Tag: scarf

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Chunky Cables – Four Fabulous Knits in Deluxe Chunky

I love cables.  More than lace, more than mosaic, more than a dozen other techniques, cables just embody knitting for me.  When you pair them with a good quality wool, even better.  And when you make it a chunky wool so you can see your progress grow quickly, that’s a home run.  So with no further ado, four popular cabled projects in our Deluxe Chunky 100% wool!

First Valentina (pattern link here).

Honestly, I am forever astonished that this is a free pattern.  It’s just gorgeous, and filled with the excellent attention to detail that Amy Gunderson brings to all her designs.

Take a look at those saddle shoulders. They let the cables run unbroken from cuff to collar.

The moss stitch underside is where alterations for size are made, to avoid disturbing the bold and beautiful Dueling Cables design.

This one was made in Deluxe Chunky 91904 Pomegranate Heather, but I keep thinking of going green, maybe with 61635 Deep Jungle which has a bit of blue as well.

Next: the Catawba River Poncho (pattern link here).

This isn’t a free pattern, but it has remained a top 5 bestseller since its release.  Take a closer look and see why!

Sized Small to 2X/3X, the poncho is fastened with two buttons on each side.  You get good range of motion without looking like you’re swallowed up.

Lace is married to cables for the main body design – the best of two techniques joined together!

This is a pattern from Amy Gunderson.  Here she is posing in the Catawba River Poncho she knitted for herself, so you can see how it falls.  Really lovely!

Next, another bestseller: the Pine View Scarf (pattern link here).

We offered this scarf as a kit at the holidays last year, then as a paid pattern after the first of this year.

If you like cabling, but maybe not all over, or if you want to try it out in small doses, this is a great project.  The pines at both ends that give the scarf its name are cabled, but the background and borders are seed stitch and reverse stockinette.  Deluxe Chunky on US size 10 (6mm) needles goes fairly quickly in this simple, pretty scarf.

Finally, the Rutherford Beret (pattern link here).

I made my own Rutherford Beret in Deluxe Chunky color 91467 Tulipwood, and I can tell you it’s an easy one-hank pattern.  The cables are all single twists. And how cute is that little i-cord loop at the top? Easy to pull it off and hang it up by the door.

We had someone here in the office do a two-color version.  Neat idea!

We hope these designs provide a little knitspiration.

Keep on cabling!

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Quick Lace – Fast & Free Projects in Chunky Yarn

Are you ever in the mood for some instant gratification, but with a little extra interest?  Two words: chunky lace.  We’ve got four projects here – two knit and two crochet – that you can finish in a flash.

Let’s start with the very quickest – the Chunky Lace Beanie in Deluxe Chunky (pattern link here).  This was originally designed for a quick little free e-book of hats with pom-poms called Hot Hats.  However, the detailing on the crown is awfully nice, so after its release, the original knitter reclaimed it, cut off the pompom, and now wears it every winter.

This quick lace topper takes just one ball of Deluxe Chunky 100% wool.  120 yards + US size 10 needles and you’re done.  There are 122 (and counting) shades of Deluxe Chunky.  Your LYS can help you find a color that’s perfect for you.

 

Next, the Waving Lace Stole in Deluxe Chunky (pattern link here).

We mentioned Deluxe Chunky’s array of colors for the last pattern, but this one goes in the opposite direction.

It uses color 50004, Pewter Undyed Natural.  The color here is the color of the sheep it came from.  It’s a charming, rustic look that would work well with dresses or blue jeans.

The lace works up quickly on US size 11 (8mm) needles.  Fringe finishes it off.

Wear it wide, or fold it in half for a scarf with a lot of depth.  Fabulous.

 

On to crochet!  Here’s the Ambrosia Scarf in Deluxe Bulky Superwash (pattern link here).

