Category Archives: manos

NEW Manos del Uruguay Serpentina

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Manos del Uruguay Serpentina

I came across Manos del Uruguay Serpentina on a distributor’s website while I was browsing through their patterns and BAM! I saw it and thought “What IS that?! WHY is that?! What is THAT??!!!” Pattern after pattern, it knit up so consistently stunningly (plus Manos is an ethical company with a great track record) …. It’s the holidays, and we could all use a little extra cheer this year, so I got some!

Manos del Uruguay Serpentina is a stunning artisanal experience … its both hand dyed and handspun, which automatically makes it both scrumptious and glorious. Gorgeous colours run throughout the yarn at random which enhances its tactile quality. The result is a fabric that is soft and squishy to the touch with plush stitch definition.

  • 100% Merino Wool
  • 100g/120m (131 yds) 
  • Aran to Bulky Weight
  • 15 to 16 sts = 4″/10cm
  • 4.5mm/US7 to 5.5mm/US9 needles
  • Hand wash, lay flat to dry
  • Made in Uruguay

Chimel

A simple toque takes on new dimension with this stunning yarn

Materials

Double Seed Stitch Scarf

Sometimes the simplest is also the most effective. A double seed stitch is just knits and purls. Be sure to keep track of your rows, and if you aren’t a pro at fixing mistakes try inserting a Lifeline every time you complete Row 4.

Materials

Minimalist Hat

Keep it simple – this hat pattern is actually a great little go to – it’s written for 4 thicknesses of yarn (DK, worsted, aran & chunky).

Materials

Shoulder Cozy

This shoulder cozy (or capelet) is soft, light, airy, and oh so cozy! Wear it over your shoulders or around your neck as a cowl.

Pattern Notes

Don’t be tempted to work another cast-on method here. You really do want the stretch of the e-loop around the bottom where it will hit both your bust and your arms. At the same time, don’t work a traditional bind-off on this piece. Follow our instructions and work it loosely. If you have to, pull it out and try again. You’re after a relaxed, stretchy neck edge so that you can style the finished piece in a variety of ways.

Size

  • Without cowl: Approx. 9 ( 11, 16, 18)”/ 23 (28, 41, 46)cm long when laid flat, after blocking.
  • With cowl: Approx. 13 1/2 (16 1/2, 24, 26)”/34 (42, 61, 66 )cm long when laid flat, after blocking.
  • To fit 4-7 year old (8-12 year old, Adult S/M, Adult L/XL).
  • Instructions are given for 4-7 year old size, with larger sizes in parentheses ().
  • Shown in Adult S/M with cowl. We knit this Shoulder Cozy in Color 1562, which is no

Materials

Hanmora

Colour and texture come alive in a basic hat

Materials

NEW CLEARANCE Manos Alegria Grande!

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Photo: Churchmouse Yarns, Basic Socks

Manos Alegria Grande Multis

Manos del Urugay Alegria Grande is a sumptuously soft superwash yarn that’s great for EVERYTHING (except felting). Made with 75% merino wool & 25% polyamide, it’s strong enough for house-socks and soft enough for baby hats and sweaters for the entire family. This is also the perfect yarn for learning how to make socks (we use it in our sock classes with 3.75mm/US5 needles).

  • 75% merino wool, 25% polyamide
  • 100g/180m (197 yds)
  • worsted weight
  • 18 to 20 sts = 4″/10cm
  • 4mm to 5mm (US 6 to 8) needles 
  • Machine or hand wash in cold water, lay flat to dry
  • Made in Uruguay
  • Pattern Ideas
Photo: Tin Can Knits, Rye Socks (free pattern)

Manos Alegria Grande Semi-solids

Manos Alegria Grande Semi-Solids are exactly the same as their muti-coloured siblings, but they are kettle dyed for a semi-solid aesthetic. They’re worsted weight, super soft merino, machine washable, and great for garments for people of all ages and sizes, from babies to grown-ups. Semi-solid colours are perfect for making a pair of Rye Socks (picture above), or other garments that involve lace, cables, or other textural details.

How Much Yarn Do I Need?

You should always check your pattern for yardage requirements, but here are some estimates:

  • Socks, hat, neckwarmer, mittens, wrist-warmers: 1 skein
  • Scarf, cowl, infinity scarf, baby sweater, legwarmers: 2 skeins
  • Big scarf (8″ wide): 3 skeins
  • Child sweater: 3 to 4 skeins
  • Big Scarf (10″ wide): 4 skeins
  • Baby blanket: 4 to 5 skeins
  • Adult sweater: 6+ skeins
  • Throw blanket: 10+ skeins

Solidago Hat & Cowl Set

ERRATA: Rows 13 and 14, (columns 24 and 26 when counting from right to left) of the Crown chart contain stitches mislabelled as “knit” that should be “no stitch”.

PROJECT So Faded Pint Size

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faded alegria 1

faded alegria 2

Photos: Prunus

So Faded Pint Size

I came across this gorgeous project by Prunus and I thought I’d share and show you how beautiful a couple of skeins of variegated yarn can look when they’re artfully blended together. This version is made with 2 colours of Manos Alergria (the colours they chose blend well together because they both contain grey and cream). This pattern is for children, but if you want an adult size go HERE.

