Category Archives: Drops Air

Transitional Felix Sweaters: Perfect for Autumn

Leave a reply
A woman wearing a brown knitted pullover holding an orange, alongside another woman in a maroon knitted cardigan, styled with a skirt.

The Felix sweaters by Amy Christoffers are great options for transitional seasons! They knit up fast on larger needles, and you can use a cotton or cotton blend to make them for end of summer/beginning of fall days that are a little warm but also a little chilly.

My favourite yarn would be the Berroco Remix Light, because it has a soft, tweedy texture, but no wool.

Try any of the following machine-washable yarns:

A person wearing a brown knitted sweater, holding an orange, standing against a plain background.

Felix Pullover

The Felix Pullover is a cropped, top-down raglan with an eyelet motif incorporated into the raglan increases. This was designed to be the perfect sweater to wear layered over tunics and dresses though I find it is well suited to high waisted pants as well. I suggest putting all the stitches on waste yarn and trying the sweater on before you begin the ribbing to be sure you have a length you will like and will enjoy wearing.

Notes

I found the neckline is a bit wider than a traditional crew neck. If you want to eye-ball it as you go, try casting on with a provisional cast-on, skip over the ribbing, start with the stocking stitch, and then go back and try it on before you complete the neck ribbing. If you want to make the neck-opening smaller, you can do a round or two of decreases to reduce the neckline, then finish the neck ribbing.

I don’t think you need to do a tubular cast-on for this sweater, unless you really love an extra stretchy neck-line. The neck is wide enough that it doesn’t need a stretchy cast on.

A person wearing a brown knitted sweater with a round neckline, styled with a loose, comfortable fit. The individual is slightly turned to show the side view of the sweater, which features a ribbed hem and eyelet details at the shoulders.

Size

Selecting the correct amount of ease is a very personal, please choose a size based on your own preferences, a range between 2 to 10” of ease is suggested for this garment.

If choosing to knit this with less ease for a more fitted look please review the measurements on the schematic and consider adding more length to the body and plan your yarn purchasing accordingly.*

  • Finished bust circumference: 39 (43 ½, 48, 52 ½, 57)”Shown in second size, worn with 7” of positive ease.

Gauge

14 stitches x 20 rows = 4” in Stockinette stitch on larger needles

A person wearing a brown knitted sweater with a wide neckline and raglan sleeves, viewed from the back.

Yarn Options

You’ll need 600 (640, 775, 865,960) metres or 650 (700, 850, 950,1050) yards of a yarn that knits at 14 to 15 sts/4″ in stocking stitch.

You can alternatively use 1200 (1280, 1550, 1730,1920) metres of a DK weight yarn (2 strands held together).

Try any of the following yarns:

For a soft & fuzzy version, try holding together one strand of Drops Air AND one strand of Drops Kid-Silk:

Other Materials

A cropped brown sweater hanging on a hanger, featuring a round neckline and long sleeves, with raglan seams and an eyelet motif.
A person wearing a cropped purple cardigan with buttons, layered over a blue dress, showcasing a delicate eyelet motif.

Felix Cardigan

Construction

The Felix Cardigan cropped top down raglan cardigan with an eyelet motif incorporated into the raglan increases. This was designed to be the perfect sweater to wear layered over tunics and dresses, I like it with waisted pants as well. I suggest putting all the stitches on waste yarn and trying the sweater on before you begin the ribbing to be sure you have a length you will like and will enjoy wearing.

The cardigan version is written to be worked back and forth in rows, the neck is shaped with short rows, the body and sleeves are divided after the yoke shaping. The body is worked back and forth in rows, the sleeves are worked in the round. The body of the cardigan is 1” longer than that of the Felix Pullover – please note the body can be made any length but plan to purchase more yarn.

Notes

I found the neckline is a bit wider than a traditional crew neck. If you want to eye-ball it as you go, try casting on with a provisional cast-on, skip over the ribbing, start with the stocking stitch, and then go back and try it on before you complete the neck ribbing. If you want to make the neck-opening smaller, you can do a round or two of decreases to reduce the neckline, then finish the neck ribbing.

I don’t think you need to do a tubular cast-on for this sweater, unless you really love an extra stretchy neck-line. The neck is wide enough that it doesn’t need a stretchy cast on.

A woman wearing a cropped, knitted cardigan with buttons, styled over a long, flowing dress, poses with one hand in her hair.

Size

Selecting the correct amount of ease is a very personal, please choose a size based on your own preferences, a range between 2 to 10” of ease is suggested for this garment.

