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Fall colors are Maroon and Gold around
depth of field yarn The button's part of a U of M scavenger hunt, but the beret's going to stick around. Knitted in Galway Chunky, 1 skein #12 maroon on 9's or 10's @3.5sts, (and smaller needle for the 3 row purl brim). The kids insisted on a giant pom-pom, so 1/4 skein of #60 gold is required for the stripes and pom-pom. Pattern is free, one size adult ~22". Ski-U-Ma. If wool doesn't work for you we also have Comfort Chunky nylon/microfiber. |
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Lanaloft Bulky |
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Happy Feet ruffle-edged kerchief. 2 hanks
merino superwash/nylon, garter stitch neck down.
Make-one's instead of YO increases (no holes) and an easy ruffle
that even makes this boy-colorway (grey/black)
look feminine!
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New, smaller, once-around "Kudzu" shawlette
(original in natural, below). Nature Spun Chunky
again, cast on only 63 stitches (12 repeats). Nicely
hugs the neck and shoulders with built-in shaping
(increases are functions of the stitch patterns). This arrangement
makes for complete freedom of arm
movement and perfect for active people - we'll be wearing it at work. Sew
buttons on one end;
yarnovers make perfect buttonholes. Fasten at ends or further in for
greater snugability.
Please note - shawlette shows its real shaping on a real person with shoulders &
arms.
Kudzu Shawlette free pattern from
classiceliteyarns.com (written for sport/dk), we did it in
brand new
Nature Spun Chunky! See! Feel! This will be one great
yarn. Label says 3.25sts/4.5 rows per inch, on #10.5, 155 yards
(7 oz).
Alterations to original pattern: With 7mm (#10.75) cast on
108 stitches. 8 (not 4) rows rib, 2 (not 5 reps) Open Twist Rib
(plus rows 1 & 2
again as in pattern), and
balance of directions as written. Well written pattern, easy to
follow. Used 2 1/2 hanks NSCh, one 1-1/4" bone button .
Imagining a sweater right now. It's a great weight for when you fellow natives
know when!
All Nature Spun colors are available in chunky. We'll start with 10 plus
natural.
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work in progress -
almost
done! this "old fashioned 4 row fanstitch" is a knockout in colors chosen by Pat in Lamb's Pride, Precious, Peruvia plus some double stranded lace+chunkys. We have a free "map" for a 7 color appx 1000 yard fan stitch throw knitted on #13, so you can choose your own color scheme. Pat went a little wild and coordinated 10 colors. Well worth it! YEA! |
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Wool Peddler shawl from Cheryl Oberle's
Folk Shawls in 4 skeins of Galway worsted heather, very nicely done by Michael K (who is now off to his next lace project). This shawl is triangular, worked from the top down in garter stitch with lace pattern and garter border. Gauge is 4sts per inch and shawl has a wonderful hand. Perfect weight for fall evenings and winter (sorry to mention it) indoor wear. A beautiful gift idea. The pattern will keep you interested and in 800 yarns it won't take forever to make. |
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New COVINGTON 100% cotton, mercerized
with a silky sheen and hand, (label says 184 yards, 4.5sts #7, machine wash, lay flat to dry), I knitted it at 5sts per inch because I think it looks better and is still a perfect summer weight (it breathes!). Used 3 hanks of Covington in this 40" tank top. Yoke is one ball of Berroco Glint. Confession: the model was made so you can see and feel how wonderful the yarns are (and how well our "neighborhood" colors go so well together). Pattern is not available yet, as I am test-knitting my own directions with different colors! Note: Worked from the bottom up, short-rows shape the v-neck so there are live stitches to work on when you K across the front, cast on stitches for the shoulder, knit across the back (same as front), cast on stitches for the 2nd shoulder - voila, easy round knitting alternating 1 row K with 1 row K1, P1 with decreases every K row. Last row of yoke returns to original color for trim. |
| we have to get some little people to
