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Done Roving
Fundy Footsies
434 yds/113gm 1 color
superwash merino/nylon
sporty/fingering

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Frolicking Feet
480yds 113 gm
superwash merino 10 colors
fingering, great twist!

 


One skein, one day WILDE hat.  98 yards
, 100
gms, 2.5sts/in, #13  BROWN/GREY or BLACK/GREY

16'  #10 for rib, #13 for body, cast on 42 sts,
GET PATTERN or improvise from there!

COUNTRY ROVING - 2 HATS from 1 CAKE
(not necessarily these 2!)  In natural sheep's brown,
light brown, dark grey, ecru and black.
5 strand pencil roving at 2.5sts on a US 11 - it's  breeze
New fun! - Nature Spun Chunky
  6 hanks  (by weight, for solid color)
for 44" x 24"L , drop shoulder with a very
generous t-neck - which I highly recommend.
Perfect for the change of season suprise cold
weather and will keep me warm all winter.
More yarn needed for colorwork, less for set-in
sleeves and smaller sizes. 
Worsted weight cowl doubles as a graceful and attractive accent indoors, warm and protective outdoors.
200gms of  (label says:  5sts/#7) wool on a 24" circular #8 @4.5sts/inch.  Both ends are hemmed, with no sewing.
Easy YO-K2tog stitch pattern alternates with stockinette to give a drapey ruffling rib.  Imagine the possibilities!
Click photo for pattern.               
use any 5 stitch solid or heather or try one of the self striping colors of GINA
 
It's incredible, it's fantastic  ...  24 pairs of slippers!           We had to pile them up to get them all in one picture and you
Very nicely done, Mary.                                                    kinda-had-ta be there to really enjoy the true scope of this experience ...
      Mary's been busy this summer, and there are more
pairs  at home.  Fiber Trend's double sole felted
slipper pattern.  Hope to get a pic of the whole
collection felted before the family won't give them
up.  These are all Lamb's Pride (bulky or double stranded
worsted)
or Lopi.  (Variegated for the girls, solids for the boys!) 

Join the fun.  Patterns for children and adults.
 

 <---after--------------------------------------before--->
Clown shoes?  Very happy colors.  Knitted at 16" -->
the pair was felted to a women's size 8!  Choose
your color/s and make Fiber Trends' felted slippers
for yourself, friends or family.  
Normal colors allowed.
Warm, soft cushiony double sole
, the perfect "welcome home".  Sizes from way-too-cute-small to men's xL. You need US#13 16" & 24" circular needles and 100 to 375gms worsted weight 100% wool.

SLIPPERS ARE EXCELLENT FOR HARDWOOD FLOOR SKATING TOO!

Desert Flower is wonderful to wear.  Same yarn as the baby hat below.
Hat is knit at 6ts per inch, sweater is knit at 5.5sts.  100% cotton soft,
drapey and airy.  Knew what shape to make, but couldn't decide on
a stitch pattern, so put in bunches of them, seed, 2x4 rib, diagonal,
garter, garter ridge and center twists.  Back is garter ridge all the way
from the seed border.  Knit in some fabric strips for more fun. 
It was a great adventure and only used 5 50gm skeins for a 40"
finished bust and 20" length - and for under $24.
 
see our 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",
(pictured in a discontinued color)  "STEP" 150 gm sport
2 kid colors in stock, solid sports also on hand!

upper right:   worsted weight, chest = ~18",
made (in another discontinued worsted) 3 balls,
(appx 100yds each) striping 100% wool.
other yarn possibilities - Mochi Plus, Liberty
Wool, or any solid worsted (make stripes or not!)

lower:   heavy(-ier) worsted, chest = ~20",
made in Fantasy Naturale (3 hanks) all cotton.
other yarn possibilities Raggi Print or solid,
Lanaloft, Lanaloft Handpaint, Lamb's Pride
Worsted (try the variegateds), and Peruvia (solid).

as always, size depends on how YOU knit and with what!

super cozy and colorful 100% cotton 14" baby hat.
        (this is a little guy ...  make larger sizes with more
              stitches or bigger yarn, you know the drill)

use 2 skeins of Desert Flower and #5 doublepoints.
                              make one of these ---------->
                          and
<-----------  get one of these - a doublemossa!
make a provisional cast on, make one hat, remove
the waste yarn and make the other hat.  fold one
inside the other, turn up brim.   CLICK on PICTURE
<----  for FREE PATTERN
provisional (Invisible) crochet
chain cast on
demo at store, or 'google' for youtube videos.
Adult doublemossa, a marl on one side, stripes on the
other.  Imagine the possibilities.  This one's in a 5 stitch
wool.  Use your own favorite hat pattern with some
special considerations.  Click here on THE PLAN for
general instructions with fingering through worsted
weights.  Remember though, that you have to get the gauge
(stitches per inch) for the yarn you use in order to get the
measurements listed.
 
Can't decide which is your favorite Galway heather?
Of the 30 heathers I could only squeeze 7 into this boatneck colorcard square set-in sweater.
8 skeins in all for 40" finished.