If choosing to knit this with less ease for a more fitted look please review the measurements on the last page and consider adding more length to the body and plan your yarn purchasing accordingly.*

  • Finished bust circumference (with overlapped front bands): 39 (43 ½, 48, 52 ½, 57)”
  • Shown in second size, worn with 7” of positive ease.

Gauge

14 stitches x 20 rows = 4” in Stockinette stitch on larger needles

A woman wearing a cropped cardigan with buttons, holding her hair and looking down, paired with a long skirt.

Yarn Options

You’ll need 640 (730, 820, 915, 1000) m or 700 (800, 900, 1000, 1100) yards of a yarn that knits at 14 to 15 sts/4″ in stocking stitch.

You can alternatively use 1280 (1460, 1640,1830, 2000) metres of a DK weight yarn (2 strands held together).

Try any of the following yarns:

For a soft & fuzzy version, try holding together one strand of Drops Air AND one strand of Drops Kid-Silk:

Other Materials

A close-up of a cropped sweater with a round neckline, showcasing ribbed cuffs and a textured fabric, worn over a flowy skirt.
Colorful yarn arranged to spell 'SALE' with promotional details for a summer sale including discounts from July 12 to August 30.

Our SUMMER SALE is ending soon! Select products (including some clearance items) are 20% OFF until August 30, 2025, 11:59pm.

The discount is online and in-store, and it will be automatically be added at check-out, so you don’t have to jump through any extra hoops or remember to put in a discount code (this discount can NOT be combined with any other offers or discounts, including free shipping – you won’t be able to use another discount code when you check-out).

SEE ALL SALE PRODUCTS

A woman wearing a brown knitted pullover holding an orange, alongside another woman in a maroon knitted cardigan, styled with a skirt.

Cloud Sweater

Leave a reply

Cloud Sweater by PetiteKnit

We finished the Cloud Sweater in this super pretty pink … and it might be the perfect three-season sweater (fall-winter-spring). We made it with Drops Air in a pretty light pink, which is great all year but maybe fits nicely with the early spring.

Construction

Cloud Sweater is worked from the top down. First the back yoke is worked back and forth while german short rows are worked to shape the shoulders. Then each shoulder is worked separately, back and forth and with short rows. The shoulders are then joined to form the front yoke. The front and back yoke are joined at the underarms to form the body, which is worked in the round on a circular needle. The sleeves are worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the armhole openings. The sleeves are worked in the round. At the end, the stockinette stitch funnel neckline is worked from stitches that are picked up and knitted along the neck opening.

Size

We made size XXS. It’s designed to be worn with extra ease, the smallest size starts at a 40″ bust.

  • Ease: Cloud Sweater is designed to have approx. 25 cm [9¾ inches] of positive ease in the smaller sizes and then gradually less positive ease in the larger sizes.
  • Sizes: XXS (XS) S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL) 4XL (5XL)
  • Bust circumference: 102 (108) 113 (118) 122 (127) 136 (146) 153 (162) cm [40¼ (42½) 44½ (46½) 48 (50) 53½ (57½) 60¼ (63¾) inches]
  • Length: 55 (56) 58 (59) 61 (62) 63 (66) 68 (69) cm [21¾ (22) 22¾ (23¼) 24 (24½) 24¾ (26) 26¾ (27¼) inches] (measured mid back excl. collar)

Materials

Alternate Yarn Options

For a lighter, fluffier, airier textile you could also use Drops Brushed Alpaca & Silk or hold 2 strands together of Drops Kid-Silk.

CLOSED FAMILY DAY & Gallant

Leave a reply

Just a heads up, we will be CLOSED Family Day, Monday February 17

Mohair Gallant

We just received a restock of Drops Yarns (including some really pretty new colours in Drops BRUSHED ALPACA SILK, Drops AIR, and Drops KID-SILK), so I thought it’s the perfect time to share Mohair Gallant by Caidree, which I think will make a great mid-season sweater. Mohair Gallant is knit on 4.5mm/US7 needles with two strands of Drops KID-SILK held together, making it light and airy, something that can be worn over a tank-top or a tee-shirt, or if it’s cold a long-sleeved tee. Since the two strands are held together, you can choose the same colour, or you can combine two different colours and marl or blend them. When you hold together two colours that are close to each other it creates a greater depth of colour, especially with fuzzy yarns like mohair or alpaca.

SEE FINSIHED PROJECTS: DROPS KID-SILK

I think this would also be a great sweater made with a single strand of Drops BRUSHED ALPACA SILK, which can be a great alternative to knitting with mohair. Drops BRUSHED ALPACA SILK knits to a slightly heavier tension, so you should plan to knit a size smaller in the pattern.

