Free Pattern Friday – Refracted Lace Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday… again!

RefractedLaceShawl_Back_WhisperLace_blog

This afternoon, the Refracted Lace Shawl in Whisper Lace.

We once had a popular pattern called the Refracted Light Shawl in a discontinued yarn called Swiss Mohair.  Alas, when Swiss Mohair went away, so did the pattern.  But it was one of those patterns that kept being passed around from crocheter to crocheter, in a “have you seen this?  It sounds like just what you’re looking for” kind of way.

RefractedLaceShawl_Front_WhisperLace_blogWell, you can’t keep a good pattern down, so here it is, back again.  This time, it’s in Whisper Lace (440yds/50g), our wool/silk blend from the Fibra Natura line.

Front and back post crochet create an open, airy fabric that can fan out across your back or twist artfully at the shoulder or front.

We hope you enjoy this classic, available once more for you to enjoy.

Happy crafting!

RefractedLaceShawl_Back_WhisperLace_detail_blog

Free Pattern Friday – Planetary Shawl

Let’s have a double Free Pattern Friday today!

PlanetaryShawl_Back_Universe_blogThis morning, we just have to highlight the Planetary Shawl in Universe.

We were going to wait just a little longer to share this heart-shaped top-down shawl, but it got such a great reception at the TNNA Fashion Show last weekend that we couldn’t help ourselves.

Universe samples for social mediaUniverse is the very special yarn we designed to celebrate Universal Yarn’s 10th anniversary.  It features combed cotton, linen, glitter, and a classic black thread holding the whole glorious package together.   We haven’t seen anything else quite like it.

Expect Universe to hit shelves later this summer,  We love this yarn and we think you will too.

PlanetaryShawl_Front_Universe_hires

We’ll be back later today with another another yarn and another free pattern – this time for crocheters.  Happy crafting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Guadalupe Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!CS Sequins Lite Crochet Shawl 1_blogToday, the Guadalupe Stole in Classic Shades Metallic.

CS Sequins Lite Crochet Shawl 2_blogI love this loose and airy crochet shawl.  It’s long and luxurious, and the Classic Shades Metallic gives it just the right amount of sparkle in the light.  Of course, if you’re not a glam kind of person, Classic Shades works up to exactly the same gauge, so you can still get the great color shifts without the bling.

This stole is comprised of 18 Motifs that are joined as you go on round 3.  Amy used almost all of four balls of Classic Shades Metallic for this, so you may want to grab another ball just for safety.

If I were pairing this shawl up with an outfit, I think I might try to pull out the lavender as an accent color.  Actress Minka Kelly (photo from denimology) has a good base outfit here that many of us could also pull off.  Top it with this shawl, maybe pick up another color with some cute earrings, and you’re ready to turn heads.

Happy crocheting!

 

CS Sequins Lite Crochet Shawl detail_blog

 

 

Free Pattern Friday – Solitaire Stole

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Lumen Multi Solitaire Stole wrapped_blogToday, the Solitaire Stole in Lumen Multi.

Lumen Multi 202 Essence_blogWow.  If there’s a match of design and yarn more suited to Spring, then I don’t know what it could be.  Lumen (right) and its variegated sibling Lumen Multi (134yds/50g) are both a great warm-weather blend.  Mostly matte cotton with stretches of shimmering viscose, it’s got just the right amount of shine to be eye-catching. While it’s perfect in the pastel 204 Reflect, I’m also wondering how it would look in a solid – or even with a variegated body and a solid border, picking up a new color as you knit across.

Lumen Multi Solitaire Stole_blog

This rectangular stole is worked sideways in one piece.  The Diamond Border pattern begins with 25 stitches. On WS rows 2-24, 1 stitch is increased at the beginning of every row. On rows 25-47, stitches are decreased back down.  The border pattern is charted and easy to anticipate without referring to the pattern once you’ve got the hang of it.

This is a great wrap for a brisk evening, when the weather’s a little uncertain but you still want to be prepared.  This is going on my list – after our Rocked knitalong is done!

Happy knitting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Seabird Shawl

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Good Earth Adorn Seabird Shawl_blog

Today, the Seabird Shawl in Good Earth and Good Earth Adorn.

