Charm Knit Along & Book Giveaway

The other day I was emailing with my blogger friend Lisette and she mentioned she was planning to kn

Mini-Me Cherry

Some people knit their mom a new hat or scarf for Mother's Day.

Our employee Cherry knit her

Noro Magazine Spring/Summer 2013

The new issue of Noro Magazine is starting to arrive in yarn stores across the USA!

This issue h

Spotlight: Araucania Rinihue

April 12, 2013 in Araucania, Sweaters

Today we’ll take a closer look at Araucania Rinihue yarn.

I’m ready for my close up!

This 80% Wool, 20% Silk blend has a whopping 208 yards per 100g hank. You’d need just two to knit a good size scarf.

The suggested knitting gauge is 4.5 sts per inch on a US 8 needle, but it looks just as lovely in the single or double crochet stitch.

Knit swatch

Like all the Araucania yarns, Rinihue is hand dyed in Chile in a style consistent with traditional styles in that country.

This would be considered an ombre color because it runs from light to dark.

Rinihue is available in 16 colors. Some are tonal ombres such as the burgundy to deep wine (color #1702) colorway shown above.

It comes in hand-dyed variegated colors.

Others are variegated colorways that shift through a variety of colors such as color #1705-Blue, chocolate, green seen above.

Which of the 16 colors do you like best? Do you prefer variegated or tonal colors?

The colors will play out in different ways depending on the size of your project and the stitches you use.

Swatching Rinihue in single and double crocheted allowed me to see which I preferred.

Ravelry show 57 projects using Rinihue. You can see them here. It has been popular for hats and cowls. I’m planning to make a hat with my burgundy yarn.

One of the things I like about Rinihue is its changing personality.

When I first swatched with it I noted it is a hearty yarn with a nice crunchy feel from the silk content.

After washing my swatch became plump and soft with lovely drape. The hearty texture I enjoyed while I was knitting and crocheting was still present.

This variety means the yarn will make for garments and accessories that are comfortable to wear, but can still retain textures and cables.

This cowl neck pullover is in the Jenny Watson Fall 2011 book. This book also includes a lovely jacket and a scarf and hat set using Rinihue.

We also have this free pullover pattern on our website.

Suitable for an experienced knitter this sweater will keep your attention as you knit. Ribbing, cables, smocking, and a textured stitch all combine to ensure you won’t get bored!

You can add it to your Ravelry queue here.

You can locate local and online stores that stock the Araucania brand by using the “find a store” feature on our main website and filtering based on zip code and brand.

What would you make with this beautiful yarn?

Tags: silk, spotlight
2 Comments »

Spotlight: Queensland Collection Uluru

April 4, 2013 in Queensland Collection

The new Queensland Collection yarn Uluru has been holding steady in the Top 10 of Ravelry‘s Popular New Yarn list.

Uluru joins Juniper Moon Farm Moonshine in the Top 10!

It’s understandable that this lovely new yarn would gain attention as our attention turns to spring and summer knitting.

Uluru is a 55% Cotton, 26% Acrylic, 19% Polyester blend with approximately 410 yards per 100g and a suggested knitting gauge of 4.5-6 sts per inch on a US 3-8 needle.

You can see the ten lovely colors in this picture from Infinite Yarns, a local yarn store in New York.

Uluru at Infinte Yarns

The wide range of gauges this yarn can be worked at makes it great for everything ranging from garments to accessories, while the cotton blend makes it a good choice for both the warm weather or if you are avoiding wool. It has a little bit of a halo for a mohair look without the mohair.

So far the yarn has been popular on Ravelry for shawls. That makes sense; shawls are great transition pieces to get you through these rough months when you don’t really need your winter coat anymore, but some cover is still necessary.

Jamie at Brownsville Stitching Parlor made her shawl using Uluru and Caracara.

This great shawl was knit by Jamie, the owner of the Brownsville Stitching Parlor in Oregon. (She used this pattern.)

She used one skein of Uluru and two skeins of Queensland Collection Caracara, a yummy 50% Acrylic, 30% Nylon. 20% Kid Mohair blend. (You can see a scarf I knit using Caracara in this blog post.) Contact the store for more details!

Loops Knitting’s version of the Hitchhiker scarf.