SEE FINISHED PROJECTS: DROPS BRUSHED ALPACA SILK

Caidree designs great, simple sweaters, knit in the round. For two thicker, faster version of this sweater you can skip to the bottom of this post.

Description

The Mohair Gallant is a medium lace weight advanced beginner, top down, raglan sweater knitting pattern. It is simple and airy, classic cropped sweater, perfect to wear with high waisted jeans and over dresses. It features a mock neck and it is framed with an i-cord edge around the sleeve cuffs and bottom hem. Worked using two strands of silk mohair yarn held together in the round in stockinette stitch all the way through. Intended to be worn with at least 5 cm of positive ease. The pattern is written in American knitting terms.

Sizes

  • Bust size of the finished sweater with 5 to 10 cm of positive ease built into the patternis
  • XS 33.5″ (S 35.5”, M 39.5”, L 43”, XL 47”, 2XL 51”, 3XL 55”, 4XL. 59“, 5XL 63”) inches
  • XS 85 (S 90, M 100, L 110, XL 120, 2XL 130, 3XL 140, 4XL 150, 5XL 160) cm
  • Model is wearing size M on 93 cm bust.

Gauge
20 stitches by 28rows = 4”/10cm using size 4.50mm/US7 needles in stockinette stitch, in the round after washing and blocking.

Materials

Other Yarn Options

Drops BRUSHED ALPACA SILK: 5(6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) balls

With 4.5mm needles this yarn will knit to around 18 sts /4″, so you should make a size smaller in the pattern.

Aran Gallant

If you want a faster/bulkier knit try the Aran Gallant and Drops MELODY, two strands of Drops BRUSHED ALPACA SILK held together, or Drops AIR held with Drops KID-SILK. (Where the yarn amounts are a smidge/fraction over the number of balls I’ve added a +):

Sizes

  • Intended to be worn with at least 10 cm of ease. 10 to 15 cm of positive ease is built into the pattern. 
  • XS 34 (S 37 1⁄2, M 42, L 45, XL 49, 2XL 53, 3XL 57, 4XL 61, 5XL 64 1/2) inches
  • XS 86 (S 96, M 106, L 115, XL 125, 2XL 135, 3XL 145, 4XL 155, 5XL 165) cm
  • Model is wearing size M on 93 cm bust.

Yarn

Gallant

If you want a SUPER THICK and FAST knit try Gallant Sweater, knit on 15mm/US 19 needles and Cascade SPUNTANEOUS.

Sizes

  • Intended to be worn with little ease. 0-5 cm of positive ease is built into the pattern.
  • XS 31.5 (S 35 ½, M 38, L 41, XL 45, 2XL 49, 3XL 52, 4XL 57.5, 5XL 62) inches
  • XS 80 (S 90, M 96, L 104, XL 114, 2XL 125, 3XL 133, 4XL 146, 5XL 157) cm).

Yarn

PROJECT Brume

Leave a reply
© Andrea Mowry

Brume

Brume is a simple, kinda body, very cozy pullover … a perfect piece to throw on over a tee on cool spring and autumn days, or all winter. The pattern is the PERFECT tension to knit with Drops Air … you can see a stunning one below, knit up in pink by MeganKB – it’s stunning!

Description

This sweater is knit from the top down (meaning you can try it on as you go and add length to suit your own personal style), beginning with the folded collar. I love how a folded collar gives more structure to the high neck, while also keeping the collar from being too tight on my neck. (I don’t know about you – but I get very uncomfortable if clothing squeezes against the front of my throat. The structure of this collar keeps my neck warm, without the restrictive feeling of a classic turtleneck!) After knitting the yoke, you will separate the sleeves and place them on hold while the body is finished. The sleeves are then returned to the needle, picking up stitches for the underarm for a totally seamless sweater!

@MeganKB on Ravelry

Size

  • 1 (2, 3, 4)(5, 6, 7)(8, 9, 10)
  • Finished Chest Circumference: 36 (40, 44, 48)(52, 56, 60)(64, 68, 72)” OR 91.5 (101.5, 112, 122)(132, 142, 152.5)(162.5, 173, 183) cm
  • Intended to be worn with 6-10”/15-25.5 cm of positive ease.
  • Samples shown in size 3 with 9”/23 cm positive ease on a woman who is 5’5”/165 cm tall.
© Andrea Mowry

Materials

OPEN FAMILY DAY & Gallant

Leave a reply

We are open Family Day, Monday February 19, from 12 pm to 6 pm!

