Scarves and Washcloths

We have a few really lovely new books in the shop! Scarves, Etc 4 from Quince & Co. is chock full of unusual scarf and cowl and shawl designs.

 

 

Knitting scarves is so gratifying. Nothing has to fit perfectly, gauge can be less than spot-on, you can play with new colors and patterns, and they keep you so cozy and warm!

I'm also loving these washcloth books. We only had a few in stock last time I checked, but I'm hoping Sally orders more copies of each.

We have one full of knitting designs and another full of cool crochet designs. I'm loving the serious ridges on some of those crocheted washcloths. Maybe this is a good time to practice some new crochet stitches.

Both books include some really cute patterns with great textures. We have some really nice cottons in the shop that would be just the thing for a few of these fun and practical little items.

Pattern books can be just the thing to jump start you into a new project. Pop in and take a look! We are open until 6 PM tonight with no Open Knit Night this week. Hope to see you soon.

Garter Goodness

Thank you to all of you wonderful Close Knitters who came to us for all of your holiday knitting needs.  We appreciate your smiling friendly faces and your business through this knitting season.  

We will continue to be open on Mondays from 10-6 because we love to see you!  We will be closed on Sunday, New Year's Day, and we are skipping our Wednesday night Open Knit Night tonight.  Don't worry, it will be back on January 4.

I have a little free scarf recipe for you all!  I'm calling it a recipe rather than a pattern because it's very open to interpretation and variation, and it will work for pretty much any yarn.

At first glance, it looks like your basic garter stitch scarf, but it's more than that.  Half of the scarf is worked lengthwise, and then you pick up stitches along one edge and knit until you run out of yarn.  I used Rowan Purelife Renew for mine, a yarn produced from recycled fabric, but I think this would look so cool with a self-striping yarn or one with a long color repeat.

My scarf ended up about 60" long and about 6" wide, and I'll explain how to figure it out for any weight yarn.

1. Figure out the gauge of your yarn in stitches per inch (not stitches over 4 inches).  Multiply the gauge of your yarn by 30.  Don't worry about a gauge swatch or anything.  It's a scarf.  Cast on that many stitches with a nice long circular needle.  Knit back and forth (not in the round) for about 6 inches (or however wide you'd like your final scarf to be).

2.  Bind off all but the last stitch.  Do this as loosely as humanly possible, or your scarf will be all pinched on one side.  I like to use the Decrease (or Lace) Bind Off, as described here.  When you get to the last stitch, don't bind it off, but pick up one stitch for each garter ridge along the end of the scarf.

3.  Knit until your scarf it as long as you'd like or until you run out of yarn.  Bind off loosely.

I would love to try this with something that gives an ombre effect like Debbie Bliss Glen, Kauni Effectyarn, or Classic Elite Liberty Wool.  A variegated yarn would add a cool touch, too.  I used 3 balls of the Rowan Renew (about 250 yards), which knit up at 3.5 stitches per inch on a US10.5.  I'm not promising that my yardages below are perfect, but they are just to give you an idea.

Fingering: 7 sts/inch, about 550 yards, cast on 210 stitches.

Sport: 6 sts/inch, about 500 yards, cast on 180 stitches.

DK: 5.5 sts/inch, about 450 yards, cast on 165 stitches.

Worsted: 5 sts/inch, about 350 yards, cast on 150 stitches.

Aran: 4.5 sts/inch, about 300 yards, cast on 135 stitches.

Bulky: 3.5 sts/inch, about 250 yards, cast on 105 stitches.

Let me know if you have any questions.  Cast on for this easy scarf and knit away on New Year's Day.  Happy New Year!

P.S. Want to Ravel it?  Here you go!

Mondays are for Yarn

Fall has officially arrived here in Portland.  I know we'll be having a few more spotty days of sunshine and warmish weather before we really hunker down, but September 23 has come and gone, so I say it's fall.

I know more than a few of you are just as happy to see the rain as I am, so I feel comfortable admitting that I am quite pleased to welcome back the season of rain boots, Gore-tex, and woolly layers.  In celebration, we will be open every single Monday from 10 to 6 through the knitting season.

I am also quite happy to welcome more new yarn to the shop.  This pretty pile is Breathless from Shalimar Yarns.  It's a fingering weight merino, cashmere, silk blend that reminds me a little bit of Madelinetosh Pashmina.  The Breathless colors are beautiful, with a tonal richness that knits up into an interesting final product.  We've already had at least one knitter match up a few lovely shades of blue for the Stripe Study Shawl from Ravelry designer Veera of Rain Knitwear Designs.  We are trying it out right now to see how you all like it.  If you love it and want more, please let us know!  How about a few more beauty shots?

We also have a fresh batch of Jojoland Melody Superwash in some rich fall colors.

Many of you know and love this from the Swirl Scarf and Shawl we discussed in September last year.  We have been out of the deeper colors all summer, but now they are back, and they are lovely.  My favorites are: MS26, MS12, MS27, and MS36 (left to right).

