It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Sparkler Shawl in Fibra Natura Unity (pattern link here).
We like going red, white, and blue around the 4th of July. Remember last year’s Independence Tank in Flax? This year, we’re sharing a burst of color in linen blend Unity.
This four-pointed shawl has a shape that’s incredibly easy to wear. It begins at the center, increasing to create three triangles that sit easily on your shoulders.
Summery blend Unity is paired with an open stitch pattern, making this the perfect shawl for warmer days.
One word of caution: the sample shown here weighs exactly 200g, meaning exactly two skeins of Unity. If your gauge is a little off, or you’re not a fan of “yarn chicken,” you may wish to purchase an additional skein to ensure you have enough yarn. Alternatively, you could work fewer garter rows along the border, though it will naturally result in a slightly smaller shawl.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend, full of light and joy.
Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Halfway There in Flax (pattern link here).
This gorgeous crochet shawl was originally a pay pattern, part of the Contrarian Shawls 2 collection.
So many pretty patterns…
Now, we’re setting it free!
This is a triangular shawl, but not in traditionally shaped. If you remember your geometry, it’s a scalene right angle triangle – one 90 degree angle, but sides of differing lengths.
The geometric theme is repeated in the stepped triangles along the border. Crocheted in 100% linen Flax, this is a great design for warm weather!
Written and charted, for your convenience.
A delicate, yet modern, design. It’s a delight to share it.
We hope you have a great weekend. Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, March Fog in Alaska (pattern link here).
This is an apt day to introduce this pattern, because today, the 1st of March, it is indeed foggy in Charlotte.
But not quite this foggy.
It’s been more of a hazy mist, but the colors and fuzzy feel show where March Fog got its inspiration.
March Fog is wide enough to be a stole, but works well wrapped like a scarf, too.
Knit in Rozetti Yarns lofty Alaska, this crochet accessory is fluffy and warm, with a bit of foggy haze about it.
The stole is crocheted lengthwise in a very easy all-over mesh pattern. As written, this took exactly two balls of each color (902 Peach Puff and 905 Stormy). You might want to grab an extra ball, just for safety’s sake.
The ending edge of the mesh pattern naturally forms cute scallops. After the main stole is complete, an edging is added to the beginning edge so that the two sides match. Don’t forget to block to open up that lace!
Snuggle up against early Spring winds – and happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Contented Socks in Angora Lace (pattern link here).
Recently we shared an article called “The Modern Trap of Turning Hobbies into Hustles.” It struck home with a lot of people. The pressure to turn our joy into dollar signs is real, and people were glad to have the reassurance that it’s not just them, and that your craft can be just for you to enjoy, with no pressure to make it “useful” in the monetary sense.
Angora Lace color 105 Paradise
I’ve had this experience many times, and I’ll bet you’ve had a similar one: I was making socks while waiting for my deli order to be ready, and the person behind the counter said, “hey, could you make me a pair, too?”
My stock answer now is, “No, but I can teach you how!” So far, there have been no takers.
Enter: the Contented Socks.
I do love a good heel flap.
I tend to make socks for other people – my spouse, my child, my parents… but it’s been a while since I made a pair just for myself. When I felt a ball of Angora Lace and realized how soft it was, I knew it was meant for me. I am every bit as knitworthy as the people dearest to me.
With that in mind, I decided on my favorite construction – toe-up, heel flap, but with a slip-stitch heel instead of my usual eye-of-partridge. I like the way the columns look with the stripes in the yarn.
For the leg, a simple four-row lace repeat. I will say – this lace pattern is stretchy, so in coming back around from the foot to the leg, if you have small ankles you might want to drop down by a multiple of 4 stitches. Either way, in knitting these, I had about 1/3 of a ball left over – probably enough to get a pair of ankle socks out of.
There are plenty of multi colors to choose from, as well as solids. And I really do recommend this yarn – it’s like holding a cloud.
I hope you find time to take joy in the things you do, not because someone else gives you permission to do so, but because you know your worth.
May you find both the small joys and big happiness.
We sent out a newsletter letting folks know about our Bamboo Pop-along, and got back a cute note from Sheep’s Clothing in Kennewick, WA. They’re snowed in – Bamboo Pop tees aren’t exactly on their radar right now!
Oh, the weather outside is frightful…
Yikes! We feel for our friends to the North! While we’re enjoying Bamboo Pop, can we share a big, warm, fluffy hug with you?
There there.
This is the Warmth Stole in Revolutions (free pattern link here). There should be a picture of this next to “snuggly” in the dictionary.
Lace for miles
Things to love:
It’s on size 10 1/2 (6.5mm) needles, to help this mammoth stole go quickly
The lace is a simple 10-row 10-stitch repeat that you’ll quickly get the hang of
So pretty.
