Frame is named in part as a nod to the yarn used, and in part because it was originally a pattern in the “In The Spotlight” collection of designs in Cinema.
They’re all gorgeous – I really covet the Director sweater – but Frame was chosen to be set free because it’s a great first mitts project in a beautiful yarn.
Cinema is a bulky-weight single with wool, nylon, and just enough cashmere to give it maximum “squeezability,” which is a technical term that I just made up. Cinema comes in both multis and solids, so you can easily mix and match. I did this with the free Hoarfrost Scarf, and was very pleased with the results.
With Frame, though, you won’t need to mix and match, since it’s a one-skein pattern! Worked on US9 (5.5mm) needles, these twisted stockinette mitts are perfect for keeping your fingers free. Maybe free for more knitting? Hmm…
We hope you have a great weekend, and stay warm and dry.
The Amaranth Hat takes its name from the amaranth plant, with its gorgeous red spikes.
Image: rareseeds.com. This is definitely going in the garden this year.
In addition to being colorful, amaranth is useful, as a dye, a grain, a leafy green… there’s a lot going on with this showy beauty. And there’s a lot to love about this pattern, too.
Cables, ribbing, texture, and more… all in a piece that takes just one skein of Wool Pop! It’s everything you could want in one package. Rachel Brockman really outdid herself with this design.
We hope you have a fantastic weekend, full of beautiful things.
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Roseate Cardigan in Bella Chenille (pattern link here).
When people look at soft, plush yarns like Bella Chenille, they sometimes think they’re only suitable for babies. That’s a shame, because it overlooks real gems, like the free Lounge Pullover.
We’re delighted today to share another beautiful free pattern for adults in Bella Chenille, the Roseate Cardigan.
Designer Rachel Brockman uses eyelets to create a lovely texture, for an everyday cardigan that’s comfortable and stylish.
Sized from XS to 5X, this project knits up quickly on US size 10 (6mm) needles. It’s one of those pieces where you know just by looking at it exactly how soft it’s going to feel.
Absolutely delightful.
We hope you have a great weekend. Although our offices will be closed next Friday in observance of Thanksgiving, there will still be a Free Pattern Friday (yay!) Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Imprint Scarf in Wool Pop (pattern link here).
Happy Friday, y’all! Wait, what’s that you say?
Oof. Okay then. Let’s not tempt fate with teeny tiny cabled lace. How about we keep things nice and calm, with an easy pattern in a knitter-favorite yarn?
The Imprint Scarf uses simple knits and purls to create a slanted block texture. It’s written and charted to make things easier.
Lightweight Wool Pop has a bit of a sheen from its bamboo content, giving this scarf a lovely feel. If you’re a beginner, or if you just prefer simple projects (and don’t we all, sometimes?) then this is a great project for you.
We hope you have a calm and relaxing weekend. Stay safe, and happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, Olive in Kingston Tweed and Penna (pattern link here).
First things first: the model for this hat is also the designer, Rachel Brockman. Rachel is a big fan of the outdoors, and takes a lot of inspiration from her time in nature.
We have it on good authority that one of her favorite yarns is Kingston Tweed – you’ve probably seen her fantastic Jay Sweater. For this hat, she took that rustic yarn and gave it extra flair by combining it with laceweight Penna.
We’re sharing the picture of the yarn to show exactly what Penna brings to the design – a slight blur to the edges from its soft alpaca halo.
You can see the gentle feel it imparts to this cable and rib delight.
Start with the cable panel, worked flat. Seam the ends together, and it becomes the brim of this hat.
Pick up stitches from the edge, and work broken rib in the round upwards to the crown. Love those decrease swirls!
It’s a gentle beauty of a design. We hope you enjoy it.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love Deluxe Worsted. Today, we’re excited to share that we’ve given this yarn a facelift. We’ve narrowed down the color palette to be more cohesive and, excitingly, we are now able to offer this yarn at a more accessible price point. Deluxe Worsted is a gorgeous, 100% non-superwash wool yarn that is a stash staple. You should see my own stash – there is plenty of it!
