Category Archives: Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino

FREEBIE Gorgas

Malabrigo Lace Scarf 6

 

malabrigo Lace combo 1

Gorgas Run

I love combining colours, and this simple scarf is an easy way to experiment. It’s a free pattern (YAY!), and it isn’t very hard to knit. The colourwork is easy-peasy, you just hold 2 strands of the yarn together and change up the colour combinations at the pattern tells you. And if you are afraid of knitting with 2 strands held together, don’t be, it’s simple! If you want a wider scarf or a wrap, just add extra stitches to your pattern and made sure you centre the decreases in the middle.

Yarn

We used light as air Malabrigo Lace on 4.5mm/US7 needles, and the finished scarf feels light (great for fall strolls through fallen leaves and apple picking). The pattern was written for fingering weight yarn, which would make a slightly sturdier garment suitable for a cold winter climate. We used semi-solid colourways, but I think it could look really beautiful using variegated/multicoloured yarns (I’d go 4 colours of Manos del Urugay Alegria). And of course, it could be a great way to use up some yarn in your stash.

Colour

If you’re tentative about choosing colours that will look nice together, I usually suggest picking a palette with colours in the same family, or close-ish to each other. Blues and greens go nice together, especially turquoise or teal. Blue and Purple, Red and orange or red and pink blend well, as do neutrals.

Notes

We finished the scarf after working the colourway twice (once was too short), and we could have kept on going, we still hard yarn left (I have put the yardage amounts in the Ravelry Project Page).

The sweater in the picture above is the Reversible Wrap by Jo Sharp.

Materials

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malabrigo Lace combo 3

 

 

 

 

 

PROJECT Yume

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Yume

I saw this and thought of you! But seriously, I love things that are both simple and pretty, especially if they can work in some texture and colour. Yume is made in one piece (no seams!) from the top-down, so you should have it done in time to actually wear it. The depth of colour is created by working with 2 strands of lace weight yarn held together, which is also a great way to negotiate colour distribution and pooling issues in hand-dyed yarn. I think it would be PERFECT made with Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino (ON SALE NOW!). It has a beautiful hand and it’s soft halo ensure the strands will do their job, stick together and look more like they’re a single strand of yarn. Plus, it’s just so soft!

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Taking a look at the shelf, here are some colour combos in Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino that will blend well together (these pairs are based on the actual dye lots, not the images):

Malabrigo Lace Combos jpg.png

Size

  • XS (S, M1, M2, L, XL, XXL)
  • finished bust circumference: 35.75 (38.5, 41.5, 43.75, 45.75, 48.75, 52) inches or 89 (96.5, 103.5, 109, 114.5, 122, 130) cm
  • The sample is worn with 3.25” (8.5 cm) positive ease at bust.

Materials

  • Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino: Short Sleeve Version 2(2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins in each of TWO colours, Long Sleeve Version 3( 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) skeins in each of TWO colours
  • 3.25mm/US3 – 32″ circular needles (for ribbing)
  • 3.25mm/US3 double pointed needles (for ribbing)
  • 3.75mm/US5 – 16″ circular needles
  • 3.75mm/US5 – 32″ circular needles
  • 3.75mm/US5 double pointed needles
  • Stitch holders or waste yarn
  • Stitch markers
  • Tapestry or darning needle
  • Pattern Download

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yumi combo.jpg

FREEBIE Gorgas Run Scarf

Gorgas Run Scarf

This FREE pattern scarf combines a number of qualities that make me really, really happy:

  1. The knit is fairly simple, but not too boring. Beginners can learn a new skill, more established knitters can easily do it while watching TV.
  2. It offers an opportunity to play around with colour in a simple, uncomplicated way.
  3. It’s not a bad way to use up a skein or two of skinny stash yarns.
  4. It makes a great gift that will be well received (that time of year is right around the corner).
  5. It’s easy to swap out and substitute yarns.

Yarn Options

Any fingering weight yarn will work, but I think Gorgas Run would be especially EXQUISITE made with Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino  (it’s a single ply merino yarn that knits well with two strands together, and the skeins are very affordable). The pattern is made with Semi-solid coloured yarn, but you can mix it up and use variegated colours if you want some drama.

Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino: 1 skein in each of 4 colours (swatch for a tension you like)

Manos Alegria: 1 skein in each of 4 colours

Cascade Heritage: 1 skein in each of 4 colours

Madeline Tosh Merino Light: 1 skein in each of 4 colours

Mineville Merino Sock: 1 skein in each of 4 colours

Materials

Notes

  • Yarn is held double throughout.
  • Use Colors A & D for your gauge swatch. You will need the entirety of Colors B & C for your project, but will have approx. 30g each of A & D leftover.

ASHES & KNIT HACK: Making Marls

 

 

Ashes

I just ran across this new pattern on Ravelry, Ashes, and knew that it’s simple, easy to wear look would appeal. I mean, can’t you see yourself wearing this just about everywhere and every day? It’s the kind of sweater you can make several versions of, one for each season in a different type of yarn. One thought that came immediately to mind was that this sweater would look amazing knitted up as a marled colour (see all about that below).

