Spotlight: Juniper Moon Farm Moonshine

May 6, 2013 in Cowls, Juniper Moon Farm Yarns, Sweaters

It might not be booze, but I bet the Dukes of Hazard would still want to transport the Juniper Moon Farm version of Moonshine!

After all, who could resist a yarn that is a 40% Wool, 40% Alpaca, 20% Silk blend with approximately 197 yards per 100g? Not me, that’s for sure!

Doesn’t it look glossy and mysterious?

It’s available in 16 colors and has a suggested gauge of 4.5-5 sts per inch on a US 7 needle. Tempted yet?

Ravelry users gave in to the temptation and landed Moonshine in the #1 spot on the Popluar New Yarns list for a good part of the month of April.

Moonshine was #1 on Ravelry’s Popular New Yarn list!

It has been used in 58 projects, with hats and shawls leading the pack.

Amalthea Cowl

The Moonshine book features 14 projects that are a mix of sweaters and accessories.

With a trip coming up, I wanted something portable and relatively simple to work on.

Photo by Susan Gibbs
Amalthea Cowl

The Amalthea cowl fit the bill. It’s knit in the round with a repeating pattern that doesn’t require charts and tons of concentration. The book includes a one skein and a two skein version, making this a great option for your gift box.

Doesn’t it look yummy?

It took me about a week to knit the one skein version. You can add this project to your Ravelry queue here.

The cowl is soft and squishy!

Although I knit it in April, I actually got to wear it a few times before the weather really warmed up. I think I’ll get a lot of use out of it next winter!

Just one skein makes it a great gift option.

XS to 3X

An exciting thing about the sweater patterns in the book (aside from how beautiful they are) is that they all range from XS (about a 30″ bust) to 3X (about a 54″ bust)!

In addition to the wide range of sizes, a variety of styles is includes to cover a wide range of tastes.

Photo by Susan Gibbs.
Calista Top

One of the eye catching ones, and a great option for the warm weather, is the Calista Top. Add it to your Ravelry queue.

Worked in the round from the bottom up, this pretty tank top will be a quick knit. Without seams to sew you’ll be able to weave in the ends and wear it right away.

For something with a little more coverage (hehe), consider the Dione Top.

Photo by Susan Gibbs
Dione Top

Add Dione to your Ravelry queue. I like the textured yoke and clean lines of this raglan sweater.

It is worked top-down in the round and includes some waist shaping for a flattering fit. Once again, minimum finishing means a short amount time between it coming off your needles and going onto your body!

The last sweater I’m going to highlight (and I could keep going!) is the Carme Sweater. Add Carme to your Ravelry queue.

Photo by Susan Gibbs
Carme Sweater

It’s easy to understand why this pretty sweater has 103 favorites on Ravelry. In addition to be attractive, Carme would be a fun knit.

The upper body is knit sideways and then the lower body is picked up and knit down in the round. Once again, no seams to sew!

Now the three sweaters I’ve highlighted are knit in the round, but don’t be shocked when you get the book and some of the sweaters are worked flat and seamed.

In any case, Moonshine is so soft and lovely to work with that you won’t mind spending the extra time with it that seaming will require.

You can read more about Moonshine and the book designer on the Juniper Moon Farm blog. You can preview the other patterns in the book here.

You can locate local and online stores that carry the Moonshine yarn and book (and other Juniper Moon Farm yarns!) by using the “find a store” feature on our main website. Search by zip code and filter by brand to narrow down the results.

Which pattern from the book is your favorite?

Tags: alpaca, cowls, silk, womens, XL
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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
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Jenny King’s “Fashions to Flaunt Crocheted with Noro Yarns”

November 30, 2012 in crochet, Noro

As though the new hardcover Crochet Noro book wasn’t exciting enough, Australian designer Jenny King has just released (December 1) “Fashions to Flaunt Crocheted with Noro Yarns.”

Your collection of crochet hooks must be standing up and dancing by now, because I know mine are.

The fabulous colors of Noro in the crochet stitches we love…sigh, life is good. (Remember, I grew up crocheting so I can legitimately say things like that.)