This puff-stitch scarf is worked end to end.  Shorten or lengthen it by changing the number in the beginning chain.  Three colors of Deluxe Bulky Superwash play together – three balls of main color 932 Icy Gray, and one each of 913 Honeydew and 933 Sweatshirt Gray.

Such a sculptural, wrappable, wearable piece.  Very impressive.

 

Finally, the Racing Cowl in Uptown Bulky Amplify (pattern link here).

We’re pushing the boundaries of “lace” here, but this one is so quick and easy. Just one skein of self-striping Uptown Bulky Amplify and a N-15 (10mm) hook make this strikingly colorful piece.

We pulled the cowl down over the shoulders here so you could see how it’s constructed a little better.  Really, it’s back bar half double crochet all the way around, row after row until you feel done.  Super quick, but it gives the finished piece an almost knitted look.  Neat!

In a couple of weeks, we’ll be looking at some fabulous cabled projects in bulky yarn.  They rank among our most popular projects!

Until then, happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Citron Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Citron Scarf crocheted in Cottonwood (pattern link here).

This is a charming pattern in 100% organic Fibra Natura Cottonwood.

The diagonal bars rise in opposing directions from the center of the scarf like an arrow pointing toward that bright fringe.

You can wear it long, but the cotton fiber makes it cool enough to wear wrapped if you wish.  And that fringe!

What a great example of how a contrasting detail can really make a design pop!  We digitally colored a couple just to see some different looks.

I’m torn!  It might be time to enjoy a Citron Pressé and mull the options.

We hope you have a refreshing weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Scruncher Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Scruncher Scarf in Whisper Lace and Cotton Supreme Batik (pattern link here).

I. Love. This. Pattern.

Look at how simple that is.  This is exactly the kind of pattern that I would have loved as a beginner, and that I still love when I want to make something beautiful and not look away from binge-watching Jessica Jones.

Because it’s dropped stitches on a larger needle (US size 10 1/2), this pattern makes the yarn go a long way.  One ball of Whisper Lace wool/silk for the solid bands, two balls of self-striping Cotton Supreme Batik for the wider variegated stripes.

Because the fabric is so loose and drapey, it scrunches up effortlessly – hence the name Scruncher Scarf.  Here it is in an alternate colorway, folded in half and wrapped for an accessory that straddles “skinny” and “full.”

Obviously, this would be a great one to experiment with, colorwise.  I’ll bet your LYS could put together some fantastic color combos.

We hope you have an amazing weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern Friday – Hecka Good Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Hecka Good Scarf in Uptown Worsted and Uptown Worsted Mist (pattern link here).

This scarf is a good example of how in a simple design, the placement of color can make a dramatic impact.

The lighter parts are Uptown Worsted Mist, with subtle shading. It’s accented by solid Uptown Worsted, with elements like the end stripe placed to tie the whole thing together. That said, it’s actually an easy knit – all knits and purls.  Give it a try!

We hope you have a great weekend.

Happy crafting!

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Free Pattern – Behemoth Scarf

Sometimes we have a free pattern that slips under the radar, since we’re so eager to share it that we can’t wait for a Free Pattern Friday.  That’s the case with the crocheted Behemoth Scarf in Revolutions.

(Pattern link here).

Published at the end of the year, the holiday rush meant that this generously-sized scarf didn’t get its due.  That’s a shame, because it’s a beauty.

Two cakes of self-shading Revolutions are worked lengthwise on a J-10 (6mm) hook.  This is a scarf with a length that invites wrapping and folding, but it’s easy to shorten it if you wish – just subtract chains from the beginning count in multiples of 10.  It will still be a showstopper.

Have a great week, and happy crafting!

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Day 6 of Winter

The Pine View scarf is a perfect winter accessory. It’s large, warm, and has an excellent amount of squish because it’s knit in our Deluxe Chunky.

This pattern only uses charts, but don’t let that intimidate you! The stitches are not at all complicated. You’ll get a nice rest at the center of the scarf, too. Personally, I prefer charts over written instructions because I’m a visual person. Charts enable you to see the stitches before you create them.