This shawl is aptly named!  The colors are reminscent of sea and sand, and the triangular shape makes you want to spread your wings.

Good Earth Adorn Seabird Shawl back_blogIt’s a warm-ish weather shawl, designed for our cotton/linen blends Good Earth (103 Desert) and Good Earth Adorn (304 Breeze).   A look at the back shows how Adorn works up into subtle variegated bands.  It’s a nice touch.

It goes without saying that this would be good beach knitting – light on your lap as you soak in the sun.  I’m looking at this shawl and dreaming of warmer days.

Happy knitting!

Bamboo Pop Adult

BambooPopAdultCover_final

It’s here!  Our new e-book Bamboo Pop Adult is finally available for download from Ravelry and Craftsy.  Patterns are also available individually.

Bamboo Pop is one of our most popular yarns.  Our e-books Bamboo Pop Kids and Bamboo Pop Dolls were well-received, but we had a lot of people requesting grownup designs.  Here they are!

Craftsy Boho1

 

The Boho Tank is an A-line top worked from the bottom up.  Sandi Rosner provided the embroidery detail, showing once again that what designer Charles Eames said is true – “The details are not the details. They make the design.”

 

Craftsy Dewdrops1

 

The crochet Dewdrops Tank is worked in two pieces and seamed.  While I love the bright contrasting colors Amy Gunderson chose for the “dewdrops,” this would be a great piece to customize.  Just use your favorite colors as accents!

 

Craftsy DrapeFront1   Craftsy DrapeFront3 back

The Drape-Front Cardi above may be a candidate for “most wearable design.”  The flow of the fabric flatters a range of frames.

Craftsy Hospitality1Here’s my favorite – the Hospitality Tee! Down South, the pineapple is the symbol of hospitality, so as a native Southerner this feels like a very welcoming design to me.  As a knitter, I appreciate details like the corrugated ribbing at the sleeves and hem and the pink applied crochet chain stripe that gives it an extra pop of color.

 

Craftsy Staggered1   Craftsy Staggered3

Love love love.  The dramatic Staggered Shawl has the graphic styling that is so popular, and it’s so easy to knit.  No purling – just garter stitch!

Craftsy Steeple1The Steeple Pullover has been an early favorite on Ravelry.  Work it bottom-up in the round, then separate for the armholes.  The pattern is written and charted, like all patterns in Bamboo Pop Adults (except the super-simple Staggered Shawl). Sized from extra small to 3X, this is a great breezy design to dress up or down when the weather has just a hint of chill.

 

Craftsy Surf1

 

Surf ‘n Stripe is a simple eyelet design accented with bands of color.  Knit in two pieces and seamed, this slouchy and comfortable dolman-sleeved top strikes me as great vacation knitting!

 

 

Craftsy Tennis1

 

The Tennis Vest  is a classic design.  The twist cable and rib pattern is quite stretchy, making it a perfect layering piece.  I hate feeling like a stuffed sausage when a sweater over a shirt doesn’t breathe with me – this is a great vest for looking as cool as you feel.

 

 

Craftsy ColorworkCardiHat2

 

From the cover, the Colorwork Cardi and Colorwork Hat featured on the cover are two super-cute coordinating patterns.  The cardi is a top-down seamless sweater (with pockets!) and the hat can be customized to be taller or shorter as you wish by adding or subtracting pattern repeats.

 

I’m not sure what I’m going to knit first.  I’m thinking maybe the Staggered Shawl.  I’ve been wanting a very modern accessory, and that looks fabulous.  We’d love to see what you make!

Happy knitting!

Holiday Helper – December is here!

 

CS Metallic Holiday Swatch blog

How’s the holiday knitting going?  I’m doing better than expected – I found this glittering little gem on our shelves here yesterday and am happily knitting a quick one-ball scarf.  The yarn is Classic Shades Metallic (175yds/100g) and the color is 607 Zenith.  When I saw the red and green accented by silver, I knew it would make the perfect holiday project.  This scarf couldn’t be any more Christmasy unless Santa Claus himself knitted it using two candy canes.

Classic Shades Aina Tonjes shawlThe pattern is a scaled-down version of this free three-ball Classic Shades Shawl pattern by Olga Tonjes.  She also provides instructions for working just one section (as I’m doing in the picture above), making this a great project to adapt if you’re really backed up on your holiday knitting.

