Tag: inspiration

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Texture, Color, Blocks

Just before the start of 2012 (when I made a New Year’s Resolution to learn to knit), I can recall a moment when I was shopping and suddenly thought “I want to learn to make a sweater.” I can’t recall if it was a particular sweater that inspired me, or if it was simply the notion of creating something both beautiful and functional. Either way, to this day I often find myself inspired by ready-to-wear (RTW) apparel. I think the inspiration goes both ways: RTW designers are inspired by handcrafters, too. When I’m on the go, I snap photos of interesting details, save pins, admire silhouettes, stitch patterns, and more. I’m confident that I’m not alone, too. I can’t say I know a maker who hasn’t been inspired by something they’ve spotted in the wild, whether it’s a specific garment or a current trend.

That seed of inspiration eventually sprouts into unique and interesting designs. Today, I wanted to spotlight a ready-to-wear trend that truly nods to the homegrown handmade items: patchwork and texture blocking. This style lends itself to scrappy projects, playful samplings of stitches, and a lot of room for creative expression. These garments are statement knits and don’t necessarily need to be polished, but they certainly can be. Here are just a few examples from ready-to-wear fashion.

Left to Right: High Snobiety scarf; J. Press cardigan, Line & Dot sweater/skirt set

Perhaps the most notorious textural, patchwork sweater was designed by J.W. Anderson and donned by Harry Styles. This sweater took social media by storm with many fiber artists creating their own versions of it. It was so popular, in fact, that the designer published the pattern (link) so you can make your own. Might I suggest Deluxe Bulky Superwash if you’re so inclined to make your own?

  • The now iconic J.W. Anderson sweater that has been recreated by thousands of knitters and crocheters!
The now iconic J.W. Anderson sweater that has been recreated by thousands of knitters and crocheters!

Today I’m going to spotlight several sweaters using our yarns that tick all of those boxes. Get ready for a healthy dose of inspiration!

The Street Art Vest is knit using five colors of Dona: #130 Steely (MC), #103 Amber (CC1), #132 Alabaster (CC2), #125 Navy (CC3), & #131 Onyx.

We’ve been seeing knitted vests left and right – so what could be more on point than a color and texture blocked vest? Add an off-centered zipper and the result is truly a statement knit. The Street Art Vest (pattern link) is just the kind of zest design you’d expect from designer Amy Gunderson. In fact – you’ll notice that most of the patterns I’m sharing today are her designs!

One of the most exciting things about these patchwork projects is that they’re essentially sampler projects. It’s hard to get bored! This vest utilizes a combination of intarsia, twisted stitches, cables, and knit-purl textures. Thanks to the superior stitch definition of 100% superwash extra fine merino yarn Dona, the motifs stand out – even in the darkest colors. I love the industrial palette of this project with a dash of yellow to add just the right amount of zest.

Our theme today isn’t strictly about multi-color projects. In fact, monochromatic texture-blocking can look rather elegant. For those who aren’t comfortable sporting boldly colored garments, the single-color variations of this trend are an excellent option. Just take a look at #07 Lace Pullover (pattern link), designed by Amy Gunderson and published in the Fall, 2019 issue of Vogue Knitting magazine. This design also uses Dona and the results are stunning. A breath-taking sampling of lace and twisted ribbing for the trim make this sweater as polished as can be.

Ainsley is knit using four colors of Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash: #912 Ebony (A), #910 Porcelain (B), #913 Smoke (C), & #905 Pine (D).

Ainsley (pattern link) is another exciting design by Amy Gunderson. Much like the Street Art Vest, this design features intarsia and a variety of rich textures. It is knit using Deluxe Worsted Tweed Superwash – a tweedy, woolly yarn that adds a rustic quality to any project. The relaxed fit gives this piece an androgynous appearance. It’s easy to wear with anything, and the v-neck lends itself to a bit of layering.

Soiree uses Deluxe DK Superwash in colors #861 Blue Rustic, #818 Dusty Blue, 860 Twilight Rustic, & #838 Twilight.