Loops Knitting, a local yarn store in Oklahoma, use Uluru to make the popular Hitchhiker Shawlette. You can learn more about this pattern

on Ravelry.

Uluru will also make great summer tops.

This top is a free pattern on our website

In the Uluru Top, bands of drop stitches show off the color and texture of this unique yarn and being an airy feel to this simple top.

Back and front are worked the same for a quick and easy project, while waist shaping adds flatter.

You can download the free pattern here.

You can add it to your Ravelry queue here.

Knit it now to be ready for the warm weather!

This shrug is a free pattern on our website.

This Uluru Capelet will be a great coverup for summer sun dresses.

The garment is worked in one piece to the underarm. Short row create shaping with integrated raglan sleeves. It will be a quick project that is sure to keep your attention

You can download the pattern here.

You can add it to your Ravelry queue here.

Are you intrigued? What aspect of this yarn catches your eye?

Uluru at Loops Knitting

You can find local and online stores that stock the Queensland Collection line by using our “find a store” feature and filtering based on zip code and brand.

Tags: non-wool
1 Comment »

Ella Rae Book Giveaway–Winners!

April 3, 2013 in Ella Rae, miscellaneous

The random number generator has spoken and 10 lucky people will each receive a copy of the Ella Rae Phoenix book!

Ella Rae Phoenix book cover

Winners!

I was able to email eight of you, but two people were logged in with Facebook.

Cindy H-S–please use the “message” button on Facebook to contact me.

Terry T-please use the “message” button on Facebook to contact me.

Ann S

Nancy R

Joyce W

Nora L

Jjm/lbj

Linda M

Shirley F

Deb A

Yeah, cotton!

Tristine cardigan from Ella Rae Phoenix book.

The Tristine cardigan was one of the popular patterns from the book. I like that it has pockets.

If you weren’t one of the winners, fret not! There are two new free patterns using Ella Rae Phoenix yarn on our main website.

This Lace Jacket is a free pattern on our website

The sleeves on this lace jacket are created by increasing along the body. That helps minimize finishing so you can wear it faster!

Download the pattern here.

Add it to your Ravelry queue here.

This cabled cardigan is a free pattern on our website.

This lovely cabled cardigan has lots of details to keep you interested as you knit. It’s a great option for wearing cables in the summer or if you are avoiding wool.

Download the pattern here.

This pattern is so new I haven’t had a chance to add it to Ravelry yet!

There are 12 new colors of Ella Rae Phoenix this season. You can see them all here so you can plan before you head to your local yarn store to get supplies.

You can find online and local yarn stores that carry the Ella Rae line by using the “find a store” feature on our main website and filtering by zip code and brand.

Stay tuned for another spring fever book giveaway later this week!

1 Comment »

Spotlight: Louisa Harding Mulberry yarn

April 2, 2013 in Louisa Harding

Mulberry silk is some of the finest silk in the world.

It is sometimes referred to as Bombyx silk because it is produced by Bombyx mori silkworms, which feed exclusively on mulberry leaves.

Bombyx silk has a smooth, lustrous surface that readily accepts dye, resulting in rich colors.

Mulberry yarn color #4-Rose.

You can see the beautiful combination of shine and color in Louisa Harding’s Mulberry and Mulberry Hand Beaded yarns.

The original Mulberry yarn has 162 yards per 50 gram hank and has a suggested gauge of 5.5 sts per inch on a US 6 needle. Mulberry Hand Beaded has the same suggested gauge and comes with 71 yards per 50 gram hank.

They compliment each other nicely, with the hand beaded version making great trim.

Both yarns make appearances in a number of pattern books. If you are not familiar with them, allow me to introduce a few of my favorites.

Queen of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts book features designs with an Alice In Wonderland Theme that use a variety of Louisa’s yarns.

Elsie from the Queen of Hearts book.

True to the book name, the heart motif recurs in many of the patterns.

The Elsie cardigan has a dramatic flair to the sleeves and hem, highlighted by contrasting color trim.

I like the balance of the interesting start to keep my knitting attention alert with the autopilot knitting of the smooth stockinette.

Lacie from the Queen of Hearts book.

If you aren’t ready to tackle a silk sweater, the Lacie bag takes just one bag of Mulberry yarn.

