Free Pattern Friday – Spring Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Bamboo Bloom Handpaints Spring Pullover square hi-res GRAPHICS

Today, the Spring Pullover in Bamboo Bloom Handpaints.

What a great look for Spring, eh?  Cap sleeves, open neckline, and some lovely waist shaping for a more polished look.

You can juuust see the double eyelets accenting the neckline.

Bamboo Bloom Handpaints Spring Pullover detail_blog

This pattern is knitted flat.  Turn the hem up and stitch it to the inside for a nice non-rolly stockinette edge.   This is a great piece for warm weather, and the bright colors of Bamboo Bloom Handpaints really help set a bright mood.

We hope you find something colorful and fun to do this weekend.

Happy knitting!

UY YMN Bamboo Bloom

Free Pattern Friday – All-Star Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Cotton Supreme Little Star Top blog square

Today, the All-Star Pullover in Cotton Supreme.

Recently we had a shop mention that we hadn’t had a Free Pattern Friday in Cotton Supreme lately.  Well, we can’t have that; we love this yarn!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve knitted with some cottons that left my hands feeling like they’d been through the wringer.  Nobody should feel like crafting is something to slog through.  It should be a pleasure.  Fortunately, I’ve never had that problem with Cotton Supreme (180yds/100g).  It’s easy to work with, machine washable, and the colors are to die for.  All of which makes it a great choice for this little kid’s pullover.  Knit it flat, seam it up, and send your little all-star out to play.

This one would be really easy to customize, too.  Can’t you imagine this in team colors?  Or… and this is just my inner geek talking… move the intarsia star to the chest and you’ve got a little Captain America.

Captain America colors blog
Sky Surf 927 and White 502, and add 509 Red if you wish. I could knit this all day.

I’m filing this idea away as a potential gift for superhero-loving parents and kids.

We hope you have a safe Memorial Day weekend.

Happy knitting!

Cotton Supreme Little Star needles crossed_Instagram

Free Pattern Friday – Waves Cardi

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

WavesCardigan_Lumen_front_blog

Today, the Waves Cardi in Lumen.

Feather and Fan is a classic for a reason.  It gives motion and texture to an otherwise plain knit.  And in this pattern, the addition of a few well-placed increases gives shape to a lovely cardi.

WavesCardigan_Lumen_front_detail_blog

Lumen 3 ball stack blogWe’ve chosen Lumen (134yds/50g) for this design because its blend of fibers goes well with open lace to create a great warm-weather piece.  A mix of matte cotton and shiny viscose sections gives this garment a little extra shine to take it to the next level.

We hope you have an uneventful Friday the 13th, and a great weekend!

WavesCardigan_Lumen_back_180

 

Free Pattern Friday – Swirling River Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Swirling RiverCardigan_front_blog

Today, the Swirling River Cardigan in Uptown DK.

This is a great light sweater for Spring in a lovely lightweight yarn.  Uptown DK (273yds/100g) is 100% anti-pilling machine washable acrylic.  Even if you’re a fiber snob, as I confess I sometimes am, you’ll be surprised by just how pleasant it is to work with, and just how nicely it knits up.

SwirlingRiverCardgan_back_blogThis cardi is traditionally constructed, knit in pieces from the bottom up.  The collar and button band are picked up and knitted after finishing the garment.  The Little Swirl and Big Swirl lace repeats are both written and charted.

We love this sweet piece, perfect for the cusp of the changing seasons.  We hope you do too.

Happy knitting!

 

 

 

Knitspiration – Red Birds in Snow

More snow’s in the forecast – could you use a little knitspiration?

Red Birds in Snow 1959 composite
Red Birds in Snow by Adolf Dehn, 1959

Our snow is over (for now) on the Eastern Seaboard, but there’s a blizzard forecast for the Midwest.  I love snow, but I’m sure most folks have had enough of it.

Photo: Snowy Perch by Nate Zeman

We feature Red Birds in Snow because it’s a nice nod to our state bird here in North Carolina, the cardinal, which gives a lovely burst of color to the monochrome landscape.  I also love it because it’s a good reminder that noticing the things around us is a good antidote to the winter doldrums. Seeing something so bright in an otherwise gray day can snap the world back into focus.

When we’re feeling trapped behind closed doors, it’s important to notice the things around us to bring texture and color back into our lives. These designs are perfect examples. Continue reading “Knitspiration – Red Birds in Snow”

Free Pattern Friday – Landscapes Sweater

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Poems Sock Landscapes Sweater_blog

Today, the Landscapes Sweater in Poems Sock.

Happy Selfish Knitting Month! Yes, it’s January, and all the gift knitting is done, so it’s time to do something just for you.  Enter, the Landscapes Sweater.

This entrelac pullover is based on another popular design we had in a discontinued yarn.  We couldn’t let the sweater go, so we re-wrote it into the sock-weight version you see here and made it available for free!

I had to take it outside into the sun. So pretty.
I had to take it outside into the sun. So pretty.

