I love the modern graphic look of Harvest Flower Sweater by Jessie Maed Designs! The Harvest Flower Sweater is a stranded colorwork sweater with a retro folk floral yoke motif. The Sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down with short row yoke shaping. The pattern is size inclusive up to 60″ bust, and would be great made with Cascade 220 Superwash.
Techniques: German short rows, two and three-color stranded colorwork, catching floats, knitting in the round, increasing, and decreasing.
Notes: Pattern includes two chart options (one as photographed, and one with a simple pixelated mound motif replacing the second set of flowers,) along with shorter yoke versions for both charts.
Size
This top is designed with 6-8”/15-20.5 cm of positive ease at the full chest. To choose your size, add 6-8”/15-20.5 cm to your full chest measurement. If you have a large bust in comparison to your upper bust, you can size down.
(XS, S, M)L, 1X, 2X{3X, 4X, 5X} to fit chest measurement of: (28, 32, 36)40, 44, 48{52, 56, 60}“ OR (71, 81.5, 91.5)101.5, 112, 122{132, 142, 152.5} cm
Garment Full Chest Measurement: (36, 40, 44)48, 52, 56{60, 64, 68}“ OR (91.5, 101.5, 112)122, 132, 142{152.5, 162.5, 172.5} cm
Neon colours are great for safety. As a cyclist who’se been hit by a distracted driver, I can attest to the importance of highly-visible clothing for pedestrians. Since then my goal has been to stay out of the hospital, and I always wear neon outerwear when I’m on my bike. The neon makes me much, much more visible to drivers, and I think both parties appreciate that. I’ve noticed that since I started wearing neon, drivers are also a lot nicer to me, and my interactions in traffic are much friendlier – I think they just couldn’t see me before, and now I’m REALLY hard to miss.
My friend David has a visibility impairment, and he wears neon too. He is legally blind, but he doesn’t look it, which makes people think that he can do and see things that he can’t, and they assume that he is aware of things that he isn’t. I recommended he wear neon so people would notice him first, and he says it’s been a total game-changer. On an overcast fall/winter/early spring day, a bright garment, even as small as a hat or a scarf, can make a BIG difference.
Neon colours aren’t really like other colours because they’re so BRIGHT. They are great on their own, but they also look wonderful combined with a neutral like light grey, cream, or even a darker colour like a charcoal grey or black, and even navy (for that lite-brite effect). Pictures speak louder and more effectively than words, so I put together a ‘look-book’ of pattern inspiration (linked above) to give you an idea of what can be done with neons. There are also great colour combinations in the book Neons & Neutrals by Aimee Gille.
You can mellow out a neon and make it a bit more pastel by holding a neon base yarn (Cascade Heritage) with an off-white (or something close) kid-mohair (like Drops Kid-Silk) and marling them. Look for a pattern that combines a Fingering Weight with a Lace Weight yarn. To take it down a few more notches strand it with two strands of kid-mohair or a single strand of brushed alpaca like Drops Brushed Alpaca & Silk. You can see this in projects like Neon Cecil (above) and Stephen West does this frequently to modify the colour.
Bright news! Cascade 220 Superwash Merino is now available in NEON colours! Pink, Orange, Yellow and Green …. you’ll never be missed again! Know someone who takes long walks in the winter? Make ’em a hat and keep them visible, safe and warm.
One skein is enough for a hat, two for a regular scarf (6″ wide), 3 for a larger scarf (8″ wide), 4 for a shawl or wrap, 5+ for a sweater (depending on the size), 10+ for a throw blanket.
Cascade 220 Superwash Merino is a great staple yarn and comes in a plethora of colours. It’s 100% machine washable Merino wool, soft enough for babies and kids. Great for just about everything and anything (except felting).
Neons are also available in a fingering weight superwash merino, Cascade Heritage. Two pinks, two oranges, red, yellow, green, and a purple that didn’t make it to the photo shoot (it’s back-ordered).
Cascade Heritageis a soft, durable, and overall lovely new sock yarn. It’s a super soft blend of superwash merino wool and nylon, so they’ll make your hands and feet happy, but also wear well. 1 skein makes a pair of socks, gloves, mitts, or a hat.
I love this hat because it’s so warm! If you knit it as a beanie it’s 2 layers thick, and if you make it with a folded brim then it is FOUR layers thick. Hallelujah, a winter hat that keeps me warm on the coldest days!
