Plump! And Some Great Free Patterns

Plump has been in the shop for a while, but I don't think we've ever talked about it. I recently stumbled upon a set of free patterns from Churchmouse that use Plump Superchunky and Plump DK, so it seems like the right time! Even if it is August.

We have some pretty shades of the big stuff left in the shop (mixed in here with some Big Rad Bulky), and a nice full range of the DK.

These patterns from Churchmouse Yarn and Teas are free and available on their site. The have a great Fisherman's Rib Beanie, a Fisherman's Rib Cowl, and a Fisherman's Rib Muffler.

Pic borrowed from shop Ravelry page.

Pic borrowed from shop Ravelry page.

Pic borrowed from shop Ravelry page.

The great thing about these patterns, aside from being super simple and classic designs, is that they are all written for four gauges! You can knit the beanie if the DK and a big ol' scarf in the superchunky, and they will be matchy, if that's your thing.

If you've never tried fisherman's rib, I promise that it's fun and easy. The resulting fabric is extra squishy and thick, making it the perfect thing for the cold weather that will eventually return to Portland.

Churchmouse also offers this sweet Garter Stripe Scarf, and Mrs. Moon, the manufacturers of Plump, offer several patterns for sale using their yarns.

Sometimes...

Sometimes, it's the simplest things.  Sometimes, it just takes the right color combination.  Sometimes, you just want to knit a scarf.

The whole thing came together for Sally recently, and this perfectly simple and simply perfect scarf is the result.  Looking for a nice easy project to keep her fingers busy during Yarn Crawl planning meetings (yes, it's okay to knit during those), she cast on for the Churchmouse Pressed Rib Muffler.

There is just something about the rustic, marled grey and the rich, sunny gold, right?  It's just three skeins of Cascade 220, one of the solid and two of the marled.

We just restocked the 220, and we have all of the marled colorways on the shelves.  

The hardest part will be choosing the solid for the ends.

I was thinking that this scarf would be lovely with Cascade Eco Alpaca as well.  We have several marled colorways and coordinating solids for a more subtle look.  These are some of my favorites, but they really do all go together so nicely.  This yarn is buttery soft, too...sure to please anyone.

I like the quiet combo of the silver shades here.

The chocolate really plays up the brown strand running through the interesting grey/blue/brown marled yarn.

The charcoal grey looks great with the more graphic marled yarn in this color combo, too.

Bold or subtle, we've got you covered.  Swing by and see which colors move you to try your own simplest thing.  Now, where are my needles?

Cold Shoulder?

I know it's been getting up into the 50s during the day, but I cannot shake the chill.  Maybe I'm still recovering from the ick, or maybe it's the short days that have me piling on the layers.  I love a scarf or cowl, but I'm thinking one of these Churchmouse Shoulder Cozies might be nice, too.

Sally made this pretty piece with just one ball of Rowan Kidsilk Haze and two balls of Noro Silk Garden in the most subtle neutrals.

I like that you can wear it as a capelet or as a cowl under a jacket.  A nice choice for a chilly office or drafty house.  The Silk Garden is lovely and interesting, and the Kidsilk Haze really adds a nice halo.

It's a Churchmouse pattern, and they know how to do classy.  The patterns are always well-written, too.

Stop by for a look.  We can help you choose the perfect combination to keep your cold shoulders cozy and warm!

Not-So Last Minute

Now that we have the sale behind us and fall yarns tricking in, I am thinking about gifts.  I won't give you the countdown or anything, but the holiday season is going to happen again this year.  Regardless of what or how you celebrate, it's always nice to give handmade.  

We will, of course, be stocking up on the super bulky yarns later in the fall for you last-minute knitters, but I thought I'd offer up some ideas if you'd like to get started a little earlier.

First up, the Felted Shetland Beret from Churchmouse Yarns.  I was inspired to make this by one of my kids who complained that her knitted hats were always "too holey."

This sweet little cap knits up quickly and requires only 2 balls of Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift, which we have in a lovely array of tweedy colors. 

The pattern gives instructions for hand-felting, but I cheated and just ran it through my front-loader.  I put the hat in a zippered pillowcase, added a few pairs of grubby old jeans, and ran it through a few cycles on hot.  If you choose to use your machine, be sure to check the progress after each cycle.  If possible, try to skip the spin cycle, as the spinning can lead to creases.

Before felting, it is pretty big and loose.

After felting, the fabric is soft and dense with a nice little halo.

The best part?  The whole thing comes in well under $20.  My kid mostly approves of the final product.  Her only request was that it be red, so it looks like I'll be knitting another.

Churchmouse Classics

Churchmouse Yarns and Teas serves the lucky knitters of Bainbridge Island, Washington. And, fortunately for those of us who do not live on the island, they now distribute their lovely Churchmouse Classics to yarn shops as well. Here at Close Knit, we carry the entire pattern collection, including an elegant scarf and hat set, several scarves and cowls, berets, fingerless gloves and a sweet pair of bed socks.

Perhaps the most popular of the designs is the Pressed Cap and Muffler. We often recommend it to customers as a basic men’s hat pattern. The clever decreases on the crown give the hat a finished look and the muffler is pressed after knitting, lending a nice drape.

The pattern calls for Berroco Ultra Alpaca, but Cascade's Eco Alpaca would work nicely, too. The set requires three skeins of either.

Annabella’s Cowl is a luxurious piece worked in a DK silk and mohair lace weight held together.

Knit this cowl with three skeins of Louisa Harding Grace Silk and Wool, in either the original or hand-dyed colorways. Or, try the Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend. For a lace-weight mohair, I would suggest Rowan Kid Silk Haze.

The Felted Shetland Beret is knit with just two balls of Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift, which we stock in an array of rich tweedy colors. Although this yarn is fingering weight, it is knit at a looser gauge, because the final piece is felted for extra density and warmth. This is a classic beret for a man or a woman.

If you love the colors of Koigu sock yarn (KPPPM), but are not interested in making socks, the Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf might be for you. Linen stitch produces a fabric that appears to be woven, creating a final product that is not stretchy like a traditional knit scarf, and involves slipping stitches, so the colors blend together beautifully.

In addition, we have patterns for Barb’s Koigu Ruffle, the Koigu Beaded Beret, and Turkish Bed Socks, all knit with Koigu sock yarn.

The Welted Fingerless Gloves are adorned with tiny buttons along the welted cuff. These are knit with a DK weight yarn, so anything that feels good on your hands would be perfect.

The pattern calls for Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend, but knitters on Ravelry have used Debbie Bliss Rialto, Rowan Felted Tweed, and Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca and Silk, to name a few. You would need just one skein of most of these for a pair of gloves, so this is a great chance to try a new yarn or treat yourself to a little luxury.

If you are looking for a simple knit with high impact, the Beaded Mohair Scarf uses lace weight mohair and beads to create a striking piece. Rowan Kid Silk Haze would be lovely choice here as well. If you want to try something different, Karabella Gossamer, a mohair lace yarn with metallic accents would provide sparkle.

In addition to being classically elegant designs, the Churchmouse Classics are beautifully photographed by Jared Flood of brooklyn tweed. They would make luxurious gifts for your favorite knitter...especially if that knitter is you!