I love Deluxe Worsted for its versatility. It looks great in every stitch pattern – from cables to colorwork, you simply can’t go wrong. It is a round, 4-ply yarn that is smooth and soft without compromising durability. That’s why I chose it for my recently published design, Mahakam.
My husband, John, in his Mahakam pullover.
Published in the First Fall 2020 issue of Knitty, I designed this pattern specifically with my husband in mind. It needed to be a great layering piece, but more interesting than a plain stockinette stitch sweater. It also needed to be knit in a color he’d love wearing on a regular basis. After all, if something is going to be handknit, it needs to get a lot of love!
Although John definitely isn’t afraid of a little color, I wasn’t too surprised when his attention went straight to the neutrals. His top choices were #12172 Dark Crystal and #12178 Turkish Coffee. Although the colors are similar in tone and value, Dark Crystal is cooler and more grey while Turkish Coffee is a warmer, black-brown hue. It was hard to choose between the two, but who can resist a color that references the Jim Henson masterpiece, The Dark Crystal? After all, both of us love puppets (and Muppets, obviously), and take at least an annual trip to the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.
Deluxe Worsted #12172 Dark Crystal
After selecting the color, I knew the fabric needed to be rich in texture, so I turned to slip stitch cables to feature throughout the body and sleeves. I made some little swatches first, just to make sure John was happy with them. Even when using such a dark color, the texture isn’t lost thanks to the wonderful stitch definition of Deluxe Worsted.
The textural slip-stitch cables are also featured on the sleeves and body.
John was adamant about this sweater being relaxed and a bit oversized – pretty much as cozy as possible. However, I also wanted to create a design that could look great worn either way – relaxed and casual or more form-fitting and tailored. So, I also asked my friend, Michael, to model the sweater. I love how the fit is a bit tidier on him. It’s always nice to see how garments look on various body types. Both John and Michael loved the sweater, so I feel like my design was pretty successful.
Michael chose a pop of orange to peek out from beneath this sweater. A stylish and autumnal touch.
Mahakam is knit from the bottom up in pieces and seamed. I love seams because they add structure and longevity to knitwear. It features raglan shaping and a K1, P1 Rib hem, sleeve cuffs, and neckband. The slip-stitch cables decorate the front, back, and sleeves.
Deluxe Worsted shines in textural stitch patterns, like those used in Mahakam.
Naming patterns is one aspect of design that is fun, but also a bit challenging. While sometimes I know what I want to name a sweater during the early stages of designing, other times I don’t know until the sweater is finished. The latter was the case with Mahakam. Given that it’s delightfully woolly, I couldn’t help but think of this pullover as the perfect piece for trips to the mountains this time of year. Mountains led me to think of mining, and mining led me to think of dwarves. In short, this combination paired with my current obsession with all things related to The Witcher, I decided to name the sweater Mahakam after the mountainous region where dwarves live and thrive.
The textural pattern is also featured on the back of Mahakam.
Although the pattern as written could easily be considered unisex, I’ve been thinking about designing a women’s version of this sweater. It might be nice to give the waist subtle A-line shaping and crop it a bit. A split hem would also be a nice touch. If I decide to move in that direction, I think I’ll use #12281 Clay, which is a lovely terra cotta hue.
Deluxe Worsted #12281 Clay
I hope you enjoyed hearing a little more about this design. If you’re interested in knitting Mahakam, you can find the pattern on Ravelry (link) and in Knitty (link). Don’t forget, Deluxe Worsted is now available at a more accessible price point! You can find Deluxe Worsted at your local yarn store, or on our website, where you can see all of the colors. Which color would you choose?
This week we’re celebrating the launch of our latest ebook, Autumn Wonder. This collection is comprised of five charming patterns to knit using Wool Pop. It’s a plump, springy blend of 50% bamboo, 35% superwash wool, and 15% polyamide. Wool Pop is one of our newest yarns, and so far it seems you love it as much as we do! Let’s take a look at the patterns!
