Written by Cia Abbott Bullemer on 5/2/13

Let’s knit something that we can work up quickly.  And in the end have a nice accessory that can be worn on a nice summer evening, or carried along for that blasting air conditioning indoors.  And then lo and behold you will find it is your “go-to” accessory for all seasons.

I know this for a fact because I made one of these about 2 years ago with Kudo. And I seriously wear it all year long.  Even if the reasoning is to just spruce up your color for the day, or to ward off that chill at the back of the neck.  And there is inevitably always a nice comment by someone every single time I wear it.

This one in the pattern is made out of a new colorway # 61, I adore. Get outside the box and find your favorite Kudo color. My first one I made was out of  # 47.  Cheerful, huh?    It only takes ONE ball and pretty mindless – but not brainless- to knit. I always love knitting this stitch, Half Linen Stitch. It lays beautifully, it is fun to work, and not as much work as seed stitch or the sand stitch.  But almost the same motion.

Have fun! And click here to find a shop near you!

F505 Kudo Half Linen Cowl

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Carefree Cover Up as seen in Creative Knitting Spring 2013

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When it comes to knitting this time of year, my fingers itch for transitional knits that remind me of the early crocuses that start to pop up at my mom’s house in New Jersey.

I envision wearing on these (sometimes) frosty mornings an oversized, cheerful beret to chase the chills. An accessory that welcomes spring and sloughs off the winter doldrums.

My spring beret is knit with one skein of Worsted Merino Superwash in a brand new color- I like to call it Dandelion! The hat is refreshingly fun in this color. The stitches that I used show a myriad of spring inspired folly. It is worked from the crown down to the brim seamlessly, making it fun to try on as you progress. The crown has an inspired floral motif. Ribbons of lace and garter stitch segue into a bobble and lace design. Do they resemble garden gates and spring flowers? I hope so!

Please enjoy my new design, and have a happy spring!  –Vanessa

Worsted Merino Superwash Spring Beret

View as pdf

To Fit Adult, 18 ½” brim circumference, 26” circumference at widest

Materials:
Worsted Merino Superwash: 1—100G skein, Dandelion
Gauge:  20 sts, 28 rows = 4” in stockinet stitch, 20 sts= 4” in brim rib pattern.
Needles/Notions: US Size 7 double points and 24” circular, stitch marker, cable needle

Hat is worked from the crown down to the brim seamlessly.

Garland Pattern (Multiple of 7 sts)
Rounds 1, 2, 4: knit
Rounds 3, 5: purl
Round 6: *k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * around.
Round 7: *k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk; rep from * around.
Round 8: *k1, yo, k2tog, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k1; rep from * around.
Round 9: *k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; rep from * around.
Round 10: *k2, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2; rep from * around.
Rounds 11, 13: purl
Rounds 12, 14, 15, 16: knit
Repeat these 16 rounds for pattern stitch.