Jenny has been designing crochet patterns for 15 years. She also travels around teaching classes and owns a local yarn store in Australia. In addition to books, her pattern have appeared in Vogue Knitting Crochet and Interweave Crochet. You’ve probably seen some!

The patterns in Fashions to Flaunt use yarn from across the Noro line, from the sock yarns to the bulky yarns so you’ll be able to select a project based on how quickly you want to finish. If you’re like me, you crochet faster than you knit anyway, so a lovely new project can be completed quickly.

With 17 garments ranging from accessories to sweaters I could go on and on all day, so I’ll just highlight a few that caught my eye.

These are adorable!

Maybe I’ve been a little slipper obsessed lately, but these are adorable! And they look pretty simple as well. If you are in gift crocheting mode I bet these would be good candidates, they look like they would take next to no time to make.

Bobble Scarf=One ball of Silk Garden Sock

The Bobble Scarf takes just one ball of Silk Garden Sock yarn. I bet you could use Taiyo Sock yarn as well. Jenny tells us this pattern is very popular in Australia because it’s quick and easy to make. I think it’s because the finished scarf is so unique. Aren’t the trailing bobbles fun?

There is a lot of visual interest in this scarf between the textures of the fabric and the great Noro colors.

The Crosscross vest is one of the garments in the book.

I like this one because of the unique construction.

It's mild mannered in front.

The fronts have great flow and drape.

Isn't that cool?

Then the back is like “Ta-da! Didn’t expect that, did you?”

I think this vest would be great for adding extra warmth without making you too hot.

Another neat garment is the Aztec Shawl. Jenny sent us extra pictures that aren’t in the book.

This first one is from the book. “Oh, look at the pretty shawl with the interesting edging.”

There are many ways to wear the Aztec Shawl

But what you should realize is that there are multiple ways to wear it. This is a very flexible garment!

I like how this way forms a collar

Worn this way it looks like a totally different shawl. I like how the edge folds over to form a collar for this option.

This is the way Jenny wears the Aztec Shawl

Jenny says this is the way she wears the shawl. It really shows off the interesting edging. It’s also an excuse to wear some of those pretty shawl fasteners you’ve collected.

Two other shawls and a scarf have multiple wearing options as well.

There are a variety of attractive patterns in this book that range from easy to intermediate skill levels. I think you’ll find plenty of projects to keep your hooks busy.

Keep a sharp eye on your crochet social media next week. There will be a blog tour for the book and I hear some of those reviewers will be giving away a copy of the book and a ball of Silk Garden Sock yarn. cool!

First stop will be The Crochet Dude on Dec. 5. Then Crochetville on Dec 7.

Or, don’t bother waiting, and just buy yourself a copy (print or digital!), then swing by your local yarn store for supplies.

Tags: crochet, Noro, womens
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Spotlight: Ella Rae Lace Merino

September 7, 2012 in Ella Rae, shawl, Sweaters

Have I mentioned lately how much fun I’m having knitting my Color Affection shawl?

You’ll remember this shawl was designed by Veera Valimaki and is for sale on Ravelry.

I’m using Ella Rae Lace Merino yarn in colors #3-Grass Green, #139-Turquoise and Green, and #34-Medium Blue.

Isn’t it stunning? And, yes, it is as soft and squishy as it looks!

I have one repeat left of the short row section. Then I’m into the solid blue edging. Judging from the comments on Ravelry that is the point people start loosing their focus. I can understand that, considering the rows will be over 400 stitches long at that point!

But I’m not worried. I’ll put a good show on TV, or sit on the porch while the dogs are frolicking, and enjoy the process of knitting with this lovely 100% merino wool yarn.

Did you know there are three weights to the Lace Merino family? The original Lace Merino I’m using for my shawl is fingering weight. A worsted weight version was introduced last year. New for this fall is a chunky weight.

All three weights are wonderful for projects ranging from accessories to garments. Let me show you some project ideas.

