Circulo Accessory Ideas

August 30, 2012 in Circulo, Inspiration, miscellaneous

In the spring we introduced you to new textile “yarns” that are either fabric or lace ribbon from a Brazilian company called Circulo.

Tecido Trico is the fabric version that comes in a variety of flower and animal prints. Renda Trico is the lace version that is available in 14 colors. You can see a video of Karen demonstrating how to knit with them in this blog post.

We have a pattern for this scarf on our website.

When they first arrived in the US the main thing people were using them for was scarves. We have a free pattern for this double ruffled scarf available on our website.

It didn’t take long for people to start getting creative and using them for trim and accessories on their knitting and crocheting as you saw in my previous blog post.

Dress up a store bought top

You can find the directions for this project to add a collar to a store bought top on our website.

Beyond Knitting and Crocheting

But why limit yourself to knitting and crocheting with these fun textiles?

We know many of our fans are clever and crafty beyond the hooks and needles so you might find these ideas inspiring.

Our friends in Europe shared these pictures with us. We don’t actually have patterns or instructions for these projects, but if you look carefully at the pictures I’m sure you’ll be able to figure it out.

A sweet bow for all ages

This bow is a fun addition to your wardrobe. With the wide variety of prints Tecido Trico comes in you’ll be able to make one to match most any outfit.

Here is a full view of the bow headband.

As you can see, it’s a matter of wrapping a standard plastic headband with Tecido Trico, then sewing a matching ribbon. I bet a quick internet search will produce patterns for tying ribbon bows.

It's like a flower, but won't wilt.

This version pairs the lace Renda Trico with unique, coordinating buttons and charms to create a rosette style accessory. It reminds me of a flower, but this one won’t wilt or drip water all over you.

Here's another view of the rosetta

Aren’t those notions beautiful? Many knitters and crocheters I know have a collection of unique single buttons. This presents a great opportunity to put them to go use.

Run the tie through the holes in the edge.

If you don’t like hard plastic headbands, this tie on version will be more appealing. This one takes advantage of the holes spaces along the edge of the ribbon to secure the tie. It’s also another good use of that button collection you have.

This headband ties on.

This version shows off the Tecido Trico much more than when it’s wrapped around the headband.

Get Inspired

A nice part about these projects is you don’t need knitting or crocheting skills to be able to enjoy them.

They could be a fun project with your children on a rainy day. Or for a sleepover activity when they need a break from running around outside.

Since they are small and (potentially) quick to make, these projects would also make great gifts or stocking stuffers.

I hope these projects give you some more ideas of what you can do with these interesting new “yarns.” We love to see what you create using them! Share a picture with us on our Facebook wall.

Tags: accessories
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Ruffling Yarn Beyond Scarves

July 16, 2012 in bag, Circulo, Debbie Bliss, Euro Yarns, Free, Inspiration, Katia, Knitting Fever Inc, Sublime, Sweaters

Self-ruffling yarns like Flounce from our Knitting Fever line and Triana from Katia have been popular for a number of years now. Almost as soon as a local yarn store gets them on the shelf they sell out!

The appeal is understandable.

This style yarn comes in a variety of colors and textures and some even have metallic thread for extra interest. Some of the yarns have a mesh construction which you knit or crochet by opening flat and inserting your hook or needle through the holes in the mesh. Others have a ladder yarn on one edge and fibers on the other. This style you work through the holes of the ladder with the fibers create the body of the project.

You can learn more about some of the self-ruffling yarns we represent and see a video about how to work with them in this blog post.

While the quickest and easiest project to make with any of these yarns is a scarf (most people report being able to finish one in between two to four hours), people are starting to explore the potential of these yarns for uses ranging from trim to entire garments.

Here are a few that have caught our eye.

Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2012

Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2012, photo by Paul Amato for LVARepresents.com

This stunning garment is the “Ruffle Wrap Cardigan” designed by Cheryl Murray. The pattern is in the Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2012 issue. You can see a preview of the issue on the Vogue Knitting website.

The sweater is sized for Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, XX-Large

The body is knit using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (Amounts: 10 (11, 12, 13, 14) balls in #9 gray) while the trim is Circulo Tecido Trico Animal (Amounts: 1 hank in #2631 gray leopard).

Tecido Trico is a 100% Polyester fabric ribbon available in a variety of flower and animal prints. Can’t get your head around knitting with fabric ribbon? Learn more about it in this blog post, which includes a how-to video.