The yarn is Poems Sock (459yds/100g), a strand of 75% wool/25% nylon that moves smoothly from shade to shade.  I really like the choice of color 971 Earth and Sky for this.  It works well for a full-sized garment – colorful but still grounded.

The Landscapes Sweater is constructed in pieces.  The sleeves are worked lengthwise, so the stripes run the length of the arms.  The entrelac front and basic stockinette back and sleeves are worked flat and then seamed.  Sized from XS to 4X, the whole sweater takes from 3-6 balls of yarn.

We hope you enjoy this “just for you” pattern, and that you keep striking the right balance between challenging yourself and just kicking back and enjoying your projects.

Happy knitting!

Poems Sock Landscapes Sweater rear_blog

Free Pattern Friday – Halo and Sparkle Sweater

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Halo and Sparkle Sweater blogToday, the Halo and Sparkle Sweater in Amphora and Cotton Gold.

Happy New Year!  Made any resolutions?  I’ve resolved to knit from my stash more – mainly so I can have an excuse to add even more to that stash.  There’s just so much good yarn out there!

VKW1516_01Today’s free pattern combines two of those good yarns.  The main yarn is Amphora (306yds/100g).  Amphora was just featured on the cover of Vogue Knitting Winter 2015-2016 as part of Amy Gunderson’s fabulous Turtleneck Pullover.  Another of my resolutions is to learn new things, and this Bohus colorwork technique looks like a great opportunity to do just that.

 

Cotton Gold 1100_hi-resThe secondary yarn is sequined Rozetti Cotton Gold (200yds/25g).  Beautiful on its own or as a carry along, Cotton Gold is a cotton thread strung with glittering sequins and wrapped in a metallic thread.  It’s an easy way to get maximum sparkle into a garment.  I’m a big fan of this stuff.  I’ve had problems in the past with durability of some sequined novelty yarns, but not with this one.  I’m using it in a Crinkle Cowl and I haven’t lost a sequin yet.

Halo and Sparkle Sweater shoulder blogThis is such a great sweater for the new year.  A traditional pullover that’s made in pieces and seamed, the color and the sparkle remind me of champagne.  I like the slouchiness of the fit and the basic rolled cuffs and neck.  It’s got that casual elegance that’s in style, but it will still be forgiving of any holiday excesses we haven’t yet worked off. This sweater says “effortlessly amazing.”

We hope your new year is off to a great start.  We have no doubt this is going to be the best yet – for all of us.

Happy knitting!

Halo and Sparkle Detail blog

Hello, Autumn.

Amphora Bowl 1 with graphic 150

And now it’s official.  A gray, rainy day with a dropping temperature – even here in the South we can’t deny it anymore.  Cold weather has settled in.  It seems like a good time to share some of our favorite Fall patterns, especially ones that we think deserve more attention.  Pull up something pumpkiny and spicy and let’s dive in.

PacificHeightsPullover_ClassicShades_2_359_PY_Ruffles

Sandi Rosner’s Pacific Heights Pullover is a fave.  Originally made with the now-discontinued Classic Shades Solids for the gray portion, This would work beautifully with Deluxe Worsted Superwash (220yds/100g).  Keep the Classic Shades (197yds/100g) for the front and back panels, though.

Classic Shades 719 Midnight Ride ball_blogPick a bright color as Sandi has or something more subtle, depending on how much of a lift your mood needs to get you through these shortening days.  I’m thinking maybe something dark for the main color, but then with my favorite 719 Midnight Ride (right) for the slip stitch panels.

Hearth Rug with skein 1_150

Hearth RugThe crocheted Hearth Rug in Deluxe Chunky (120yds/100g) is another unsung hero.  I like how easy this is to customize.  Add more motifs, change the color to match your decor – this is one that you could really make your own.

The motifs are made separately and then sewn together, making it a great large-scale project that can still fit in your project bag.

Deluxe Worsted Felted Flat Bottom Tote__detail_blog

And speaking of project bags, Drew Emborsky designed the practical and beautiful Felted Flat Bottom Tote in Deluxe Worsted (220yds/100g).  As the name implies, the bag sits flat, making it great not just as a take-along but as a bag to sit beside you as you knit on the couch on those cool nights.

Deluxe Worsted Felted Faux Entrelac  Crochet Tote__detail_blog

Also from Drew Emborsky, the Felted Faux Entrelac Crochet Tote was originally done in discontinued Deluxe Worsted Long Print, but would look fabulous in any of the gazillion* colors of Deluxe Worsted that are available.  (*note: it’s actually 138 colors.  Gazillion is just how it looks all in one place.)

Formerly only available as part of a printed leaflet, we’ve made both of Drew’s felted patterns available for free exclusively for our local yarn store partners.  Ask your LYS to download a copy for you.

We hope you find some inspiration to tide you through these gray days.  Snuggle up with some good yarn and enjoy!

Happy crafting!