Fingering Weight

The fingering weight version has a recommended gauge of 6.5 sts per inch on a US4 needle and comes with approximately 460 yards per 100 gram hank.

This fun ruffled scarf is in Book #114-Lace Merino & Latte. It takes two skeins of Lace Merino yarn.

This pretty, garter stitch shrug is a free pattern on our main website. It takes between 5 to 7 hanks of Lace Merino and has finished bust measurements to fit from 35″ to 53″. It should be suitable for an advanced beginner.

You can see more project ideas and all the colors for the original Lace Merino yarn on this page.

Worsted Weight

The worsted weight of Lace Merino is a good option when you don’t want a bulky project but the thought of knitting on small needles doesn’t appeal to you.

This version has a recommended gauge of 4.5 sts per inch on a US7 needle and comes with approximately 230 yards per 100 gram hank.

This sweet, garter stitch cardigan is in book #113-Lace Merino Worsted. It takes from 2 to 4 hanks, depending on the size you make.

This Long Ribbed Vest is also in book #113. It takes from 6 to 8 hanks of Lace Merino Worsted.

This Long Textured Cardigan is another free pattern on our website. It has 3 sizes ranging from a 31″ to a 47″ finished bust. There is minimum shaping involved, but the pattern stitch will keep you awake.

Chunky Weight

The new Lace Merino Chunky has a suggested gauge of 3.5 sts per inch on a US 10 needle and comes with approximately 132 yards per 100 gram hank.

This is the choice for projects that will work up quickly. But you won’t have to sacrifice looks and comfort.

This Men’s Vest is in the new Lace Merino Chunky booklet that will be out later this fall. The booklet includes patterns for women and unisex accessories.

Our fans are wasting no time getting their needles into the new Lace Merino Chunky.

Johanna Jacket designed by Kate Oates

Trish from Yarn Gallery, a local yarn store in Pennsylvania, sent us this picture of the Johanna Jacket they knit using Lace Merino Chunky. Contact the store to find out about those great buttons and which color yarn they used.

Westport Yarns, a local yarn store in Connecticut, recently held a beginning weaving class. Their staff member Pam used Lace Merino Chunky for her project. Aren’t the colors stunning?

Her scarf looks pretty good for a first attempt! Makes me think some Lace Merino might finally inspire me to figure out how to use my own loom.

But first I think I’ll finish my Color Affection shawl.

What types of projects have you make with the Lace Merino family? Have you tried to weave with it, too?

Tags: children, mens, WIPs, womens
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A Sweater Divided

August 13, 2012 in Juniper Moon Farm Yarns, Sweaters, Tips

The Olympic Games ended last night. For knitters and crocheters active on Ravelry it also meant the conclusion of the Ravellenic Games.

With millions of yarn lovers allover the world I know that whenever I’m casting on or completing a project it is very likely that at least one person (if not more) is at the same point as me. Sort of like knowing people share your birthday even if you haven’t met them.

Still, there is something extra fun about participating in a Knit Along or Crochet Along when you know people are intentionally starting a project at the same time.

While the overarching goal of the Ravellenic Games is to attempt to start and finish a challenging (for yourself) project between the opening and closing ceremonies, I prefer to approach it as an opportunity to expand my skills. That may be because my projects are usually too ambitious and I don’t finish in time!

That was once again the case this year. But I went into the Games knowing my actual chances of finishing my Three Lace Cardigan were slim and was using them instead as a way to stay focused on one project for an extended period of time.

Considering I was working on a lace cardigan knit using lace weight yarn on US 5 needles, I think I made pretty good progress.

Divide for Fronts and Back

Scraps of yarn make good stitch holders.

When working a sweater all in one piece this instruction should not scare you.

Once you introduce the spaces for the arm holes into the garment they will prevent you from working in long, continuous rows. Think of it as the draw bridge is up and the roads a no longer connected.

Now it’s a matter of rearranging the stitches so you can work on the individual sections. When the shifting is taking place the instruction might way “work in pattern” or just “work” in either case you should continue working the lace, texture, or color changes you’ve been knitting or crocheting all along unless you are specifically told otherwise. If I’d stopped working the lace pattern I would have ended up with an odd stockinette row right in the middle of my cardigan!