While the bag would be a quick knit, there is plenty of interest between the cable and the picot trim. One of these bags would make a lovely gift for a special friend.

You can see more patterns from the Queen of Hearts book here.

Aster

Mulberry and Mulberry Hand Beaded are the only two yarns used in the Aster book, which features a variety of garments and accessories.

Myla from the Aster book

Myla from the Aster book.

A feature I like about Louisa’s books is that she often include different version of the pattern. There might be a short and long sleeve version of a sweater, or just the different looks you can achieve by using different colors.

You can see that in the two versions of the Myla top. The lighter shades of blue on in the top version draw your eye to different parts of the sweater.

It’s a good reminder to not be afraid to mix things up!

Lola from the Aster book in a single color.

Lola from the Aster book in two colors.

A more dramatic example is the Lola capelet.

The silver version in the top picture is an elbow length version worked in a single color of Mulberry Hand Beaded.

The bottom version is shorter and features Mulberry as the main yarn and Mulberry Hand Beaded as the trim. I like the dramatic contrast of the two colors in the second version.

What color combination would you use?

See more patterns from the Aster book here.

Athena

The Athena book was a summer book that featured a few different yarns.

Silk is a great yarn for summer tops because it feel so wonderful against the skin and has the ability to absorb and release moisture.

Bluesette from the Athena book.

I love the leaf edging on the Bluesett tank top. The ribbing at the waist helps give the top shaping. If sleeveless tops aren’t your thing, the book includes as a version with sleeves.

Whoopee from the Athena book.

The Whoopee top has a fun cable trim around the hem. This would be a quick knit with the added bonus of the boat neck reducing the amount of shaping you have to worry about at the top. Fear not, there is a long sleeve version as well. And you can always make it in a single color if you don’t like stripes.

See more patterns from the Athena book here.

Belle

The Belle book features patterns using Mulberry yarn, but as we’ve discussed you can easily substitute the hand beaded version as trim.

Swallow from the Belle book

The Swallow shrug takes three skeins of Mulberry. Wouldn’t it look lovely as a cover up for a sun dress? You could jazz it up by using Mulberry Hand Beaded as a trim.

Shrugs are great projects because they often take a minimum of shaping and finishing before you get to wear them.

Magpie from the Belle book

The Belle book also features two bag patterns that each take just one skein of Mulberry yarn. I think the star pattern on the Magpie bag is fun.

There are great sweaters and scarves in the Belle book, which you can see here.

The projects I’ve highlighted should give you an idea of the potential of these two pretty yarns. For more inspiration, check out Ravlery, but you might want to get something to drink first.

There are 805 projects on Ravelry that were made using Mulberry yarn! This is a lot of lovely stuff to look at.

There are 10 projects listed for Mulberry Hand Beaded, but it’s a newer yarn so there hasn’t been enough time for more to be made.

Tags: Louisa Harding, silk, womens
No Comments »

Monika Hat Progress

April 1, 2013 in Elsebeth Lavold, Hats

You might be wondering how I decided to resolve my Monika hat color dilemma from over the weekend.

Shall I switch the orange stripe for the blue yarn?

To recap:
This is the Monika hat from the Elsebeth Lavold Book “The Small Things Matter Collection.”

I am using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool XL yarn.

I had been happily chugging along, but decided that the orange yarn at the top was too close to the red-orange yarn below the purple. The blue was a contender to use instead.

A lot of good feed back was provided in the comments on the other blog post and on our Facebook page. There was a lot of support for my concern that the orange and red-orange are too similar.

Blue and orange were both cut from the team. The top is a dark green.

Many people liked the idea of adding the blue because the more colors the better!

Other people said to skip the blue because it was a cool color and the other colors are warm.

As a designer with training in color theory, I say stick with your warm colors. The color scheme you have running right now is Analogic. If you throw in Blue, it will become an off-kilter Triadic scheme, and you’ll have to get rid of all the orange.
This is science! Listen to science.–Nicole D

Some people started making wild suggestions about ripping the hat back further and placing the blue closer to the start. Those suggestions made me LOL.

But what made up my mind was a clever move by our Facebook fan Henrys Wigglebus.