Begin
With double points, Cast on 6 sts- placing 2 sts onto 3 double points. PM and join in the round, being careful not to twist.
Round 1 and every odd numbered round up to 26: knit all sts.
Round 2: *kf&b; rep from * around. 12 sts.
Round 4: *kf&b; rep from * around. 24 sts.
Round 6: *k1, kf&b; rep from * around. 36 sts.
Round 8: *k2, kf&b; rep from * around. 48 sts.
You will now begin increasing 8 sts every even numbered round.
Rearrange the sts so that there are 12 sts on 4 double points.
Round 10: *k1, m1, (yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, k1)2x, m1, k1; rep from * around. 56 sts.
Round 12: *k1, m1, k2, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k3, m1, k1; rep from * around. 64 sts.
Round 14: *k1, m1, k4, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k5, m1, k1; rep from * around. 72 sts.
Round 16: *k1, m1, k6, yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, k7, m1, k1; rep from * around. 80 sts.
Round 18: *k1, m1, k4, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k5, m1, k1; rep from * around. 88 sts.
Round 20: *k1, m1, k5, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k6, m1, k1; rep from * around. 96 sts.
Round 22: *k7, ssk, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, k2tog, k8; rep from * around.
Round 24: *k1, m1, k to last stitch on needle, m1, k1; rep from * around. 104 sts.
Switch to circular needle.
Round 26: purl all sts
Round 27: knit all sts, increasing 22 sts evenly around. 126 sts.
Round 28: purl all sts.
Rounds 29- 44: Work 16 rounds of garland pattern.
Round 45: purl all sts.
Round 46: knit all sts, decreasing 16 sts evenly around. 110 sts.
Round 47: purl all sts.
Round 48: *p15, k7; rep from * around.
Round 49: *p15, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * around.
Round 50: *p7, MB, p7, k7; rep from * around.
Round 51: *p7, k1tbl, p7, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk; rep from * around.
Round 52: *p4, MB, p2, k1tbl, p2, MB, p4, k7; rep from * around.
Round 53: *p4, k1tbl, p2, k1, p2, k1tbl, p4, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * around.
Round 54: *p2, MB, p1, T2F, p1, k1tbl, p1, T2B, p1, MB, p2, k7; rep from * around.
Round 55: *p2, k1tbl, p1, (p1, k1)3x, p2, k1tbl, p2, k2tog, yo k3, yo, ssk; rep from * around.
Round 56: *p2, T2F, p1, T2F, k1tbl, T2B, p1, T2B, p2, k7; rep from * around.
Round 57: *p3, T2F, p1, k3, p1, T2B, p3, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * around.
Round 58: *p4, T2F, m1 purlwise, sl1, k2tog, psso, m1 purlwise, T2B, p4, k7; rep from * around.
Round 59: *p5, T2F, k1, T2B, p5, k2tog, yo k3, yo, ssk; rep from * around.
Round 60: *p5, pf&b, sl1, k2tog, psso, pf&b, p5, k7; rep from * around.
Round 61: *p7, k1, p7, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; rep from * around.
Round 62: *p15, k7; rep from * around.
Round 63: *p15, k2tog, yo k3, yo, ssk; rep from * around.
Round 64: purl all sts.
Round 65: knit all sts, decreasing 18 sts evenly around. 92 sts.
Round 66: purl all sts.
Round 67: *k2tog but do not slip sts off needle, knit into the first stitch and slip both sts off needle, p2; rep from * around.
Round 68: *k2, p2; rep from * around.
Repeat these 2 rounds 3 times more, than round 67 once more. Bind off all sts on next round in rib. Weave in all ends.

©2013 Plymouth Yarn Company. 032013vle
Abbreviations: k= knit, kf&b= knit onto the front and back of next stitch, m= marker, m1= make one, MB= (k1, yo, k1, yo, k1)all into next stitch, p5, turn, k5, turn, p2tog, p1, p2tog, turn, sl1, k2tog, psso., p= purl, pm= place marker, RS= right side, sl= slip, ssk= slip 2 stitches as if to knit, knit them through the back loop, st= stitch, T2B= sl next st to cable needle and hold to back, k1, p1 from cable needle, T2F= sl next st to cable needle and hold to front, p1, k1 from cable needle, WS= wrong side, yo= yarn over

Every three years,  TNNA conducts a very important survey called the TNNA State of Specialty NeedleArts 2013 needle artist survey.  The more responses from knitters, crocheters, needlepointers, cross-stitchers, weavers, and spinners, the better the results for YOUR needleart!  See below for official TNNA info and link to the survey…..

The 10-minute survey asks about your experiences with the needlearts you
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Please complete the triennial national Yarn, Stitching, and Weaving 2013
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I hope you find it as much fun as I did to make. It is reversible and the possibilities of color combos is extensive…hey! try it in a solid color too!

Bring on the winter-but arrive in style for the beginning of Spring!

F494 Coffee Beenz button cowl

Now that all the legal mumbo jumbo is out of the way….let’s celebrate!  Here are the details of our first happy hour!

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