all. Let’s move on to another cabled cardi, from an entire collection full of cabled designs.
For my money, this pullover is the most “Knives Out” one we’ve seen so far. Wesley Heights (pattern link here) is part of the same Deluxe Cable Collection that the Greensboro Cardigan above is in. (And friends, there are 17 designs in that e-book for $20, so if you love cables… I’m just saying.)
Like the Greensboro Cardi, this is a very stretchy stitch pattern knit in Deluxe Worsted wool. This one has a greater variety of stitch patterns, though, to satisfy your knitting itch.
Columns of classic cables are split by welting for a well-defined look.
LOVE the detailing where the shoulders meet the collar.
This was one of our most popular sweaters of the year, and it’s not hard to see why. Kerf is available on its own or as part of the Deluxe Men’s Collection.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Groove knit in Dona (pattern link here).
Groove was formerly a pay-only pattern, and part of e-book Dona 2.0. We’re delighted to set it free!
Groove has it all – pockets, coordinating buttons and a generous hood. This modern beauty is worked from the top down, and uses Barbara Walker’s Simultaneous Set-in Sleeves.
Dona L-R: 138 Olive, 137 Lily Pad, 133 Blue Hint, 130 Steely, 134 Glacier, 132 Alabaster
Often when I see something bright, my impulse is to want to tone it down, go more neutral and cool, like one the tones featured in our Soothe Dona Kit, above
But this sweater looks so good bright, and Dona’s jeweltones are so saturated, I think designer Tori Gurbisz was right on the money picking a full-voiced color.
Dona is a favorite of designers, including our own design team. We’ll be back later on with an in-depth look at brand new Dona e-book Elegant Ease.
Until then, have a great weekend – and happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Lace Tipped Cardigan in Odette (pattern link here).
Down here in the South, it’s tempting to say, “finally, some sweater weather!” But yesterday, a friend in Chicago sent me a picture of themselves outdoors. This isn’t them, but it certainly gives the feel.
I can’t put my arms down!
Fortunately, this week’s free pattern is warmer than you might think!
The Lace Tipped Cardigan is worked in Odette. Although it’s a light-feeling yarn, the merino and alpaca held in its chainette construction give it enough loft to trap the warmth.
It also gives a beautiful textured feel, and subtle variations in color.
Because it’s so light, it still has a delicate look. The lace border helps with that as well.
The other thing to love? You can still have a lightweight, airy look while working on a US Size 7 (4.5mm) needle.
Like most of our designs, the Lace Tipped Cardigan has sizing from XS to 5X. Toss it over a top and jeans, and you’re ready for anything!
We hope you have a toasty and wonderful weekend.
Happy crafting!
Need a little push into the week? Want something pretty or challenging to inspire you toward your next project? Welcome to Monday Motivation!
Today, we’re highlighting the Mod Tiles Cardi (free pattern here).
As I write this, the team is freshly back from VKLive in New York. We had a blast talking with folks and seeing what’s new in the world of fiber. And, in the case of this cardi, getting schooled.
We partnered with Yarn Bazaar in Ewing, NJ, to share booth space and display goods. The owner, Jo Ellen, said, “you know, you should bring that crocheted cardi that was a Free Pattern Friday recently.”
We love this cardi… now. When we first saw it folded on the corner of a desk here in the office, we were less enthusiastic. It wasn’t until someone here put it on that we said, “Wow!” So bringing it to a show? We weren’t sure.
Well, the lesson here is “trust your LYS” because Jo Ellen was right. The crocheters at VKLive immediately saw its fabulousness. They. Went. Bananas for this cardi.
And really, up close, it’s easy to see why. It uses Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash for standout colors that also blend just a bit, thanks to the complementary-toned flecks in each ball.
Motifs are open at the edges to let the top you’re wearing beneath it peek through, and really bring your outfit together. And look at those long spike single crochet stitches running through the center of each motif!
The whole thing is written, charted, and contains a schematic. Make each of the flower motifs separately (great on the go work!) and then join together. It’s sized from Small/Medium to 3X/4X/5X. There’s something to love for everyone here.
Have a fantastic week, and try to challenge yourself with something new, just for you!
It seems like autumn weather came overnight in Charlotte. One moment we were experiencing hot, humid temperatures, and today I’m sitting in my office wearing the Northbound Sweater from the Light and Shadow ebook. It’s officially sweater weather!
What better way to celebrate sweater weather than with a new design? I’m pretty excited to share that I contributed the Surprise to the Deep Fall issue of Knitty (link). I’d love to share a little more about this design and its inspiration.