In the Fall, 2020 issue of Vogue Knitting, the patchwork inspiration was in full display in #7 Soiree. We love the cool shades of Deluxe DK Superwash. Bishop sleeves and a funnel neck make this piece especially cozy. Designer Laura Zukaite made bold textural choices for this design. It includes intarsia, chunky cables, fisherman’s rib, garter stitch, classic K2, P2 Ribbing, and lace. You’ll get to exercise all of your knitting skills with this pullover.

My own contribution to this selection of patterns is Lollipop (pattern link), knit in Donnina. This design is perfect if you want to play with color blocking and texture blocking, but it doesn’t fully step into patchwork territory. This candy-colored cutie features two different twisted stitch motifs and a pop of cherry twisted ribbing along the neckline. It’s lightweight, making it perfect for the spring weather we’re all dreaming of.

Those are my picks for patterns that use color, texture, and blocks to create a visually stunning product. How do you feel about this patchwork trend? Do any of these patterns speak to you? We’d love to know!

Happy crafting!

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Yarn Spotlight: Nymph

Happy New Year! We can’t believe the holidays have passed and that we’re nearly a week into January. After the trying times of 2020, many of us are pleased to welcome the new year. While I’ve never been big into resolutions for the new year, I do hope to press pause more often and savor the present more. That doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to the new and exciting things the future holds, though.

Here at Universal Yarn, we’re busy working on the upcoming seasons – new yarns, pattern collections, and more, and as always we’ll be thrilled when we can share them with you. Speaking of new yarns, I thought I’d take today to showcase Nymph, the most recent addition to our yarn lineup. And, with new yarns come new patterns. Shall we get started?

When a sample of Nymph first made its way onto my desk, I was immediately smitten. As soon as I touched it I knew we had to add it for an upcoming season. It was so soft that I found myself petting the skein frequently while it sat on my desk. I couldn’t wait to knit with it!

Nymph is a blend of 84% cotton and 16% polyamide. It is a chainette yarn. Chainette yarns are made up of narrow plies that are actually knit into a hollow tube, making them resemble a tiny I-cord. In Nymph, the chainette is comprised of cotton, but the magic comes from the fine polyamide fibers blown into the hollow core of the chainette, creating a gorgeous, fluffy halo that is kitten-soft. Not only is it soft, but the construction makes the cotton feel lighter and airier than more traditional cotton yarns. Knitting and crocheting with this yarn is truly a joy.

Notice the gorgeous halo and chainette structure of Nymph.

Currently, this yarn is available in seven beautiful colors and we have eight more that will be available later this year. Exciting! As with every new yarn we introduce, we also include free patterns. After all, what’s a yarn without a sprinkling of inspiration for what to make with it? We have two patterns available on our website now and another one dropping this Friday, but you’ll get a lucky sneak peek today. Let’s take a look at the offerings.

Our current color offerings for Nymph.

First up, the Rosette Cowl (pattern link). As I mentioned earlier, my relationship with this yarn was love at first sight. After creating my initial swatches, I knew this yarn needed to be knit into something cozy to wear around your neck. That’s how the Rosette Cowl came to be. I opted for an easily-memorizable twisted stitch pattern framed by simple K2, P2 Ribbing. The result is a textural cowl that is irresistibly cozy. One of the things I love about Nymph is the fantastic stitch definition. The honeycomb motif is clear and beautiful in this yarn.

We love the textural pattern in the Rosette Cowl.

The Rosette Cowl requires three skeins of Nymph in color #104 Antique Rose to make the sample size. This pattern is easy to adjust, too. You could reduce the depth to get a smaller cowl with just two skeins. Alternatively, you can increase the number of stitches you cast on in increments of four to create a cowl with a larger circumference. Just remember – you’ll need a bit more yarn if you want to increase the size.

Nymph has such a lovely drape, as is evident in this photo of the Rosette Cowl.

