Free Pattern Friday – Siren Sweater

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Infusion Sideways Yoke Pullover_back_blog

Today, the Siren Sweater in Infusion Handpaints.

Infusion Handpaints Sideways Yoke Pullover_sleeve up_detail_blogWe named this the Siren Sweater because just as the mythical Sirens of old drew in sailors with their sweet song, this design captures attention with the contrast of its cabled top half and reverse stockinette body.

Infusion Handpaints (291yds/100g) is a good choice for this.  It’s variegated, but not so busy that it’s going to obscure the lovely cablework.

The yoke is knit sideways from cuff to cuff.  Then stitches are picked up, and the body of the sweater is reverse stockinette worked downward to the hem.  Stitch up the sleeves and the sides, add edging for the neck, and you’re done.  We predict this Siren Sweater will turn heads wherever you go.

Happy knitting!

Infusion Sideways Yoke Pullover_front_blog

 

Free Pattern Friday – Dip-Dyed Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

DipDyedCardigan 2 blog

Today, the Dip-Dyed Cardigan in Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray.

Love this breezy, casual short-sleeved cardi!  And love the choice of Cotton Supreme DK Seaspray (100g/230yds) for it.  It’s variegated but not wild, making it a perfect choice for those who want a balance of color and conservatism in their wardrobe.

Knit this cardi in pieces from the bottom up, starting with the contrasting band of reverse stockinette at the bottom.  Work the raglan shaping, neck, and sleeves, then add the neck and sleeve edging and the button band.  I like the way the color bands are staggered on the front – the asymmetry is interesting!

I’m not usually a pink person, but this might be nice with a band of 301 Carmine for the contrasting bit.  There’s not really a wrong choice for this sweater.

Here’s hoping you cast on for something fun and exciting this weekend, just for you!

Happy knitting!

DipDyedCardigan back blog

Free Pattern Friday – Acid Wash Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

denims Acid Wash Pullover blogToday, the Acid Wash Pullover in denims.

If there’s a yarn that has captured the imagination of our customers this season, it’s denims.  A bulky cotton/wool tape with hues ranging from sky blue to indigo, it’s perfectly on-trend for the current year.  Looking at this pullover, you can see why it’s so popular.

This bulky-weight pullover knits up on 6.5mm needles, but the cotton content means you won’t swelter.  Right twists and cables run the length of the body to a 1×1 ribbing at the hem and collar.  The contrasting sleeves are a nice touch, as is the lowered back edge.

Worked in pieces and seamed, this pattern is both written and charted and contains a schematic.  The right twists are easy as pie to do.

Having just finished a quick one ball project in this yarn, I’m eager for more.  This would fit the bill nicely.

Happy knitting!

denims Acid Wash Pullover cable closeup_blog

 

Free Pattern Friday – Picket Cardigan

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Little Bird Picket Cardigan 1 blogToday, the Picket Cardigan in Little Bird.

More than one person walked by my desk this week and picked this up to fondle it.  Little Bird (100g/344 yds) gives it a lovely sheen, and the smoothness of the fiber really makes those cables and ribs stand out.  It’s not stiff or bulky at all, but very soft and comfy.  The machine washability makes it a home run for baby knits.

This cardigan is knit in pieces and seamed. The back and sleeves are worked in plain stockinette stitch, while the fronts are cabled.  The pattern is written and charted and contains a schematic.

This would look great on a little girl or a little boy. The buttonholes can be placed on either side – although truthfully I always forget which is which.  Eh, the baby won’t care.

Happy knitting!

 

 

Free Pattern Friday – Diamond Cross Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Ariana Diamond Cross Pullover Today, the Diamond Cross Pullover in Ariana.

Things I love about this pattern:

  • The way the lace crosses over each other, as if it’s woven.
  • The fact that it’s made on 6.5mm needles, so it’s a quick knit.
  • The choice of yarn is Ariana (91yds/100g), so it’s a bulky weight yarn in lightweight materials.

Ariana color 108 GrapeAriana is a bamboo tube with light polyamide fibers inside, achieving its size without a lot of weight to stretch and drag.   It’s great fun in accessories like the 2 ball Rivel Cowl (free pattern!) and in larger garments as well.