In this case the pattern told me to continue working on the left front of the sweater first. Now that is the “left front” when I’ll be wearing the cardigan, not as I’m looking at it on my lap.

I opted to move the waiting, live stitches to a piece of scrap yarn until I’m ready for them. I just threaded a darning needle with the organ yarn and slipped the stitches over. I kept the markers in place to make it easier to track the lace pattern when I return to that section.

You can save some brain cells later on by making a note about which pattern row you ended with on the working copy of your pattern.

You can get a variety of stitch holders at your local yarn store ranging from giant metal safety pins to plastic rods. I have even seen people use a circular needle with point protectors on the ends.

But for a light yarn like Findley I prefer to use a piece of scrap yarn because it doesn’t pull on the knitting as much as one of those other options.

A Few Stitches Short of a Repeat

Switch to stockinette when you run out of stitches.

If you haven’t knit a lace garment before, or any lace project that requires shaping for that matter, you might become puzzled how to stay in pattern once you start decreasing.

It can be a little confusing when the lace has a six stitch pattern and suddenly you have only 4 stitches (or fewer).

The solution is to either work as much of the pattern stitch as you can or default to stockinette stitch (or another appropriate vanilla option that will fit in with your garment such as reverse stockinette stitch or garter stitch).

If the pattern stitch includes pairs of increases and decreases make sure you can work both of them before deciding to “work in pattern” otherwise your stitch count will be off. If you work a yarn over without the corresponding decrease you’ll run into problems later on.

Having the edge in stockinette stitch can also make finishing easier down the line.

In this case I have stockinette stitch along the armhole, which will be easier to attach the sleeve to when the time comes than an edge full of yarn over holes and decrease bumps.

Since it’s located right along the edge of the arm it won’t be very noticeable when I’m wearing the sweater.

My sweater is moving along nicely and I’ve got enough momentum to keep going even though the Ravellenic Games have ended.

Did you succeed in your quest for Ravellenic glory?

Tags: lace, womens
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On The Needles: Three Lace Cardigan

August 8, 2012 in Juniper Moon Farm Yarns, Sweaters, Tips

The “Three Lace Cardigan” is from the Juniper Moon Farm Findley book.

This is my final goal

The smallest size (for a 30 1/2″ bust, which I’m making) takes one ball of Findley yarn. The other five sizes take two balls. From what I’ve seen, there is a lot of stretch in the finished cardigan and even the smallest size will fit a variety of people.

Findley yarn is a delicious 50% Merino Wool, 50% Silk blend. It launched with 12 colors and two more have been added for the fall. This yarn is soft, shiny, and alluring. If your impulse is to just let it sit on your desk so you can pet and admire it (rather than knitting or crocheting with it right away) take comfort in the fact that you are not alone.

I fell in love with the Three Lace Cardigan as soon as I saw it, but haven’t gotten around to knitting it until now. You know how that goes, too many current projects on the go, gifts to be made, etc. I also admit to being a little intimidated by the idea of knitting an entire cardigan out of lace weight yarn even if it is on size US 5 needles!

To break the cycle I declared the TLC my Ravellenic Games project. That would give me an excuse to toss all other projects aside and just focus on the cardigan.

I was impatient to get through the garter stitch hem.

This tactic has worked well, as you know if you are a fan of ours on Facebook where I have been regularly posting progress pictures.

On one of the pictures someone asked if I had tips for beginners and I was puzzled since the pattern is pretty straight forward so far, but I think I’ve thought of some.

Be Bold! Go Forth and Knit!

However, most of my tips are not specific to the Three Lace Cardigan but are general knitting hints that will apply to most projects.

First, don’t be intimidated by all the lace in this pattern. The stitches are written out AND charted so you can look at both. In fact, if you aren’t sure about reading charts this could be a good pattern to start with since it has both.

