Archive for the ‘Projects’ Category
The Potato Chip Scarf is such a fun knit that it gets its name from a joke comparing it to potato chips, in that “you can’t knit just one.” Not only is the potato chip a cute and versatile scarf, but it’s also a pleasure to knit for beginners and advanced knitters alike. The potato chip scarf is one long ruffle, knit lengthwise and consisting of only about 10 rows! Our potato chip is knit out of Colinette Jitterbug, a beautiful hand-dyed sock yarn from Wales. Made out of 100% merino wool, its vivid colors and soft touch make it a fun yarn to work with.
The pattern is available for free here. The great thing about this pattern is that it can be applied to any yarn you like, whether it’s thick or thin (which makes it a great stashbuster). If you look, the pattern is actually written for a DK/sport weight yarn, but we used a fingering weight yarn (which is lighter weight) and it turned out great. When converting this pattern for use with a smaller yarn, we recommend casting on more stitches–125 to 175–to compensate for the finer gauge. Likewise, with a thicker yarn, casting on between 50 and 75 would be ideal. The way the scarf works is interesting: knitting increases every few rows causes the number of stitches to quadruple. All those extra stitches ruffle up on themselves, resulting in a gorgeous and elegant ruffled scarf.
The pattern recommends using knitting needles two sizes larger than those recommended on your chosen yarn’s ball band. I like to use bigger needles when I knit scarves, to make sure that they drape well. To make this scarf out of sock yarn, I would recommend using a size 5, 6, or 7 needle.
They really are a pleasure to knit–for newer knitters, it’s fun to produce a scarf lengthwise and learn how to knit a ruffle. For more experienced knitters, this scarf is an opportunity to enjoy a really beautiful skein of yarn and work on a relaxing project. Over Christmas weekend, I made a potato chip scarf in a deep red color out of Pagewood Farms’ “Alyeska” sock yarn. I cast on 225 stitches to make it extra long, and it’s gorgeous!
For help getting started on a Potato Chip Scarf of your own, come by the shop or call us at 405-310-3636 with any questions about how best to proceed. We hope you enjoy this project as much as we have!
-Elizabeth
Something about gray and wintry days makes me appreciate bright, primary colors so much more. This is why so many of my winter hats and scarves are vividly colored–it just cheers me up to wear them! The true red color of this Rowan Big Wool definitely does the trick in this regard. The color reminds me of spotting a bright red cardinal in the middle of a gray winter yard. Allison paired her red cap with a green tee and her favorite yellow cardigan–a beautifully cheery ensemble for chilly days.
If you’re interested in learning to make your own, she’ll be offering this hat as a class on Saturday, January 8th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The class costs $32 and includes the pattern and 2 balls of Encore Mega*.
As for needles, you’ll need a set of size 11 and a set of size 13. You can use either a 16″ circular in both sizes OR double pointed needles in both sizes, but you won’t need both (some hats require you to move to dpns during the crown decreases; this hat doesn’t). If you’re interested in obtaining the pattern, it will be available on the blog and at the store after the class is held in January.
I’d like to thank Allison for sharing her original designs! She’s awesome at devising her own hats and fingerless gloves, and very kind to share them with all of us. Look out for a fingerless glove class in January as well!
-Elizabeth
*Note: If you’d rather use Rowan Big Wool for the class, the cost difference in yarn comes out to $6, bumping the class up to $38. Both yarns come in an array of bright and lovely colors for you to knit with!
Shawls are my absolute favorite thing to knit. One thing that makes knitting shawls so appealing for me is that they remind me of the tradition of knitting more than any other knitted objects do. People have knitted shawls for centuries, both for everyday wear and to commemorate special occasions like weddings. Whereas garments and accessories like hats, sweaters, and scarves more or less keep up with fashion trends, there is something timeless about knitted shawls that makes them special to me.
This shawl is one of Leslie’s beautiful creations. The pattern is a house pattern, available on the “free pattern” section of our website. Leslie used four skeins Rowan’s PureLife “Revive,” a gorgeous 100% recycled yarn that is a blend of silk, cotton, and viscose. The neat thing about the pattern is that you can use any yarn you like, at any gauge you like–just knit until the shawl is as wide as you’d like it to be, and then begin decreasing to bring the other end of the shawl to a point! Unraveling the four edge stitches once you’re done knitting is what makes the fringe, but if you prefer a fringeless shawl, you can omit this last step.
To get started, you’ll need 250+ yards of the yarn of your choice and needles appropriate for your yarn weight. I’m always on the lookout for patterns that can help me knit through my undesignated-for-projects stash yarn. This shawl would look great in many different gauges, fibers, and colors–the sky’s the limit, so get creative! Shawls are surprisingly warm additions to winter outerwear, but come in useful on cool spring and fall evenings, too. I attribute the longevity of the shawl to its versatility, and I know that I for one will be knitting and wearing and proselytizing about shawls for years to come!
