Category Archives: Yarn

PROJECT Four Points Blankets (Baby + Throw Sizes)

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Photos: © Purl Soho

KNIT Four Points Blanket

The four points blanket is a project we have a lot of clients coming in to get yarn for all year round. It’s available in both knit and crochet (see below), and you can make it in a baby blanket size or as a grown-up throw. The pattern is all knitting in garter stitch, and they provide a video tutorial for the single ‘fancy’ technique, picking up stitches. We’ve got lots of suitable yarns included in our SUMMER SALE, there are lots of options to advantage of for a baby or an adult blanket.

Photos: © Purl Soho

CROCHET Four Points Blanket

The original version of the Four Points Blanket was made in crochet … I’m always glad when crocheters aren’t left out, it makes a great blanket!

YARN OPTIONS

1. Berroco Remix Light ON SALE TO SEPT 6

Berroco Remix Light is soft, easy to work with, machine washable, eco-friendly (it’s recycled), allergy friendly and great for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), comes in a bunch of great colours, and is ever so affordable (especially on sale)!

Berroco Remix Light: 4 Points Blanket Combos
Berroco Remix Light: 4 Points Blanket Combos
Berroco Remix Light: 4 Points Blanket Combos
Berroco Remix Light: 4 Points Blanket Combos
  • KNIT 4 Points Baby: 1 skein in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $47.91, Reg. $63.88)
  • KNIT 4 Points Throw: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $95.82, Reg $127.76)
  • CROCHET 4 Points Baby: 1 skein in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $47.91, Reg. $63.88)
  • CROCHET 4 Points Throw: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $95.82, Reg $127.76)
  • 3.75mm/US5 to 4mm/US6 needles/hook

2. Kelbourne Mojave ON SALE TO SEPT 6

Kelbourne Mojave is soft, easy to work with, machine washable, allergy friendly and great for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), comes in a bunch of stunning colours, especially baby friendly brights, and is a great deal on sale! Use 3.

Kelbourne Mojave: 4 Points Blanket Combos
Kelbourne Mojave: 4 Points Blanket Combos
  • KNIT 4 Points Baby: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $68.82, Reg. $91.76)
  • KNIT 4 Points Throw: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $137.64, Reg. $183.52)
  • CROCHET 4 Points Baby: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $96.35, Reg. $137.64)
  • CROCHET 4 Points Throw: 5 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $172.05, Reg. $229.40)
  • 3.5mm/US4 to 4mm/US6 needles/hook

3. Quince & Co Sparrow ON SALE TO SEPT 6

Quince & Co Sparrow is a linen that turns silky smooth once it’s washed. It’s eco firendly (100% organic linen), machine wash and dryable, allergy friendly and excellent for warm climates (no animal fibres in it), comes in a bunch of great colours, and is a great deal on sale! If you live in a hot climate or are making a blanket for someone who does, this yarn is remarkable, as it has something of a cooling effect. This yarn would make a very special blanket.

Quince & Co Sparrow: 4 Points Blanket Combos
Quince & Co Sparrow: 4 Points Blanket Combos
Quince & Co Sparrow: 4 Points Blanket Combos
  • KNIT 4 Points Baby: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $89.82, Reg. $119.76)
  • KNIT 4 Points Throw: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $179.64, Reg. $239.52)
  • CROCHET 4 Points Baby: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $134.73, Reg. $179.64)
  • CROCHET 4 Points Throw: 6 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $269.46, Reg. $359.28)
  • 3.25mm/US3 to 3.5mm/US4 needles/hook

4. BC Garn Bio Balance ON SALE TO SEPT 6

BC Garn Bio Balance is soft, a pleasure to work with, eco-friendly (it’s GOTS certified organic), and comes in a bunch of great colours. It is NOT machine washable, but would make a stunning throw! It;s unique blend of wool & cotton make it great for temperate climates or people to run a bit warm.

BC Garn Bio Balance: 4 Points Blanket Combos
BC Garn Bio Balance: 4 Points Blanket Combos
BC Garn Bio Balance: 4 Points Blanket Combos
  • KNIT 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $77.82, Reg. $103.76)
  • KNIT 4 Points Throw Blanket: 3 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $116.73, Reg. $155.64)
  • CROCHET 4 Points Baby Blanket: 2 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $77.82, Reg. $103.76)
  • CROCHET 4 Points Throw Blanket: 4 skeins in each of 4 colours (SALE PRICE $155.64, Reg. $207.52)
  • 3.25mm/US3 to 4mm/US6 needles/hook

PROJECTS 3 Market Bag Patterns

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People have been asking a lot about market bags this summer, so I’ve put together a little bit of inspiration for you. I prefer crochet for market bags, the stitch reinforces the strength. Plus crochet is fun in the summer, it’s an extremely comfortable way to work with plant fibres. A basic crochet bag (like the second below) is also a great next level project for new or inexperienced crocheters.