You could go with 101 Port shown in the pattern picture…
Pin by Jul Designs
…or pick something more monochrome or vibrant. It’s up to you.
Regardless, we hope everyone stays safe and warm. Happy crafting!
Normally this would be where I’d make some joke about it being cold, but at this point, the weather’s a bit beyond that. Anytime people are being advised “avoid taking deep breaths, and minimise talking” while outside, that’s serious.
So maybe it’s time to hunker down, stay in, and make something bulky out of wool.
The Alpine Wrap is a great mix of lace and big yarn – thick enough to wrap around and bundle up in, or to wear loose as a beautiful accessory.
This gorgeous wrap is more than 6 feet long, but it goes by quickly – and it’s much easier than you might think!
The lace is varied, but it’s composed of basic stitches. If you can single and double crochet, you can make this.
Work the middle widthwise in rows. Then make the three color border in rounds, along all sides of the center. And because you’re using Deluxe Bulky Superwash wool on a US Size M/N (9 mm) hook, it’s going to grow quickly.
Designer Rachel Brockman chose to go with neutrals accented by 925 Adobe, a muted take on the 2019 Color of the Year that works well in this substantial piece.
However, while you could easily make this with four colors as shown, you could also use just one, or any number you wish. I’m a big fan of cool tones, so maybe Honeydew, Pulp, and Petrol Blue?
913 Honeydew, 928 Pulp, 914 Petrol Blue
Everybody, please have a safe, warm, cozy weekend.
In what feels like no time at all, January has nearly passed and February is already upon us. With that in mind, and with freezing temperatures outside, we’d like to warm your heart with something special.
Remember the Be Mine Shawl? It was our 2018 Valentine’s Day project (link to blog post here). We’re excited to share that it has been knit up in a fresh combination of colors – one that reminds us of the transition from the icy winter to first signs of spring peeking through the snow.
Fibra Natura Papyrus has become a well-loved yarn, and for good reason! It’s a luxurious blend of ultra-soft cotton and silk. The muted palette is perfect for delicate projects, and we particularly enjoy using it for lace, twisted stitches, and textured patterns. The new sample features Cloud as the main color, Lily Pad and Ether for the contrasting heart repeats, and Tempest for a pop between each lace repeat.
Just look at that lovely drape!
Although I design with pink, it’s not actually one of my favorite colors. Don’t get me wrong, it is a fine color, but it’s earth tones and autumnal colors that I’m most drawn to. In any case, I love this crisp, new color combination. It’s a nice change. Plus, I love seeing our designs knit in different colors. Sometimes knitters are tempted to stick to the original sample – but with all the possible color combinations, I have to ask why?
Swatching is an excellent way to play with color.
Play with different colors when you’re visiting your local yarn shop. Put them side by side – add a color, subtract a color, try something unexpected – you never know what lovely combinations you might create. Even if your yarn shop doesn’t carry the color you’re looking for, they’re usually very happy to order a color for you. Visit our website (link) if you want to plan your color combinations before paying a visit to your LYS. Whatever colors you come up with, we hope you’ll share images of your beautiful shawls with us!
Designer Rachel Brockman pulls out all the stops for today’s pattern!
The theme here is magma, and nature lover Rachel takes it to its fullest extent. The stripes at the top represent bands of igneous rock pushed up by the force from beneath…
…while the lace below represents the flow of semi-solid lava.
The fuzzy fiber blend in Amphora ensures that this shawl will keep you warm – but not lava-hot!
Best, since the shawl is based on the garter stitch, it’s aesthetically reversible and pleasing on both sides. A big, beautiful winner of a design!
This generously sized stole/shawl/scarf is knit in one piece from one end to the other. It uses Deluxe Chunky in my favorite heathered shade of gray, #91903 Charcoal Heather. On a size 10 needle, this is a project that isn’t going to take until next winter, either.
This project goes to show that rectangles do not have to be boring! The lace pattern in the main body of this stole uses centered double decreases which create angles on both cast-on and bind-off edges. The garter edging on each side also forms points, which brings me to the next thing I love about this piece – it is so easy to block!
To block, the easiest method is to use blocking wires and pins. You could also use pins by themselves on a blocking board. But I find it’s much easier to use the wires because I can stretch the item more evenly.
Because all four edges of the stole have points on them, I ran wires through the tips of these points, and then pinned my wires to a blocking board which stretched the whole thing out evenly. It’s almost always very important to block lace in order to open up the fabric, and also to even out the stitchwork.
Never used blocking wires before? This might be a good project to get started! I bet your LYS carries them – just ask!
Remember, you can find Series 2 of the 12 Days of Winter Kit patterns on Ravelry.