-Elizabeth
There are lots of things I love about knitting and crocheting, and this blanket speaks to a few of them specifically. First, I love the use of color in all fiber arts. I was never great and drawing, but I always felt I had an eye for color. Knitting and crocheting solve this problem by providing a structure (the fabric) that leaves me free to play around with color. Another thing I love is that when I pick up one of my finished objects, I remember where I was and whom I was with when I created it. Well, this blanket is not only the boldest and most colorful creation of mine to date, but it also brings up fond memories of watching the World Cup this summer with friends and family!
This pattern came out of “Noro Flowers: Book 4″ by Jenny Watson Designs. It calls for 10 skeins of Noro Kureyon Sock, a self-striping 100% wool sock yarn, and a size G crochet hook. The catch is that all 10 skeins of the yarn are different colorways, which I picked out according my whim as I crocheted the blanket up. The blanket is essentially one big granny square; the bigger the perimeter of the blanket gets, the less far the color segments of the yarn go around. Because all the skeins were different, each corner of the blanket has different colors. After getting the hang of the double crochet stitch (thanks Christy!), I got going…
…and before I knew it, I was crocheting through a 500-yard skein of Kureyon Sock in a day! This project was so fun to crochet that I literally couldn’t stop, and the result is a blanket I’ll cherish for years. Hopefully this is the first of many brightly-colored crocheted afghans that I get to make! I can’t think of a more appropriate top blanket for my bed–the colors really brighten my room and my mood.
This project is suitable for both the novice and the veteran crocheter. It’s a good project to learn on, although you won’t get bored if you’ve made lots of granny squares before: it’s the Noro colorways are that keep the repetition of the granny square engaging. Although the self-striping quality of the Kureyon sock yarn make the color planning of this afghan a no-brainer, you could also use any bright-colored sock yarn for this project. Come by our shop to check out our painter’s palette of sock yarns and begin dreaming up your own!
-Elizabeth
Twinkle Soft & Chunky is the name of Classic Elite Yarn’s super-bulky 100% virgin wool yarn. Available on our online shop and in our store, Twinkle is the thickest yarn that we offer. It’s also one of the softest–you have to feel it to believe it! This capelet is a great example of what can be done with Twinkle. It’s the perfect thing to wear around the house to keep your shoulders warm while you knit (or sew, or crochet, or whatever your thing is!), but it’s also absolutely cute enough to wear out in the cold weather in lieu of a jacket. Super chunky knits are in vogue this season, and what better way to showcase your talent than by sporting your own handknit creation?
The pattern is called Pepper and is available for free online through the Daily Knitter site. The yarn that the pattern calls for is lighter weight, but we thought we’d make the capelet extra warm and use our bulkiest wool. We matched the gauge (7 sts=4″), and were really happy with how it turned out! It’s a fun knit: using size 15 needles, you cast on and join in the round. Although the capelet is mostly stockinette, rows of purls and rows of dropped stitches add interest. All in all, this project took 3 skeins of Twinkle and a few evenings to knit. Because this is made to drape over the shoulders, this pattern is one size fits most. With all the delicious colors this yarn comes in, you could go with either a cheery bright or a classic neutral–you really can’t go wrong!
-Elizabeth
I just love “Americano,” this hip vest that came out in Berroco’s #302 pattern booklet for Vintage & Vintage Chunky. Vintage Chunky is a larger-gauge version of Vintage, one of our best-selling washable wool-blend yarns. After seeing so many talented local knitters whip up beautiful sweaters out of Vintage, I was excited to learn that Berroco was introducing a chunkier version of the same yarn. Berroco calls it “Vintage’s new big sister,” and released a book of patterns that made me even more eager to cast on with Vintage Chunky.
“Americano” immediately caught my eye. It is a knitted vest that buttons up the front and is reminiscent of Western wear. I like how this pattern mixes a trendy style with the timelessness of knit pieces. The shaping is interesting: the technique that makes the points on the bottom of the vest is called “mitering.” Mitering results from working increases at the beginning and end of the row, and decreasing in the middle. As you can see in the picture, it makes the knit stitches slope towards the center, resulting in knitting that lies “on the bias”–which makes it flattering for all body types.
Vintage Chunky is a blend of 50% acrylic, 40% wool, and 10% nylon, making it soft, warm, and very easy to care for. We have 15 colorways in the shop, and a nice thing about this pattern is that it only calls for 3 to 4 skeins, depending on the size you make (although I saw a girl make the smallest size on Ravelry and require only 2!). My favorite thing about the the colors Vintage Chunky comes in is that they are heathered, which gives some dimension to solid-color stockinette knitting. I think that the pattern is called “Americano” because it is shown in a rich brown colorway called “Chocolate” in the pattern book. However, it’s not a very big stretch for my imagination to imagine wearing this cozy vest in any color and sipping an Americano at my favorite cafe… sounds like a lovely fall afternoon to me!