Next up, the Velvet Dreams pullover (pattern link). I adore this cute little sweater! It is precious and feminine – featuring a lace panel along the center of the front and back. My favorite feature, however, is the lacy ruffle that decorates each sleeve. The sample is knit using color #102 Salvia. It is modeled by my darling niece, Malaika. She is five and a half years old and is wearing the 4-6 year size. Malaika fully approves of this sweater, and she was a bit bummed when I told her she couldn’t keep it. I guess that means I need to make one for her soon!

A lovely lace panel adorns the front and back of this pullover.

Velvet Dreams is sized from 1-2 years to 6-8 years and would be a great gift for any little one in your life. It is knit flat from the bottom up and seamed. After assembling the body, stitches for the sleeve ruffles are picked up and worked flat. Finally, the neckband stitches are picked up and knit in the round.

The sleeve ruffle on Velvet Dreams is almost too cute to handle…and so is the model, but I’m biased!

I promised a sneak peek at the next pattern we’re revealing in Nymph, so here it is: the January Sweater! This wintry pullover features stranded colorwork, proving that Nymph is a well-rounded yarn great for a variety of techniques. This seamless, top-down design is pretty straight-forward and I suspect that fans of the Jay Sweater will also enjoy this pattern. It would be great as a first sweater or first colorwork project.

This January Sweater is shown modeled by my sister, Amber, who happens to be Malaika’s mama, too. She loved the feel of this yarn. So there you have it, Nymph is kid-tested and mother-approved!

That’s all I’m going to reveal for now – you’ll have to tune back in on Friday to grab a copy of the pattern and read more about it here on the blog. I hope you’ve enjoyed taking a closer look at Nymph. It’s definitely a new favorite of mine! You can find Nymph on our website (link) and at your local yarn store (store locator link).

Happy crafting, everyone!

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Day 2 of Winter – Series 4 Edition

This is part 2 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 4 Edition.

It’s Day 2 of our 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection! When I think of winter (my favorite season), I immediately think of the beautiful, quiet feeling when snow is falling. I have always loved snow, and just the sort of magical feeling it brings. Snow brings nostalgia with it as well; memories of making snowmen and sledding in the neighborhood with my sister when I was growing up.
Quiet Snow by Susan Chestnut
The details of individual snowflakes is always something that has fascinated me as well. They look like tiny gemstones! I’ve often imagined I’d eventually move to a place where it snowed all the time, but alas, here in Charlotte, we maybe see snow once or twice a year. I love Charlotte for many reasons, so I’ll deal with the lack of snow.
Snowflake captured by John Entwistle
That feeling of a quiet snowfall was my inspiration for the Day 2 of Winter kit, the Falling Snow cowl. Large cowls are a great winter knit project. You can wear them with anything, and their classic look works well for everyone regardless of your personal style. Our Deluxe Worsted yarn is a no-brainer for winter projects. It is 100% wool, always keeps you warm, and comes in lovely colorways for the winter season. This as a base for the project was perfect, but it needed a little something more.
That something more needed to be Penna. Penna is one of our newest yarns, and one of my absolute favorites. It is a lace weight blend of baby suri alpaca, merino, and nylon. The nylon gives strength, where the alpaca provides a fluffy, soft halo that gives an ethereal quality to projects. I chose to work the Falling Snow cowl with the two yarns held together throughout, which gives dimension to the gray tones, and that lovely halo reminds me of fresh snow on the ground. The lace pattern is reminiscent of snowflakes sprinkled all over the cowl.

This kit would make a great gift for a beginner knitter looking to grow their skills knitting lace. Since it is an all over repeat, you can really get the hang of working a lace pattern.
No matter whether you choose to wear the Falling Snow cowl open, or doubled up, it is a cozy knit that has an elegant appearance. Remember, this kit, along with the others from our 12 Days of Winter collection are available at your local yarn store! Click here to find a shop that carries our yarns near you.

Happy Knitting!

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Deluxe Worsted: A Designer’s Perspective

Beautiful Autumnal Shades of Deluxe Worsted – colors of falling leaves are always inspiring
We’re continuing our celebration of the re-launch of one of our favorite yarns: Deluxe Worsted. Deluxe Worsted is now available at a more accessible price point and a concise, curated palette of 89 shades. With the weather getting cooler outside, there really hasn’t been a better time to fall in love with Deluxe Worsted. Autumn pun absolutely intended, folks.