Size

NOTE: this pattern is designed to be quite oversized. Before you choose a size to make you should check the finished dimensions below, you may want to make a smaller size than normal.

  • XS (S, M1, M2, L, XL, XXL)
  • finished bust circumference:  46.5 (48.5, 51, 53, 55, 57, 58.5)” or 116.5 (121.5, 127, 132, 137.5, 142.5, 146) cm
  • Sample is size XS worn with 14.5” (36.5 cm) positive ease at bust

Materials

  • Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino: 3(3, 3, 4, 4, 4) skeins in each of TWO colours [a total of 6(6, 6, 8, 8, 8) skeins]
  • 3.25mm/US3, 24” (60 cm) AND 32” (80 cm) circular needles, AND Double pointed needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4, 24” (60 cm) AND 32” (80 cm) circular needle, AND Double pointed needles
  • Stitch holders or waste yarn
  • stitch markers
  • tapestry needle
  • Pattern

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Forester from Brooklyn Tweed: Great example of a marled knit.

Knit Hack: Making Marls

marled colorway is usually created by holding two strands of different colours together at the same time. Above is a great example of a marled knit, Forester by Brooklyn Tweed.

Marled Yarn COMBO.jpg

Marled Yarn: Misti Alapca Chunky in a marked colourway.

You can also buy yarn that creates a marled effect (see above), it will be an equal combination of at least two colours, by sometimes there are more.

Fibre Texture

One important thing to consider when knitting up your own mark is the texture of the fibre. A marled textile works best if the fibres stick together and ‘blend’ a bit. The fuzzier the yarn, the better the marl effect. Yarns with a smooth surface don’t blend well. I think Ashes it would be awesome worked up with a single ply laceweight yarn like Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino. It has a halo to it that will make the two strands blend together almost seamlessly.

Malabrigo Lace COMBO Marls

Colour Combinations

High Contrast

Most people think of a marled colour as a high contrast and obvious look, like a black & cream (195 Black & 64 Natural) or black & light grey  (195 Black & 9 Polar). You can also experiment with something a bit more edgy, like a tan & muted pink (like 18 Applewood & 60 Dusty).

Low Contrast

Another option is a lower contrast, which creates a more subtle effect. Putting two reds together would create a subtle depth of colour (like 44 Geranio and 94 Bergamota), or a bright red & pink would be a vibrant combination (like 94 Bergamota & 184 Shocking Pink). Blues look great combined together (like 186 Buscando Azul and 26 Continental, or 27 Bobby Blue & 98 Tuareg). If you’re a purple person try 34 Orchid & 97 Cuarzo for a subtle, pretty purple.

Variegated

If you want something variegated, but the original colourway is a bit too much, try pairing it with one of the dominant colours in the colourway (like 242 Intenso & 44 Geranio, 157 Amoroso & 24 Vermillion, 228 Snowbird & 94 Bergamota, or 9 Polar Morn & 622 SFO Sky).

 

Ashes Marled COMBO

Photos: Misti Alpaca, grasflecken/Isabell Kraemer

 

 

 

FREEBIE Blish

 

 

Blish

There’s something about chilly weather that makes me crave the cozy warmth of a swancho. Too unstructured to be a sweater, but more interesting than a poncho, it’s a Swancho!  Wear a swancho with jeans, tights, a skirt – really anything you like. I love the styling of Blish by mega designer Norah Gaugan – she’s great!

You can make it in cheap ‘n cheerful Cascade 220 Heathers or Berroco Vintage, or upgrade to a hand dyed merino like Malabrigo Rios or Malabrigo Merino Worsted. For a really marled look (two colours blended in a tweedy look like in the pattern picture) you can also hold 2 strands of a finer yarn together, like Madeline Tosh Merino Light, Manos Alegria, Malabrigo Mechita, or  Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino ( you’ll need about 950(1070, 1300, 1430, 1550) metres of each colour). Cascade 220 Heathers also comes in a marled grey colourway #9402.

If you don’t care for the little eyelet detail down the arms you can substitute a lifted stitch increase for the yarn-overs.

Yarn Options

Cascade 220 Heathers:  5(6, 7, 8, 8) skeins  (100% Peruvian wool)

Malabrigo Rios: 5(6, 7, 8, 8) skeins  (100% Superwash merino wool)

Malabrigo Merino Worsted: 5(6, 7, 8, 8) skeins  (100% merino wool)

Berroco Vintage: 5(6, 7, 8, 8) skeins  (Superwash wool/synthetic blend)

Other Materials

  • FREE Pattern
  • 4.5mm/US7 – 16″ circular needles
  • 3.75mm/US5 – 16″ circular needles
  • 4.5mm/US7 – 29″ circular needles
  • 3.75mm/US5 – 29″ circular needles
  • 3.75mm/US5 double pointed needles
  • cable needle
  • 1 stitch marker

Size

This garment was designed with approximately 10” of ease. Due to the dolman sleeves, the bust is very roomy, so go by the lower edge measurement when selecting your size

  • To Fit Bust Size: 30(34, 38, 42, 46, 50)”
  • Lower Edge: 40(44, 48, 52, 56, 60)”
  • Length (including collar): 26(26½, 28, 28½, 30¼, 31)”

 

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