Category Archives: cascade

FREEBIE Willow

willow-scarf-4

Willow

I love it when things come together fast and easily, and this scarf was one of them. The pattern looks complicated but it was an extremely simple cable stitch. I was playing around with a new yarn, buttery soft Cascade Spuntaneous. I wanted to see how it would knit up in different ways, so I pushed it to it’s limit and used 12mm/US17 needles for the body of the scarf. It looks awesome and blocked larger than it knit up, which was beneficial because it was looking a bit on the short & stout side when it came off the needles.

The Closure

The cool thingy on the scarf in the first picture is the JUL Designs Mod Loop Leather Closure in Truffle. All of the JUL designs products are kind of like ingenious jewellery for your knits. They  screw in, so they are no-sew and you can remove them and use them as often and with as many garments as you like (you can see a video demonstrating how they work HERE). Of course, you do not need to wear this scarf with a closure, I just thought it looked neat and tried it.

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Size

After blocking the scarf measured approximately 11″ wide and 62″ long.

Notes

  • used 12mm/US17 needles for the body of the scarf
  • added 5 rows of K2P2 rib on each end with 10mm/US15 needles
  • wet blocked the scarf by washing it in Soak Wash, removing the excess water by rolling it in a towel, and then laying flat to dry
  • if you want a narrower scarf or want to use less yarn there’s definitely room to omit one pattern repeat (6 stitches)
  • if you want to join the ends and make a cowl you can cast on using a provisional cast on and then either graft the ends together using kitchener stitch or use a 3 needle bind off to join the ends.

Materials

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

willow-scarf-combo

FREEBIE Jumbo Travelling Cables Hat

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JUMBO Travelling Cables Hat

Need a warm hat this winter? I think this hat is an excellent candidate. It’s thick, duper-super soft, and works up FAST. The jumbo cables make it interesting and a bit warmer too. We used one skein of brand new Cascade Spuntaneous, a buttery soft and light as air single ply merino wool. I had a little bit of yarn shortage anxiety, but I was fine and didn’t have to go into a second skein.

Size

One size, and the hat fits a bit small (21″ to 22″ head) but you can make it larger by using larger needles: 10mm/US15 for the ribbing and 12mm/US17 for the rest of the hat.

Our hat was made on 8mm/US11 & 9mm/US13 needles and blocked by washing it in Eucalan and laying flat to dry. We also accidentally knitter an extra row or two in the brim.

Measurements after Blocking (with brim turned up)

  • outside: 9.5″ wide & 10″ long
  • inside: 8.5″ wide & 10″ long
  • brim turned up: 2.75″

Materials

  • FREE Pattern
  • Cascade Spuntaneous: 1 skein
  • 8mm.US11-16″ circular needles (or 10mm/US15 for larger sizes)
  • 9mm/US13-16″ circular needles (or 12mm/US17 for larger sizes)
  • 9mm/US13 double pointed needles (or 12mm/US17 for larger sizes)
  • Jumbo cable needle
  • Jumbo tapestry needle
  • Jumbo stitch marker

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

travelling-cables-hat-combo

 

FREEBIE Mondo Blanket

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Mondo Throw

This post is kind of a cheater because calling this throw a pattern is like calling a PB&J sandwich a recipe …. but the result is FAST, cozy, and very, very snuggly!

Size

approximately 36” wide x 33” long

Materials

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

Notes

  • When attaching new yarn wet/spit felt the two ends together and afterwards tack down any stray ends with a felting needle.
  • Always wash your hands before felting light colours.
  • to make the yarn go further/have a loose weave be sure to knit loosely

Directions

Loosely cast 27 stitches

R1: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat row 1 until approximately 10 to 11 feet of yarn is left.

Cast off in K1P1 stitch pattern.

