Have you ever had a favorite sweater that you loved, and were sorry to put away when the weather warmed up? That’s the origin of today’s beauty, the Holiday Jay.
Our Managing Director Yonca Ozbelli was in love with the Jay Sweater, designed by Rachel Brockman in Kingston Tweed.
Shown in Kingston Tweed 110 Beryl (MC) and 102 Calcite (CC).
Yonca’s not alone – this sweater’s gotten a lot of love from the knitting community. We were so taken with it that we had to make more than one .
Shown in Kingston Tweed 101 Talc (MC) and 108 Amethyst (CC).
When temperatures started to climb here in North Carolina, Yonca decided to adapt the pattern in one of our favorite summertime yarns, Cotton True Sport.
She opted to call this short-sleeved version the Holiday Jay, because the colors and Fair Isle yoke feel very wintry. We love it when Yonca wears her “Christmas in July” sweater – it’s inspirational to see all the ways we can make a pattern just right for our own tastes and circumstances!
Shown in Cotton True Sport 102 Bright Red (MC) and 117 Bright White (CC)
Like the original Jay sweater, Holiday Jay is sized from XS through 5X. Yonca’s chosen red and white combo is delightful, although this would look equally striking in many other bright/dark contrasting combos. Maybe 112 Boysenberry and 118 Marshmallow, to make a bubbly cobbler a la mode version?
…and just like that, I’ve talked myself into another project. Can’t wait to cast on!
This is a pattern we’ve had a lot of requests for – a baby blanket, but not too big and heavy, and sized to drape over a little one’s lap during a car ride.
Something that’s simple to make. Something practical, but pretty. Designer Aubrey Busek ticked all those boxes here.
The basketweave pattern she uses is all knits and purls – great basic knitting that produces a beautiful textured fabric. It’s written and charted, so you can take your pick of what instructions work best for you.
Aubrey picked lightweight Cotton True Sport for this pattern, for good reason. This 100% pima cotton is soft, smooth, and machine washable. Anyone who has shaken out a blanket full of Graham cracker crumbs knows how important easy care is for these projects. The 100% cotton keeps your little one comfy but not too hot- a sweaty baby is a cranky baby!
Just three balls will make this perfectly-sized 25 ½” x 21 ½” (64.7cm x 54.6cm) blankie. This would make a great shower gift, or really an anytime gift, for a harried parent. To borrow a phrase, this project is practically perfect in every way.
We wish you a cool and comfortable weekend! Happy crafting!
Designer Rachel Brockman has once again channeled her love of nature into an inspiring design. This bright, warm-weather shawl took its name from beautiful Edisto Island.
No wonder – this breezy beauty would be the perfect accessory for a walk along a windswept beach.
Wool-free Bamboo Pop Sock is a great choice for this shawl – and just one ball of two colors is all it takes.
We love this shawl so much we made it in two colorways. The combination of 505 Tide Pool and 507 Breeze seen above…
…and the more subdued 502 High Tide and 503 Jetties shown here.
Both are stunning.
This is a lovely pattern, designed to make maximum use of your two balls of Bamboo Pop Sock. You’ll be knitting flat on US5/3.75mm needles (or whatever gets you gauge).
Then you’ll switch to US7 /4.5mm needles for the i-cord bind-off. It’s a tidy edge that adds extra polish to an already exquisite design.
Botany Bay beach at cloudy sunset, Edisto Island, South Carolina, USA. Nickolay Khoroshkov/stock.adobe.com
We hope your weekend is filled with natural beauty.
It’s World Ocean Day! The ocean is our planet’s life source. Covering about 70% of the Earth’s surface, our oceans produce more than half of the world’s oxygen, absorb carbon from the atmosphere, and are home to at least a million species, though we don’t really know the true number. We can all agree that a resource so vital to our well-being should be cared for and celebrated. So, in honor of World Ocean Day, we’re sharing some sen-sea-tional patterns inspired by our oceans and a few tips on simple actions you can take to help preserve this precious resource.
Seastar in Cotton Supreme
Did you know that sea stars can live up to 35 years? Amazing! These colorful invertebrates are one of the most recognizable sea creatures, so it’s no surprise that so many designers have created patterns inspired by them. In fact, we have three super cute patterns where starfish are the star of the show.
Our own Aubrey Busek took inspiration from these aquatic creatures when she designed Seastar (pattern link) for our Seaside Supreme ebook. This graphic sweater is a statement knit featuring intarsia and lace. It is knit using our popular Cotton Supreme yarn. I love that this pattern is written with both long and short sleeve options, making it easier to personalize.