A fan edited the picture to show the blue instead of orange.

They used a photo editing software to approximate what the blue yarn would look like in the hat.

Personally I didn’t like it.

Just need to seam it!

After considering all the advice, I decided to stick with the colors I already had that were working well together.

I ditched the orange and the blue and repeated the green, purple, and red instead. The pattern calls for five colors with colors three and four repeating at the top.

Since the hat is worked flat and seamed, there is a band that is knit separately and attached to hide the seam. I’m going to knit that band in the tan color so it has a second appearance.

I think this has been a good exercise in remembering that just because a pattern is shown in certain colors in the book doesn’t mean you can’t change them around!

Tags: hats, WIPs
No Comments »

Monika Hat Dilemma

March 30, 2013 in Elsebeth Lavold, Hats, Sweaters

I’ve been quietly knitting the Monika Hat from Elsebeth Lavold’s book The Small Things Matter Collection. Add it to your Ravelry queue here.

Monika Set from The Small Things Matter Collection.

I’m not sure why I haven’t been showing you pictures. I guess because I’ve only been working on it occasionally so haven’t make a lot of progress.

That is what it will look like when it’s done. It’s knit flat an seamed. There are short rows to give it the height on one side and the band is knit separately. I think it’s going to be really cute when it’s done.

My dilemma is the colors I selected.

Monika hat progress

This is my progress so far. You can see I sent with an autumnal theme. I’m using a dark brown as my main color between the welts. I was really pleased with how it was turning out until I hit that orange stripe at the top.

I admit the orange yarn has been giving me pause all along. I think there just isn’t enough difference between it and the red/orange yarn below the purple.

The pattern calls for colors three (red/orange) and four (purple) to repeat again in reverse order.

Since it’s too late to put the orange in a different spot (the hat is working up quickly, but I still don’t want to loose all that work), I’m thinking of changing it out.

Shall I switch the orange stripe for the blue yarn?

This steel blue is the leading candidate. Really the only way I’ll know for sure is to rip the orange out and knit the welt with the blue. It’s just 6 little rows so it shouldn’t be too bad.

What do you think?

Silky Wool XL

The pattern for the Monika Hat and Bag actually calls for the original Silky Wool yarn held doubled. However, when I had that little bout of “startitis” at the beginning of March I swatched using Silky Wool XL and was able to get gauge.

Silky Wool XL is an 80% Wool, 20% Silk blend that is available in 28 colors. Each 50 gram ball has approximately 104 yards. It will work on needles ranging from US7 to US10 with suggested gauges of 3.75 to 4.5 sts per inch.

Silky Wool XL is lovely to knit and crochet with because of the nice crunchy feel the silk content gives the yarn. The lovely colors are made more interesting from the tweedy bits in the yarn. It is a complex yarn!

While I’m making a hat, this yarn is wonderful for sweaters and other larger garments.

Florence from The Past Into The Present Collection.

The Florence hooded cape is from the book The Past Into The Present Collection. Add it to your Ravelry queue here.

It makes my heart go pitter-patter. The lovely cable detail combined with the cropped length and the practical hood make this garment a stand out in my book.

Harare from The City(e)scapes Collection.

For something a little more mainstream, consider the Harare cardigan from The City(e)scapes Collection. Add it to your Ravelry queue here.

This will be a great transition piece as we move into spring, and will also make a great cover up when the summer nights turn cool.

The like the wide collar and the simple cable on this cardigan.

Melbourne from The City(e)scapes Collection.

For the man in your life, check out the Melbourne cardigan from the same book. Add it to your Ravelry queue here.

Look at all the wonderful details on this cardigan! A fun cable pattern to knit, generous pockets, and an eye catching shawl collar. This cardigan will be a great addition to his wardrobe…or maybe your own.

Oda from The Come Closer Collection.

For something a little heartier consider the Oda jacket from The Come Close Collection. Add it to your Ravelry queue here.

That wonderfully generous collar will help keep you warm. And the rib and cable pattern will help ensure a comfortable fit. Add some fabulous buttons and you’re ready to go.

I’ve highlighted just a few projects using Silky Wool XL. You can see more on the left hand side of the Silky Wool XL page on our main website.

Check for the yarn and the books at your local yarn store.