Developing pattern collections takes a long time. It starts with a mood board, followed by brainstorming, sketching, and swatching. Then there is the pattern writing, sample knitting, and tech editing. It doesn’t stop there. Outside of the actual pattern work, there is planning and conducting a photoshoot and, of course, putting the whole ebook together! It takes months, and it’s so exciting when we can finally reveal the finished product.
When I started developing the Autumn Wonder collection, I wanted it to include garments and accessories well-suited for the season. You’ll find gorgeous designs suitable for layering as well as rich, textural pullovers with relaxed silhouettes.
Brezza in Wool Pop #602 Cream
One of my contributions is Brezza. Brezza is a boxy, drop sleeve pullover featuring simple lace and twisted stitches on a background of reverse stockinette stitch. This garment is such a soothing knit. You’ll quickly memorize the stitch pattern, which sweeps from the front along the sides and into the back. The stitchwork in this piece is a testament to the wonderful stitch definition of Wool Pop – I mean, those twisted stitches really pop!
The body of Brezza is knit seamlessly in the round from the bottom up. The front and back are divided at the underarms and worked flat, then are rejoined at the shoulder seam using the three-needle bind-off. The sleeves are knit flat separately and seamed.
Filigree in Wool Pop #609 Darling Pink
I was given the opportunity to reach out so some designers I admire for this collection. I’ve long admired Lana Jois‘ work, so I was thrilled when she took me up on my invitation to contribute a pattern. Filigree is the result of this collaboration – and it might just be the perfect tee. It’s great for layering (as pictured above), or worn on its own.
I love the split lace hem that decorates this otherwise simple tee. Although I love knitting lace, I don’t always feel like “me” when wearing it. With that said, I fell in love with this top right away – it features just the right amount of lace for me. You can actually see me wearing it in this video. I have my heart set on knitting a version of this top in #616 Denim.
Perennial in Wool Pop #611 Brambles
If garments aren’t your favorite thing to make, look no further than Perennial. Most triangular shawls are knit either from the top down or the bottom up, but designer Adrienne Larsen isn’t one to stick to the status quo. Instead, she chose to use a clever, modular construction.
A beautiful lace panel is framed by simple ribbing and stockinette stitch. The panel is worked first, then stitches are picked up along the bottom edge of the panel to create a ribbed edge that is worked from the top down. Finally, stitches are picked up along the top of the panel for the body, which is worked from the bottom up and a tidy, single crochet border is applied across the top edge. I’m so inspired by this one!
Serra in Wool Pop #617 Raisin
My second contribution to the collection is Serra. This pullover has a relaxed, cozy fit and is covered with cables. Although this is a straightforward design with minimal shaping in this, the cables demand a bit of attention. The results are well worth the effort because you’ll want to live in this piece!
The body of Serra is knit seamlessly in the round from the bottom up. The front and back are divided at the underarms and worked flat, then are rejoined at the shoulder seam using the three-needle bind-off. The sleeves are knit flat separately and seamed.
Stagione in Wool Pop #615 Sage
Last, but certainly not least, we have Stagione, designed by Courtney Spainhower. When I invited Courtney to contribute to the collection, she told me that she has made a mission out of “showing shoulders more beautifully than ever before”. I’d call that mission a success! The details in this garment are so thoughtful, from the “rib” along the hem created with garter stitch to the twisted stitches, visible seams, and of course – that drool-worthy shoulder shaping!
This sweater is worked in two mirrored pieces from the center to the cuff. It begins with a provisional cast-on, which is then joined using a stretchy three-needle bind-off to create the visible seams down the center of the front and back. This is another sweater from the collection that I’m dying to knit.
Now that you’ve had a closer look at the designs, I have even more exciting news. To celebrate the launch of this collection we’re hosting a giveaway! Two lucky winners will receive a pattern’s worth of Wool Pop for the project of their choice from the collection, in the color and size of their choice. Does it get any better than that?