As fiber artists, we have the power to create many long-lasting, durable items that are inherently less wasteful. For example, that handmade sweater is destined to last much longer than any sweater you buy in a department store. It’s an heirloom piece that you can wear for years and pass down, minimizing some of the waste created by fast fashion. Is there a sweater in your wardrobe you don’t wear often anymore, or perhaps that doesn’t fit the way you imagined? Instead of taking that sweater to the thrift store, consider unraveling it and recycling the yarn for another project. You can even make dryer balls from old sweaters and non-superwash yarn, like our Deluxe Worsted.
If you want something a little more whimsical that’s a nice complement to your collection of seashells, consider making the cute and free Seahorse and Starfish set (pattern link) by Michele Wilcox. Like Seastar, this pattern uses Cotton Supreme. One skein will take you very far with this pattern. I think it would be adorable to string several of them together to create a garland or mobile to decorate your home, reminding you of the ocean even if you live far from it!
Looking for a cute scrubby pattern for yourself or a loved one? Look no further than the Starfish and Shell patterns (link) by Rico Design using Creative Bubble. This yarn is perfect for creating scrubbies that are more durable and eco-friendly than disposable rags or sponges. They work as well for scrubbing your countertops as they will for exfoiliating your skin. Plus, your little one will love these projects as bath toys!
Narwhal & Seal from the Ricorumi Wild Wild Animals book.
I’ve always been fascinated by the Arctic. It amazes me that life can exist in parts of the world so frigid and seemingly barren. Yet, some creatures have evolved to be perfectly equipped to brave the harsh climate. With a knack for creating charming patterns, Rico Design pays homage to polar-dwelling seals and narwhals in the Wild Wild Animals pattern book (link). Both of these crochet amigurumi projects use Ricorumi Cotton DK. The Narwhal pattern is even available as a kit! Eco-conscious tip: instead of using poly-fil for your stuffed animal projects, try using scrap yarns and fabric instead!
The Betta Swetta Set
One of my favorite books as a young child was The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. This cute storybook about sharing mesmerized me with its beautiful illustrations. Perhaps thanks to that book, I’ve always been excited to spot a fish in any body of water and had a fishtank of my own growing up. I still love visiting the aquarium to marvel at their colors, shapes, and sizes. With that inspiration in mind, I designed the free Betta Swetta Set (pattern link) in Adore. This duo was inspired by all of the fishies in the ocean.
The Atlantic Ocean, as seen on a rainy November day at Daytona Beach. If you want to learn more about World Ocean Day, you can explore the website here (link).
Many of the species these patterns celebrate are threatened, and it’s our responsibility to do what we can to preserve the health of the ocean. You can create reusable bags for carrying the grocery items that will allow you to say “goodbye” to plastic bags for good. As I mentioned earlier, many of the handmade washcloths, towels, and other home items are more durable than store-bought or disposable options. Plus, you probably have the skills to mend your handmade items (and store-bought items) on your own, making them last even longer! If you’re looking for more inspiration, don’t miss my recent blog post about our most eco-friendly yarns and accompanying patterns.
I hope you’re feeling inspired to honor the ocean today, and every day! Do you have any tips you’d like to share on how to make your crafting more environmentally friendly? Do you have a favorite type of project that helps eliminate waste? We’d love to know!
It’s early June, which means that summer is here (in my book, even if not officially!). And while there are numerous things I love about summer, one thing that’s always exciting is the introduction of new yarns for the upcoming Fall season! For the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting some of our great new offerings, starting this week with Bamboo Pop Sock – Solids.
Yep, you heard me correctly – solids! We’ve had lots of requests from customers who fell in love with our self-shading version of Bamboo Pop Sock. When we introduced the yarn with eight splashy, self-striping colors in 2019 it was an instant hit, so we swiftly added another eight colors in solid, gradually shifting stripes. This yarn has become beloved for being a wool-free alternative to other sock yarns, so it’s great for vegan knitters or those with sensitivities to animal fibers. This yarn blends bamboo, cotton, and PBT to create a cool, comfortable, and elastic yarn. While it’s fantastic for socks, we’ve fallen in love with it for baby projects, garments, accessories, and more! To celebrate the introduction of our 22 solid colors (20 of which are available now), I want to highlight some beautiful free patterns featuring Bamboo Pop Sock solids.
Fairway in #614 Celestial, #612 Sky, & #616 Fern
I mentioned that people began to love Bamboo Pop Sock for baby projects, like the popular Playtime Dress in color #404 Wildflowers. Aubrey simply couldn’t resist adding to the collection of baby patterns using this yarn, so she designed Fairway (pattern link). This cute little sweater features bold blocks of color and texture using colors that remind me of a sunny day playing Par 3 golf with my dad. It’s perfect! Fairway is sized from 0-6 months through 4 years, and only takes one ball of each color across all sizes.