Size

  • 12m (2, 4, 6) (8, 10, 12) years

Materials

  • Manos Alergria: 1(1, 2, 2) (2, 2, 2) skeins (1 in each of 2 or more colours) ON SALE TO SEPT 6!
  • 3.75 mm/US5 – 24”/ 60 cm circular needles
  • 3.75 mm/US5 double pointed needles (or alternative)
  • 3.25 mm/US3 – 24”/ 60 cm circular needles
  • 3.25 mm/US3 double pointed needles (or alternative)
  • stitch markers
  • stitch holders or scrap yarn
  • Pattern

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alegria faded combo

PROJECT Ley Lines

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Ley Lines

I’m so happy I stumbled across Ley Lines! I saw this wrap being knitted by a client a while ago, and even in progress, I LOVED the modernity and simplicity of the look. There’s just something about ribbing going in different directions that makes me thankful that I’m a knitter (cables do this to me occasionally too).  To make the most of the ribbing, use a semi-solid or solid coloured yarn, like Madeline Tosh Tosh Merino Light (a single ply merino),  Manos del Uruguay Alegria (a hand-dyed semi-solid), or if you prefer the crisp look of a mechanically dyed yarn, try Cascade Heritage (also easier on the budget).

Size

One size. Finished measurements: 90” (225 cm) from side to side and 34” (85 cm) from top to bottom at deepest point.

ley lines cream

Photos: Ivory Eve

Yarn Options

All the yarns below are ON SALE TO SEPT 6! The number of skeins you’ll need depends on the size desired, but you can definitely eke out a sizeable Ley Lines with two skeins (see IvoryEve’s, it’s beautiful).

Other Materials

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PROJECT Confetti

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Confetti

You can’t go wrong with a simple, striped pullover like Confetti. The design is super flattering; fitted through the shoulders, arms and bust, but comfortable and slightly a-line through the body. Make it with a soft, light, machine washable merino yarn like Manos del Uruguay Alegria (a hand-dyed semi-solid), or if you prefer the crisp look of a mechanically dyed yarn, try Cascade Heritage (also easier on the budget). For a pretty single ply merino try Madeline Tosh Tosh Merino Light.

Size

Finished chest circumference: 30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54)”  or 75 (85, 95, 105, 115, 125, 135) cm.

Yarn Options

Manos del Uruguay Alegria,  Cascade Heritage, or Madeline Tosh Tosh Merino Light:  all these yarns are ON SALE TO SEPT 6!

  • Main Colour (both yarns): 2(3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins
  • Contrast Colour (both yarns): 1(1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins

Other Materials

  • 3.5mm/US4 circular needles (see pattern for details)
  • 3mm/US2.5 circular needles (see pattern for details)
  • double pointed or 12″ circular needles in above sizes for arms (see pattern for details)
  • stitch markers, one in a contrasting colour
  • Darning or tapestry needle
  • Pattern

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FREEBIE Linen Stitch Loop

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linen stitch loop 2

Linen Stitch Loop

I love the pixelated, woven look of linen stitch, and I also love that working it in the round makes it super easy – it’s just the same two stitches for every round. The yarn, Manos del Uruguay Alegria, is one of our favourite staples, a beautifully dyed merino blend that’s super soft, but also has some resilience which makes it great for all kinds of garments, including socks! And as icing on the cake the company, Manos Del Uruguay, is a non-profit organization that was created to give economic, social and personal development opportunities to the women in Uruguay’s countryside (they’ve been a member of the World Trade Organization since 2009).

Materials

  • Manos del Uruguay Alegria: 2 skeins (1 skein each of 2 colours; contrast colour is  a semi-solid, the main colour is variegated/multicolour) ON SALE TO SEPT 6
  • 4.5mm/US7 – 32″ circular needles
  • 3.5mm/US4  – 32″ circular needles
  • 7 stitch markers, one in a contrasting colour
  • Darning or tapestry needle
  • FREE Pattern

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linen stitch loop 1

 

 

 

FREEBIE Boom

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Boom

This free wrap/scarf is an easy, mindless knit that will make a very popular gift. It would equally gorgeous with a self-striping yarn like Noro Silk Garden, or a hand-painted yarn like Malabrigo Rios or Manos del Uruguay Alegria Grande.

Yarn Options

Materials

  • 6mm/US10 needles (5.5mm/US9 for Alegria Grande or Rios)
  • tapestry/darning needle
  • FREE Pattern

FREEBIE Campout Mitts

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camp out mitts

Photo: mdcim 

Campout Mitts

I made a pair of these mitts a number of years ago and was super happy with them – they were fast, simple, didn’t use a ton of yarn, and looked great. They worked out so well, in fact, that the mitts seem to have (ahem) acquired a new home. The FREE pattern was originally designed for glorious, colourful Noro Silk Garden, but I also love the way they look with a semi-solid hand dyed yarn like Malabrigo Rios or Manos del Uruguay Alegria Grande. And of course, you can’t go wrong with a soft tweed yarn like Studio Donegal Soft Donegal.

Yarn Options

Materials

 

 

 

FREEBIE Pome

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Pome

Oy vey, how pretty is this cabled hat?! I think it would look amazing in a simple yarn like Cascade 220 Superwash (the heathered colours would be especially fetching), but any worsted weight solid, semi-solid, heathered or tweed yarn would look amazing! Be sure to wash your hat and lay it flat to dry to settle the cables.

Yarn Options

Materials

  • 3.5mm/US4-16″ circular needles
  • 4mm/US6-16″ circular needles
  • 4mm/US6 double pointed needles
  • 1 stitch marker
  • cable needle
  • tapestry/darning needle
  • FREE Pattern

FREEBIE Rye Socks

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Rye

Cozy sockies make great gifts, especially when they are knitted with worsted weight yarn. This FREE pattern from Tincan Knits has great instructions and ranges in size from Baby to Adult Large. The other great thing is that you have a lot of yarn options when you work with a worsted, ranging from pretty hand paints like Manos Alegria Grande or Malabrigo Rios, to budget friendly options like Cascade 220 Superwash and Berroco Vintage, or Berroco Comfort Print. The most important thing about your yarn choice is make sure it’s machine washable!

Yarn Options

Materials