Mohair Gallant

We just received a restock of Drops Yarns (including some really pretty new colours in Drops BRUSHED ALPACA SILK, Drops AIR, and Drops KID-SILK), so I thought it’s the perfect time to share Mohair Gallant by Caidree, which I think will make a great mid-season sweater. Mohair Gallant is knit on 4.5mm/US7 needles with two strands of Drops KID-SILK held together, making it light and airy, something that can be worn over a tank-top or a tee-shirt, or if it’s cold a long-sleeved tee. Since the two strands are held together, you can choose the same colour, or you can combine two different colours and marl or blend them. When you hold together two colours that are close to each other it creates a greater depth of colour, especially with fuzzy yarns like mohair or alpaca.

SEE FINSIHED PROJECTS: DROPS KID-SILK

I think this would also be a great sweater made with a single strand of Drops BRUSHED ALPACA SILK, which can be a great alternative to knitting with mohair. Drops BRUSHED ALPACA SILK knits to a slightly heavier tension, so you should plan to knit a size smaller in the pattern.

SEE FINISHED PROJECTS: DROPS BRUSHED ALPACA SILK

Caidree designs great, simple sweaters, knit in the round. For two thicker, faster version of this sweater you can skip to the bottom of this post.

Description

The Mohair Gallant is a medium lace weight advanced beginner, top down, raglan sweater knitting pattern. It is simple and airy, classic cropped sweater, perfect to wear with high waisted jeans and over dresses. It features a mock neck and it is framed with an i-cord edge around the sleeve cuffs and bottom hem. Worked using two strands of silk mohair yarn held together in the round in stockinette stitch all the way through. Intended to be worn with at least 5 cm of positive ease. The pattern is written in American knitting terms.

Sizes

  • Bust size of the finished sweater with 5 to 10 cm of positive ease built into the patternis
  • XS 33.5″ (S 35.5”, M 39.5”, L 43”, XL 47”, 2XL 51”, 3XL 55”, 4XL. 59“, 5XL 63”) inches
  • XS 85 (S 90, M 100, L 110, XL 120, 2XL 130, 3XL 140, 4XL 150, 5XL 160) cm
  • Model is wearing size M on 93 cm bust.

Gauge
20 stitches by 28rows = 4”/10cm using size 4.50mm/US7 needles in stockinette stitch, in the round after washing and blocking.

Materials

Other Yarn Options

Drops BRUSHED ALPACA SILK: 5(6, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9) balls

With 4.5mm needles this yarn will knit to around 18 sts /4″, so you should make a size smaller in the pattern.

Aran Gallant

If you want a faster/bulkier knit try the Aran Gallant and Drops MELODY, two strands of Drops BRUSHED ALPACA SILK held together, or Drops AIR held with Drops KID-SILK. (Where the yarn amounts are a smidge/fraction over the number of balls I’ve added a +):

Sizes

  • Intended to be worn with at least 10 cm of ease. 10 to 15 cm of positive ease is built into the pattern. 
  • XS 34 (S 37 1⁄2, M 42, L 45, XL 49, 2XL 53, 3XL 57, 4XL 61, 5XL 64 1/2) inches
  • XS 86 (S 96, M 106, L 115, XL 125, 2XL 135, 3XL 145, 4XL 155, 5XL 165) cm
  • Model is wearing size M on 93 cm bust.

Yarn

Gallant

If you want a SUPER THICK and FAST knit try Gallant Sweater, knit on 15mm/US 19 needles and Cascade SPUNTANEOUS.

Sizes

  • Intended to be worn with little ease. 0-5 cm of positive ease is built into the pattern.
  • XS 31.5 (S 35 ½, M 38, L 41, XL 45, 2XL 49, 3XL 52, 4XL 57.5, 5XL 62) inches
  • XS 80 (S 90, M 96, L 104, XL 114, 2XL 125, 3XL 133, 4XL 146, 5XL 157) cm).

Yarn

PROJECT Turtle Dove II

Leave a reply

Turtle Dove II

Turtle Dove II is a super pretty, simple and very popular free pullover pattern that’s great for fall! It’s made with super soft, like, airy and fluffy Drops AIR (keep it simple sister). It is a loose, raglan-style sweater with a turtleneck and a modern silhouette. Knit from the top-down with optional short-rows to raise the back of the neck slightly, the entire sweater is knit in the round so there is no seaming at all. There are two options for finishing the body – a simple rolled hem or a twisted rib split-hem. Turtle Dove II is nearly identical to the original Turtle Dove sweater except that it is knit at a tighter gauge.