I’m not an accomplished lace knitter who produces tons of fabulous lace shawls, but I’d say the lace patterns in this cardigan are simple enough for someone new to lace to manage.

Highlight, Circle and Make Notes.

This is one of those patterns where you’ll want to make a copy and then scribble all over it.

Circle the numbers related to the size you are making. Highlight the “at the same time” directions for the neck and arm shaping. By reading the pattern through once in advance of starting to knit you’ll avoid surprises later on.

Keep in mind that stitch markers are your friend. I’ve been applying them liberally as I go along.

Stitch markers can help keep you on track.

First I used them when I was casting on. Since it was over 100 sts, I placed a marker after every group of 10 to make them easier to count.

I took them out on the first row since I was just knitting garter stitch for a while.

Then I replaced them at the end of each pattern repeat for the first lace pattern. I like to knit while I watch TV and the markers helped keep me on track. I could glance down to work the yarn overs then zip along to the next marker.

I removed them for the second lace pattern, which has a lot of stockinette stitch, and then replaced them for the third pattern.

Starting the third lace pattern.

So far I haven’t made any mistakes!

Take time to admire your work

I recently read an interview on the Vogue Knitting website with Brooke Nico and she pointed out that people forget to look at their knitting. You have to know how your project looks when it’s correct to understand when it’s wrong.

That’s good advice and I’ve been keeping it in mind as I work my Three Lace Cardigan. Even if I hadn’t read that article the yarn and pattern are so pretty that I would still be stopping to pet it on a regular basis!

Taking Shape

This cardigan is worked in one piece to the armhole shaping.

That’s nice because it reduces the amount of finishing needed at the end.

The next challenge will be dividing for the front and backs after I work a few more rows of the third lace repeat.

I’m sure that if I take it step by step it won’t give me any trouble.

The Ravellenic Games end on August 12. I know I won’t have the cardigan finished by the deadline, but I’ll have made enough progress to keep going.

When the end of a project is in sight, especially a fun one worked in yummy yarn, it’s hard to put it down!

Tags: lace, WIPs, womens
3 Comments »

Off The Needles: Simple Tank

July 30, 2012 in Debbie Bliss, Sweaters

I finished my Simple Tank Top from the Spring/Summer 2012 issue of Debbie Bliss Magazine.

Mine was made using Debbie Bliss Rialto 4 Ply yarn, a soft 100% ExtraFine Merino with approximately 198 yards per 50g, in #27-Silver, #22 – Fuschia, and #28 – Tangerine. Those are the colors from the magazine, but I thought they were charming and have been receiving lots of compliments. I think it would also look good with blue and green stripes.

There are enough colors of Rialto 4 ply to make a different top for every day of the week!

Here is a picture of the front:

And here is a picture of the back:

Don’t you love it when your finished sweater actually fits properly?

I made the smallest size, which gives me about 2″ inches of ease.

It’s a good idea to take your measurements regularly so you know for sure which size to make. With all the images we are bombarded with in the media our perception of our bodies might not be in line with reality. By ensuring you’re making the right size to start with you’ll avoid disappointment down the line.

The Craft Yarn Council has a handy guide online that shows you how and where to measure yourself.

Another good idea is to really pay attention to the fit of the clothes you enjoy wearing and try to replicate it in the garments you knit or crochet for yourself. If you like close fitting store bought clothes, then don’t make a big over sized sweater. The opposite is also true. If you like some breathing room, don’t make that sweater that is supposed to be worn with negative ease.

Of course, these principles also apply to the garments you make for other people. If you want the things you make to be worn and used make things you like!

Oh, dear! I’ll get off my soapbox now and get back to my pretty new top. LOL!

What am I going to do with all these ends?

I started the Simple Tank in April and didn’t finish it until mid-July, but the hands-on knitting time wasn’t really that long. I moved house at the beginning of June and the need to pack, move, and unpack threw my knitting off schedule.

And I always drop the ball on the finishing. In fact, I must have dragged my feet for a week when the tank was all knit and it was time to pick up around the arm holes to knit the trim.