Sometimes laceweight is great, but sometimes, I want to knock out something gorgeous in a hurry.  I’m keeping this pattern in mind next time I get that urge.

Let’s hear it for big yarn!

PHAT KNITS BY BAUKE KNOTTNERUS
Phat Knits by Bauke Knottnerus

 

Happy knitting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Billow Sweater

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Billow_GoodEarth_blogToday, the Billow Sweater in Good Earth.

Billow_GoodEarth_detail_rtWhat a great fit for the changing of the seasons.  Big and slouchy, but in the cool cotton/linen blend of Fibra Natura Good Earth (204yds/100g) so it won’t be sweltering in the Spring.  I love the natural, relaxed look of this piece – so comfy with a pair of jeans.

This is a lovely piece, but not a hard one.  Front and back pieces are worked from the bottom up. Stitches are cast on for sleeves and worked up in a single piece with front and back.  The hems feature 2×1 knit/purl ribbing moving up into a garter stitch body.  A seed stitch panel along the sides and along the outside of the arms keeps the design interesting.

This design would be as relaxing to make as to wear.  It’s calming just to think about.  Maybe tonight I’ll have a glass of mint tea and knit a swatch.  Bliss.

Happy knitting.

Billow_GoodEarth_back_blog

 

 

Free Pattern Friday – Varia Pullover

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Varia Sweater in Llamalini_blogToday, the Varia Pullover in Llamalini.

Llamalini ComestiblesI may have mentioned this before, but Fibra Natura Llamalini (109yds/50g) is a favorite around here.  A blend of royal llama, linen, and silk bourette, it has a rich, heathered depth of color.  I’ve got a hank of Mulberry on my desk right now that I snuck out of our samples (don’t tell!) just so I can look at it and think about what it wants to be.

Varia Sweater shoulder_blogOur sales manager Yonca clearly had bigger plans than me when she came up with this design.  She’s got a good eye – we note that the upcoming Vogue Knitting has several solid cable sweaters with stripe detailing.  This design is very on trend.

Varia Swater pocket_blogThe garment is knitted in pieces and seamed, and the pockets are added afterward, so it’s easy to leave them off if you prefer.  For myself, I love the bursts of color that they lend, breaking up the line in a way that’s flattering for those of us who might be wearing something, let’s say, a little bigger than the extra-small size.

This is a great transitional piece – the Llamalini is warm but not stifling, and the half sleeves would work well in Spring or Fall.

Maybe I should grab a few more skeins from our samples and dream a little bigger…

Happy knitting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Mermaid Tunic

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Lumen Mermaid Tunic blogToday, the Mermaid Tunic in Lumen.

We were actually going to wait for warmer weather to release this, but it got so much love at Stitches West that we just had to set it free.

This tunic is worked in pieces from the bottom up and seamed.   The lace pattern is a simple six-row repeat – no cable needle needed for those twists.

Lumen 3 ball stack blogIt’s designed for Rozetti Lumen (134yds/50g), a chained cotton ribbon with shiny viscose stretches.  Its vivid color is delicious.  There’s a multi version, too.

We hope you enjoy this little burst of Spring in the midst of winter.

Happy knitting!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Mary Layering Tee

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Mary Layering Tee_blog

Today, the Mary Layering Tee in Merino XF Superwash.

Mary Layering Tee_back_blogThere’s an old song by George M. Cohan called “Mary.”  It’s all about how these days, some girls named Mary might change their names to Marie to be cutting edge, but there’s something reassuring about sticking with Mary and having the confidence to know that you’re a classic.

That’s what we have in the Mary Layering Tee.  It’s worked from the bottom up in pieces, with short row shaping at the hem.  The front henley placket is decorative rather than functional.   Overall, this design is sweet and simple, like the name Mary in the song.

Also sweet and simple is the called-for Merino XF Superwash.  Very soft, but also practical in its ability to be machine washed.  I did a swatch in this last February and can tell you that it is very pleasant to work with.

We hope you make time to appreciate the sweet and simple things in your life this weekend.

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!