Cashmerino Aran is a soft, 55% Merino Wool, 33% Microfiber Acrylic, 12% Cashmere blend available in a rainbow of colors. Have fun mixing and matching the yarns to create a unique look all your own.

Trimmed in Trico

Use either Renda Trico or Tecido Trico as trim

For a more casual look, try your hand at one of these Trico trimmed shrugs, which are available as free patterns on our website.

The one on the left uses a flower print of Tecido Trico for the trim compared to the animal print used in the Vogue Knitting sweater. The body of that shrug is Debbie Bliss Cotton DK, a 100% Cotton yarn available in 20 colors. You can download this version of the shrug pattern here.

The shrug on the right uses Renda Trico for the trim. This is a lace version of the fabric ribbon from Circulo. It is available in 14 colors. The body of the black shrug is knit using Sublime Lustrous Extrafine Merino DK, a 67% Extra Fine Merino Wool, 33% Nylon blend that is available in 10 colors. You can download the black shrug pattern here.

Although the body of both shrugs is simple garter stitch the patterns are recommended for an intermediate knitter because of the unique construction technique. But don’t let that deter you! Help can always be found at your local yarn store or at your knit/crochet group.

Dress up a store bought top

For something a little different (and quicker) have a go at dressing up a store bought top by adding a fun Tecido trimmed collar. Download the guidelines for this project here.

Tutu Cute!

Ruffled Tutu Skirt by Ewetopia Fiber Shop

But why should grown-ups have all the fun?

This adorable Ruffled Tutu Skirt for a toddler is from Ewetopia Fiber shop, which is out in Wisconsin. They are generously allowing us to share the pattern with you for free!

The version shown here is using Bossa Nova yarn from Katia. This 72% Cotton, 28% Nylon blend is available in eight colors. (We have a free Bossa Nova Scarf pattern on our website, too.)

This Tutu skirt looks equally cute using a yarn with a larger mesh like Rumples or Triana.

It’s In The Bag

Ruffles Galore Purse by Unwind, A Yarn Shop

These yarns are also great for accessories.

The Ruffles Galore Purse comes to us from Unwind, a Yarn Shop, which is located in Oklahoma. They are generously allowing us to share the free pattern with you! It uses Tecido Trico and a coordinating worsted weight yarn of your choice.

When working this pattern remember that the Tecido Trico yarn with automatically form the ruffle as you work with it. When the pattern says “knit ruffle” there isn’t really a pattern stitch to be worrying about since it will happen automatically.

Evening in Paris Purse by Knitting On The Fringe

The Evening in Paris Purse was designed by Knitting on the Fringe, which is located in Michigan, using Flounce yarn. You can buy the pattern on their website. If none of the Flounce colors catch your eye, consider using Rumples, Triana, or Tricor instead. Or jazz it up with one of the metallic versions of those yarn such as Flounce Metallic, Triana Lux, or Broadway.

Ruffles Incognito

Quick Knit Capelet by Knitting On The Fringe

Keep in mind that with most of these self ruffling yarns you have the option of toning down the ruffles by not opening the mesh.

You can see this in action on the Quick Knit Capelet by Knitting On The Fringe. This pattern is also available for purchase on their website. It was knit using Triana yarn, but instead of opening the mesh they treated it as a traditional bulky yarn.

Another option is to open the mesh occasionally to create ruffles in targeted places.

It is also possible to open the mesh to take advantage of the lacy effect created, but not have ruffles, as seen in the Kelp Forest Shawlette by karinknits designs, which is a free pattern on Ravelry. She includes a link to a helpful video with both knit and crochet instructions on the Ravlery project page.

I hope these projects have inspired you to think beyond scarves when you are considering using these fun self-ruffling yarns.

Have you already tried them out for trim or other projects? Share a picture on our Facebook wall, we love to see the creative things you are making!

Tags: bag, Circulo, Katia Triana, ruffles, sweater
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Circulo Scarves

March 26, 2012 in Circulo, Free, Scarves

There are two fun new “yarns” on the American market from Brazil from the Circulo company.

Rather than being yarn in the traditional sense of spun fibers these trendy novelty textiles are strips of fabric or lace that you can use to knit or crochet.

Think along the lines of the very popular novelty yarns like Rumples and Petals that knit up into quick, ruffled scarves.