SEE FINISHED PROJECTS

Size

  • 1 (2, 3, 4) (5, 6, 7, 8)
  • Finished circumference: 45.5 (47.5, 50.5, 54.5) (58.5, 61.5, 64.5, 67.5)” 115.5 (120.5, 128.5, 138.5) (148.5, 156, 164, 171.5) cm
  • Measurements above are given for the finished circumference measured at the end of the raglan increases (i.e. at underarms). This sweater is designed to be worn with 14 -18” / 35.5 – 45.75 cm of positive ease; however, this is just a guide. Some people prefer a closer fit; do not be afraid to select an option that provides somewhat less than the suggested ease according to your own preferences.

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.

FYI: Original Turtle Dove

The original Turtle Dove sweater is a bit thicker and knit on larger needles, so if you want to do that I suggest using one strand of Drops AIR held with a strand of Drops Kid-Silk on 6mm/US10 needles to get that light, airy look. If your sweater needs to be machine washable go for Berroco Vintage Chunky or Malabrigo Mecha.

Photo: theknittingnerd27 on Ravelry
Photo: reetselig on Ravelry

Getting Ready for the COCOKNITS Mabel KAL

Leave a reply

I’m getting ready for the COCOKNITS MABEL KAL (knitalong) starting in February!

The sweater is knit with the Cocoknits method, a unique technique for working a sweater seamlessly from the top-down, and I’m curious to finally learn it! I think I’ll make it as a turtle neck …. it gives the shape a bit more substance.

I’ve done my swatching and tried 3 different yarns:

I tried 7mm/US10.75 needles and 6.5mm/US10.5 needles, and got the best gauge by combining Drops Air & Drops Kid-Silk on 6.5mm/US10.5 needles.

In the video I also flip through the pattern … it’s very professional and comprehensive, I’m looking forward to it and I know we will be in good hands!

P.S.

The ring I’m wearing in the video is from Kormar Jewellery. I bought it at the Toronto Outdoor Art Show and LURV it! It’s 3D-printed silver and doesn’t get caught on my yarn when I knit or crochet (an essential quality in my jewellery).

Mabel

Mabel is a loose-fitting, comfortable pullover that fits the bill. She is also infinitely adaptable … try knitting the neck ribbing into a cowl or extra long fold-over turtleneck. Add cables, split the hem, knit it knee length, add stripes … the sky’s the limit. It is written in 10 sizes from 36 to 72” bust, so you have options for fit, as well!

This sweater is worked using the Cocoknits Method, a commonsense system for knitting seamless, tailored sweaters from the top down. The Cocoknits Method is explained in detail in Cocoknits Sweater Workshop by Julie Weisenberger.

Size

  • Small (Medium, Large, 1X)(2X, 3X, 4X)(5X, 6X, 7X)
  • Finished Bust: 36 (40, 44, 48)(52, 56, 60)(64, 68, 72)”/ 91.5 (104.5, 112, 122) (132, 142, 152.5)(162.5, 172.5, 183) cm
  • Finished Length: 15.5 (17.5, 19, 20)(21, 21.5, 22.5)(23.25, 24, 25)”/ 39.5 (44.5, 48.5, 51)(53.5, 54.5, 57.5)(59, 61, 63.5) cm

Materials

RESTOCK Drops!

Leave a reply

Our fall Drops stock has FINALLY dropped! An unfortunate victim of COVID supply chain fatigue, our order was expected in August, then October, but got stuck in all kinds of international shipping snafus. Regardless, it’s here now and we are GRATEFUL for the bounty! There are bunch new colours in Drops Air and Drops Kid-Silk (including those marvellously neutral blush pinks and beiges). We also received some much sought after and back-ordered CHRISTMAS COLOURS in Drops Nepal.

Drops Air

New Fall 2021 Colours

Drops Air is a deliciously soft and airy yarn. It knits up beautifully into hats, scarves, cowls, sweaters, blankets, toys – you name it! It is a ‘blown’ yarn, which means it has a core (polyamide) that is a knitting tube, and then the fibre is literally blown into it, creating a light, fluffy, fuzzy haze of alpaca floating around it. It knits up easily, and you can even knit with 2 strands held together to bulk it up to a bulky weight (try a 6.5mm/US10.5). the yardage is also generous, coming in at 150m for a 50g ball. One of the extra bonuses with this yarn is that it’s been used a zillion times on Ravelry, so there’s lots of pattern inspiration out there and you know that its not going to let you down.

SEE OUR FAVOURITE PROJECT IDEAS

  • 70% alpaca, 5% wool, 23% polymide (core strand)
  • 50g/150m (164 yds)
  • Heavy Worsted to Aran weight
  • 5mm/US8 needles or hook 
  • 17 sts & 22 rows = 4″ (10cm)
  • Hand wash, lay flat to dry
  • Made in Peru
  • See Project Ideas on Ravelry

The wrap above is Hamburg Calling, a free pattern from Verena Bahls. Use 6 skeins of Drops Air (if you have a hard time finding the PDF on the website it is HERE).