Size
Baby (Toddler, Child/Adult S, Adult M, Adult L, Adult XL)
To fit head circumference: 16(18, 20, 22, 24, 26) inches
Cascade Spuntaneous is a super bulky, single-plied yarn that is buttery soft. Made with 100% extra fine merino wool, its design and texture will have you thinking comfort and favourite in a twisted hank. Spuntaneous lends itself to statement accessories like oversized cowls, hats and capelets.
Cascade Ultra Pima Fine is a super soft and silky, machine-washable pima cotton. Its a sport-weight, and is great for all kinds of projects from baby garments, blankets, amigurumi and toys, sweaters, tops, tees, shawls and wraps, facecloths, shopping bags, etc. It also crochets and weaves beautifully! This yarn is made in Peru and imported directly from the manufacturer to Canada.
Please note, this yarn has been discontinued by the distributor and stock is limited. If you need more than we currently have in stock we are happy to check and see if they have more.
Edie is a simple tee worked with raglan increases from the top down. First you have to work back and forth until V-Neck shaping is complete, then in the round to the end. Short-row shaping for the rounded bottom gives a casual finish. Stitches for short sleeves are picked up after the body is complete, to work the sleeves top down in the round. An optional neck finishing is provided. Sample shows unfinished, raw edges.
Size
XS (S, M1, M2, L, XL, XXL)
Finished bust circumference: 33 (35, 37, 39.5, 42, 45, 49.5) inches OR 83.5 (89, 94.5, 100, 107, 114.5, 125.5) cm
Sample is size XS with approx. 2 inches of positive ease at bust
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this top-down crochet masterpiece boasts elegance and versatility. Elevate your wardrobe with its enchanting leaf stitch pattern adorning the yoke, harmoniously juxtaposed with a sleek and understated body. The pattern includes full written instructions, chart and schematic.
Fiorellino is worked seamlessly from the top down. Starting with the neck shaping, short rows are worked back and forth to create a higher back neck. The yoke is then worked in the round to sleeve separation. Increases are worked into the textured part of the yoke, followed by raglan increases for the lower part of the yoke. Sleeve stitches are placed on hold to work the body top down. The short sleeves are worked top down in rounds to the cuffs. No finishing required.
Cascade Ultra Pima Fine: 2 skeins (1 in each of two colours) to make a single dishcloth. To make all 3 towels: Colour A – 3 skeins, Colour B – 2 skeins, Colour C – 2 skeins.
Strathcona is a simple, oversized, super-bulky weight sweater knits up VERY quickly and easily on 15mm/US19 needles! We used Cascade SPUNTANEOUS, and incredibly soft, single ply merino wool that plumps up to meet the needs of the big needles. You can find more great quick to knit super-bulky patterns by Tara-Lynn Morrison HERE. Strathcona is a great pullover for newer or less experienced knitters, since it is knit in the round in one piece from the top-down (no finishing), and it knits up FAST for instant gratification! The fit is loose and cozy.
If you want more colour at play in your sweater try Malabrigo RASTA. For something that looks like mohair without any of the itch try Drops MELODY (2 strands together), or for something with the aura of fuzz and the structure of a more normal yarn try Drops MELODY&Drops WISH held together (still zero itch). See below for quantities required.
Size
(XXS/XS), S/M, (L/XL), (XXL/XXXL)
Approx (48.5 cm / 19”) 53.5 cm / 21” (61cm / 23.75”) (67.5 cm / 26.5”) across chest
Approx (46 cm / 17” ) 48.5 cm / 19” (51 cm / 21”) (58.5cm / 23”) in body length
our sample is size S/M
Materials
For projects like this that require several lengths of circular needles (if you don’t already have the right sizes) we generally recommend INTERCHANGEABLE needles.
Biggie Braids is a simple cabled hat is a super thick yarn for a FAST and satisfying knit! It takes one skein of yarn, fat needles, and makes for a very satisfying little project. It also makes for an impressive looking holiday gift without a lot of labour.
We used one skein of Malabrigo RASTA, a pillowy-soft, hand-dyed merino wool, but you could also use the same amount of Cascade SPUNTANEOUS (also a super-soft merino wool but not hand-dyed), or LionBrand WOOL EASE THICK & QUICK (a machine washable blend of wool & synthetic).
Many thanks to Erica for taking this project from idea to realization!
I think On the C Train has become my default hat pattern for exploring yarn combinations! I’m sorry if you’re getting sick of it, it’s just easy and versatile and free and simple to adapt … and patterns that work make me happy!