Scarves from the new Circulo "yarn" are a fun addition to your wardrobe.

As you can see, they work up into fun, feminine scarves that will add pizzazz to your wardrobe.

From the left we have two colors of the Tecido Trico fabric yarn knit into scarves. One hank of this 100% Polyester yarn will make a scarf. Tecido Trico comes in 12 floral prints and 13 animal prints.

At the far right is a scarf knit from the white Renda Trico Margarida lace yarn. One hank of this 100% Polyamide yarn, which is available in 10 colors, will make a scarf.

Second from the right, the lavender one I skipped, is coordinating colors of both yarns held together.

Tecido Trico–Fabric version

The navy scarf in action.

Here you can see the scarf in action on our model. This sample is in color #266-Navy with Pink Floral.

There is a free pattern on our website.

Here’s another view of the light blue scarf. It is color #263-Sky Blue with Pink Flowers. You can download the free pattern for this scarf from our website.

Now you might be asking, “How am I supposed to knit or crochet with fabric?”

Well, I’ll tell you.

You work through the holes along the edge.

There are little holes along the edge of the fabric into which you insert your hook or needle. They are far enough in from the edge to be stable, but close enough so that most of the fabric hangs free and gathers into that pretty ruffle.

In the close up picture of the fabric you can see the holes along the bottom edge of the picture. Since you don’t want to strain the holes, the suggested knitting needle size is between US5 to US7. I imagine you can go smaller, but we haven’t tried it.

How to Knit with Circulo Yarn

In this video, Karen demonstrates how to knit with Tecido Trico and shows off a few more of the colors.

More than Scarves

You can use it as trim as well.

But don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to using this fun yarn for fluffy scarves. As you can see in this picture there are a variety of things you can do with it if you have basic sewing skills.

You can add it to a top as a pretty trim around the neck or edges. You can use it as the ribbon on a hat. Or you can coil it tightly to form a fabric rose.

Let your imagination run wild.

According to the fashion trend reports flower prints are hot for spring. These scarves will be an easy way to add them into your wardrobe without a big investment in time or money. Accessories are a great way to freshen your existing wardrobe by adding elements of the current trends.

Renda Trico Margarida–Lace Version

There is a free pattern for this scarf on our website.

The lace version creates a scarf with more body than the fabric version, which is more fluid. We used color #251-White for our sample scarf. You can download this free pattern from our website as well.

As with the fabric version, the lace version has holes long one edge into which you insert your knitting needle or crochet hook. The suggested needle size is also between a US 5 to US 7. Use the crochet hook that fits easily through the hole and makes you comfortable.

A close up of the lace flower pattern.

While the fabric version is printed with flowers of varying sizes, the lace version has a pretty flower motif along one edge. The body is a smocking pattern and the other edge, which will be hidden anyway, is a firm hem.

Scarves, tops, and skirts are all options.

Once again, scarves aren’t the only project you can make from this attractive lace yarn.

A ruffled top, either all around or just on the front, will make a nice summer garment. While this fun skirt will probably charm the young lady in your life. Who knows, in the right color she might even wear it for clubbing or parties!

Double The Fun

You can hold the lace and fabric together for a different look.

While both new yarns make attractive scarves individually, another fun option is to hold them together.

Many of the colors coordinate, as you see here with Tecido Trico color #267 – Cream, Purple Pink Floral and held with the lace Renda Trico Margarida in #2566 – Lilac.

The yarns come in hanks with just a two-yard difference, so it would be a one-to-one ratio for this project.

This scarf was knit by holding the yarns doubled and casting on as many stitches as you want the scarf to be long. You’ll want to use a circular needle for this version. Our scarf has two tiers.

Compared to the other scarves, this version makes a narrow scarf with a slight corkscrew effect.

Double the fun!

You can download the pattern for this scarf on our website.

All these scarves will work up quickly for the satisfaction of finishing a project quickly. You can start wearing them now, to urge spring along, or put them aside to dress up your lighter wardrobe. Another thought is that Mother’s Day is coming up, which gives you plenty of time to make one (or two!) and get them in the mail.

These new yarns will also be good for knitting through the summer when you want to keep your hands busy but don’t want to be covered up with a heavy wool project.

Check these fun new yarns out at your local yarn store then let us know what you think. You can share pictures of your finished scarves on our Facebook page.

We love to see what people are making with our yarns!

Tags: ruffles, scarves
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