FYI: All the Yarns Listed Below are 20% OFF until July 31st!

denim 1.JPG
Photo: eLoomanator

French Market Bag

Here’s a great one for the people who aren’t afraid of the hook – a gorgeous french market bag crocheted with cotton!

Suggested Yarns

Materials

Crochet Grocery Bag

I designed this little bag many, many moons ago and it’s still one of my favourites. My favourite version were the ones I made a few years ago with some Quince & Co Sparrow Linen – they’re sturdy, light, and put away up nicely!

Suggested Yarns

Materials

Provence Summer String Bag

I love the lace in this bag – it’s vintage without being too much. You can easily change the handles to make them longer.

Suggested Yarns

Materials

PROJECT Kalaloch

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Kalaloch

I kinda love the slouchy, deconstructed quality of this sweater. Texture replaces colourwork in the yoke, evoking a fair-isle sweaters without creating the bulk of layers of yarn. It’s a light, easy to wear spring & summer top. It’s meant to fit oversized, so take that into account when choosing your size.

The body and sleeves of this pullover are worked in the round from the bottom up to the yoke, then the pieces are joined for working the circular yoke. If you haven’t already read about the yarn, BC Garn Bio Balance, (if you have you can skip ahead to the next section … seriously, it’s a copy-cut-paste) it’s soft, light, comfortable, and comes in a great selection of colours. It’s a 100% organic and GOTS certified blend of cotton & wool, and kind of feels the way I’ve always wanted cotton to feel (but doesn’t). And FYI, the GOTS certification is a real THING. It means the product is truly organic and humanely handled from the field to the distributor (once it hits the store shelves it’s an ethical free-for-all, choose your yarn pusher wisely). BTW, there’s a lot of yardage on these little skeins, so PLEASE feel free to ask us to wind it for you before shipping or picking it up.

Size

  • Circumference at Underarm:  42 (48, 54, 60, 66)“
  • Pullover shown measures 48”; modeled with 15” of positive ease.

Materials

  • BC Garn Bio Balance: 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) skeins (colour 05)
  • 2.75 mm/US2 – 40″ circular needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4 – 40” circular needles
  • 2.75 mm/US2 double-pointed needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4 double-pointed needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4 – 16” circular needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4 – 24″ circular needles
  • stitch markers
  • stitch holders or scrap yarn
  • tapestry needle
  • Pattern

Hacks

  • Check your local library’s online resources to see if they offer this magazine digitally
  • If you were thinking about investing in a set of interchangeable needles this might be a good time. Chiaogoo makes sets that go as small as 2.75mm/US2 (both a Half Set that goes up to 5mm/US8 and a Full Set that goes up to 10mm/US15). If you get the 4″ tips you can use them to make 16″/hat sized needles.

NEW PROJECT Getting Warmer

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The sweater in this picture is Carbeth, made with Cascade Eco Peruvian Tones

Getting Warmer

I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get this project out to you (it’s been in the store window for a couple of weeks already) – you know how it goes … Life! Anyway, I thought it would make a great little neck accessory as the temperature drops. I love little shoulderettes, they’re so cosy and are great for changing seasons.

This one is Getting Warmer, a FREE pattern, and we made it with a yarn that’s new for us, Illimani Llama II. Illimani is a little company located in Quebec that imports gorgeous yarns from South America, especially alpaca and other camelids, like llama.

The pattern is pretty straight forward and is fairly accessible for beginners (depending on your level of beginnerness, of course). The ‘special’ skills include knit & purl in the same row, working in the round on circular needles, decreasing, and reading a pattern. Basically, if you can make a hat, you can make a Getting Warmer. The project works up on 6mm/US10 needles, so I think it qualifies as a “small, achievable goal”.

BTW, many thanks to Adrienne for doing the heavy lifting on this project!

Yarn Options

The yarn we used, Illimani Llama II, was a delight! It is super soft and is made from 100% de-haired llama, so it basically feels like baby alpaca (de-haired means that when the fibre is being processed the coarser parts of the coat are removed, leaving only the soft undercoat).

Other yarns options:

Cascade Eco Merino: one skein of Cascade Eco Merino would make an entire Getting Warmer, which would be pretty economical at $38.

Drops Air: two skeins of Drops Air would make a looser, more relaxed look, and the price tag would look sweet at under $20.

Diamond Baby Alpaca Sport: three skeins of super soft ‘n sexy Diamond Baby Alpaca Sport would make a neckie-thingie you’ll want to cozy up next to at the bar and offer to buy it a drink.

Berroco Vintage Chunky: three skeins of Berroco Vintage Chunky will get the job done with style and grace for people who are sensitive to wool or are really good at wrecking things by putting them in the washing machine.