It’s no secret that Deluxe Worsted is a workhorse yarn. Made of 100% non-superwash wool, this beauty is designed to stand the test of time. Not only that, but it is comfortable to wear, and works up in such a way that your stitches always take center stage. With such a wide array of colors offered, there are endless possibilities of what you can do with Deluxe Worsted.

In the design studio, we begin with a mood board for every pattern collection. Inspirational images in that mood board become the source for the colors we choose for designs. I wanted to share some of the things I use as inspiration for design and color choice, and Deluxe Worsted color combinations that match well with those inspirations. Maybe you’ll find colors that are perfectly suited to your next project!
As a designer, I take inspiration from many places. Art History was always one of my favorite lectures in design school, and to this day, fine art is always one of the first places I look. Though I’m a designer who loves working with textiles, I can walk around museums for hours and hours, enthralled with paintings and sculpture. Looking at ‘The Soul of the Rose’, by John William Waterhouse, I was immediately taken by the gorgeous jewel tones of the woman’s clothing and hair and the feeling of passion exuded in this painting. Whether the colors I chose are used together in one piece for stripes or colorwork, or worked separately in different designs, they all flow together with a consistent and decadent feel. Since we are all spending more time at home these days, or maybe you don’t live near a museum, here are a couple of online galleries from major museums to start getting you inspired for your projects. The National Gallery of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art both have a lot of work that you can view online.
The natural world is a place brimming with wonders great and small, and is an endless source of color and texture. I saw this incredible photo by David Balyeat of Monument Valley, Utah, and fell in love with the subtle pastel gradient tones in this image. If I was designing something and using this image as inspiration, I would certainly pull out the pink and blue colors. Deluxe Worsted has such a varied selection, and many gorgeous pastel and more muted tones such as the ones I chose. I think there is a really beautiful shawl or blanket just waiting to be made in these shades!
Another inspiring source for me are the mysteries of the world, like things in space that I cannot see or touch to ‘understand’. This photo is the Crab Nebula, which was the result of a supernova explosion that Chinese astronomers witnessed in 1054. It is a stunning marvel of the universe, and ripe with bright beautiful colors. Black is a classic, sophisticated choice for knitwear. Paired with bright tones like the ones I chose, you could make a very eye-catching piece. My fiancé would love this color combination for a striped sweater or scarf.
Deluxe Worsted Naturals are inspiring just as they are!
I could talk about color forever, especially with a yarn like Deluxe Worsted that has 89 shades available! Color tends to be a meaningful and personal decision, especially if you are hand knitting or crocheting. When we design here at UY, variety in color choice is always on the brain, since we want to appeal to all. However, we also hope that you get inspired by our sample color choices and pick your favorites for your own projects! We are always delighted to see project posts on Ravelry where you chose your perfect colors for our designs. Tell me, which color inspiration spoke to you, or what would you choose to inspire your next project using Deluxe Worsted?

Happy Crafting!

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Universal Yarn presents muud

