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Free Pattern Friday – Taku Throw

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Taku Throw in the Uptown Worsted family (pattern link).

Is today a good day to huddle under a beautiful throw?  Well, for those of us in the southeastern U.S., yes.  Yes it is.  Here’s Katie, our Customer Service Lead, testing the current wind speed with the Polygon Shawl in Whisper Lace.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bntiodjnqgq/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

A substantial, beautiful, not-too-complicated project seems like just the ticket.  (Also, let me express my admiration for Katie, whose hair looked perfect again right after walking back inside).

Back to the throw! This pattern calls for three different members of the popular Uptown family – solid Uptown Worsted, variegated Uptown Worsted Mist, and self-patterning Uptown Worsted Tapestry (that’s the one you see at the ends of the throw).  These three yarns are designed to work well together, providing excellent harmony and interesting color without having to do a lot of fiddly colorwork.

This is a fairly easy pattern. The design is a two-row repeat of mostly garter stitch with “make 1” increases and a center double decrease to create the chevron.  You’ll want to use circular needles, but that’s just because it’s made in one piece so there are a lot of stitches to accommodate over its width. If you’re a beginner who feels comfortable trying a couple of new things, this is for you.  If you’re experienced and want something comforting to make, this is for you, too!

We hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Double Square Pillow

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Tan, light blue, white, and light green mitered square pillow

Today, the Double Square Pillow in Uptown DK Magix (pattern link here).

Many of our LYSes feature an extended family of crafts.  We love seeing the embroidery, weaving, and quilting that’s going on out there.  And it was with quilting in mind that we created the mitered square Double Square Pillow.

Mitered square pillow knit in Uptown DK Magix yarn

Self-patterning Uptown DK Magix adds a modern look with the splash of color changes, while the strong diagonal line of the centered double decreases look like crosshatch quilted lines. You can try planning the color changes specifically to correspond with each mitered square, but we think it’s more fun to just let the colors land where they will. In the sample shown, no care was given to color placement of the Magix color changes.

Tan knitted pillow showing button closure

Solid Uptown DK in stockinette backs the pillow, fastened with buttons for easy removal.  A lovely, easy-care home decor project.

Detail of knit mitered square knitting pattern on pillow

We hope you have an excellent and relaxing weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Oasis Blanket

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Gray blanket crocheted in Adore yarn with colored granny squares

Today, the Oasis Blanket crocheted in Adore (pattern link here).

The Oasis Blanket gets its name from the bursts of color set into the gray background.

Detail of colored squares in gray crochet background of baby blanket

Each one is an oasis.

Blue, green, and pink granny squares in crochet Oasis Blanket

Worked in Adore (273yds/100g), a soft blend of superwash merino and anti-pilling acrylic, it’s a great piece that’s soft enough for babies but sturdy enough to stand up to the washing machine.

Oasis Blanket draped over chair

Each motif is worked separately, making this a very portable project.  It also makes it easy to adjust the size on this 31″ x 31″ blanket as you wish – add another row of squares or take one away as needed.

Gray crochet blanket draped over chair back

We hope you have a pleasant weekend.

Happy crafting!

Folded gray, pink, green, and blue blanket crocheted in Oasis with lace border

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Free Pattern Friday – Spring Stripe Rug

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Spring Stripe Rug in Fibra Natura Java (pattern link here).

I love this rug because it uses  my favorite stitch – half double crochet.  This was the very first crochet stitch I learned, after the base chain.  I love it in a self-shading yarn like Poems or Classic Shades.  Just hdc-ing around and around until the ball runs out makes a very pretty cowl.  And since this is a stitch I’m comfortable with, this rug might be the perfect project for branching into crochet colorwork!

I’m already a fan of 100% hemp Java for home decor projects.  I was about to cast on for a larger version of the Java Jive Rug Mug to put under the cat’s food and water dishes in the kitchen, but… this week’s pattern has me wondering if crochet wouldn’t be even better.  It’s always great to brush up skills on a beautiful project.

We hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Reversible Cable Blanket

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Reversible Cable Blanket in Major (pattern link here).

If you’re like me, you love cables. Cables are especially exciting when the fabric is reversible. Yep, the Reversible Cable Blanket really is reversible (did you think we were kidding with that name?).

The backbone of this pattern simply is K2, P2 Rib framed by a border of garter stitch. Every 8 rows two sets of K2, P2 stitches are crossed, creating an elegant cable and reversible fabric. That’s really all there is to this pattern!

Cables, glorious cables!

Major is a perfect medium for this pattern. It’s quick to knit, incredibly soft, and easy to care for. Major is a bulky weight, 100% acrylic yarn that comes in a generously sized 200-gram ball. There are many beautiful, self-shading colors of Major ranging from perfect pastels to bold, vibrant beauties, and no-nonsense neutrals. It’s no wonder that this yarn is a customer favorite.

Better yet, this pattern is written in two sizes: a baby blanket and throw blanket size. Make one as a gift and another to keep for yourself. After all, you surely deserve to cuddle up to a squishy, cabled blanket.

Have a wonderful, craft-filled weekend!

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Free Pattern Friday – Wraparound Blankie

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Wraparound Blankie in Uptown DK Magix (pattern link).

You know those pretty balls of yarn that you look at and love, but you also think, “this looks neat, but what would I do with it?”

Voila.  The Wraparound Blankie answers this question by pairing self-patterning Uptown DK Magix with solid Uptown DK to create mitered angles and panels bordered by coordinating bands of vibrant color.

The nice thing about self-patterning yarn is that you really don’t have to do much work to make a complex design.  Pick two colors of the solid, two colors of the self-patterning, and go!  This pattern is worked in pieces and seamed together, making it a good travel project.  Sometimes it’s nice to be able to work on a blanket without actually having a full blanket on your lap.

We hope you enjoy this project, and have a great weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Garter Baskets

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Garter Baskets in Yashi and Yashi Iro (link here).

It’s been a while since we’ve shared something for the home.  These baskets are a quick and easy knitting project.

Worked from the center to edge, judicious placement of “wrap and turn” every few rows forms a curved edge.   100% raffia Yashi (solid) or Yashi Iro (multi) give a nice texture to the finished bowl.

We hope you enjoy this tasteful and decorative project.

Happy knitting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Java Jive Mug Rugs

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Java Jive Mug Rugs in Java (click for pattern page).

These are a knitting trifecta – quick, easy, and practical.  Wouldn’t they make a great housewarming gift?

100% hemp Fibra Natura Java is sturdy enough for this very usable home dec project, as well as being machine washable.

The pattern is a basic two-row slip stitch repeat that only uses one color per row.  Simple, but it gives a sophisticated, almost woven look.

While only four coasters are pictured, you can get a set of eight out of the required yarn – more if you do the fringe in a different color.  Like we say – quick and easy!

We hope you have a great weekend.

Happy knitting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Box of Blocks

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Box of Blocks in Major.

Log cabin designs are classic for good reason.  They’re simple but visually interesting, and they look great in self-shading yarns like Major.

For this little baby blanket, start at the middle, then pick up along the edge and work the next strip.  Then pick up along the edge of what you’ve already made and knit the next strip.  Keep going until… well, until you’re done!

We hope you enjoy this sweet and simple classic design.

Happy knitting!