I always want quiet and a good hour to work when faced with the prospect of picking up stitches evenly across a section of sweater. I used the trick of dividing the armhole into smaller sections placing stitch markers at the half way point, then dividing the half in half, etc. It is easier to pick up a small number of stitches over a small section than it is to pick up a large number of stitches across a great expanse.

Ta-da! All woven in.

When I realized I would never have a finished project if I kept avoiding it I went to my local yarn store to get in the right mind-set. It was so nice to hang out at the table, picking up stitches, and chatting with the other knitters passing through. (I might have bought a couple new magazines as well!)

Have you noticed that magical effect yarn stores have on your knitting or crocheting? And if you do get stuck there are people around to ask for advice!

You can't even tell from the outside.

The trim around the neck and arms is very simple, but many people have commented on how nice it is.

Once the trim was knit, it was a simple matter of seaming the sides and weaving in the ends. I’m glad I carried the colors up the sides without cutting them. That greatly reduced the number of ends I had to weave in.

I always feel such a sense of accomplishment when I finish a project. And it’s an even better feeling when I wear a new top for the first time and can tell people who compliment it, “Thanks! I made it!”

Tags: magazines, summer, sweater, womens
2 Comments »

Ella Rae Pansies

June 17, 2012 in Ella Rae, Sweaters

Pansies is the name of a new spring book and yarn from Ella Rae.

This 100% Cotton yarn has approximately 93 yards per 50g ball and a suggested knitting gauge of 5.5 sts per inch on a US 6 needle.

It is available in 10 variegated colorways. This is a close up of colorway #4. As you can see, the color has a distressed look with a variety of stripes, flecks, and speckles.

When worked up the yarn has a self-striping effect, but the extra texture in the colors creates a lot of interest.

Pansies is an unmercerized cotton, which means it has a soft, buttery feel with just a hint of surface fuzz. You are probably more accustomed to working with mercerized cottons, which have been treated to add strength and shine. Mercerized cottons have a crisp appearance. Pansies has a more relaxed feel reminiscent of a favorite pair of jeans.

The companion pattern book, #119 Pansies “Floral Fancy”, features six sweater patterns that take advantage of this casual feel.

These sweaters will end up being favorite weekend wear equally nice for hanging out in the backyard with friends or running errands around town.

The Boat-Neck sweater seen above has a relaxed fit and would be suitable for an advanced beginner because of the minimal shaping. Actually, an advanced beginner ready to take the next step from a drop shoulder sweater would probably find this a good project.

The Simple Cardigan lives up to it’s name. The plain stockinette stitch really allows the fun colors to shine.

This is another pattern that would be good for a beginner wanting to tackle his or her first cardigan. At the same time it will be a soothing auto-pilot project for an experienced knitter looking to relax.

For something a little more challenging, you might enjoy the Lacey Cardigan.

The simple eyelet pattern doesn’t interfere with the stripes of the yarn, but will keep your attention while knitting. There is also a pretty Double Diamond Lace edging around the neck line.

The cardigan is closed by a tie at the neck, which means there is no need to worry about working button bands.

The last pattern I want to highlight is the Bolero.

This cropped, short sleeved cardigan looks like a quick knit for an experienced knitter. It might be a little more challenging for a beginner because of the shaping on the fronts, but every pattern should advance our skills!

I think the Bolero will look equally good with a sun dress or jeans. This will be a good coverup for spring and summer.

I plan to make mine in color #8.

You can preview the rest of the book on our website. Which pattern do you like best?

Tags: cotton, summer, womens
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Lace Collars

June 15, 2012 in Cowls, Debbie Bliss, Mirasol, Noro

We don’t like to put away our knitting needles and crochet hooks just because warmer weather has arrived.

Sure, we might spend time outside gardening or pursuing other activities that can’t be combined with stitching, but at some point during the day it will be time to sit down and relax with our yarn.

When that time comes, we tend to want to work on small projects. Who wants to spread a big afghan across their lap in 80 or 90 degree weather?

While socks, mitts, and hats are all good options, it’s nice to mix things up a little.