Drops Kid-Silk

New Fall 2021 Colours

Drops Kid-Silk is a luxurious, feather-light brushed mix of super kid mohair and mulberry silk. It gives garments a sophisticated look, whether used alone or held together with other yarns (see projects by PetiteKnit). 

  • 75% Mohair, 25% Silk
  • 25g/210 m (230yds)
  • Lace Weight
  • 3.5mm/US 4 needles
  • 23 sts & 30 rows = 4″/10cm
  • Hand Wash, max 30°C, lay flat to dry
  • Made in the EU
  • See Project ideas on Ravelry

The sweater pattern above is the No Frills Sweater by PetiteKnit. It knits up with 1 strand of Drops Kid-Silk and one of a fingering weight yarn – like Cascade Heritage.

Drops Nepal

New Colours

Drops Nepal is a great staple yarn made with superfine alpaca and Peruvian highland wool. Both fibers are untreated, which means that they are only washed and not exposed to any chemical treatment prior to the dyeing. This highlights the fibers’ natural properties, making it a lofty, bouncy yarn that’s great for garments. It’s hand-washable and felts beautifully. Drops Nepal is great for sweaters, hats, scarves, mitts, blankets – you name it. It also comes in 50g balls, making it an amazing choice for fair-isle projects. 

The sweaters above are different iterations of Riddari, a pattern from Istex Lopi that works up beautifully in Drops Nepal. (If can’t tolerate the itch but love the look of Icelandic knits try substituting Drops Air – it won’t be as dense or itchy as a proper wool sweater, but on the upside, it’ll be light as air and soft as a baby’s butt.)

Drops Wish

Restocked

Drops Wish is a dreamy, super bulky weight, blown yarn made from baby alpaca blown into a core of merino wool and pima cotton. Wish is cosy, light, airy, soft, fluffy and absolutely itch-free. Wish is a great choice for sweaters, accessories (hats, wraps, scarves, cowls, shawls, etc), blankets – you name it. To make for a REALLY thick knit, you can hold 2 strands of this yarn together and use 15mm/US19 needles. 

The sweater pattern above is Harvest Queen, a free pattern from Drops that works up beautifully in either Drops Wish or Drops Air (holding 2 strands together). We made one and it worked up beautifully (blog post forthcoming).

SEE OUR FAVOURITE PROJECT IDEAS

Drops Melody

Restocked

Drops Melody is a super soft, super delicious alternative to Mohair it looks like mohair, but it has NONE of the itch! It’s super soft, light and airy. Drops Melody is a great choice for oversize garments and accessories, although it would also make a stunning and very cozy blanket. It knits up quickly on big needles without the piece becoming heavy and it can be held together with another yarn to create a fuzzy effect, or to give garments extra volume and softness.

The sweater pattern above is Caja, a free pattern from Ravelry. It knits up with 1 strand of Melody and one of a fingering weight yarn – like Cascade Heritage.

Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk

Restocked

Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk is a luxurious alpaca and silk yarn that looks like beautiful (but itchy) kid mohair but feels like super soft alpaca.  It’s light and fluffy, with plenty of halo. You can work with it as a single strand or hold two or three strands together to bulk it up for larger needles. It is very affordably priced and makes a great substitute for other kid mohair yarns. 

The sweater above is Sunday Sweater, a pattern from PetiteKnit (Photo StyledBySabine). It knits up with 1 strand of Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk and one of Drops Air.

Drops Andes

Restocked

Drops Andes is a soft, chunky blend of superfine alpaca and Peruvian Highland wool. The mixture brings out the alpaca silky surface, while the wool gives the yarn better shape and stability. It’s super easy to work with and works up quickly on large needles. It’s also great for felting and is ideal for felted slippers, mitts and bags. Andes is also ideal for beginner knitters, two balls are all you need to make a scarf!

The yarn fibres are untreated, which means that it is only washed and not exposed to any chemical treatment prior to dying. This highlights the fibre’s natural properties, while it also provides a better shape and texture quality.

  • 65% Wool, 35% Alpaca
  • Super Bulky (14 ply)
  • 100g/90m (98yds)
  • 9mm/US13 needles
  • 10 sts & 14 rows = 4″ (10cm)
  • Hand Wash, cold max 30°C / 86F. Dry Flat
  • Feltable
  • Made in Peru
  • Free Patterns

The wrap above Decemberist by Melanie Berg (you can find the whole gaggle of them HERE). It knits up with 3 skeins of Drops Andes (or 4 skeins of Drops Wish).