Melody Superwash is a fingering weight, machine washable merino/nylon blend.  It would make some mighty fine socks, but it seems to be used more often for scarves and shawls.  The color repeat is very long on this yarn, so it won't knit up like a variegated yarn.  It stripes over several rows, longer or shorter depending on how wide your piece is.  There is a bit of a cult following for this yarn.  If you are part of that cult, come and get it while we have a nice deep stock to choose from.

Ann also delivered a lovely mohair scarf to the shop...some biasing, some garter stitch, and a little ruching for you.  It's a freebie pattern at the shop with the purchase of just two balls of Rowan Kidsilk Haze.  I feel that this little darling would be the PERFECT gift for the woman who is perhaps a little hard to please.  Add a little sparkle by knitting it up in Luna instead.

I know my fellow rain-worshipers are out there, because we chat about this on Sundays.  Well, it is our time, my friends.  And now you have Mondays to enjoy even more yarny inspiration.  See you soon.

Make This: Scarves

I have been asking around about what you all like to see here on our little blog.  Aside from the shop updates and free patterns, it seems you all want me to show you what to make!  Lucky for you, my brain is constantly thinking about fabulous pairings of patterns and yarns.  Call it my version of Fantasy Football.  In an effort to make project planning and selection as easy and fun as possible, I'm starting the "Make This" series.  I'm going to kick things off with scarves.

Sneak peek of one of my new designs...not quite as basic as you might think

Most of us learned to knit by making a basic scarf.  Over the years, I seem to have stopped knitting them, because I have the hardest time finding one each fall.  I've been wearing a store-bought acrylic mess I received as a gift years ago, and that seems a little silly.

I love knitting scarves for several reasons: precise gauge is not critical, they make great gifts, the knitting is usually pretty straightforward, and they don't require an exorbitant amount of yarn.  I'm going to share some patterns with you and give you a few yarn options at different price points.

Tristan Scarf

Tristan Scarf by Nancy Ricci is a shop favorite.  Two skeins of chunky yarn and an interesting but straightforward stitch pattern, and you have a great scarf for anyone who might deserve it.  If you have mastered the garter stitch scarf, this is a great next project.

Under $40: 2 balls Rowan Cocoon

Under $40: 3 balls of Classic Elite Ariosa

Under $30: 2 skeins Misti Alpaca Chunky (shown in the sample)

Under $30: 2 skeins Cascade 128 Superwash

Under $20: 2 skeins Lamb's Pride Bulky

Miss Jenni Shawl

Also from Nancy, the Miss Jenni Shawl in classic feather and fan stitch.  If you have never tried lace, this would be a great choice for your first lace project.  Feather and fan employs the most basic lace stitches for a very impressive result.  The pattern is written for two yarns held together, a fingering weight and a lace wight mohair.

Under $65: 2 balls Karabella Lace Merino Silk + 2 balls Kidsilk Haze

Under $50: 1 skein Classic Elite Alpaca Sox + 2 balls Kidsilk Haze

About $50: any of our fabulous sock yarns + 2 balls Kidsilk Haze

If the thought of doubling yarns makes you nervous, you could easily make it work with a single strand.  I would choose something with a little mohair to achieve that nice fuzzy halo.

Under $90: 2 skeins Artyarns Silk Rhapsody

Under $35: 3 balls Rowan Kid Classic

Rain on the Prairie Scarf

The Rain on the Prairie Scarf from Interweave Knits Spring 2011 is a sweet little tuck-in scarf, perfect for that one skein of pretty yarn you can't resist.  You'll need less than 400 yards of anything from lace to sport weight.  There are dozens of options at the shop; here are a few of my favorites.

Under $25: 1 skein Misti Hand Paint Suri & Silk (shown in the sample)

About $25: 1 ball Kauni Effectyarn

Under $25: 2 balls Rowan 4 Ply Soft

Bias Scarf in Firefly

The popular Bias Scarf I designed for Classic Elite Firefly works really well in other yarns, too.  We have the beautiful orange sample, which has been getting a lot of love.

Bias Scarf in Fresco

This scarf would be great in something with a little silk or linen to accentuate the drape of the bias.

Under $40: 3 skeins Debbie Bliss Andes

Under $35: 3 balls Classic Elite Soft Linen

Under $30: 3 skeins Classic Elite Fresco (shown in the orange sample)

Under $30: 3 skeins Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool

I would love to have samples of all of these to show you, but we just can't knit that fast!  So, you'll have to use your imagination and trust me that these will be fabulous.

Sadly, it looks like the cost of fiber is increasing across the board this year for a wide variety of reasons beyond the control of retailers.  We will continue to do our best to keep our prices where they have been, but we wanted to give you loyal and fabulous customers a little heads-up on the whole thing.  That being said, come get your yarn while my numbers are still good!

I am gearing up for the release of my own designs, including a few scarves.  I've included some sneak peeks for you here, so stay tuned for more on that soon.

Sneak peek of another work-in-progress

Hopefully this little overview will get you jump started on scarf knitting, either to protect yourself from those chilly winds right around the corner or to wrap up as gifts.  What do you want to talk about next?