Several of the spring/summer pattern books have little lace collars that will be great projects for this time of year. They are small, portable, and often take just one skein of the required yarn.

These collars are knit or crocheted jewelry. They can be worn as accents to dress up a plain blouse or to give an outfit a different look.

Debbie Bliss

Knit Lace Collar by Debbie Bliss

Debbie Bliss has three collars featuring her new Rialto Lace yarn.

This yummy new yarn is 100% Extrafine Merino Wool with approximately 429 yards per 50g that knits to 8 sts per inch on a US 2 needle. It is available in 20 colors.

Just because the suggested needle is a US 2 doesn’t mean that is the size you have to use. For instance, this knit Lace Collar from the “Rialto Lace” book is worked on a US4 needle.

The Rialto Lace book features eight patterns ranging from the Lace Collar to cardigans and shawls.

Debbie has also designed two crocheted lace collars using Rialto Lace yarn.

Daisy Crocheted Collar by Debbie Bliss

The Daisy collar echoes the design in the knit lace collar. The airy, square motifs with a scalloped edge is sure to crochet up quickly.

Chantal Crocheted Collar by Debbie Bliss

The Chantal collar is more dramatic. I love the pleats on this one. It will definitely dress up a plain shell!

Both crocheted collars are in the “Simply Crochet” book, which includes a range of patterns from sweaters and skirts to a bag.

Noro

Jane Ellison designed two version of the Joyce collar for the Noro Vintage book.

Joyce by Jane Ellison

The first, large version is dramatic! It lays nice and flat on your shoulders. This size will be good for a little extra warmth when you don’t feel like dealing with a big shawl or shrug.

It is knit using one hank of Karuta, a 40% Silk, 30% Cotton, 30% Wool blend with approximately 165 yards per 100g. There are eight tonal colorways from which to select.

Joyce (small) by Jane Ellison

The smaller version also takes one hank of Karuta. This is more of a choker or cowl style. The snug fit makes the small one more all-weather since you’ll be able to wear it under winter coats as well.

For both version you’ll have fun finding a fabulous button to finish it off.

Mirasol

The last pattern I want to highlight is more of a cowl than a collar and it’s not actually lace, but I think the construction is so interesting that I have to include it.

I also think it falls into the “knitting as jewelry” category, which qualifies it for this blog post.

Raya Cowl by Jane Ellison

The Raya Cowl, which is a free pattern on our website, is cabled AND braided.

How neat is that?

You start by casting on all the stitches, then work the three strands separately. Don’t worry, the pattern is very clear so it won’t be terribly complicated to knit.

This pattern is knit using one hank of Hap’i yarn, a 100% Pima Cotton with approximately 132 yards per 100g. It is available in 24 colors.

I think any of these patterns would be a good place to start if you want to get a jump on your gift knitting.

You can find the pattern books and yarns at your local yarn store.

What types of projects do you like to work on in the spring and summer?

Tags: crochet, lace, summer, womens
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Beach Cover Ups

May 23, 2012 in Araucania, Ella Rae, Elsebeth Lavold, Katia, Noro

This morning on Facebook one of my friends linked to an article in New York Magazine about “beach sweaters,” which it described as loose knit sweaters to use as a cover up.

The article was accompanied by photos of store bought sweaters ranging from $275 to $1,800. Although, to be fair, there was one for $75 as well. There was also a little slide show of “real” women (not models) they stopped on the street wearing similar styles.

It made me think how lucky we are to be knitters and crocheters. We have the ability to make ourselves similar garments that will be much more flattering because they will be in a style we prefer, sized to our bodies, and in a color we can select from the wide rang available at our yarn store rather than was it on the department store rack.

Knitting and crocheting also gives you more control over the fiber content, as well.

And we all know that unless you’re knitting a long coat out of cashmere or qiviut, you won’t be spending anywhere near $1,000.

I took a little stroll through our books and came up with some patterns that will work at the beach, pool, or on a picnic. Take a peak, then head to your local yarn store to gather supplies.