Mineville Merino 2ply: If you want a little colour, you can still scoop up 3 skeins of Mineville Merino 2ply from our Clearance section!

Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk: if you want mega texture, go for a super soft mohair effect with Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk. For a loose, airy texture knit with a single strand (3 skeins), and for a denser, warmer fabric work with 2 strands held together (6 skeins). Both options are super affordable, from $18 to $36.

Materials

Needle Hack

If you don’t already have these needles in your kit, you might be interested in some Knitter’s Pride Interchangeable needles: you just buy one set of 3.5″ tips and two cords, and it saves having to purchase two separate circular needles. But note, you MUST get shorter tips that are 3.5″ to 4″ long! Any longer and they won’t work with the 16″ cord:

If you prefer Addi needles, they also make interchangeable tips that are the right length:

These shorter needles are ideal for making hats, neck things, baby things, and will always work with the longer cords from their respective brand. If you’re feeling like why not dive in and buy a whole set with a bunch of sizes (its usually more affordable than buying them one size at a time), here are a few brands who make them in the right size:

Short Interchangeable Needle Sets (with 3.5″ to 4″ tips)

PROJECT-SPIRATION Kalaloch Pullover

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Kalaloch Pullover

I don’t know if you caught this pattern on Ravelry a few weeks ago, but I filed it away somewhere in the middle of my mind. It’s made with BC Garn Bio Balance, a gorgeous spring/summer weight yarn made from a blend of organic wool & cotton. We’ve worked up a sample shawl with it and it was delightful to work with and wear. When you work with it, it kind of moves like a soft wool with a bit of texture and grab to it, you don’t really feel the cotton. But when its knitted, the fabric doesn’t feel like wool at all, it feels like a blended plant fibre you’d find in a commercial garment. It’s interesting, and really nice!

Anyway, I love the combination of texture and oversized ease in this sweater. It’ll be extremely comfortable and breathable, perfect for slouching around the cottage, the house and the city. I don’t love the colour they chose, I don’t know about you but I have a hard time visualizing myself in a dark green summer sweater! Good thing BC Garn Bio Balance comes in a bunch of pretty colours for warmer seasons (they have a medium green that is beautiful). If you want to cast on right away, here are your best bets (if you have your heart set on another colour that we don’t have in stock let us know and we can get that for you):

Needle Hack: Interchangeables ROCK!

The body and sleeves are worked in the round from the bottom up to the yoke, then the pieces are joined for working the circular yoke. If skipped ahead to the materials, you’ll notice that the pattern calls for a bunch of needles in different lengths – if you have been thinking about buying yourself a set of interchangeable needles this might be a good opportunity. If not, I’d buy individual interchangeable tips and cords: for the circulars I’d get Knitter’s Pride Interchangeable Tips 3.5mm-4.5″, 3.5mm-3.5″, and 3mm-4.5″ (to sub for the 2.75mm), and corresponding Knitter’s Pride Interchangeable Cords/Cables in 16″, 24″ and 40″. For the double pointed needles you can get them in 3mm & 3.5mm, or use your 40″ cord for the magic loop technique.

If you already have an interchangeable set check to see if it comes with the 3mm tips – most do not, but Knitter’s Pride makes them as individual pairs in the metal “nova platina” (chrome plated brass).

Pattern Hack: Libraries ROCK!

We no longer carry Interweave Knits, but you can still find the paper edition in grocery stores, drug stores, and online as an e-publication through Interweave. But there is a fourth option: the public library! Check your public library to see if they provide digital magazines. Interweave Knits is available from the Toronto Public Library though the RB Digital service, which is a FREE service – all you need is a library card (also FREE) and a digital device (smart phone, tablet or computer). If you don’t have a device you can go to the library and use one of their computers and printers – you can even ask the librarian for help if you are having trouble, helping people access information is their calling. You can also ask a librarian for help if you have a portable device but you don’t know how to use the digital system to access the magazine. Librarians ROCK!

These are screenshots of the magazine, that I downloaded to my i-Phone through my public library’s website.

Size 

  • 42 (48, 54, 60, 66)“ circumference at underarm.
  • Pullover shown measures 48”; modeled with 15” of positive ease.

Materials

  • BC Garn Bio Balance: 6 (7, 8, 8, 9) skeins.
  • 2.75 mm/US2 – 40″ circular needles
  • 2.75 mm/US2 double pointed needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4- 40” circular needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4 double pointed needles
  • 3.5 mm/US4 – 16” and 24” circular needles
  • stitch markers
  • Pattern

NEW Bio Balance Wrap

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Grrovy shawl/wrap in BC Garn Bio Balance

Groovy in BC Garn Bio Balance

We just finished another Groovy wrap (when something works well, I tend to go with it). The last time we made it was a few years ago with Quince & Co Sparrow, and I wanted to try it with a different textile, to see how the fibre behaved.

