Free Pattern Friday: Asymmetric jacket in Drops Lin

(Photo: Garnstudio – Drops Design)

As I’m just about to cast this jacket on to knit up as a store sample, AND because it’s free, this pattern elbowed out stiff competition to be this week’s Free Pattern Friday feature. The shape of this lightweight cardigan / jacket is flattering on many body types and the natural linen fiber makes it perfect for layering on changeable summer days.  Garnstudio’s Asymmetric Jacket is knit with Garnstudio’s Drops Lin - available in 8 beautiful shades.

True to form, I will be casting on in black…

- Melissa

Free Pattern Friday: Ribbon of Breeze

(Photos: knittimo)

I am in love! Newly posted to Ravelry, the Ribbon of Breeze scarf by Sachiko Uemura is breathtakingly beautiful. This pattern requires only a small amount of yarn and can be knit with or without beads. Versions in both lace weight and figering weight yarns are picutred above. A great stash-busting project or a perfectly justifiable excuse for a new yarn purchase!

- Melissa

Free Pattern Friday: Big Snowy Owl, Fuzzy Mitten Lamb

A couple of fun toy projects for you this Friday!

Big Snowy Owl by Purl Soho - a big, lovely, huggable friend knit with Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky (a blend of alpaca and wool).  Soft and cozy, this bird is built for snuggling! If you’re a teeny bit intimidated by taking on this kind of project, know that thePurl Bee website provides great step-by-step photo instructions to support you through the process!

Fuzzy Mitten Lamb by Barbara Prime – the sweetest lamb you ever did see! Smaller than the owl, this toy is just the right size for a toddler or small child. And if you think this little one is adorable – have a look at the rest of Barbara’s collection here – monkeys, bunnies, puppies, ducks, and more! You will fall in love, guaranteed.

- Melissa

Free Pattern Friday: Kusha Kusha, Azzu’s Shawl

With new yarns from Habu Textiles now in store, we thought we’d suggest a few simple summer projects to inspire those of you who might want to explore some of these incredible fibers on a smaller scale.

Kusha Kusha Scarf

(Photos: Habu Textiles)

The Kusha Kusha Scarf by Setsuko Torii provides an easy platform to experiment with Habu’s silk stainless steel and fine merino yarns in the creation of a dramatic piece that can be dressed up or down. The combination of colours and textures results in a scarf that is both beautiful and ethereal – and definitely one-of-a-kind!

Azzu’s Shawl

(Photos: Emma Fassio)

Azzu’s Shawl by Emma Fassio perfectly showcases the light summery feel of Habu’s Tsumugi silk. Because the shape of this piece is quite long without being overly deep, it can be easily worn as a shawl or wrapped and tied around the neck as a scarf. Knit top-down – it’s worked from the center back outwards.

Hurry-up summer!!

- Melissa

Free Pattern Friday: Medano & Miragamo

Our order of allhemp6 and allhemp6LUX arrived this week and put us firmly in the mood to get our warm weather knitting projects underway.  This 100% hemp yarn is incredibly strong and has beautiful drape. And because it won’t pill, stretch, shrink or fade it’s ideal for summer bags! Like linen, hemp does get softer with use and washing which essentially summarizes the difference between the allhemp6 and the LUX version – the allhemp6LUX has been pre-softened, making it slightly more expensive but more comfortable to knit with.

DK weight (22sts / 4″ over 3.75mm needles), machine washable.

Both of the bags below are available for viewing in the store. Our Medano sample was knit with the allhemp6LUX while the Miragamo was knit with the regular allhemp6.

Medano Beach Bag

(Photos: Heidi Kirrmaier)

The Medano Beach Bag by Heidi Kirrmaier is an unstructured carry-all with a knotted shoulder strap. We love the casual nautical feel of this bag and opted to knit our version in the exact colours pictured here. We’ve used it for two years and it still looks great which speaks to both the timeless design and the durability of the hemp. A great addition to any summer wardrobe!

Miragamo Bag

(Photos: Georgie Kajer)

The Miragamo Bag by Georgie Kajer is a more structured market bag but still with an easy summertime feel. It’s knit double stranded and can be easily lined if desired (directions are provided).  If you love this style as much as we do, note that we have several pairs of these leather handles from Grayson E. in stock.  Come and have a look at our store sample – it’s knit in ORANGE!

- Melissa

Free Pattern Friday

More and more men are venturing into the store these days so I thought it might be nice to begin featuring a few more masculine patterns for the guys on the blog…

Creekbed Scarf

(Photos: Stephen West)

Published in Knitty, First Fall 2011, Stephen West’s Creekbed is a beautiful high-impact scarf featuring a dramatic chevron stitch pattern created with 4 colours of hand-dyed fingering weight (sock) yarn.  The scarf size is easily modifiable and Stephen provides exact yardages required to help make using up those leftovers in your stash a little easier.

Baby Sophisticate

(Photos: Linden Heflin)

Baby Sophisticate by Linden Down is a charming top-down sweater requiring no seaming and only the tiniest bit of finishing to sew on the buttons. Just try to resist this cuteness! We knit a store sample using Sandnesgarn’s Kashmir Alpakka (84% Baby Alpaca, 16% Cashmere) – an ultra soft and washable yarn perfect for child and adult projects alike.