This time round I was looking to combine a worsted weight yarn, the new Cascade 220 SUPERWASH HAND PAINTS, with a strand of kid-mohair, Drops KID-SILK. Combining the two creates a softer, fuzzier texture, and it can also create a depth of colour not otherwise available in the base yarn. In a hand-painted yarn like Cascade 220 SUPERWASH HAND PAINTS it also gives you an opportunity to shift the colours, make them darker or lighter, or bring out certain colours and make them POP! Keep reading below for more about combining, as well as the colours that play well together.
If you love the idea of combining but want a different project, see below for a few recommendations that will work with these yarns. Turmeric and Rooibos are made with a different yarn that’s been discontinued but are still my favourite visions of what can be done when you combine a hand-paint with a coloured kid-mohair.
Modifications
I had lots of yarn to work with, so I made the hat with a warm turned-up brim (just knit for an extra 2.5″ to 3″) , but you can make yours like the originl version if you like.
I knitted the brim with 4.5mm/US7 needles to make it a bit tighter and a bit warmer, and to keep it more elastic and resilient. You can skip this if you like, it isn’t necessary.
You can add a Pom-Pom or go without, it’s all about your own style!
To make a larger size cast on an extra 8 sts, to make a child size cast on 80 sts.
Size
One Size, comfortably fits a medium (22″) head.
To make a larger size cast on an extra 8 sts, to make a child size cast on 80 sts
When you combine a regular yarn with a kid-mohair a few things happen …
The tension gets thicker, so you can go up a needle size (usually by 0.5mm for hats or mittens, or 1 mm or more for projects knitted at a regular tension like a sweater or a blanket, or more than 1mm for something looser like a shawl).
The colour shifts slightly. If the mohair is a lighter colour the project will look lighter, if it’s brighter it’ll brighten it up, and if it’s darker it’ll have a darker cast.
The texture changes and gets a bit softer, fuzzier, and takes on an aura.
For this project I used a neutral greyish-white which blended well with the background undyed colour of the base yarn and mellowed the overall colour out. If I’d wanted to bring out the orange speckles I could have used KID-SILK colour 32 Raspberry, or to make the teal more dominant I would use KID-SILK colour 24 Petrol. You can see my colour recommendations below and on our website for Cascade 220 SUPERWASH HAND PAINTS.
The Great Lakes Throw is a super simple blanket anyone can whip up QUICK! It’s made with super bulky weight Cascade Cotton Puff and knits on 15mm/US19 needles for maximum satisfaction. The yarn is a soft, machine-washable cotton tube with a springy polyfil core (like the stuff in pillows and stuffed animals), giving it body and ease of use (it’s also allergy friendly and vegan).
The pattern is a simple, elegant, reversible rib, suitable for all knitters from beginners on up. Sizes range from a baby blanket to king-sized bed. Each ball of Cascade Cotton Puff is 200g/7.05oz, so while this technically isn’t a ‘weighted blanket’, it has some weight to it! Our sample is the Medium Throw 45″ x 60″ and is knit in colour 04.
Size
Baby (Medium Throw, Large Throw, Twin Bed, Double Bed, Queen Bed, King Bed)
Inches: 35 x 42 (45 x 60, 55 x 70, 65 x 90) {85 x 90, 95 x 100, 105 x 100} inches
Centimetres: 87.5 x 105 (112.5 x 105, 137.5 x 175, 162.5 x 225) {212.5 x 225, 237.5 x 250, 262.5 x 250) cm
Our sample is the Medium Throw 45″ x 60″ and is knit in colour 04
Alternately use a super bulky weight yarn that calls for 12mm/US17 to 15mm/US19 needles and knits at 8 sts/4”(10cm): 485 (890, 1270, 1925) {2520, 3125, 3455} metres OR 532 (977, 1393, 2112) {2765, 3429, 3791} yards
Designed for knitting blankets, throws & rugs, Cotton Puff is a jumbo yarn crafted from soft cotton & nylon. Ideal for home goods like blankets, pillows and baskets, this yarn is machine washable & dryable. Cascade Cotton Puff wears well & does not pill as it is a knit fabric tube with a light fiber core to create structure.
I came across these sunny hand towels a few times and felt like they were full of YUP! They’re a good size, 22″ wide x 37″ long, but of course you are welcome to up or downscale them – they’re just rectangles, after all. They’re made with a simple linen stitch that creates a woven look on one side and a nubbly texture on the other. And the pattern’s free – sweet!
