Dona Color Kits – Blue Color Shift Hat and Mitts

You’ve got everyone else covered for the holidays, but what do YOU want?

dona-color-kits-rainbow-blog

Did you get a gift certificate to your LYS?  Need something to point to for that well-meaning relative?  You know the one – they want to do right, but then they panic and get you a bunch of random skeins from a grab bag.  Sure, it’s the thought that counts, but when you say “you shouldn’t have!” maybe you’d rather not mean it.  It’s so much easier to point at a color kit and discreetly clear your throat.

Continue reading “Dona Color Kits – Blue Color Shift Hat and Mitts”

Free Pattern Friday – Berry Patch Cardi

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Berry Patch Cardi hi-res

Today, the Berry Patch Cardi in Whisper Lace.

This pattern comes to us from our Mexican distributor, Rebecca Pick.  In their magazine, they featured an absolutely stunning crochet design in Whisper Lace (440yds/50g) designed by Ángeles Uribe Salinas.  Rebecca Pick graciously shared it with us, and now we get to share it with you!

Berry Patch Cardi hem hi-resThis beautiful cardi is made of strips of delicate fan lace.  They’re joined as you go, with the bottom of the strips left loose to fall freely.   Can’t you imagine twirling around in this and seeing the little butterflies of lace fly?

The lace is written and charted, and a schematic is included for assembly.  We love how the multi-colored yarn works up into individual fans for a delicate and unique look.  This is a great skill showcase.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Happy crafting!

Berry Patch Cardi shoulder hi-res

Free Pattern Friday – Just Breathe

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Flax Natural Lace Pullover 180dpi

Today, Just Breathe in Flax.

Having a hard time with these hectic days?  Facebook feed full of politics?  Us too.  But you know what? It’s going to be okay.  Here’s what we’re going to do.

Take a deep breath, from all the way down in your belly….  then let it out.  Feel the tension drain away.  Repeat as necessary.  If you need a little technical help, close your door and take two minutes at calm.com to relax.

Here’s what else we’re going to do.  We’re going to push aside the needs of others, just for a while, and we’re going to hit the LYS.  We’re going to chat with the staff, walk the aisles and touch the yarn, and walk out with enough yarn to make something beautiful.

And that’s where this top comes in.

Flax Natural Lace Pullover detail 180dpi

Just Breathe is made in 100% linen Fibra Natura Flax (137yds/50g) in color 105 Natural.  Flax softens with each wash, making this a top that will get more and more comfortable with time.  The six-row horseshoe lace pattern will require some mindful attention, but not so much that you frown in frustration.  Just enough to keep you focused on the moment.

Make a little time away from the worries of the world to knit.  Your rewards will be a feeling of refreshment, and a beautiful, versatile lace pullover that will be a favorite for a long time to come.

Happy knitting.

Flax 105 Natural loose hi-res

Free Pattern Friday – Stitch Sampler Cloths

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Java Washcloth Set social media

Today, Stitch Sampler Cloths in Java.

We’re very excited about Fibra Natura Java (219yds/100g), our new 100% hemp yarn.  This is a perfect application for it too – it works great for home decor projects.
This is the first Free Pattern Friday we’ve done in this yarn, although we do have a few free patterns in Java that haven’t yet been highlighted.  Have you seen the Crochet Baskets at right?  Love ’em!

Java Washcloth 104 Pistachio squareThese cloths are designed to be basic samplers for those who are just getting their feet wet (no pun intended).  The cloth in color 104 Pistachio, right, uses increases and decreases, but the other four are strictly knit and purl.

All are written and charted, so they do double duty for those who want to try out reading charts without the risk of losing a stitch in a big lace project.  My reason for knitting them is simpler: the cloths are just plain pretty!

We hope you have a safe and happy Independence Day holiday.

Happy knitting!

Java Washcloth 101 Parchment square   Java Washcloth 102 Hazelwood square

Java Washcloth 103 Walnut square   Java Washcloth 105 Horizon Pink square

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 – Beachhouse Tank

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

BeachhouseTank_hires

Today, the Beachhouse Tank in Good Earth Adorn and Good Earth Solids.

http://www.thekitchn.com/summer-refreshment-sweet-basil-90805
This is the life.