What have you made using this yummy yarn?

Tags: WIPs
7 Comments »

Ella Rae Phoenix Book Giveaway (3/29-4/2)

March 29, 2013 in Ella Rae, miscellaneous

This week’s spring fever book giveaway is actually spring like since it features a book for a cotton yarn!

Ella Rae Phoenix book cover

Ella Rae Phoenix yarn is a 100% Egyptian Cotton yarn that comes in 182 yard hanks and has a suggested gauge of 4.5 sts per inch on a US7 needle. There are 12 new colors this season, bringing the total colors to 48!

Phoenix color #40-Everglade

It is soft, but had great stitch definition. Really a beautiful yarn for either your warm weather projects or year round projects if you are avoiding wool. The worsted weight gauge means you’ll finish projects in a decent amount of time as well.

I selected this Phoenix book for the giveaway because it has patterns for the entire family. There is also a good mix of easy and complex patterns to keep you interested.

Lace beret & Scarf

This beret and scarf are two of the patterns for women. There is also a nice cardigan (with pockets!) and a pretty bag. The beret takes just one hank of Phoenix, while the scarf takes two.

Casey girl’s cardigan

The Casey cardigan is a pretty, cabled, v-neck cardigan for the young lady in your life. It will help keep her warm when those evening at the beach (or in the backyard) get a little cool. Let her select the color to be sure she embraces it.

Cairo (boy) and Stuart (man) pullovers

For the young man in your life there is the Cairo sweater, while the grown up guys can get the Stuart sweater. The stripes echo each other so they are coordinated, but not actually matching. Of course, if even that subtle design is too much for you or your guy, just drop the stripes and make a plain sweater.

The new colors of Phoenix include some great neutrals, so there is bound to be a color combination you can agree on.

You can see more pictures of the designs in this book here.

Giveaway!

Ten randomly selected people will each receive a copy of this book. (US residents only. Void where prohibited.)

You know the drill. Leave a comment on this blog post before April 2 to be entered in the drawing.

Tell me your favorite design from this book, or what your favorite Ella Rae book is (you can see them here).

Good luck!

Tags: books, cotton
228 Comments »

Noro Book Giveaway–Winners!

March 28, 2013 in miscellaneous

The random number generator has spoken and 10 lucky fans will each receive a copy of the Noro Volume #26 book!

This book as interesting information about how the fibers used to make Noro yarns are selected. There is also information about the process used to make the yarn, which has the goal of treating the fibers as gently as possible.

I was able to email most of the winners, so check your inbox for directions on claiming your prize!

Winners!

Susan

Kathy W P

Lorraine M B

Brenda B

Mary E

Beverly P R

Jeanne M

Barbara W

Maria Z C

Kat Harper–no email! Please use the “message” button on our Facebook page to contact me!

Beautiful Patterns

Shall I tease you with more information about the book?

Noro Silk Garden looks great in Entrelac.

I asked people to tell me their favorite pattern from the book and this Entrelac sweater was top of the list. Perfectly understandable since the long colors changes of Noro yarns look great in Entrelac.

This skirt was another favorite.

This skirt was another favorite. The bands of color are so striking on this one! Wouldn’t it look lovely with a pair of boots?

One of the beautiful patterns in Volume #26.

Finally, this great coat using Kureyon yarn was mentioned a few times. The combination of the textures with the colors can’t be beat.

And, of course, the socks! Noro sock yarns make your toes happy.

Didn’t win this time around? Don’t worry, our spring fever book giveaways continue tomorrow with an Ella Rae book.

7 Comments »

Crossing Colors in Intarsia

March 26, 2013 in Cowls, Free, Juniper Moon Farm Yarns, Tips

Intarsia is sometimes referred to as “picture knitting” because it is used to work motifs into your project.

Compared to Fair Isle or stranded knitting, when working intarsia you are created isolated blocks of color.

Public side of the Argyle Cowl.

Perhaps the most recognizable intarsia pattern is the diamond motif of the Argyle pattern. But you can also use this method for creating polka dots, squares, stars, and even animals.

You use a separate ball of yarn for each section of color. So in the Chadwick Argyle Cowl pattern seen above you would have four balls of red, two balls of white, and one ball of black. As you arrive at each section of the motif you drop the current color and pick up the new color.