NEW Colour Flow

Leave a reply

Holiday Gift Parade

It’s chilly outside today, which means it is time for me to start reminding about knitting for the holidays. You’ve got about 2 months until Christmas, Kwanzaa and Yule, if you’re Eastern Orthodox you get an extra few weeks, but Hannukah is REALLY early this year (Nov 28th!). I’ll try to keep throwing in the interesting stuff, abut the project suggestions are shifting into small achievable goals. Let the parade of giftable projects roll!

Stay tuned for:

  • Hats & Headbands
  • Mitts
  • Scarves & Infinity Scarves
  • Cowls
  • Legwarmers
  • Wraps & Shoulder cozies
  • Slippers & Slipper-socks
  • Holiday decor
  • Fast blankets & throws

SEE OUR PAST GIFT PROJECT IDEAS

NEW Estelle Colour Flow

For a few years clients have been telling me they LOVE the soft, airy look and texture of blown yarns like Drops Air, but does it come in something more colourful? Well, this fall one of our distributors introduced something just of the sort, so if you like Drops Air, then Estelle Colour Flow is for you!

Estelle Colour Flow is a super-soft yarn with lots of fun! It’s made with merino wool that is literally blown into a nylon core, making it super light and airy, like knitting with a cloud (without the precipitation). The colour changes all by itself, making it an entertaining and pretty knit. It’s a bulky weight, so it will knit up reasonably quickly on 6mm/US10 needles. Colour Flow is knits really well with other fuzzy yarns (see below for more on this). NOTE: this yarn is feltable, so it must be hand washed.

SEE PROJECT IDEAS FOR THIS YARN

  • 80% Merino Wool (exterior), 20% Nylon (core)
  • 50g/125m
  • Bulky Weight
  • 6mm/US10 needles
  • 14 sts = 4″/10cm
  • Hand wash, lay flat to dry
  • Made in Italy

NOTE: if you love one of the pattern suggestions linked above, but you want to use a solid coloured yarn, try Illimani Amelie, it’s a perfect fit!

How Much Will I Need?

  • Hat: 1 skein
  • Cowl/Snood: 1 to 2 skeins
  • Scarf or Infinity Scarf: 2 to 3 skeins (4 if you want it really big)
  • Legwarmers: 2 to 3 skeins
  • Shawl/Wrap: 4 to 5 skeins
  • Blanket: 10+ skeins

Colour Flow Free Hat Pattern

When you purchase this yarn you’ll automatically receive an email with a link to download a free copy of the Colour Flow Slouchy Hat Pattern (above).

Materials

Mobius Cowl (in progress)

It gets a bit busy around here in the fall (which is awesome, no complaints), so here’s a pic of our first solo project, a Mobius Cowl. Scarves, cowls and wraps knit LENGTHWISE will look amazing with this yarn, the colour gradation in the yarn will do all the work! The pattern is an oldie – you can’t beat a classic.

Mods

  • Use 6mm/US10 needles (36″ or longer)
  • Cast on 174 sts
  • Reduce each garter section by 1 round for each group (5 rounds becomes 4, 6 rounds becomes 5)
  • If you are a new knitter and can’t deal with the mobius cast-on, just use a regular cast on and make it without the twist.

Materials

Estelle Colour Flow combined with Drops Air: both strands knit together on 9mm/US13 needles

Yarn Combining

Yarn combining has become a ‘thing’, and I’m glad it has, because it makes textiles that much more fun and interesting! I’ve embarked on a little experimentation, and found that Estelle Colour Flow works up beautifully held with other fluffy yarns:

Colour Flow & Drops Air 

1 stand of Estelle Colour Flow + 1 strand of Drops Air on 9mm/US13 needles =.12 sts & 16 rows/4″ (10cm). The combination, besides knitting up nice & quick, is deliciously soft and squishy. The fabric is still light, but they have a bit more body than if you worked with them on their own.    (colours: Colour Flow 42205 River Rock & Drops Air 05 Brown Mix.

SEE PROJECT IDEAS FOR COLOUR FLOW & AIR COMBINED

If you’re interested in experimentation I recommend combining it with either Drops Air or Drops Brushed Alpaca & Silk to keep everything super-soft and yummy.

A closeup of Estelle Colour Flow combined with Drops Air: both strands knit together on 9mm/US13 needles

I can’t say I’m in love with the colour combo I chose above (it works, but I find it a little depressing, the brown is sort of stealing the colour’s ‘life’), but I’d like to give it another shot holding the Colour Flow with a light grey, light beige or cream coloured yarn. I’ll try the fun skein below (colour 42204 Pinata) – it became unruly so I threw it on the winder and yowza it looks purty!