Weave in ends and tack down with felting needle.

cascade-mondo-blanket-combo

 

 

NEW Cascade Mondo

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Cascade Mondo

Cascade Mondo is SUPER bulky and SUPER soft! It’s a soft blend of superfine alpaca and wool, and is best for quick and bold statement pieces, plus it’s suitable for arm knitting. One skein is enough for a cowl, 4 for a throw blanket.

  • 50% Superfine Alpaca / 50% Wool
  • Weight: 400g – 53m (58 yds)
  • Needle Size:  25mm/US50
  • Knitting Gauge: 3 – 4 sts = 4″ (10 cm)
  • Hand Wash, Lay Flat to Dry
  • Pattern Ideas

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

cascade-mondo-combo

FREEBIE Cabled Hat

Cabled Hat

This free pattern for a cabled hat demonstrated that beautiful, stylish, on-trend garments don’t have to be expensive. This hat is made with one skein of worsted weight yarn – economical Cascade 220 (or sub Cascade 220 Superwash, superwash blend Berroco Vintage, superwash merino Malabrigo Rios, or buttery soft Malabrigo Worsted).

A big furry pompom kind of makes the hat ‘pop’ – we sell both synthetic and real pompoms in our bricks & mortar store and in our online store (I like the Raccoon the best for this style, they’re light and airy).

Yarn Options

Cascade 220: 1 skein

Cascade 220 Superwash: 1 skein

Berroco Vintage: 1 skein

Malabrigo Rios: 1 skein

Malabrigo Worsted: 1 skein

Materials

  • FREE Pattern
  • Fur Pompom (synthetic or real)
  • 3.5mm/US4-16″ circular needles
  • 4.5mm/US7-16″ circular needles
  • 4.5mm/US7 double pointed needles
  • cable needle
  • stitch marker
  • tapestry needle

FREEBIE Lulea

Lulea

This seamless cardie will be super cozy and warm, plus it knits up super fast in a super-bulky/polar weight yarn! It’s knit in one piece from the bottom up to the armholes, sleeves are knit and joined, and then raglan shaping is worked to finish the yoke. Use Cascade Lana Grande for a simple, classic look (it’s very affordable too), or try hand-painted Malabrigo Rasta for a fantastic multicolour.

Size

  • Finished Bust (closed): 38(42, 46, 50, 54, 58) inches
  • Finished Length: 24(25, 26½, 26½, 27¾, 29) inches

Yarn Options

Cascade Lana Grande: 7(8, 9, 9, 12, 13) balls

Malabrigo Rasta: 7(8, 9, 9, 12, 13) balls

Materials

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

FREEBIE Laurel

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Laurel

A big, cozy, go anywhere cardigan – can we ever get enough? (it’s a rhetorical question, the answer is NEVER). I’m pretty sure that as soon as I saw this new freebie the pleasure centres of my mind lit up. It’s got an interesting construction, it’s knit from side to side – I don’t think it’s crazy hard but check out the pattern for more details to see if it’s for you. The designer advises you choose your size based on how you like your arms to fit, then other measurements can be adjusted to your taste. It looks like it’s roomy, so you can size down if you want a slimmer fit.

You’ve got lots of yarn options, but I think something simple like Cascade 220 Heathers would look terrific and let the texture sing. The loftiness of Malabrigo Merino Worsted would also be pretty, as wouldthe hand dyed Malabrigo Rios. If you need something affordable, washable and soft, try Berroco Vintage, the heathered colours are sensational.

 

Size

  • XS, S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X  (shown in size S with 4 inches / 10 cm of positive ease)
  • Finished Bust (based on back width): 36(40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)inches / 91.5(101.5, 112, 122, 132, 142, 152.5)cm
  • Length at center back: 26(26.25, 27, 27.25, 27.5, 28.25, 28.75) inches / 66(66.5, 68.5, 69, 70, 72, 73)cm

 

Yarn Options

Cascade 220 Heathers: 6(6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) skeins

Malabrigo Rios: 6(7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10) skeins

Berroco Vintage: 6(6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) skeins

Malabrigo Merino Worsted: 6(7, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10) skeins

 

Materials

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

 

Channel Cardigan

Channel Cardigan

I love the classic styling of this cardie: the cables, the shape, it’s just so cozy and timeless. If you’re looking for a little challenge in your fall project definitely take a look at this one. It’s the kind of sweater I endlessly wear around the house with my yoga pants. If  I could find it in a store I would buy it, but since I can’t I guess I’ll just have to make one. The only question is which colour?  … a knitter’s life is an embarrassment of riches.