Crimson Tee in #608 Pomegranate
With an eye for feminine details, Aubrey perfectly finds the balance between elegant and casual apparel in the Crimson Tee (pattern link). It features a botanically-inspired lace motif along the hem, sleeves, and in the panels featured on the front and back. We love it styled with a French tuck (as pictured), allowing the scalloped hem to show along the sides and back.
Lace details on the Crimson Tee.
Looking for an accessory instead? Try the lovely Serendipity shawl (pattern link), also designed by Aubrey. This asymmetrical triangular shawl is knit flat on the bias, and it only takes one ball of yarn! The fabric is covered in a lovely little lace motif. The design illustrates how magical the drape of this Bamboo Pop Sock is. It creates a silky, smooth effect that perfectly hugs your neck and shoulders. Toss this shawl over your favorite summer tank or dress and you’re good to go!
I hope you’ve enjoyed a peek at new patterns in Bamboo Pop Sock! Which of these do you plan to knit first? The yarn and patterns are available now, so be sure to head to your local yarn store or our website to start your new favorite project!
We’re trying something new with Free Pattern Friday. The final Friday of the month will still have a free pattern, but it’ll be a limited time Flash! This week, we’re offering Violeta.
The collection was designed with a nod to the desire we feel in spring to pare down and freshen up. It’s a set of knit essentials that are versatile enough to take you through your week in comfort and style. Radiant Cotton’s vibrant color looks amazing while keeping things cool.
Violeta fits the bill perfectly. It works as an open jacket to throw on over a neutral outfit…
…or clasped with a closure like this one from JUL Designs.
100% Egyptian cotton Radiant Cotton has amazing stitch definition, to let the work shine without detracting from the wearer.
To get Violeta free, use the buy it now or add to cart links on the Ravelry pattern page. Then enter coupon code FLASH where you see the “use a coupon code” links that appear during purchase.
Not a Ravelry user? Drop us a line by midnight on 5/1 and we’ll get you taken care of. Feel free to share the giveaway – the more the merrier!
(PS – since it’s late in the day for some of our customers, we’re extending this through Saturday. Enjoy!)
This is Free Pattern Friday, but really I feel like we’ve got multiple patterns here, because this super sweet jacket is sized for adults and kids!
Squeeeeeee!
I’m imagining a matching pair, with grownup and mini-me stepping out for a day of bonding over iced treats!
Designer Aubrey Busek is the princess of “pretty” around here, with a unique flair for fashionable projects that are fun to make and wear.
Aubrey uses a loop stitch to create a touchable fabric that looks like a million bucks. I’ve done this stitch before, and it’s easier than it looks. Once you see how it works, you feel very clever, and it flows easily as you knit.
Second, she uses two colors of Uptown Baby Sport held together. This does a several things. One, the nature of Uptown Baby Sport’s anti-pilling acrylic means that it won’t mat or show undue wear, even though individual strands of yarn are exposed. Two, using two colors together gives an extra depth to the piece. Three, holding two strands together gives extra plushness. Plus it makes it possible to use US8 (5mm) needles to get to your finished jacket faster!
We hope you enjoy this fun, flirty, and fashionable knit. We can’t help but wonder – what color will your Slushie be?
Next week, we’ll have another piece in purple that we think you’ll love.
If you’re wondering about the name of this week’s pattern, “welkin” comes from an old English word meaning the vault of the sky.
It’s an appropriate name for this shawl, with its cirrus-cloud stripes of white against the sky blue.
Graceful wings are formed by increasing from the starting tab on both right and wrong sides of the fabric, another nod to the lighter-than-air feel of this accessory.
And at the widest edge, lovely lace edged with crochet picot puffs resembling tiny clouds in a blue sky
Knitting this shawl in soft, downy Nymph, gives the piece an even more cloudlike quality. Cotton blend Nymph has a chainette construction, with fiber blown through its center for a lighter weight fabric on US 7 (4.5mm) needles. The yarn has a beautiful fuzz that softens the lines of Welkin’s stripes.
It’s a beautiful look for the season. And don’t limit yourself to blues and white – perhaps your Welkin will be a field of violets, or an ocean wave about to break. There are limitless possibilities.
Earth Day is a week away – and that’s something we should all be celebrating. We are just one of the estimated 1 trillion species on Earth…and we are also the life form that arguably has the greatest impact on the natural world. Recently, I listened to David Attenborough’s reading of his book, Life on Earth, originally published in 1979. In the last couple of chapters, he wrote about our impact on the planet, and this quote truly strikes a chord:
“The fact remains that man has unprecedented control over the world and everything in it. And so, whether he likes it or not, what happens next is very largely up to him.”