Samplerama

Our army of sample knitters has been busy creating some new pretties for the shop.  These pieces would all make great gifts, if you were so inclined.

Emily knit up a cold-weather version of my Firefly Bias Scarf using Classic Elite Fresco, an angora, alpaca and wool blend with a soft halo.  We have a really nice range of colors on this yarn.  Knit with only three skeins, this whole project costs about $25.

 

Have you tried The Fibre Company yarns?  I'm a believer.  Ashley knit the Poplar Cowl (a free pattern from Kelbourne Woolens) with two skeins of Organik.  The stitch pattern is pretty simple, but the texture and contrasting colors have a big impact.  Plus, this yarn feels like butter, in the best way.  Less than $25 for this one.

Several of you have already appreciated the Just Enough Ruffles scarf in Manos del Uruguay Rittenhouse Merino 5-ply.  So many, in fact, that we are out of the pattern!  Never fear, we have more patterns on the way and a wide range of solid and variegated colors in this beautiful yarn.  Ashley used less than two skeins (maybe even one and a half), putting this pretty little scarf in the $30 range.

The Shetland Trader's Shoormal in Rowan Cocoon.  This yarn is pure Rowan luxury, and the pattern is interesting but not too complicated.  After knitting this sample, Emily (another one) is now in love with this stuff.  Knit with three balls, the yarn for this project comes in under $50.

Sally made this beautiful cowl from Ravelry designer Lisa Mutch of Northboundknitting.  Lisa also designed the capelet I made earlier this year and many other beauties.  This is Berroco Peruvia, which we are expecting to have in great supply soon.  Two skeins for this cowl will cost you about $17.

Now that our shop is well-dressed in new samples, stop by and see what inspires you.  I wonder, which one is your favorite?

Scarf or Necklace?

I have been noticing quite a few of these scarf/necklace items in the knitting and retail world. More delicate than a cowl or scarf, but softer and warmer than a necklace. Here are a few of my favorites.

Sev[en]circle from Kirsten Johnstone of assemblage:

Kirsten includes instructions for a sport weight and a lace weight version of this piece. I'd like to try this with Misti Handpaint Suri & Silk. I'm not usually a huge fan of the variegated yarns, but the folks at Misti really know what they are doing in the dyepot. It looks like they might be discontinuing this yarn, but we have a nice selection in the shop.

Looped Loop, also from assemblage:

This one requires about 400 yards of a sport weight yarn, and it would be so nice in a drapey alpaca or silk, maybe Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight, Melange, or Alpaca Silk? Kirsten has several stunning designs available through her Ravelry pattern shop, and she offers these two little accessories as free patterns.

Cable Braided Necklace (also pictured up top) from Knit Creations of a Curious Mind, designed by Olga Buraya-Kefelian:

Olga used a cashmere blend for her original. Our Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 2-ply or 4-ply would be lovely, as would Karabella Margrite. Olga has a very thorough tutorial on her blog showing how to construct this sweet little piece. Despite the name, there isn't any actual cabling or braiding involved. Take a look.

String Theory Scarf from Spindleshanks, designed by Portlander Vivian Aubrey:

Such a cool scarf. I often admire a skein of yarn at the shop and think it would be beautiful just wrapped around my neck without even knitting it, and this scarf achieves that effect with a few bands of knitting holding it all together. This design almost cries out for a variegated yarn to show off the lovely color changes.

Movie Star Scarf from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts, designed by Joelle Hoverson:

This book is chock full of great stuff, and this little kerchief is so sweet. We have the Louet Mooi called for in the pattern, but any luxurious laceweight would be perfect. What a nice gift, too.

These little necklaces/scarves are so versatile, too. Imagine the Cabled Braided scarf knit up in a bulky yarn, or String Theory in a solid silk, or Seven Circles with some sparkles...

I know I'm not the only one trolling Ravelry and knitting blogs for cool stuff. Has something similar caught your eye? Please share with us in the comments.

Thank you to Kirsten, Olga, and Vivian for the use of your beautiful photos!

Swirl Shawl

JoJoland's Swirl Shawl has a bit of a cult following. We often have trouble keeping the pattern in stock. Knit with JoJoland Melody Superwash, the design takes advantage of the yarn's gradual color changes. Although the final shawl looks as if it is comprised of dozens of medallions sewn together, the whole thing actually knits up in one piece. The shawl version uses five balls of Melody, and the scarf version included in the same pattern uses just three. The lace pattern is deceptively simple, and the final result is certainly eye-catching. We have a nice stock of Melody at the shop right now, including some really beautiful, rich colors. I like the red to dark brown the best (#18), but the deep purpley-blue (#12) is a close second for me.
In addition to the Swirl Shawl, we have several other patterns written for Melody, including Hidden Squares, which also plays up the color changes in the yarn.
Any of these would be a lovely gift, either as a finished knitted scarf or as a kit for a knitter you love. Stop by to check out the samples and admire the yarn and new patterns before they disappear again.