Free Pattern Friday – Skylark Capelet

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Skylark Capelet in Radiant Cotton.

A few days ago we had someone on Facebook point out (correctly) that we’ve been offering more knit than crochet patterns, and that we need to be sure to show our crocheting friends some love.  It’s a point well-taken, and I was delighted that we had something coming up so quickly that fit the bill!

The Skylark Capelet calls for three hanks of Radiant Cotton, a smooth 100% Egyptian cotton with a light sheen somewhere between mercerized and matte.  It’s a pleasure to work with.

What I love about this capelet is that just by varying the number of buttons and where you choose to fasten them, you could easily turn this from a capelet into a buttoned cowl, or really into any shape you wish.  The edging lends itself particularly well to buttoning.

There’s no limit to what you can do with this versatile crochet piece.

We hope you have a great weekend, and take time to make something just for you!

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Rivulet Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Rivulet Scarf in Universe.

It’s not hard to see how this got its name.  Crochet rivulets ripple the width of this scarf, glittering in Universe like sunlight on the water.

We use three shades of Universe for bands of color to provide additional interest, but you can use as many or as few shades as you wish.

The scarf is knit in two halves from the center out for symmetry, with the rivulet pattern written and charted.

We hope you enjoy this sparkling crochet piece.

Happy crafting!

 

Bamboo Pop Accessories Inspiration

Have you have seen our new Bamboo Pop Accessories eBook?

 

Part of the idea behind these patterns was to help keep your knitting and crochet mojo going strong through the warmer months…any project from this collection would be perfect for working on poolside. It was such a blast designing this collection. I was inspired in part by all the colorful, tropical knitwear being shown by many designers in their 2017 Resort collections and a recent trip to Hawaii helped provide the names for the designs.

The bright colors and fiber content of Bamboo Pop are perfect for creating knit and crochet items that wear well throughout the spring and summer. Bamboo Pop makes these projects soft and cool against your skin, great for those days of going in and out of overly air conditioned buildings.

Anuenue Sampler: The Hawaiian word for rainbow is a perfect fit for this scarf. As a sporadic crocheter, I love working on projects where I get to try out a bunch of different stitches and techniques, so I knew my first crochet design had to be a sampler. This design also is perfect for anyone, who like me, has difficultly choosing just one color! Different colors, stitches and edging will keep you entertained.

Awapuhi: Named for wild Hawaiian ginger, the plaited stripe pattern mimics the texture of the flowers which start out white and then turn red as they mature. White and Lily Pad blend beautifully in the textured stripes, adding additional dimension, with the bright pops of Lime Green for the ribbing. This scarf will go perfectly with summer outfits, taking you from breezy walks on the beach to dinner and drinks!

Kukui: Hawaiians extracted oil from the kukui nut and burned it in a lamp called kukui hele po, which means “light, darkness goes.” This shawl transitions from light to dark with bands of White, Silken and Black divided with bands worked in a slip stitch pattern using all three colors. To create the asymmetric shape, you’ll begin at the smallest point with just a few stitches increasing gradually to the widest edge. The elongated shape is easy to wear in many different ways.

Lilikoi: Also known as passionfruit – from its gorgeous flower to delicious fruit, I could not get enough lilikoi when I went to Hawaii! This shawlette creates a fun blend of solid and variegated colors with a slip stitch pattern that helps mix the colors between sections. Garter stitch makes for a lovely, squishy fabric and also makes the knitting a breeze. The shape is a shallow triangle, in a size that is perfect for draping around your neck kerchief style.

Philodendron: Fun, bright and just a little quirky. Philodendrons are having a bit of a moment right now – from knit, fabric and print versions to real fronds showing up in home décor. The cowl is worked with a combination of a striped background and instarsia fronds, creating a wonderful statement piece for your warm weather wardrobe.

Plumeria: Plumeria are also known as the “Lei flower,” sure this cowl is a little more substantial than a lei, but you still get flowers draped around your neck! Stranded knitting is usually reserved for winter projects and I thought it would be fun to incorporate that into a warm weather project. A brighter color palette and a combination of floral and wave designs make this stranded project summer ready.

Tiny Bubbles: These tiny bubbles will make you feel fine! This scarf is a fun way to combine a solid and variegated color, or if you like, you could make each row of bubbles a different color. The bubbles are created by stripes and dropped stitches, not stranded knitting, so you are only working with one color at a time. This is another great piece to work on, wear, and add a little Pop to the warm season.

I hope you enjoyed taking a little peek behind the scenes and learning a bit about the collection and the inspiration behind it! What projects are you planning to make with Bamboo Pop?

Free Pattern Friday – North Window Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the North Window Stole in Universe.

It’s a simple formula:  sparkly yarn+ crochet = gorgeous.

The three row body repeat creates a striking fabric in our 10th anniversary yarn Universe (246yds/50g), a blend of cotton, linen, and glitter wrapped in a polyamide thread for greater durability.