I love this tank.  I can easily imagine myself sitting on a dock, wearing sandals and linen pants with with this top, sipping a lemonade while gazing out at the water through oversized sunglasses.  Maybe I’ll wear a Yashi sunhat, too.  Bliss.

(Have you tried adding basil to lemonade?  Sooo good, and we’re coming in to the season for fresh basil.  Here’s a recipe if you want to give it a try.)

BeachhouseTank_back_blogThe pattern calls for Good Earth Adorn (MC) and Good Earth Solids (CC), both cotton/linen blends that come 170 yards to the hank.  It’s a great yarn for summer, and perfect for this drapey A-line top.

Laurel Murphy’s design is worked in pieces and seamed. The straps are knit on the front piece only and then seamed to the back bind-off edge, as shown here.

We hope you have a relaxing and refreshing weekend, finding an opportunity to enjoy some fresh air and breathe deeply.

Happy knitting!

 

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 – Eyelet Skirt

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Flax Eyelet Skirt 2 blog

Today, the Eyelet Skirt in Flax.

And… twirl!  This sweet summery skirt is knit in our 100% linen Flax (137yds/50g) and is flattering to a wide variety of body types.

Flax Eyelet Skirt 1 detail_hi-resThis is a 4 panel skirt knitted flat and seamed, with easy eyelet lace at the flaring hem. This is a good first project in lace as the patterning is worked on right side rows only. The lace is charted, but simple to follow even if you’re not an expert chart reader.  Fit is easy in the waist using your choice of drawstring tie or elastic.

We hope you enjoy this bit of lovely linen.

Happy knitting!

Flax Eyelet Skirt 1 blog

Free Pattern Friday – Yiasou! Hat

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Yiasou social media graphic

Today, the Yiasou! Hat in Dona.

I designed this hat because I’ve been thinking about my father a lot lately.  He has a milestone birthday coming up soon.  I’d tell you what it is, but the running joke is that every birthday for the past mumble mumble years he has turned 39.  Since I myself have passed that age, this is quite the feat.

When I was a kid, I loved going with my father to the many Greek restaurants here in Charlotte, NC.  My father is an outgoing and friendly person, so he learned enough Greek to be able to greet the proprietors and to say “thank you.”  I can still his his hearty “Tikanis!” (How are you?) as we would come through the doors.  Dad makes friends wherever he goes.

This hat is named after his friendliness, and also our city’s huge annual Greek festival called Yiasou! (Hello!).  It’s a fun event with friendly people.

Yiasou Crown selfie 1For this hat, I worked 64 stitches on a size 7 needle.  You could increase or decrease by 8 and have the Greek Key chart and the top decreases work out.  (Picture of crown at right.  Hey, you try to take a selfie of the top of your head.)

Dona (126yds/50g) was a good choice for this.  It’s exceptionally soft and springy, machine washable, and the colors are vibrant and bold.  I had enough Dona left over that I’m considering making another hat, but with the colors reversed.

Here’s hoping you connect with someone this weekend, whether an old friend or a new one, who puts a smile on your face.

Happy knitting!

Yiasou Hat blog laugh

Free Pattern Friday – Bias Stripe Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Universe Diagonal Scarf 1 blog

Today, the Bias Stripe Scarf in Flax and Universe.

We’re moving into party season, and we’re delighted to have a new yarn in stock that’s just perfect for the occasion.  We designed Universe (246yds/50g) to celebrate Universal’s 10th anniversary, and we’re having a ball making new projects with it.

Universe Diagonal Scarf detail blogUniverse’s colors coordinate  with another popular yarn, Fibra Natura Flax (137yds/50g).  Both are used together in this project.  The matte bands of Flax linen are interspersed with the metallic glitter in Universe for a striking effect.  Since the yarns match so well, it’s easy to carry the colors up the sides between sections without having an obvious color streak at the edge of your scarf.  One ball of Universe and one hank of Flax – the only ends to weave in are at the beginning and end of your project.

Universe 10-04 and Flax 09 blogPersonally, I’m looking at another color combo, Universe 10-04 and Flax 09.  The robin’s egg blue with a hint of aqua appeals to me, and I think it will look very striking with the black and metallic.

We have more projects in Universe to share with you in the coming weeks, including something very wintry.  Hint: no two are alike.

Happy knitting!

Universe Diagonal Scarf white 1 blog