With that said, some charts can seem overwhelming. You might feel as though you’re getting lost in the grid full of symbols. Fear not, because I’d like to share some helpful tips and tricks for reading charts.

1. Familiarize yourself with symbols.

Take time to review the key and ensure you understand what  each symbol means.

2. Flat or in the round?

Is the pattern flat or in the round? When you knit in the round, charts are read from right to left on every row. Pine View is knit flat, meaning that on right side rows you’ll read right to left, and on wrong side rows you’ll read left to right.

Charts that are knit flat have numbers on both the right and left sides. Charts knit in the round only have numbers on the right side.

3. Stay on track!

Highlighters – Don’t cross out rows—you want to be able to go back and read previous rows in case you make a mistake. And, if you’re like me, you will make mistakes! I probably use highlighters most frequently. Simply highlight the rows you’ve completed, and read from the row above.

Washi Tape – For those who prefer not to see previous rows at all, washi tape is a great solution. It can easily be removed from the paper, so you can hide previous rows and simply peel back the tape to see them.

Stitch markers – For charts that have repeats, use stitch markers. It honestly makes a world of difference. A mistake is less likely to offset the entire row if you’re using stitch markers between each repeat.

You can find this pattern, Day 6 of our 12 Days of Winter collection here.

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Day 4 of Winter

Day 4 of Winter brings us the matching Latticework Hat and Scarf set in washable Adore yarn.

Though there are some traditional 2×2 cable panels in both hat and scarf, most of the crossed stitches are actually twisted stitches.  Right and left twist stitches are a way of crossing stitches that doesn’t require a cable needle. And with just a bit of confidence, 2×2 cables can be crossed without a needle, as well.

I love love love twisted stitches and use them frequently in designs. Through the magic of (simple) needle acrobatics, a lovely texture can be made across your knit fabric. These types of stitches were used a few years ago in our Uptown Afghan Knitalong. Here is the video showing how to do right and left twists.

Remember, each of our 12 Days of Winter projects come packaged in a very giftable bag tied with ribbon. So if you’re shopping for one of your knitting buddies, these might just fit the bill.

I have no plans of taking this off any time soon. It’s freezing in our office!

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Day 2 of Winter

Day 2 of Winter brings us the Broken Garter Scarf. The stitch pattern in this scarf will look familiar to anyone who owns or has read a copy of the brilliant Sequence Knitting book by Cecelia Campochiaro. If you don’t own this book yet, run out and buy it!

This book explores the concept of simple knit-purl texture in a variety of thought-provoking ways. There are many chapters in the book, each expounding on previous ideas. It is fascinating! And it’s easy to read through, fall in love with an idea, and just cast on.

The idea of this particular stitch pattern is a concept in the book that is presented in a variety of ways. I cast on several times with different combinations of knit and purl columns until I finally settled on one that felt right. It’s dead simple – it’s a one row repeat!

That is how the Broken Garter Scarf was born. I wanted to create a project easy to knit that was giftable for women and men alike. Just two balls of Deluxe Worsted Superwash and a few evenings of mindless knitting, and this scarf can be yours.

You can find this pattern, from Series 1, Day 2 of our 12 Days of Winter collection here (link).

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Free Pattern Friday – 18 Petals

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, 18 Petals in Classic Shades Big Time (pattern link here).

What a neat design!  It combines a soft, bulky yarn – Classic Shades Big Time – with a bright Spring colorway, the new 819 Botanica.  It’s a healthy dose of color as winter rears its head.

Each of the 18 “petals” is shaped through short-rows and decreases. After the lower petal section is complete, ribbing is worked upward from the straight/unshaped edge.  The flexible edge formed by the ribbing’s tendency to gather makes this a fun piece to wrap around however you like.

We hope you have an amazing weekend, and find time to make something fun!

Happy crafting!