To enter, head to our Facebook page (link) and to our Instagram (link). All you need to do is like us, follow us, and comment on our post. We’ll choose a winner next Tuesday, 8/25/20. You can enter on both platforms, but you can only win once.
This is part 8 in a 12 part series highlighting designs from our 12 Days of Winter, Series 3 Edition.
Although Day 8 of Winter’s pattern is a Rachel Brockman design, I asked her if I could write the blog post for this kit. I just love it!
The tubular cast-on for the edge is a nice touch. Rachel demonstrates it in this blog post.
The Peppermint Bark Hat is the perfect (snow)storm of my favorite things: Fair Isle, knitting in the round, and snow.
The kit comes with yarn and color copy of the pattern. You provide needles and notions.
Actually, there’s one more of my favorite things in this kit: Angora Lace. It’s made of superwash fine merino, with nylon for durability and angora for extra softness. This kit features three balls in colors that match the classic holiday treat, peppermint bark!
Perfect pom-pom.
The colors were well-chosen – look at the rich depth in that Merlot! (For tips on achieving the perfect pom-pom, Amy Gunderson has you covered in this blog post from last year’s 12 Days of Christmas).
I mentioned Fair Isle colorwork. Checking the pattern and the inside of the hat, I see that Rachel has designed this so that no more than two colors are used in a row. And flashing back to last year, Rachel has some incredibly useful tips on Fair Isle in the round in this blog post from Series 2 of the 12 Days kits.
She also shares tips on managing your floats in this blog post – very handy at the very tips of those snowflakes. (See why I wanted to write this? I get to gush about the kit, and Rachel’s done all the hard work for me!)
US Size 1 (2.25 mm) needles are used for the ribbing, with US Size 3 (3.25 mm) for the body.
We generally sell out of all the kits every year. Of course, if we happen to wind up with a Peppermint Bark Hat kit when the season is over, and it mysteriously disappears… well, who could blame me?
Remember, you can find the 12 Days of Winter Kits at your local yarn shop. Happy crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Glider Shawl in Finn (pattern link here). Perfect for a breezy day or a night out, this shawl adds warmth without the bulk. Originally part of the Vibrance in Lace collection from last Fall, we’ve decided to set this lovely pattern free.
Finn, a yarn featuring a blend of superwash merino, alpaca, and acrylic, is the perfect match for this pattern. It is soft to touch, with a subtle halo thanks to the alpaca. I don’t know about you, but something about halo-y yarn and lace makes my heart sing.
Knit from the bottom up, beginning with the tip, the shawl’s original shape adds decorative interest to any outfit. The lace panel in the back adds a delicate and feminine touch, while the rest of the shawl is worked in simple, soothing garter stitch. Draped around your shoulders or worn bandana-style, the Glider Shawl is sure to become a multi-season favorite.
We hope you have a relaxing weekend filled yarn-y goodness. Happy Crafting!
It’s Free Pattern Friday!
Today, the Lace Tipped Cardigan in Odette (pattern link here).
Down here in the South, it’s tempting to say, “finally, some sweater weather!” But yesterday, a friend in Chicago sent me a picture of themselves outdoors. This isn’t them, but it certainly gives the feel.
I can’t put my arms down!
Fortunately, this week’s free pattern is warmer than you might think!
The Lace Tipped Cardigan is worked in Odette. Although it’s a light-feeling yarn, the merino and alpaca held in its chainette construction give it enough loft to trap the warmth.
It also gives a beautiful textured feel, and subtle variations in color.
Because it’s so light, it still has a delicate look. The lace border helps with that as well.
The other thing to love? You can still have a lightweight, airy look while working on a US Size 7 (4.5mm) needle.
Like most of our designs, the Lace Tipped Cardigan has sizing from XS to 5X. Toss it over a top and jeans, and you’re ready for anything!
We hope you have a toasty and wonderful weekend.
Happy crafting!