Size

Circumference at bust (buttoned):  35¾ (38¾, 42, 45¼, 48½, 51¾)”

Materials

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

GAMBIT & Knit Hack

Gambit Rasta 1

Gambit

Gambit is a great little capelet designed to be worn OVER outerwear – clever and stylin’! It’s knit in super bulky yarn, so it’s a satisfying, quick little knit. We used Malabrigo Rasta, we couldn’t *not* indulge in it’s ridiculous softness and depth of colour. If Rasta is a bit too precious for your needs you can also use Cascade Lana Grande or Brown Sheep Burly Spun (see below).

Gambit Rasta COMBO

Notes on the Pattern

This pattern involves a few techniques that newbies might be unfamiliar with (short rows, provisional cast on, grafting/kitchener stitch) and is not for the absolute beginner – an advanced beginner should be fine with it.

The shaping is created with short rows, so you’ll have to be diligent and keep track of your rows. I found that I didn’t like the type of short row technique used in the pattern, it left gaps (I don’t know if this is because I used a different yarn than the original design). I changed to regular, old fashioned Wrap & Turn (W&T) short rows. Luckily, in garter stitch you don’t need to unwrap short rows, which makes things much easier. I worked to one stitch less than the number specified for the short row in the pattern, wrapped the next stitch, and turned.

KNIT HACK: To help keep track and stay oriented I put a locking stitch marker in the stitch every time I did a short row.

The garment is knit flat and joined together using kitchener stitch – anther happy discovery was that grafting in garter stitch is a bit simpler than in stocking stitch. You are going to start the project with a provisional cast on (a cast on using scrap yarn), I like using the crochet or ‘chained’ cast on method, the scrap yarn comes out extremely easily.  I wove in the ends using duplicate stitch and you can’t see them at all!

One more thing,  full disclosure – I accidentally used the wrong size needles (9mm/US13). Yup, even knitting store owners grab the wrong size on occasion. The capelet came out fine after blocking (our mannequin is on the small size and doesn’t move around much), but you should use 10mm/US15 needles to get the appropriate tension.

Yarn Options

Malabrigo Rasta: 3(4) skeins

Cascade Lana Grande: 4 skeins

Brown Sheep Burly Spun: 3 skeins

Other Materials

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

Gambit Rasta COMBO TRIO

FREEBIES & RESTOCKED Cascade Lana Grande

Cascade Lana Grande BLOG

Cascade Lana Grande is a lofty, super bulky/polar weight yarn made with 100% Peruvian Wool. It knits up beautifully and FAST – plus it’s very affordable!  See it at work in patterns like Umaro by Jared Flood (Brooklyn Tweed), the Weekend Pullover from Knitting Pure and Simple, the Big Snowy Owl, and it’s ideal for the Button Bear Cowl. It’s great for beginners too, we use it frequently in our classes. It knits up fast and is great for making gifts (it’s never too early to start).

  • 100% Peruvian Highland Wool
  • 100g/80m
  • Super Bulky Weight
  • 9mm to 12mm (US size 13 to17) Needles
  • 8 sts = 4″ (10cm)
  • Made in Peru
  • Project ideas on Ravelry
  • Read our Blog Post with project ideas

 

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Sweet

 

 

Gaptastic COMBO

Photos: topstitchgirl & morgpet

 

Gaptastic Cowl

 

 

unoriginal hat 1

Photo: madorange

An Unoriginal Hat