Estelle Colour Flow wound up on a machine: colour 42204 Pinata
Bird escaping light-box

I tried getting Gru into the game, but he was having none of it (and I was out of treats). This is what birds look like right before they take-off.

NEW! Drops Wish + Projects

Leave a reply

NEW! Drops Wish

Drops Wish is a dreamy, super bulky weight, blown yarn made from baby alpaca blown into a core of merino wool and pima cotton. Wish is cosy, light, airy, soft, fluffy and absolutely itch-free. Wish is a great choice for sweaters, accessories (hats, wraps, scarves, cowls, shawls, etc), blankets – you name it. To make for a REALLY thick knit, you can hold 2 strands of this yarn together and use 15mm/US19 needles. We also love that Wish is made in the first world, and made exclusively with natural, biodegradable fibres (no synthetics).

SEE OUR FAVOURITE PROJECT IDEAS

Needle Hack

If you do not already have the needles for this project we recommend buying interchangeable needles. They are very versatile for top-down sweaters and have more longevity for future projects (if you need a longer or shorter needle you can purchase an inexpensive new cord, rather than an entire needle. If you are buying individual tips and cords, that Knitter’s Pride are the most affordable option. If you are thinking about investing in a set, the Chiaogoo Twist Red Lace 4″ Tips: 2.75mm – 10mm have the best range and versatility for an assortment of projects.

Pattern Hack

I don’t love the way Drops formats their pattern, I find it makes them harder to follow. If you find you have the same issue consider copying the text into a free, cloud based text editing program like Google Docs and cleaning up the formatting to your liking – I find it’s worth the time to separate the sections. If you have a more pronounced learning disability you may even want to put it into a spreadsheet program like Google Sheets to break it down into line-by-line instructions – you can even make it into a chart and tick off your work as you go. 

Harvest Queen

Harvest Queen is a cozy, oversized pullover that’s knit in one piece from the top-down. It features a yoke construction with pretty cable and lace detail. It’s knit on 9mm needles, so it works up fast! The yarns recommend are blown yarns, making it a lighter, airier textile than expected. Video and written tutorials are provided at the bottom of the free pattern (they even have a place you can ask them questions about the pattern, and the pattern is available in 15 languages). 

Size

  • XS(S, M, L, XL, XXL)
  • Bust circumference: 36.75(40.75, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 56) inches or 92(102, 108, 118, 128, 140) cm
  • Fit is oversized

Yarn Options

  • Drops Wish: 8(8, 9, 10, 11, 12) skeins  
  • Drops Air: 7(7, 8, 9, 10, 11) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}
  • Illimani Amelie: 7(7, 8, 9, 10, 11) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}

Needles & Notions

Online Support

Drops has tutorial videos to support their patterns. See the bottom of the pattern webpage for links.

Shout for Winter

Shout for Winter is a cozy, oversized cardigan that’s knit in one piece from the top-down. It features raglans sleeves with a pretty mock English rib detail. It’s knit on 9mm needles, so it works up fast! The yarns recommend are blown yarns, making it a lighter, airier textile than expected. Video and written tutorials are provided at the bottom of the free pattern (they even have a place you can ask them questions about the pattern, and the pattern is available in 15 languages).

Size

  • S(M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)
  • Bust circumference: 40(43.25, 46.5, 51.25, 56, 60.75)inches or 100(108, 116, 128, 140, 152) cm
  • Fit is oversized

Yarn Options

  • Drops Wish: 10(, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) skeins  
  • Drops Air: 9(10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}
  • Illimani Amelie: 9(10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}

Needles & Notions

Online Support

Drops has tutorial videos to support their patterns. See the bottom of the pattern webpage for links.

Just Right

Just Right is a cozy, oversized pullover that’s knit in one piece from the top-down. It features raglans sleeves with a pretty cable detail and puffed sleeves. It’s knit on 9mm needles, so it works up fast! The yarns recommend are blown yarns, making it a lighter, airier textile than expected. Video and written tutorials are provided at the bottom of the free pattern (they even have a place you can ask them questions about the pattern, and the pattern is available in 15 languages).

Size

  • S(M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)
  • Bust circumference: 40(41.5, 44.75, 49.75, 54.5, 59.25)inches or 100(104, 112, 124, 136, 148) cm
  • Fit is oversized

Yarn Options

  • Drops Wish: 10(, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) skeins  
  • Drops Air: 9(10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}
  • Illimani Amelie: 9(10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}

Needles & Notions

Online Support

Drops has tutorial videos to support their patterns. See the bottom of the pattern webpage for links.