Category Archives: Malabrigo Rasta

FINISHED PROJECT Biggie Braids Toque

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Biggie Braids

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!

Materials

If you don’t already own the right size needles, you can buy fixed circular needles or Interchangeable tips from Knitter’s Pride (be sure to get 3.5″ or 4″ tips – anything longer it too long to make a 16″ needle).

Other Yarn Options

You can also use any of these yarns:

See Finished Projects

PROJECT Nanaimo

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Nanaimo Cardigan

Nanaimo is a super cute, super-bulky weight cardie that will knit up in a FLASH!!!!! It’s perfect for fall weather, both knitting & wearing. Canadian designer Tara-Lynn Morrison of Good Night, Day makes marvelous, simple sweaters with super thick yarn. We used super soft, 100% merino Malabrigo Rasta for our sample (we used colour 809 Solis), her designs always make the yarn shine. If hand-painted yarn isn’t your thing and you want a more demure look try using Cascade Spuntaneous – it’s also a single-ply, 100% merino wool.

Size

  • XS/S, (M/L), (XL/XXL), (XXXL)
  • Width at bust (lying flat): approx 49.5 cm / 19.5” (56 cm / 22”), (62. 25cm / 24.5”) ( 68.5 cm / 27”) (75 cm /29.5”)
  • Body length: approx 42 cm / 16.5” (46 cm / 18.5) or desired

Yarn

Malabrigo Rasta: 4(5, 6, 7) skeins (we used colour 809 Solis)

SEE FINISHED PROJECTS MADE WITH MALABRIGO RASTA

or alternately …

Cascade Spuntaneous: 4(4, 5,6) skeins

SEE FINISHED PROJECTS MADE WITH CASCADE SPUNTANEOUS

Needles

Needle sizes aren’t listed, so check the pattern to confirm what you’ll need (although we expect it will be similar to the pattern above). We think Interchangeable needles area great way to go when a pattern calls for a bunch of sizes you don’t normally use. The Knitter’s Pride tips can be a great value, while the Addi Interchangeables are the premium option.

If you prefer fixed circular needles, Clover and Addi both make wonderful quality circular needles, and if you want a wood 15mm/US19 circular check out the Knitter’s Pride Fixed needles.

Other Materials

Looking for something to hold your cardie or shawl closed? Try one of our Oversized Safety Pins Brooches – the simple design makes them ideal for knits because there’s nothing for the yarn to get caught in.

FREEBIES Last Minute Gifts

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 Believe it or not, you’ve still got a little bit of time to get a project done.   I suggest making something small and simple, knit with super bulky yarn, and your last minute gift’s in the bag!

Photo: dandiliongrl

Avery Slouch Hat

 Keep it simple silly! Hats are fast & easy last minute gifts, and this one is almost brainless – no purling!

Yarn Options

If you want a marled look like in the photo, use 2 strands of different coloured bulky weight yarn held together:

Materials

  • FREE Pattern
  • 10mm/US15-16″ circular needles
  • 10mm/US15 double pointed needles
  • jumbo tapestry/darning needle
  • jumbo stitch marker

 

Twistin the Night Away

Headbands are fast & easy, and always well received (especially by people with big hair).

Yarn Options

Materials

 

 

Red Hot Neckwarmer

A neckwarmer is a perfect gift for men and women, in a cold climate everyone can use one – and on those blustery days that you do need one, they’ll be thanking you!

Yarn Options

Materials

  • FREE Pattern
  • 10mm/US15-16″ circular needles
  • tapestry needle

FREEBIES Last Minute Cowls

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Easy Loose Cabled Cowl

Our loose cabled cowl is a last minute knits that work up FAST! We made ours light and airy on 15mm/US19 needles and two skeins of Malabrigo Rasta, but you can also you one Cascade Spuntaneous.

Yarn Options

Other Materials

 

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Bulky Mobius Cowl

Our Bulky Mobius Cowl is a great little last minute gift. It works up fast on 10mm/US15 needles and the mobius technique makes it entertaining. The yarn, Malabrigo Rasta, is stunning: it’s buttery soft and I’ve never seen a skein that didn’t knit up like a Monet painting. Plus, it’s a one-skein project!

Materials

 

 

Photo:tma

 

Aujourd’hui

This cute & simple little cowl is a cinch to knit up and looks incredibly impressive in hand-dyed Malabrigo Rasta.

Materials

 

 

FREEBIE Nour

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Nour

One ball of gorgeous yarn makes a hat – it’s a no-brainer holiday miracle gift! And yes, we sell fur pompoms (both real and synthetic) and excellent pompom makers!

Yarn Options

Materials

FREEBIE + HACKS Paloma Cowl

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Paloma Cowl

I like simple, loose cables like this cowl; they create great texture and interest without too much effort.

Yarn Options: Super Bulky (10 to 12mm needles)

Yarn Options: Bulky (8mm needles)

Materials

HACKS

  • Because all of the yarns we’ve suggested (above) bloom beautifully, you can try pushing your needle size up to a 12mm/US17 and omit a ball of yarn.
  • The yarn suggested in the pattern is super-bulky, so expect your cowl to be too. If this is too much for you, consider substituting a slightly thinner, bulky weight yarn, and smaller (8mm/US11) needles. If this seems too narrow, add a second cable pattern repeat.
  • The pattern is knit flat and seamed in a circle, but if you want to do something more knitterly like a 3 needle bind-off or kitchener stitch, you can cast on using a provisional cast-on (casting on with scrap yarn).

FREEBIE Really Quick Mitts

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Really Quick Mitts

This pattern is one of our oldies but goodies, but sometimes you just need something fast and simple (actually, it’s one of the most popular freebies on our website). One skein of Malabrigo Rasta makes a pair of glorious mittens!

Materials

  • Malabrigo Rasta: 1 skein
  • 9mm double pointed needles
  • 3 Jumbo Stitch markers
  • Small Stitch holder or scrap yarn
  • tapestry or darning needle
  • FREE Pattern

FREEBIE Last Minute Pussy-Cat Hat

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Super Cat Hat

Just in case you left it to the last minute, here’s a pattern for a super bulky Pussy-Cat Hat. Wear your hat to a Women’s March this weekend, or just as a political statement around town. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

One skein of a super bulky weight yarn like Cascade Lana Grande or Malabrigo Rasta should do the trick, or try holding two strands of a bulky weight yarn together (like Berroco Vintage Chunky, Malabrigo Mecha, Diamond Baby Alpaca Sport).

Materials

 

 

 

 

FREEBIE Big Hat

Big Hat

Great one skein last minute gift! A client came in last week wearing a very simple toque (that’s Canadian for a winter hat) made with Malabrigo Rasta and I immediately thought “I’ve got to find a pattern for my other clients for that!”.  This hat is styled with the brim turned up, but if you wear it turned down it becomes a perfect slouchy style hat. A bit Thank You to Halan for the inspiration!

Yarn Options

All the following yarn are suitable and ON SALE until January 8!

Materials

 

FREEBIE Super Bulky Socks

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Super Bulky Socks

Super-Bulky Socks are another last minute one-skein wonder. They’re fast, impressive, and oh so cozy! they only use one skein of buttery soft and beautifully dyed Malabrigo Rasta, or get a second skein to make them taller slouch socks.

Materials

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

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