The pattern isn’t free, but it’s a good pattern, the kind you’ll go back to over and over when you have random skeins you don’t know what to do with, and the price is nominal. It doesn’t take a lot of brain power (which is nice in warm weather), and is accessible to newer knitters. Basically, it falls into the “some things are worth paying for” category.

The pattern isn’t free, but it’s a good pattern, the kind you’ll go back to over and over when you have random skeins you don’t know what to do with, and the price is nominal. It doesn’t take a lot of brain power (which is nice in warm weather), and is accessible to newer knitters. Basically, it falls into the “some things are worth paying for” category.

This time we used a new yarn, BC Garn Bio Balance. It’s a deliciously soft blend of organic cotton and organic wool, an all year yarn that’s especially great for people who run warm. The company is Danish, the yarn is milled in Turkey, and the fibres are from Argentina. It’s definitely an idea yarn for wraps, sweaters, baby and child garments, etc. The fabric turned out soft, light, and cozy, and pretty, and our wrap is a perfect little something to throw on in spring and summer. Not too big and not too small, you wan wear it around your neck or your shoulders. If you want to make one larger, just get an extra skein and keep knitting. I loved this dark blue, it’s very denimy (without feeling or knitting like denim), but now that all of our stock of BC Garn Bio Balance has arrived I’ve re-confirmed that all the colours are delicious!

Materials

NEW Mineville Merino Nylon DK

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mineville merino nylon dk DISPLAY

Mineville Merino Nylon DK

Mineville Wool Project Merino Nylon DK (1124) is soft, machine washable, easy to work with, easy to wear, and subs easily for other DK weight yarns (Debbie Bliss Rialto, Madeline Tosh DK, etc). It comes in a generous 100g/200m skein, which is enough to make an adult hat or pair of mitts (you’ll need two for a scarf or Honey Cowl, and about 6 for a women’s size medium sweater – check your pattern for full yardage requirements). With the nylon content, it’s also great for socks!

Mineville Wool Project is an “off-brand” brand from the sisters at Fleece Artist and Handmaiden. The prices are excellent because we purchase the yarn in one-time only lots. This means that once it’s gone, it’s GONE, so be sure to order enough for your project.

  • 80% Superwash Merino Wool, 20% Nylon
  • DK weight
  • 100g/200m
  • 4mm/US6 needles
  • 22 sts = 4″/10cm
  • Machine Washable
  • Made in Canada
  • Free Pattern Ideas

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

Mineville Merino Nylon DK COMBO

NEW Malabrigo Mechita

Malabrigo Mechita DISLAY BLOG

Malabrigo Mechita

This one is a winner, right out of the gate. It’s got sex appeal, customers were ooooing and awwwwing all over it as I was unpacking and merchandising the yarn, taking it off the shelf as fast as I put it on. We’re working on a Nuvem wrap.

Mechita is a super soft & squishy single ply fingering-weight version of Malabrigo’s beautifully-dyed Mecha. Just as soft and rich as the original, but prefect for lighter projects. Mechita is great for shawls, scarves, hats, garments, accessories, baby and kids items, lace, cables, textured stitches, even socks.

Be sure to get enough yarn to complete your project since each bag is a different dye lot, and skeins may vary from bag to bag.

  • 100% Superwash Merino Wool
  • 100g/384m (420yds)
  • 2.25mm to 2.75mm needles (US 1 to 2)
  • 3.25 to 4mm hook (US D to G)
  • Fingering Weight
  • 26 to 30 sts = 4″/10cm
  • Machine cool, lay flat to dry

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

Malabrigo Mechita combo BLOG

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

 

New Shades of Freia Ombre Lace

We’ve received a shipment of Freia Ombre Lace new colours! 

New Yarn: Baa Ram Ewe Titus


Baa Ram Ewe Titus
  • 100% made in Britain, Spun in Yorkshire
  • 50% Wensleydale Longwool, 20% Bluefaced Leicester, 30% UK Alpaca
  • Fingering/Baby weight, 2.75mm-3.25mm
  • 100g/320m (350yds)
  • 1 skein is enough for a hat or pair of wristlets (see below)
  • would be lovely for shawls & wraps, holds lace beautifully
  • $29.97 per skein
  • See project ideas on Ravelry



Ilkley Moor & Baht ‘At by Ann Kingstone
  • Charming, high quality pattern leaflets
  • Patterns for hat & wristlets sold separately
  • Each project requires only 1 skein of Baa Ram Ewe Titus
  • See on Ravelry: Hat, Wristlets
  • $6.97 each




Born & Bred by Ann Kingstone





Project Idea: Colour Affection
  • 3 skeins of Baa Ram Ewe Titus, 1 in each of 3 colours
  • Pattern available ad a PDF dowload on Ravelry
  • see Beth2’s project (pictured above) HERE



You can always find us at Knitomatic.com