There is so much information available about how to ease our environmental impact. It can be very overwhelming at times! These conversations can often be heated, controversial, and even lead to confusion about what we can do. Ultimately, though, we can all take small steps to help preserve this remarkable place we call home. So, what does that have to do with yarn? Well, today I wanted to highlight some of the yarns we can use to minimize our footprints and create practical, reusable projects.
Our Java yarn is made with 100% hemp fibers. What’s so great about hemp? Well, for one thing, it requires significantly less water to grow and process! It’s an incredibly strong and durable fiber and is also very colorfast. Java has a rustic hand and is well-suited for projects such as washcloths and home décor.
Sunfire Bag in Java
An easy step for reducing your carbon footprint is to swap plastic shopping bags with reusable bags. At this point, several states have banned the use of plastic shopping bags altogether. And while your state may not have taken those measures, toting (pun intended) your own shopping bag is a great idea! Stroll to your local farmer’s market in style with the Sunfire Bag (pattern link). This crochet project is worked modularly and boasts plenty of space. I’d love to make several of these bags in an assortment of the 12 colors in the Java palette.
Stitch Sampler Cloths
Forget paper towels and disposable wipes! The Stitch Sampler Cloths (pattern link) are great reusable projects that work as well for spa days and personal hygiene as they do for scrubbing your dishes. Taking care of these cloths is a snap because they are machine washable and dryable. Each cloth in the pattern features a unique stitch motif, so you won’t get bored while knitting. Plus, they have a loop that’s convenient for hanging!
Most people first learn about the benefits of recycling in elementary school. I know I did! I’ve been known to unravel thrift store sweaters to recycle the yarn, but we’ve made the process even simpler with our Clean Cotton and Clean Cotton Multi yarns. Both yarns are made entirely of reclaimed fiber. Our mill gathered waste yarn scraps and bits of fluff from other yarns to give it new life as a soft, durable, and practical yarn at an impressively economical price point. Each yarn in the Clean Cotton family (which also includes Clean Cotton Big) is comprised of 85% recycled cotton and 15% recycled polyester. While we created this yarn with projects like cozies, washcloths, dish towels, and bags in mind, it’s surprisingly soft. We’ve had several customers (myself included) create breezy garments, too!
Mosaic Dish Towels
The Mosaic Dish Towels (pattern link) are a coordinating set of kitchen towels that are absorbent and can be used to wipe up a spill here and there, dry your hands, hold hot plates, and more. All it takes is two skeins of each color and you’ll get at least two towels (as shown above). This straightforward pattern features a pretty motif along the bottom edge and garter stitch throughout the rest of the fabric. An I-cord loop is convenient for hanging these pieces in your kitchen, but you can just as easily drape them over your oven door handle. This design is an excellent choice for beginners interested in dipping their toes into a more exciting project.
Fresh Air Washcloths
Great for your kitchen or your bathroom, the Fresh Air Washcloths (pattern link) are just as practical as the Stitch Sampler Cloths I mentioned earlier. The saturated hues of Clean Cotton make it easy to add a pop of color to your home. These washcloths are knit flat from the bottom up in a broken garter stitch pattern. After you finish the square portion, an I-cord edging is worked around the edge using a contrast color. I think these would be great in Clean Cotton Multi, too!
Perhaps the most versatile eco-friendly yarn we offer is Cottonwood. Cottonwood is a GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton yarn. It is soft, smooth, and boasts excellent stitch definition. We’ve used this yarn for garments, accessories, and the same functional home products similar to others I’ve highlighted in this post. Last Friday, Heather gushed about the Sandbar shawl on the blog (link). In addition to an ebook, Cottonwood Arboretum, we have a plethora of free patterns to support this yarn, too.
Macaron Cloths
In keeping with our theme, though, let’s take a look at the Macaron Cloths (pattern link). With yarn this soft, we truly had your skincare routine in mind. They are gentle on the skin, yet highly absorbent, making them a terrific choice for your next spa day. The construction of these cloths is extremely similar to the Fresh Air Washcloths I mentioned earlier, but where they really shine is the array of stunning stitch patterns. Featuring long stitches, twisted stitches, lace, and I-cords, you’ll expand your knitting skill set and there is certainly no risk of boredom. Because each cloth is different, this is like getting five patterns in one!
Today I focused on some of the eco-friendly yarns we offer that use plant fibers. However, if you’re looking for some luxurious animal fiber yarns that are Earth-friendly, don’t miss Ravello and Cashmere Lusso – which both contain recycled cashmere, or Deluxe Worsted – a non-superwash wool yarn with a handful of natural, undyed colors.
So, this Earth Day, celebrate our planet and our craft with some beautiful, environmentally friendly yarns and patterns. Take a walk outside, plant a tree, clean up trash in your neighborhood, and take some time to show gratitude for our amazing home.