Ooh… aah…

Worked on a size C-2 (2.75mm) hook, this design features a pineapple edging with picots, adding  to the elegance of the stole.

Delicate and divine.

We hope you enjoy this gorgeous crochet lace piece.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Whirlpool Throw

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Whirlpool Throw in Major.

There are little whirlpools…

Who pulled out the stopper?

There are big whirlpools…

Maelstrom of Saltstraumen. Lifeguard not on duty.

And then there is this.

Dive right in.

The 52″ Whirlpool Throw is crocheted with two balls each of two shades of Major (328yds/200g), colors 115 Stonewall and 114 Coastal.   Start at the center with an adjustable ring and work out, alternating colors every row.

This is not a difficult pattern, being primarily double crochet, but the results are dramatic.   There are quite a few color combos you could choose. I like 101 Verdant and 102 Underwater for a green “fairy ring” kind of feel.  It’s hard to go wrong.

We hope you enjoy this beautiful crochet pattern.

Happy crafting!

Free Pattern Friday – Sunfire Bag

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Java Sunfire Bag flat blog

Today, the Sunfire Bag in Java.

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.

Java Constant Contact no what's new

Java Washcloth Set social media

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 hope you enjoy this charming crochet project.

Happy crafting!

Java Sunfire Bag square blog

 

Free Pattern Friday – Bruges Noel Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

brugesnoelshawl_hh_hi-res
Today, the Bruges Noel Shawl in Classic Shades Metallic.

cshades-metallic-607-zenith-hi-resThis is the perfect time of year to highlight one of our most holly jolly colorways, 607 Zenith in Classic Shades Metallic.  We’ve previously shown off this color, in this 2014 blog post with a knitted project, shown below.

CS Metallic Holiday Swatch blog

Red, dark ash, green, and some silver sparkle.  Love this yarn!
brugesnoelshawl_hh_alt-blogThe Bruges Noel Shawl is a triangular shawl that is worked sideways from one tip to the other. The stitches used are traditional crochet Bruges lace, constructed with strips of double crochet and connected with chain spaces. This shawl is worked in one piece.  At 84″ (7 feet) long, this is a great shawl to wrap around yourself and show off.  It’s a fun crochet project with the right amount of sparkle.

If bling isn’t your thing, this would work up at exactly the same gauge in self-shading Classic Shades, which has the same fiber content without the metallic strand.  But if ever there were a time of year to sparkle a little, this is it.

We hope your weekend is merry and bright.

Happy crafting!

brugesnoelshawl_hh_back-blog

Free Pattern Friday – Lilypad Afghan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

lilypad-afghan-blog

Today, the Lilypad Afghan in Major.

Did you enjoy Thanksgiving?  Ready to snuggle up under a warm blanket?  We’ve got you covered (no pun intended).

lilypad-afghan-detail-blogThe Lilypad Afghan is composed of strips of join-as-you-go hexagons in four colors of big, beautiful Major (328yds/200g).  On a US Size J/10 (6 mm) hook, it zips along fairly quickly.

The pattern is written, charted, and contains a schematic showing just how it all comes together.  A satisfying and cozy project!

We hope you’re having a great holiday, and that you remember to show your LYS some love on Small Business Saturday.

Have a great weekend!

lilypad-afghan-detail-2-blog

 

Free Pattern Friday – Swift Current Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

swift-current-scarf-social-media-no-text

Today, the Swift Current Scarf in Classic Shades Frenzy.

I’m a sucker for blues and greens.  The beauty of multi-colored yarns is that I don’t have to pick between one or the other.  They’re both there, as in color 911 Stranded of Classic Shades Frenzy.  It reminds me of the rushing aquamarine waters of the  Soča river that runs through Slovenia and Italy.

I want to go to there.
Photo: Andreas Resch – Everyone grab a WIP and let’s go.

swift-current-scarf-detail-blogThe Swift Current Scarf uses crochet shells and open spaces – along with some aggressive blocking – to create an airy texture.  For symmetry, the scarf is worked from the middle out in two halves.  It’s a two-ball project- make one half with one ball, then go back to the first row to start the second half in the other direction.

We hope you have a glorious weekend, dreaming of beautiful places and making beautiful things.  As they say in Slovenian, se vidimo kasneje!

Wheeeeeee!

Free Pattern – Inchworm Baby Blanket

The Week of Major Patterns continues!

inchworm-blanket-blog

Today, the Inchworm Baby Blanket in Major.

We love this design for the way it uses Major’s self-striping qualities.  Two complementary colors, 103 Capri and 105 Aloe, are swapped every other row.  Crochet two rows with A, then two with B, etcetera.  There’s no need to cut colors, you can just carry them up the sides as you go.

This free pattern is written and charted.  It’s a six-row repeat that’s easy to memorize.  Pretty timely for those of us who need a jump start on making gifts!

Tune back in tomorrow for another Major pattern!  Happy crafting!

inchworn-blanket-with-major-blog