model this stuff! Quick, easy, appropriate & fun gifts. Baby beret in DK Merino Superwash (maroon)and Baby beret in Angora (the halo of red bunny makes it difficult to see the details in the photo). Both free patterns with yarn (1ball each) Jeannee DK jumper from Pure and Simple pattern. A-dorable. Top-down, make to right length, lengthen if they're just growin' up, alter the hem trim - e.g. Marilyn ruffled hers, what a great idea. |
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| new models, in yarns you know, and love for different reasons galway cardigan #1975 K/P textures, garter trim, easy fit sized 36"-52" encore cabled vest 2094 two row cable/rib pattern stitch which will hug the body and show off the broad garter collar. these pictures are not intentionally fuzzy, please come in, feel and see the real thing! |
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| We love Sausalito, new
plyed fingering (and sock = 80 merino 20 nylon) yarn from Crystal Palace. Lots of shawls coming out in fingering these days. This one from an online pattern in Sausalito Rainbow Trout. It is stunningly soft, subtle, well defined, simple and grand all at the same time. Picture is intended to show how Sausalito stripes in short and long repeats - camera color is off, hope you get the idea. |
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| Kid and Baby patterns from Pure and
Simple are just that! Left: P/S#982 Baby Cardigan 4.5sts/in Right: P/S#214 Baby Pullover 4sts/in Both designs are also available for kid sizes 2-12 ... and "between" sizes can be achieved depending on the gauge at which YOU knit your yarn!! note to self: top down sweater sleeves are always long enough, and can be lengthened as children grow. |
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| Liberty Wool, machine washable wool #7892, label: 5sts/#7 | Comfort Worsted, machine washable
nylon/acrylic #9836, label: 5sts/#7 |
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remember this
great Bulky Lopi pattern?
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customize
this easy pattern -
or put in your own stitch pattern!
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128 superwash merino 128y/100gm 4-3.5sts, #9/#10 wonderful hand, it's a pleasure to knit, and a perfect weight, you know you're warm! great heathers and solids (we have 16 colors), gets a "9.5" on keeping its shape (for a superwash) pattern: VK winter '09/'10 yarn called for: Mission Falls 1824 wool loved the stitch pattern, body is knit side to side (this knitter scaled down the mag pattern from a one-size 66" to a 42" (no NY models around these parts) which only involved studying the repeat and eliminating some stripes on each end). note: if you make this with a folded stockinette buttonband as pictured (instead of the ribbed band in the pattern), WE RECOMMEND MORE BUTTONS & BUTTONHOLES. They're just too far apart. |
| Sweater Wizard basic plan, OR you can just draw it out on paper if you KNOW YOUR GAUGE Let's see, 38"@4.5sts/in - I will need about 172sts (+4 for seams =176), that's 88 each back and front (may have to be adjusted for rib pattern). If I want it to taper I'll have to start out with fewer and do a couple increases along each side on the way to the armhole. To decide how big a bind-off for the armhole I measure one that fits well, bind off the number of inches (because I know my gauge) then decrease every other row X-times for the curve. Work straight up to the shoulder - it's a boat neck - no shaping! Trim neck & armholes. That's the idea, but you have to have the numbers: your stitches per inch and inches of garment to fit YOU. |
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| fantasy naturale Knitted at 4sts/in for lighter weight, Sweater Wizard-ed the pattern, 40" finished, 21.5" long, back and front the same, jewel neckline and skinny shoulders (3.5" across including trim) Took a little time to choose and plot out the fish scale pattern for hem (only one repeat in the shoulder), with garter trim everywhere else. Easy, fast, no sleeves. 4 hanks this size. |
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| now we have THREE
Baby Surprise models! 3 different yarn weights, 3 different sizes, same pattern and number of stitches - - fascinating ... and conveniet!