Classic Shades Metallic is interchangeable with customer favorite Classic Shades, but with an extra strand of glitter running through it, making it perfect for gifts that you really want to stand out.

I’ve got another couple of balls of Classic Shades Metallic sitting beside me right now – this scarf is going quickly, and I’ll definitely have time to knock out another gift.  This time, I think I’ll work up the Longways Linen Scarf.  On size 9 needles with a basic two row pattern repeat, it ought to go quickly.  I’ll make it through the holidays yet!

Here’s hoping your days are merry and bright.  Happy knitting!

 

 

Holiday Helper – Light and Breezy

Halloween’s behind us, which means it’s time to kick our holiday knitting into high gear.  Or, if you’re me, it’s time to actually *start* your holiday knitting.  I’m sure all of you are busy weaving in ends on that heirloom blanket that you started back in January, but maybe – just maybe – you are in the same boat as I am and are suddenly remembering that one person you wanted to make something special for who slipped your mind.

Worry no more!  From now through the end of the year we’ll be highlighting some relatively quick designs that will still satisfy your recipient without driving you crazy.  This week, let’s look at a couple of light and easy projects in warm-weather yarns.

Blue Seaspray Shawlette final back_blog

The free High Tide Shawlette is made in Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray.  This took just one hank, albeit with only a few yards left over.  There’s still enough time to make this lovely triangular shawl on US Size 8 (5mm) needles before the holidays roll around.  Denim print is going to be big next season, so it’ll be very on trend for your giftee.

Good Earth Adorn Scarf 1_blog

The free Botanical Scarf takes just one skein of Good Earth Adorn cotton/linen blend.  This is a luxury yarn that feels great but won’t break the bank.  This is another one on US Size 8 (5mm) needles.  With an easy-to-memorize pattern, this would be great to take along in the plane or car home for the holidays.  And again, Good Earth Adorn has that subtle earthy look that’s going to stay in fashion for a long time to come.

My main problem with starting holiday gifts early is that they stay around my house and I think, “You know, this would look great on me.”  And then I wind up having to knit another gift.

We wish you great willpower and happy knitting!

Free Pattern Friday – Cog Shawlette

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Cog Shawl color 801 Reef blogToday, something big and beautiful – the Cog Shawlette.

This fun accessory takes two balls of Classic Shades Big Time (color 801 Reef), the super-bulky big sister to self-shading Classic Shades.  The pattern takes its name from the unique curved gear-like edging.  Big yarn means quick knits, so we took the opportunity to work up a few different shawlettes to see how it looked in other colors.  Answer: great!

Cog Shawl color 804 Grapevine blog
Color 804 Grapevine

From the pattern: “This shawlette is worked in one piece.  First the Cog Edging is knit sideways.  Without breaking yarn, crochet slip  stitches are then worked all the way along the shaped side of the Cog Edging.  Without breaking yarn, stitches are then  picked up and knit along the straight  side of the Cog Edging and the Shawl  body is worked up and shaped with short-rows.”

Cog Shawl color 814 Jubilant blog
Color 814 Jubilant
Cog Shawl color 814 Jubilant backblog
Color 814 Jubilant – rear view

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The unique construction makes this a great project to keep your interest, and the size 15 needles mean the work flies by.  Perfection.

Happy knitting!

 

Sunday Swatch – Whisper Lace

Today’s Sunday Swatch is in Whisper Lace colors 110 Lemongrass (solid) and 206 Amber Trinket (variegated).

SS Whisper Lace_blog

This is one of my favorite yarns in the Fibra Natura family.  Whisper Lace is 70% wool/30% silk and soft as a cloud.  And at 440 yards per 50 gram ball, it goes a long way.

One thing that I like about Whisper Lace is how well the solid and the variegated tones match.  They look great paired as in the lace sample above, or in Adrienne Ku’s Pescadito shawl shown at right.  Colors 104 Fog and 208 Orchid Dream make a great barely-there contrast that doesn’t obscure the lace pattern – light and breezy and gorgeous.

What’s to become of today’s Sunday Swatch?  It’s already been claimed by a young person in my house – apparently it will look just fabulous on some lucky doll.

Happy knitting!

SS Whisper Lace Zoe