If you have popped by our website in the last week, you might have noticed a new addition. We’ve added an exciting new line of handcrafted leather goods perfect for the crafting lifestyle. Muud is a Danish brand, and we’re so excited to be a retailer for their products in the United States. From project bags to chic storage solutions for your notions, you’re sure to find something you love.
Today, I wanted to share a few of the products that have quickly become essentials for my knitting.
Stockholm has plenty of storage space for your interchangeable needle tips, cords, and notions, like this needle gauge by Katrinkles.
When we first decided to bring on muud, I was immediately drawn to Stockholm. I knew I needed it for my interchangeable needle set. It perfectly stores the needle tips, has a zippered pocket for storing cords, notions, and the perfect pockets for holding my needle gauge. (Stay tuned – the needle gauge shown, created by Katrinkles for Universal Yarn, is coming soon!)
My favorite thing about Stockholm is the size. It is large and roomy, but folds up into the perfect size. It can easily be tossed into a project bag, and doesn’t take up too much space on my living room end table, where my needles usually live.
One thing I love about the line is the inclusion of small, adorable accessories that are ideal for storing your notions. Helsinki is a great storage container with a zipper closure. I’ve been using it to store my Katrinkles mini-tools as well as stitch markers, tapestry needles, and more.
No knitter or crocheter can get by without a tape measure. If I don’t have one nearby, I feel lost! Sure, I have the retractable tape measures, but I also have several of the regular ol’ tape measures. Enter Malmo – possibly the cutest, most useful storage solution for a tape measure I’ve seen. Malmo was designed specifically for them! Just roll it up, place it in the case, and snap it shut until you need it. It has a little keyring, so it’s so easy to attach to your project bag for safe keeping.
The Saturn XL will fit your project and your yarn – plus your needles and more!
Finally – the Saturn XL. Talk about an excellent project bag! It’s deep, has plenty of pockets both inside and out, and a handy strap to toss over your shoulder and head out the door. This bag will easily store projects of all sizes – including your latest sweater WIP.
Saturn XL
The Whisky colorway is perfect for me, but if brown isn’t your cup of tea, all of the products I mentioned come in black, too. There are also so many different styles and sizes to choose from. If you’re looking for a sophisticated treat for yourself or a luxurious gift for a fellow crafter, check out all of the products in the muud collection here (link).
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Ricorumi Spotlight: The Child Projects

I don’t know about you, but I often pair my crafting time with binge-watching my favorite shows and movies. Lately, like pretty much everyone else I know, I’ve been watching the Mandalorian. Everyone who has been watching this show is pretty much obsessed with the child – and how can you not be? He’s sooo cute! Knitters and crocheters alike have clearly been inspired, and there are already loads of patterns on making a baby alien of your own. When I laid eyes on the Baby Keychain Ornament, designed by Vivianne Russo, I couldn’t resist joining the fun and making one. Luckily we’ve started carrying the perfect yarn for it!
A flat lay of three skeins of Ricorumi yarn, Ricorumi notions, and a small crochet project.
Ricorrumi DK yarn skeins from left to right: 058 Silver Grey, 054 Ecru, & 047 Pistachio. Also pictured: button eyes and 3.00 mm crochet hook, along with the Baby Keychain Ornament.
We recently became a distributor of Rico Design’s adorable Ricorumi line. We’ve all been completely smitten with the adorable kits and mini-skeins. They’re simply irresistible. Plus, notions such as the button eyes and crochet hooks are available, so you can easily grab everything you need.
An ornament featuring a baby yoda figure, crocheted from Ricorumi Cotton DK yarn.
Are you just melting from the cuteness? I know we are!
When it came to my attention that the little skeins of yarn would be great for making all the green baby patterns around, I immediately grabbed some yarn and notions to get started. I’ve picked out several colors that would be perfect for creating one of your own – and want to share some of the other great patterns to choose from.

For the project I crocheted, I used 058 Silver Grey for the carriage, 047 Pistachio for the body, and 054 Ecru for the collar. Below are some of the other color options that would work equally well.
Several skeins of Ricorumi DK yarn in a row, pictured with a crochet hook.
Ricorumi DK yarn skeins from left to right: 051 Mastic, 054 Ecru, 057 Chocolate, 058 Silver Grey, 047 Pistachio.
If you prefer a stand-up figure, Vivianne Russo also designed The Child – Green Baby. We’re also loving Yazmina Nieblas‘ version, which includes the little bowl of bone broth. She created two versions so you can play around a bit more with the colors shown above.
For this version we suggest 051 Mastic for the collar, 054 Ecru for the main garment, 057 Chocolate for the bowl, and 047 Pistachio for the body.
Even if you’re new to crochet (like me), these patterns are really simple. They’re mostly comprised of single crochet and simple increases. Plus, being so small, you can create them in no time at all. If you’re still reluctant to crochet, there are knit versions, too. Plus, Ricorumi DK works equally well with knit projects.