upper left: sport
weight 150gm, chest = ~17.5", upper right:
worsted weight, chest = ~18", lower: heavy(-ier)
worsted, chest = ~20", as always, size depends on how YOU knit and with what! |
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| what
next? top-downs are so much fun because after you find your yarn, do your gauge, and find the pattern that fits your gauge, you can start designing your not so plain sweater (not to mention the not having to sew it together aspect). for example, plan a different stitch pattern for the sleeves, add other yarns in the body and remember to think about your neck trim or collar when you begin.  |
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The base yarn in this top-down is
Creative Focus Linen (50/50 linen & cotton 5sts/in),
and from the cast on row to joining into round at the bottom of neck opening only took 1 ball! The sleeves were bound off 7 rounds after joining in round and so become capped sleeves for a perfect summer length. Once it was joined in the round I was glad to know it was going to fit and was free to start cookin' up stitch patterns and yarn combinations to make it really fun. This is a very comfortable summer weight, and Creative Focus Linen is easy to work with (not as stiff as 100% linen, and not as heavy as 100% cotton), though it is best worked with slippery needles. We have CF Linen in 6 colors plus natural, and lots of other cotton/cotton blend and silk summer yarns for you to try. summer sweaters are great. not so much yarn and lots of ideas! |
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okey-dokey, got'er
done. fits, fun, feels great and nothing like the so-called plan. 3 HANKS CREATIVE FOCUS LINEN 50 yards each of Nova (tan) and Bamboo Silk (white), 10 yards of Sari (for ties), and 25 yards of the cream . Now that I can wear it without a long sleeved t-shirt, it's PERFECT for June!
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| on to the next top down capped-sleeve - |
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| Same Pure & Simple pattern as linen top above (#265 -midweight long sleeve neck down pullover, 5sts/in). As long as you swatch the stockinette to the required 5sts/in you can plug in your charts and about halfway through the first chart repeats, you can determine the number of stitches you'll need for the sweater body (stst gauge and panel gauges combined). How to do the cap sleeve? Stop increasing on sleeves at least 2 rounds before binding off sleeve stitches (instead of holding stitches for long sleeves). | Got 'hold of Barbara
Walker's Third Treasury and tried out a few charts for fun. Her book on order again if you don't already have one . KNIT in Brown Sheep COTTON FLEECE - 4 skeins, 42" finished Cotton Fleece is ALWAYS available by ORDER. There are 60 beautiful colors to choose from. This way, you have the entire palette from which to choose instead of the 10-12 colors we could display in the store. |
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WEEKEND CHUNKY now available!
3.5sts -3.25sts #10.5
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Tahki 2010 -----> This is the High Line
Cardigan, |
Good Earth Cotton
naturally colored |
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NEPAL PRINT is now
discontinued but we still have 3 colors. NEPAL line. Nepal solids
are still running yarns. A dreamy organic cotton base yarn, dyed. Two bright colors pictured here, the third is a (very) rich earth tone. the raglan cap sleeve
combines Nepal solid and 2 balls of |
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Nicky Epstein designed and donated the
pattern for this lovely and unusual chemo hat with one ball of Berroco Comfort worsted. Pick up a complimentary pattern with a ball of Comfort and you may donate your hat to Gilda's Club of Minneapolis at depth of field yarn. |
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 more spring knitting - mountain colors' Silk 'n Ewe in a short sleeved diagonal cardigan. |
Our shop model directions are available in a "KNIT THESE SHAPES" , do-it-yourself format so any size can be made. |
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a simple boat neck tank top in SPROUT, a 3.5st/#10 organic cotton, dyed, about 375 yards. |
shop pattern is finshed 39" and can be
adapted to other sizes, using the 10+1 multiple border pattern. |
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oceanside organic dk cotton, grown in colors - natural, sage, sand and darker sand. | beautiful hand, lovely to knit with. this Tee was an experiment in fairisle. I recommend less colorwork (maybe just one band of cotton bolls - though it looks fine, I lost the light weight advantage of the dk weight by carrying 2 strands) |
 in creative focus mohair and eros glitz. it's just plain (& simple) fun! |
back at it - remade the cowboy mohair sweater. (thus named for the fringed collar) basic pattern is Pure & Simple top down weekend cardigan.
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| Below is the PRESTO COLLAR, 2-50gm
balls of warm that buttons around your neck, and extends just to your shoulder line to give you that extra layer. Wear it inside or on the outside of sweaters, jackets, coats. |
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10/09 |
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| another day ... this is Lanaloft
worsted handpaint. finally figured how close the opening at the front neck (that's where I get cold), and used YO increases on the back to see how it looked - this took more than 100gms, so I will also get a headband out of the deal! |
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 WOOL PAK BLAZE is back 8-ply dk, 10-ply worsted and 14-ply chunky, 250gm hanks! |
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(double
stranded Mauch)
(double
stranded regular Lopi)