Originally this idea was born from the idea of water, based on a submission call. I was really happy with the idea, so when Amy and Jillian of Knitty gave me the opportunity to explore that idea further, I was thrilled. And so, the Masten Cardigan was born. I chose Deluxe DK Superwash for this project because I wanted it to be light yet warm, hard-wearing yet comfortable against my skin. It’s a great yarn for it, and I know this design will be a favorite for years to come.
Amy Gunderson captured the face of a thrilled Rachel Brockman.
The leaning cables that adorn this cardigan are the most prominent feature. I love them! The more I worked on them, the more they reminded me of archival images of timber booms. Time for a fun fact: I used to volunteer at the Pennsylvania State Archives. I loved it – it was quiet, careful work that simply captivated me (not far off from the same thing knitting offers!). Most of my volunteer work involved land records. It included rehousing and preserving old maps, cleaning and organizing photos, and, finally, creating descriptions for those artifacts. Maybe not for everyone, but I certainly loved it. Some of the images I was most fascinated by were negatives I digitized from the lumber industry in northern Pennsylvania; specifically in the Endless Mountains Region. These photos captured the history of the lumber industry there.Â
Susquehanna Boom
Hopefully, you can see why the cables reminded me of log booms. Pictured above is the Susquehanna Boom. You can find more historic photos of the timber industry in Pennsylvania here (link). The cables push into and away from one another, completely covering the sweater.
Boom! Look at those cables!
For color, I went with our gorgeous Deluxe DK Superwash in 856 Teal Rustic. It seems fitting for a water and lumber inspired sweater, right? With that said, as a lover of orange, I couldn’t resist some fun afterthought pockets using 803 Terra Cotta.
Terra Cotta pockets!
Finally – what would a sweater like this be if it didn’t have some wooden buttons? The Masten Cardigan features Summit Buttons by Katrinkle’s Knitting Jewelry, who very kindly provided me with the buttons for this design. With plenty of colors of Deluxe DK Superwash to choose from and plenty of button options to compliment those colors – you’ll be good to go. What are you waiting for? This pattern is free, so get your yarn and cast on today!
This one’s a bit of an ugly duckling story, although of course the duckling was never ugly at all.
We had this garment in our studio for a long time, and kept looking askance at it. Squares on a jacket? We just weren’t sure about it, so it stayed on the shelf.
Then one day we were discussing upcoming Free Pattern Fridays, and someone picked up this cardi and put it on. Wow! It looked great! The ugly duckling had been a swan all along – we just couldn’t see it until it spread its wings!
We love how the tweedy gray grounds the piece, but the colorful flowery motifs work with most anything. This was a lucky discovery, with sweater weather finally here!
The Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash motifs are made separately, then seamed together. The pattern is written and charted, and contains a schematic for piecing it together.
There’s a lesson here about looking past first impressions. We’re certainly glad we gave this beauty a second chance.
Looking for some cute kid gifts? You’ll want to check out this new e-book!
Writing on the Wall (Ravelry link here) is a brand new collection of kid projects to knit and crochet in Bella Cash. We’re big fans of Bella Cash around here. It’s soft, versatile, and (important for children’s projects) machine washable. Let’s take a look-see at the patterns!
First, Dino! (Ravelry pattern link here). Sized 2-14 years, for your budding paleontologist. This one’s by Rachel Brockman, who also drew the dinosaurs. Here’s what she has to say about her inspiration:
“As a kid, inspired by Dr. Alan Grant (ed note: Rachel’s first crush!) and Dr. Ellie Sattler, I was POSITIVE that I discovered a piece of a velociraptor in my backyard. I spent loads of time trying to dig around it and eventually discovered it wasn’t a fossil at all. A girl can dream, right?
Anyway, I’ve adored dinosaurs for as long as I can remember, so when Amy and I started putting together a kid’s collection, I knew a dinosaur was essential. Not only that, but even shopping for my niece it was hard to come by dinosaur-themed things that weren’t intended for girls, but for little boys. I wanted to make a dinosaur top in colors I loved growing up.”
We love the matching “Tricera-topper” that she added. Rawr!
Rachel designed this one thinking of warm carefree evenings spent catching fireflies as a child. Nonetheless, I’m making this one for myself. It makes me think both of pleasant nights running in the back yard with cupped hands… and of the late great sci-fi TV show Firefly, of which I am a fan.
I’ve already knitted projects with Bella Cash (I love this yarn for socks) so I know making this cowl will be a treat.
Here’s Frilling! (Ravelry link here). We went through a few names on this – it was almost “The Frill of Victory.” The focus, obviously, is the frills at the raglan seams.