Lucky for us, KnitHacker has already created a comprehensive list of both knit and crochet patterns that are perfect for making a child of your own. Find the crochet list here (link) and the knit list here (link).

Head to your local yarn store to grab your skeins of Ricorumi DK!
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Day 10 of Winter – Series 3 Edition

This is part 10 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.

It’s Day 10 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit Collection. Today, the Snowdrift cowl designed by Adrienne Larsen. This design combines cables, twisted stitches, and eyelets to create a show-stopping winter accessory. It’s knit up in Fibra Natura Dona – one of our favorite yarns for knitting cables because of its superior stitch definition. Did we mention that it’s incredibly soft, too? For today’s post, we’ve asked Adrienne to share her passion for cable design with us. Here is what she had to say:
A white cowl featuring cables and lace knit using Fibra Natura Dona.
“I love cables. I love how they look and I love thinking about how they work. When creating a new cable pattern, I always break into two main elements: the ground and the squiggle.
Detail of white cowl featuring cables and lace knit using Fibra Natura Dona.

The ground is pretty self-explanatory. The ground is what the cable is sitting on: the background. It is usually reverse stockinette stitch because it’s simple and doesn’t pull focus from the main event: the squiggle. If you want to add a little zing, the ground could be seed stitch or garter stitch. If you prefer a really smooth look, it can even be stockinette.

The squiggle is where you can really get creative. You can do a simple cable, which sits in place, and just crosses over itself, like in a 2×2 Right Cross. The squiggle can also move back and forth over the ground as a traveling cable. The stitches in the squiggle usually stay together and move on top of the ground. It can also move under or over other squiggles.
A knitted swatch featuring an explanation about each element of cable knitting.
The stitches in a squiggle are classically groups of knit stitches. In this pattern, I decided to change things up by adding some twisted stitches and purls to some of the squiggles. If you look, the twisted stitch squiggles and the plain squiggles always stay that way, even when they move under or over each other.
Detail of a white cowl featuring cables and lace knit using Fibra Natura Dona.
I also added yarn-overs to some of the stationary squiggles. I didn’t like that you could see the underlapping stitches in the cables in the yarn-over squiggles, so I only placed them when they were stationary. I also only changed from twisted/purl combination squiggles to yarn-over squiggles after during an underlap, when possible where it could be hidden.

That’s just a few things that are considered when cable patterns are designed!” -Adrienne
A white cowl featuring cables and lace knit using Fibra Natura Dona.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a bit more about Adrienne’s approach to cable design. We think it’s fascinating and feel so lucky to have her designs in this kit collection. Remember, you can find the Snowdrift kit and the rest of the 12 Days of Winter kits at your local yarn store.
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Day 1 of Winter

Over the next 12 days, we’re releasing a series of kits designed by the Universal Yarn Design Team. It’s a cozy, wintry collection of accessories that make perfect gifts–for yourself and your loved ones. To accompany the kits, we’d like to share a blog post each day. This series will highlight special aspects of each pattern and include inspiration, tips, tricks, and a few tutorials. For Day 1, we’re introducing the Blue Spruce Socks in Deluxe DK Tweed Superwash.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved evergreens and conifers. I’m not sure if it’s because of their fragrant needles and bark, or if it’s because their beautiful colors brought me joy during long and endlessly grey winters. Whatever the reason—I’ve always been drawn to them, so it’s no surprise that I designed the Blue Spruce Socks for our 12 Days of Winter collection.

These socks are warm, cozy, and a joy to knit. If you aren’t a fan of stranded colorwork, don’t fret! The Blue Spruce motif is achieved through slipped stitches. One color is carried at a time and only the stitches requiring the working yarn are knit—the rest are simply slipped purlwise. It requires twice as many rows, but the overall effect is very similar to the appearance of stranded knitting.

In addition to colorwork, the small details make this project ever so special. It features a 1×1 Twisted Rib cuff and an Eye of Partridge heel. My favorite detail is the slip-stitch stripe just before the contrasting-color toes.

You can find this kit, Day 1 of our 12 Days of Winter collection here.

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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?