The potential problem with all this dropping and switching is the potential for little holes at the color change. However, they are easily avoided by crossing the yarns so they twist together. The tension created by the twist pulls the holes closed.

Crossed colors working a red knit stitch. Yarn thrown, stitch not completed.

To work the color cross you pick up the new yarn from the right and underneath the current yarn. Stated another way, when you get to the stitch where the color change happens pull the current yarn to the left, then grab the new yarn and pull it to the left and over the top of the old yarn.

In the picture above I’m about to work a red stitch after working a white stitch. I took the picture after I threw the red yarn around the needle but before I finished the stitch. You can see the red yarn hugging the white yarn.

Since all this might be a little hard to understand in text, I made a little video demonstrating the method. I filmed it while I was working the purl side since it seemed easier to see what is going on.

It probably looks a little awkward, but remember I was working around a camera and trying to use exaggerated gestures so you could see what is happening. LOL!

Inside of the Argyle Cowl. You want those little half-moons.

After all that crossing, the inside of your project should look like this. The little half-moons are your goal and the colors should be consistent on either the top or the bottom in each section.

If it still doesn’t make sense you can probably get a private lesson at your local yarn store where you can see the technique demonstrated in person. You’ll also get to ask questions as you try it out.

Intarsia is my favorite style of color work. I think it’s fun to be able to add pops of color here and here in projects. And argyle socks are fun to knit and wear.

Challenging ourselves with new knitting techniques helps keep our craft interesting and our minds sharp. What new technique will you try out?

If you’re ready to try out intarsia you can download the free pattern for the Chadwick Argyle Cowl on our website. You can add it to your Ravelry queue here.

Tags: argyle, cowls, intarsia, tips
No Comments »

Noro Book Giveaway (3/25-3/27)

March 25, 2013 in miscellaneous, Noro

For our next spring fever book giveaway 10 lucky fans will each win a copy of Noro Volume #26.

In addition to beautiful designs for the whole family, this special book includes wonderful pictures and explanations about the fiber selection and yarn production processes that go into creating Noro yarns.

This book is a real treasure whether you’ve been a longtime Noro fan or are a recent convert.

Unisex sweaters using Kureyon.

These great unisex pullovers are knit using Kuryeon yarn. In addition to having interesting design details they have a unique construction (notice the direction the cables are running!).

Kureyon children’s sweater

Kureyon is a 100% wool yarn that comes in a rich range of colors. As you can see from the difference in the bright, happy colors of this children’s sweater compared to the rich, dark colors of the adult sweaters.

Noro Silk Garden looks great in Entrelac.

The popular yarn Silk Garden is also featured in many designs in this book. Noro yarns look so good in entrelac it’s almost as though this technique was invented for these yarns! (Ok, I’m exaggerating a little.)

Even simple patterns look great in Noro.

But the colors of Noro are so fabulous that even a simple design looks spectacular when you’re done!

I’ve touched on four patterns, but you can see the other great designs in this book here.

Book Giveaway!

Are you a long time Noro lover or have you only recently discovered this great line of yarns?

To enter the giveaway leave a comment on this blog post before March 27 telling us your favorite design from Volume #26, or your favorite Noro book or Noro yarn.

Ten randomly selected people will each win a copy of Volume #26! (US residents, void where prohibited.)

Have fun and good luck!

244 Comments »

Yarnologue

Charm Knit Along & Book Giveaway

Mini-Me Cherry

Noro Magazine Spring/Summer 2013

Spotlight: Araucania Rinihue

Spotlight: Queensland Collection Uluru

Ella Rae Book Giveaway–Winners!

Winners!

Yeah, cotton!

Spotlight: Louisa Harding Mulberry yarn

Queen of Hearts

Aster

Athena

Belle

Monika Hat Progress

Monika Hat Dilemma

Silky Wool XL

Ella Rae Phoenix Book Giveaway (3/29-4/2)

Giveaway!

Noro Book Giveaway–Winners!

Winners!

Beautiful Patterns

Crossing Colors in Intarsia

Noro Book Giveaway (3/25-3/27)

Book Giveaway!

Recent Posts

Blogroll

Meta