Katia

The spring and summer books from this Spanish brand offer a wealth of airy tops that fit the bill.

This Batwing Top (which is actually a poncho, but I have to stick with the official pattern name) is a free pattern on our website. (The English directions are on the second page of the PDF.)

It would be a quick knit on US10.5 needles. This project is knit in simple stockinette stitch, allowing the textured yarn to do all the work for you.

The sample is shown in three colors of Temis, a 55% Cotton, 40% Acrylic, 5% Nylon blend with approximately 137 yards per 50g, available in 13 colors. Make yours in stripes, as shown, or a solid color.

This beautiful crocheted top is another free pattern on our website. The pattern stitch isn’t difficult, but you’ll need strong pattern reading skills for this one as it relies heavily on a chart. (The chart is on the second page and the English directions are on the third page.)

This top is crocheted using an H hook and Alabama yarn. This 50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic blend with approximately 115 yards per 50g comes in 25 colors ranging from neutrals to rich primaries.

This cute cardigan from the Sport #69 book is crocheted using Gemini, a 100% Cotton yarn with approximatley 77 yards per 50g.

Gemini has a mesh texture, which give you a lot of flexibility when knitting or crocheting with it. You can either work with it as you would a traditional yarn, or open the mesh up to create frills, or switch back and forth. There is a video on the Katia website demonstrating the different options.

This last top is reminiscent of the Alexander Wang top the lady on the fifth slide in the New York Magazine article bought at Barney’s. It takes just two balls of Malindi, so you know you’ll be spending less than she probably did!

The pattern is in the Elegance #70 book. Malindi is a 100% Acrylic yarn with approximately 22 yards per 100g that comes in eight colors. You can watch a video showing how to knit with this interesting yarn on the Katia website.

Elsebeth Lavold

You might think of Elsebeth Lavold primarily in terms of warm, cabled garments, but she does have a number of books for spring and summer.

The Mint top from The Sugar and Spice Collection is fun because it converts from a mesh tank top to a string bag. Talk about a multipurpose project.

Mint is knit using Hempathy, a 41% Cotton, 34% Hemp, 25% Modal blend with approximately 154 yards per 50g. This popular yarn has six new colors this season, bringing your choices up to 28.

For the more modest, consider the Glenda tunic from The Lazy Day Collection. With simple shaping and an asymmetrical hemline, this garment will be flattering on a variety of figures.

Glenda is knit using ViSilk, a 90% Viscose, 10% Silk blend with approximately 132 yards per 50g. There are six new colors of ViSilk this season, giving you 26 from which to select.

Louisa Harding, Noro, Ella Rae, and Araucania

With a name like Beachcomber Bay, it’s not surprising this Louisa Harding book has some good options. The Mussel top features drop stitches that allow your bathing suit to peak out while they offer ventilation.

The Long Sleeveless Wrap from Ella Rae’s Family Postcards book is a more modest option that will make a good transition garment in the fall as well.

The Lace Top from Noro Volume 31 features a drawstring belt to cinch the waist. It is knit using Karuta, a yummy 40% Silk, 30% Cotton, 30% Wool blend yarn with approximatley 165 yards per 100g, available in eight colors.

Last, but not least, is the beautiful Lacey Edged Jacket from Araucania. This amazing garment features both knitting (the body) and crocheting (the edging) for the bi-stitchual crafter.

It is made using Nature Cotton, a 100% Cotton with approximately 106 yards per 100g. This is a smoothie bulky yarn, thin/thick spinning, with soft texture and high quality. Great for fast projects, this 100% cotton yarn gives even more beautiful options for your creations. Six new colors have been added this season.

There are many more patterns on our website that can be worn as coverups depending on the look you are seeking. I hope the ones I’ve highlighted get your creative juices flowing. Stop by your local yarn store for even more inspiration.

Remember, your knitting and crocheting skills allow you to be in style and still stay unique.

Share a picture of your finished beach cover up on our Facebook page. We love to see the projects you make with our yarns.

Tags: summer, sweater, womens
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