The Yarn
Cascade Ultra Pimais a silky soft, light cotton. It’s easy to work with on both knitting needles or crochet hook. I often recommend it for baby blankets or afghans because it’s so soft and machine washable, and it doesn’t have the hardness or lack of give that’s common in so many cotton yarns.
I was so eager to share this project with you that I rephotographed the Cascade Ultra Pima (it was time). All the new images have been colour corrected, so they’re as close to the original as was possible … not an easy task with cotton, the light reflected off the surface makes it really tricky! Any old photos left are colours that were out of stock and couldn’t be photographed.
Photo: Purl Soho
Materials
Cascade Ultra Pima: 4 skeins in main colour, 1 skein in contrast colour (makes 2 hand towels, recommend 3718 Cream for main colour and 3764 Sunshine for contrast colour)
The following colours of Cascade Ultra Pima are all smashing combined with colour 3718 Cream:
3755 Tomato
3764 Sunshine
3833 Antique Moss
3845 Robin’s Egg Blue
3772 Cornflower
3759 Taupe
Alternate Yarns
Berroco Remix Light is also a great option! Because of it’s generous yardage You’ll need half as much yarn: 2 skeins of the main colour and 1 of the contrast will make two hand towels)
Photo: Purl Soho
Farmhouse Towels (Knit)
Make some towels that are so beautiful you’ll never want to use them! That’s ok, some things you use until they’re shredded, and some you keep out to please the eye. Both have their roles in our lives. The pattern is a FREEBIE, and makes for some simple, elegant summer knitting.
Quince & Co Sparrowis my favourite yarn for this project, I love how this linen looks, the silky feels after being washed, and also how resilient it is (it gets better going through the wash) . My second personal choice would be
Berroco Remix Light is the budget friendly, earth friendly, use-friendly option – it has so much yardage, two skeins of the main colour will make 3 towels, and 3 skeins will make 5. Plus it’s recycled, has a neat texture, is easy to knit with and wash.
Cascade Ultra Pima is the last on the list, but not the least. This silky smooth pima cotton is a staple, and is always a joy to knit with and wear. If you like a plain, flat aesthetic, this is your yarn of choice.
ALL OF THE YARN SUGGESTED ARE ON SALE TO AUG 14th!
Note: the pattern seems to have neglected to explain how to make an I-Cord (the loop at the tops of the cloth), so here is an I-cord tutorial for those of you who are not familiar with the technique. Alternately, you can skip the I-cord, make your cloth loop-free and just weave in your ends – there’s no rule that says a cloth must have a loop.
Size
Approximately 10 x 10 inches
Yarn Options
Main Colour: 100m required per washcloth. Contrast Colour: 24m required per washcloth.
I’m in the Dominican Republic this week … but I promise I’m still thinking of you! While I’m gone, here’s a popular favourite ….. the four points blanket is a great project all year round. It’s available in both knit and crochet, and you can make it in a baby blanket size or as a throw. It’s a simple composition and can be made in a number of different yarn options. The patterns are free, so you can read them over and see if they work for you without committing. If you want something a bit more jazzy, try the Easy Puzzle Blanket, which uses 6 colours.
MODIFICATIONS
use 3.75mm/US5 to 4mm/US6 needles
for a crib (throw) size cast on approximately 140(204) sitches. You will pick up & knit the same number of stitches.
Berroco Vintage Baby is a new yarn that just cam out this spring. It’s very similar to it’s sibling Vintage DK, but it has a slightly silkier texture and comes in 50g balls. It’s soft, easy to work with, machine washable, reliable and is generally great on both the skin and the wallet. The yarns in the Vintage line are a blend of wool and synthetic, and generally work well for people with sensitive skin. We carry this yarn all year.
KNIT 4 Points Baby: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours ($59.64)
KNIT 4 Points Throw: 5 skeins in each of 4 colours ($99.40)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw: 7 skeins in each of 4 colours ($139.16)
Berroco Vintage DK is a staple around here, we sell tons of it for every kind of project for babies, grown-ups, and everything in-between. It’s soft, easy to work with, machine washable, reliable and is generally great on both the skin and the wallet. The yarns in the Vintage line are a blend of wool and synthetic, and generally work well for people with sensitive skin. We carry this yarn all year.
KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($159.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($79.76)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($159.52)
For several years Cascade Ultra Pima has been the go-to yarn for these projects. Its silky soft texture is seductive, and it’s ideal for babies as it’s machine washable, allergy-friendly and excellent for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), and comes in a bunch of great colours.
KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($95.76)
KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($191.52)
CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours ($95.76)
CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours ($191.52)