-Elizabeth
Valour, or “valor” as we Americans spell it, is defined as the quality of bravery in the face of grave danger. As we all learn, sometimes everyday life can require courage and bravery. I notice that sometimes, something as simple as putting on my favorite colors makes me feel more confident, which is why I love Rowan’s Colourscape Chunky. Feeling valorous is easy in the fashion-forward color palettes designed by artist Kaffe Fassett, whom I consider a true genius at color! Adding bold colors to a funky, contemporary knitted vest is a sure way to put your best foot forward.
This vest was designed by Sarah Hatton and is featured in “The Rowan Colourscape Chunky Collection,” a book full of beautiful designs with the yarn. This vest is knit in three pieces. The fronts of the vest are knitted from side to side, which makes the colors stripe vertically in a flattering way. The 1 x 3 rib stitch pattern with the purl side facing out looks very fun and fresh!
One thing I really like about this yarn is that it is both bulky weight and variegated. The variegation means that the yarn hardly requires a complex stitch pattern, while the bulky gauge ensures a quick knit. The net result is a fairly quick and uncomplicated project that allows you to relax and admire the changing colors as they flow through your hands. Made of 100% lambswool from England, this yarn is soft and full of lanolin, making it a real treat to work with.
This colorway is called “Camouflage,” and it works well for both men’s and women’s garments. I think it’s rather perfect for fall, with its blend of vibrant oranges, golden brown, teals and olives, and grayish lavender. Of course, Kaffe makes his colorways so beautiful that it’s truly hard to choose! You can check out his other colorways on our website, or stop by the shop to see them in person if you’re so inclined!
-Elizabeth
Linden Down’s aptly named Baby Sophisticate cardigan is yet another testament to our favorite local designer’s creativity. Since Linden published this free pattern on Ravelry in April 2009, over 1,000 Ravelers have cast on, and we could hardly resist, either! This adorable little cardigan is certain to become a staple item for fall, and its ease of construction means that it’s hardly too late in the season to cast on.
The construction is rather simple: the cardigan is knit seamlessly from the top down, with raglan sleeves and a stockinette body. (“Seamless,” of course, is the magic word for knitters who prefer to skip all the tediousness of finishing pieced garments.) In my opinion, it’s the details that really “make” this sweater. Garter stitch accents on the edges provide a visual counterpoint to the stockinette, and ensure that the cuffs and bottom of the sweater don’t roll. My favorite design aspect of this cardigan is the shawl collar, which is what lends this sweater its air of sophistication. I couldn’t agree more with Linden when she says the collar makes her think “this baby should be in a library, sipping tea and reading Shakespeare!” The Baby Sophisticate would also seem to be well-suited for a romp through the garden:
The great thing about this pattern is that it combines sophistication and durability, which we all know is a must for kids’ clothing. There are several yarns that lend themselves well to this project. Linden chose Mission Falls 1824 Wool, a washable aran-weight merino wool that comes in a wonderful palette of colors. The cardigan in the photograph was knit out of Classic Elite Yarn’s Sprout, a bulky weight organic cotton yarn that washes beautifully. Although Sprout has a textured look in the hank, its bumpiness smoothes out upon being knitted up, resulting in fabric that’s buttery soft to the touch. It’s truly a luxurious cotton!
Depending on the color of yarn and the buttons you choose, this sweater can easily be tailored towards a little boy or a little girl. Both the Sprout and the 1824 Wool are great choices for kids’ clothing, due to their hard-wearing nature and washability.
All in all, this sophisticated little cardigan is a winner. We hope you enjoy knitting it as much as we did!
-Elizabeth
Fall is finally here and it is time to start working on projects that keep us warm as well as fashionable. Too warm for a traditional scarf? Well, combine easy crochet or knit with trendy Frivola yarn and “voila!” you have a light and stylish scarf, ready to wear.
Frivola, from Trendsetter, could be described as knitting or crocheting with sparkly poofs of color. The giant, ultra soft pom-pom balls are strung along a binder string to create an exotic novelty yarn.
Even though this yarn looks expensive, these scarf patterns are affordable for anyone who is ready to begin on holiday projects. Frivola allows you to use simple techniques to create a complex look in a very short time.
For the knitted version pictured in pinks and browns you will need 3 balls of your favorite color. Then, just cast on 6 and knit until the yarn is gone. For the crochet version pictured in solid brown you only need 1 ball! Just click here for the pattern.
Knitters and crocheters will look twice as they pass you by wondering how you were able to create such a fun fall accessory. -B
Dress yourself in color with one of Sarah Hatton’s sweater designs. The pattern from the Colourscape Folk book calls for Rowan Colourscape Yarn. This easy to knit and crochet chunky-weitght yarn is made of 100% lambswool and endowed with beautiful color by world-renowned colorist Kaffe Fassett. The gradual color changes in the yarn creates rainbow like striping in the design’s final product.
The design is a trendy mock neck sweater that is fitted at the bust and falls loosely to the waist. The three-quarter length sleeves work well for warm fall days or can be coupled with a long sleeve shirt for the cold winter months.
The pattern calls for just enough cables to keep the project interesting without making it too difficult for less experienced knitters. -Natalie