- Melissa 

Free Pattern Friday

Summer Flies

(Photos: Donna Griffin)

Summer Flies by Donna Griffin is a lovely lacy shawl which is both pretty and practical.  The half-moon shape lends itself well to being worn on the shoulders or around the neck and the effect is delicate without being overly fussy. Constructed with alternating butterfly and openwork trellis motifs this shawl is a perfect accessory for spring days and cool summer evenings. We knit our store sample using Manos del Uruguay’s Silk Blend in beautiful shades of lavender and purple but any DK-weight yarn will work well for this project.

Sunnyside

(Photos: Tanis Lavallée) 

Sunnyside by Tanis Lavallée is an adorable baby sweater knit from the top down in one piece.  The pattern provides options for both a lacy cable and picot edge or a rope cable and garter stitch hem and calls for soft fingering-weight yarn.  We have lots of options in store for this project from 100% superwash merino to cashmere/merino blends depending on budget and preference.

- Melissa

Free Pattern Friday

This Friday we’re back with two great free spring/summer patterns (dental surgery kept me from posting last week – my apologies!).  Knitty has just released it’s Spring/Summer 2012 issue and there are so many great shapes and textures on offer for warm-weather knitting. Be sure to visit the Knitty site and have a look at the collection – as usual, all Knitty patterns are free!  Two of my favourites in the issue are:

 Flaming June by Cheryl Niamath 

(Photos:  Paul Lesack)

From the Knitty site: “Flaming June is a lightweight A-line cardigan in crisp, breathable hemp that will take you through warm spring days, cool summer evenings and gentle autumn afternoons with ease.  Mitered decreases provide fluidity and interest at the hips, and are echoed at the sleeve cuffs. The minimalist design is worked in one piece to the armholes. It is self-finished with bands of ribbing edging the fronts that continue up to a narrow shawl collar, with no buttons to interrupt the flowing lines.”  

A great transitional piece!

Gemini by Jane Richmond

(Photos: Betsy Webb)

From the Knitty site: “The Gemini tee shirt is knit using a cotton linen blend at a loose gauge. The result is an elastic fabric that works up quickly and fits beautifully. The top half of the yoke features a lace panel covering the shoulders and back. Named after the duality of the Gemini, this pullover can be worn with the lace to the back for a more casual look or with the lace facing forward for a dressier look.” 

I love the simplicity and shape of this design combined with the lace for added interest. To queue or not to queue?

- Melissa

Free Pattern Friday

Super Easy Baby Blanket by Purl Soho

(Photos: purlsoho)

There seem to be huge number of new babies on the horizon these days and it’s full-on baby blanket knitting season at the store.  Customers are looking for everything from lacy heirloom patterns to more graphic modern blanket projects.  One of the most popular styles in the latter category has been this Super Easy Baby Blanket by Purl Soho. A very basic knit, the effectiveness of this pattern lies in the use of stunning hand-dyed yarns in gorgeous colour combinations.  Superwash merino options from Tanis Fiber Arts (i.e. Yellow Label and Green Label) and SweetGeorgia (Worsted) have been frequent choices.  For those favouring a more solid palette, Spud & Chloe Sweater (45% organic cotton / 55% wool) has been a great option. Any wee babies in need of a blankie in your life?

Que Sera by Kirsten Kapur

(Photos: throughtheloops)

Spring is just around the corner and our cottons, linens, and other summer-weight yarns are beginning to roll in.  We’re noticing a shift in people’s attitudes and a desire for brighter colours and interesting projects. Que Sera by Kirsten Kapur fits the bill on both fronts. This lacy cardigan has a vintage feel that appeals and the style invites the use of vibrant, saturated colourways which often take a backseat during the winter. The body is worked in one piece up to the arms before dividing for the font and back – a construction that allows for an uninterrupted flow of the lace pattern and minimizes finishing work.  Spud and Chloe Sweater, Rowan Handknit Cotton and Estelle Cloud Cotton are all great springy yarn options for this beautiful sweater.

- Melissa

Free Pattern Friday

Lace Ribbon Scarf

(Photos: Veronik Avery)

The Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery has long been in my queue – waiting patiently for the right yarn to come along and bump it up nearer the top of the list. Last night we received an order of TFA Red Label - an exquisite new single-ply yarn from Tanis Fiber Arts (75% Merino Wool, 15% cashmere, 10% silk) and we may have a match made in heaven on our hands… The Lace Ribbon scarf is a beautiful spring-weight accessory and the easily-memorized pattern makes it a great portable project. First published in Knitty, Spring 2008.

Iced

(Photos: Carol Feller)

Iced by Carol Feller is a casual, loose-fitting cardigan with a flattering shape.  Knit with a bulky yarn, this is a top-down raglan requiring minimal finishing.  Peruvia Quick by Berroco would be a great yarn choice for this sweater! Published in Knitty, First Fall 2010.

- Melissa