Shop around our Galway shelves, there are many colors available at pre-increase price ... because we knew it was coming.

 

new yarns
one skein wonders .....
<-"Moa" mohair loop cowl
large lustrous loops
   looks like persian lamb to me!

Baby Alpaca Ultimo cowl ->
smaller loop alpaca

This isn't really knitting or crochet, but it is
easy, quick, really beautiful, light, lustrous, soft
and, it's Kid Silk Haze afterall ...........

TUTU!  Knit it alone or ruffle along with something else.
Green scarf is about 110 yards of chunky
alpaca with 1 ball of Tutu, just wingin'it.
The boa is a 2 ball free pattern from crystal palace at www.straw.com, under free
knitting patterns sorted by yarn type.
What fun.
 

Super Slouch hat in 2 balls of SOUFFLE,
  one size ~21.5-22.5"
2sts/in in 2x2 rib, 2.75sts/in in stockinette,
   rib needle #11,
body needle #13 16" circular and doublepoints OR NEEDLE TO OBTAIN GAUGE
Brim is worked back and forth,
body stitches picked up on side of brim for the crown.
Pattern available @ counter.
 

 


 


 

Live in it!   Bulky Lopi.
At 2.5ts/in with a US#13, with its casual drop shoulder design, it's quick, really warm and totally uncomplicated - a breeze to make.  Sized 43/48/52".  
9, 10 or 11 hanks (or 1 fewer each size depending on your length from hem to stitch pattern).

You can also make it in double stranded Lopi or Mauch for the same gauge.  Add color or even a different stitch pattern

this model Bulky Lopi color 9997


double stranded Mauch with color added to stitch pattern


double stranded regular Lopi with different stitch pattern

Maroon and Gold are all around depth of field yarn
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.
 

Lanaloft Bulky
Interweave Fall '11
"Pembroke Wrap"
43x21 ... perfect
midsize wrap and
perfect weight yarn
for it!
 

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!

Kudzu Shawlette free pattern from classiceliteyarns.com (written for sport/dk), we did it in Nature Spun Chunky!
See!  Feel!
  This is 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 &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. 

New, smaller, once-around "Kudzu" shawlette (original in natural, above).  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 more natural shaping on a real person with real shoulders & arms.
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 coordinating
10 colors.  Well worth it!  YEA! 
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.
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)
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.
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!
We love Sausalito, colorful ply-ed 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.
Kid and Baby patterns from Pure and Simple are just that!
Left:  P/S#982 Baby Cardigan 4.5sts/in       
Designs also available for kid sizes 2-12
... and "between" sizes can be achieved
depending on the gauge
    at which YOU knit your yarn!! 
 
Liberty Wool, machine washable wool #7892,  label:  5sts/#7 note to self:  you can always make top down sweater sleeves
the right  length,  and can be lengthened as children grow.
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.
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.
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.

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!
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!

on to the next top down capped-sleeve   -
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. 
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.
REMINDER -  you can use any yarn at any gauge to make a cap sleeve
top-down as long as you use the correct pattern for
your gauge. 
Pure & Simple offers 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5 and 5.5sts/inch
(adult) patterns,
most of which are long sleeved, but - who cares? - you're in charge.
 
Berroco's spring 2010 WEEKEND
cotton/acrylic blend from book #296.
Versatile, lightweight 4-ply worsted,
205 yards per 100gms, 5-4.5sts/in
and book 296 is filled with v-neck,
crew neck all-around summer designs,
short sleeve, long sleeve, lace edged.

WEEKEND CHUNKY now available!
3.5sts -3.25sts  #10.5

Tahki 2010 ----->

This is the High Line Cardigan,
PATTERN NOW AVAIABLE
FREE ON LINE
www.tahkistacycharles.com
under patterns - free - tahki

knitted in K1P1 rib for body
hugging and casually styled.

finished measurements in the
pattern are given for the
garment laid flat (sans wearer),
so it is best to see the model
and examine the stretch factor
before deciding on which size
you want to make.


Good Earth Cotton

naturally colored
100 organic
cotton tapes soft, smooth, lustrous,
and light weight
for 3.75
sts #10 in stst



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.
 
a simple boat neck tank top in
SPROUT, a 3.5st/#10 organic
cotton, dyed, about 375 yards
(4 hanks).

one-size shop pattern is finshed 39" and
can be adapted to other sizes, using the 10+1 multiple border pattern.
 
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.

 


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 to make any size.
Sleeves are square set-ins, picked up and
knit down. 
Measuring the row gauge you already
made knitting the body you can easily
calculate the decreases for long or short
sleeves (we'll help if you need it).
working Happy Feet DK baby cardigan,
now, having sewn the shoulders
together, attatched and sewn together
the right sleeve and right side seams,
picking up and knitting (down) the left
sleeve.  next installment:  picking up and
knitting hem, then button bands.
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.
 
another day, another yarn.  this is nashua's SITAR (now discontinued naturally).
Changed the upper rib to 1x1, did a K5P3 stitch pattern, increasing in the K's on
the same collar idea as above (2 balls chunky 82yds each)
 
10/09
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!