Knit the sweater top down, then pick up stitches and knit the ruffles outward. Awfully adorable!
This one might be my favorite – it’s so inventive and offbeat! The mis-matched eyes, the pocket in the front… everything about this is fun. Work this colorblocked pullover flat from the top down, then add the pocket. Teeth are duplicate-stitched on. So cute!
Amy Gunderson’s tunic-length yoke sweater nods to traditional Norwegian colorwork sweaters. The colorwork yoke is comprised of a small pattern repeats, easy to memorize and to knit.
After finishing the yoke, keep knitting downward into the textured diamonds. For those wanting a project to keep their attention, it’s a nice alternative to plain stockinette. A beautiful piece that will make a splash.
This crochet pattern is actually a two-fer: it comes with both the cardigan and the Pipsqueak pal!
Both use spike stitch. The mouse is worked in the round in joined rows…
…and the cardi is worked flat. What child wouldn’t love their own matching little friend?
We hope this collection will jump start your imagination for gift crafting this season. We’ve got more collections in the works that we can’t wait to share.
Love colorwork but not Fair isle? This one’s for you!
Rachel Brockman used self-striping Adore Colors to do the heavy lifting in the body and sleeve stripes. Then she used mosaic knitting in solid Adore to create the design around the waist. Only one color is used per row. The design appears by slipping stitches in different colors, and voila!
Beautiful.
We hope you enjoy this lovely bit of Fall-to-come.
It’s that time of year again! With very mixed feelings, we send our little ones off to school. We might be old hands at the transition, or it might be our very first time. It’s almost guaranteed, though, that they’ve grown since last year. Fortunately, we have a collection of kids’ tops to get you through the warm-to-cool transition, in a multitude of sizing!
The Cotton True Kids Collection, featuring 6 knitting projects for kids (Ravelry e-book link here).
All are sized 1-12, and are made in Fibra Natura Cotton True Sport, a smooth and soft 100% Pima cotton. (We know we have a lot of Bella Cash fans out there too, so we’ll mention that the gauge between the two yarns should match to a T.)
And speaking of tees (pardon my puns!)…
The Begonia Lace Tee (Ravelry link) is worked from the bottom up in pieces.
This sweet lace-shoulder tee would look pretty over a skirt, too. Not too frou-frou, but still a good way to dress up a plain outfit. A nice piece! (Note: autocorrect wanted to call this “a niece piece” and now I’m wondering if I have a niece who would like this. Hmm..)
Next up, Catkin (Ravelry link) is a pocketed smocked smock (say that five times fast).
Catkin is made in two pieces, tacked together under the arms and joined at the shoulder with buttons. Easy to get on and off without having to work a wiggling preschooler’s head through the neckhole. It has handy pockets: I am instantly reminded of Eeyore’s birthday gift of “a useful pot to put things in.” Even better from a parent’s point of view, Cotton True Sport is machine washable. Easy to clean after a grand adventure.
The Climbing Vine Cardigan (Ravelry link) is a classic with some inspired touches.
Number one: pockets. Yes. Thank you. As a parent, I have had to tuck away many a souvenir (four-leaf clover, beach shell, random rock) to carry myself. How much nicer for a child to carry their own tiny treasure.
Number two: The way the little vines grow out of the pockets, like they’re rising from a flowerpot. Adorable.
Number three: buttons! This is the piece that brought home to me how you can make a piece understated or bold, just by changing one detail. Cute with a capital C.
Lacy Leaves (Ravelry link) is a sophisticated lace-front vest (shown here in kid size 4). We do recommend that you be able to “read” your knitting and be familiar with charts to make this one.
The lace pattern is charted only, because each size (1-12) has its own chart encompassing the entire front. You’ll also want to be able to maintain stitches in pattern at the armholes and neck, hence the “read your knitting” recommendation. Hopefully, this didn’t scare anyone – once you get started in this pattern, it’s not hard to see what’s going on.
Whee! The Striped Lily Tee (Ravelry link) gets its fun texture from reverse stockinette.
The tee is worked from the bottom up and seamed, and features raglan shaping. This would be great for warm weather, or as an extra “peel off” layer over a thin long-sleeved top.
The Sweet Lilac Hoodie (Ravelry link) is awfully cute in the 4-year size shown, but it would also give plenty of room to a diaper-bottomed toddler.
The way the lace hem coordinates with the i-cord ties is darling. Is it too soon to be thinking about Easter? This could be a really cute holiday gift that will still be wearable in the Spring.
Hit your LYS, grab some yarn, and put all that extra time to good use. I can hear all the parents and caregivers yelling, “What extra time??” We feel you – but try to find time to knit!
