Plymouth Yarn Blog » DIY

Holiday Gift Alert, Volume 3

Allison — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:29:50 +0000

This installment of the holiday knitting guide brings us to a casual, quick knit scarf yarn, Passion Nette. I like to think of this one as your everyday scarf yarn. This cotton/acrylic blend has a relaxed drape and a soft, natural feel against your skin. It’s available in 8 versatile colors that will coordinate with anything in your wardrobe.

Click F443_Passion_Nette_Scarf for the PDF download

The passion doesn’t stop there either, there have been some great ideas coming out of the woodwork. Tell us, what can you do with Passion Nette?

Passion Nette Hotpad

Courtesy of Tranqwool Knitting Provisions

Christmas Countdown

Holiday Gift Alert, Volume 2. Passion Ice with Free Pattern

Allison — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:57:32 +0000

Passion Ice is the yarn of the day! If you have any kind of Holiday party to attend this yarn is a must have. The metallic sparkle that runs throughout is perfect for your dressy occasions and everyday wear. Available in 5 shimmery colors. It’s an easy knit with a 7 stitch cast on and you are done in no time.

Thanks to The Gourmet Yarn Co. for sharing this great photo!

Click here for the Passion Ice free scarf pattern on Ravelry.

Pattern F445

Call your yarn shop today and get your hands on Passion Ice!

Plymouth Yarn featured in Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2012

Allison — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:38:17 +0000

That’s right, I said it. Holiday gifts. Don’t shoot the messenger.

It’s that time of year again folks! Let’s start thinking about those holiday projects. My request list has grown over the years, probably because I’ve been outed by this very blog! Now everyone knows I knit. Boy, are they lucky that I love to do it, and my husband works the night shift!

So shine up those needles, wind up the hanks and grab your patterns, it’s yarn o’clock.

Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2012 edition hits newsstands on September 4th 2012 but the online issue release date is today for those of you like me who just can’t wait and must get started. There are two perfect-for-gifts patterns in this issue made with Galway and Baby Alpaca Grande. Photos by Nathan Rega of Harper Point Photography.

Galway Worsted: #722, 1 skein for BRAIDED TOQUE by Andrea Babb

Baby Alpaca Grande: #2691, 1 skein for HIDDEN PICTURE COWL by Sara Spencer

Don’t forget to pick up your digital copy or newsstand copy on September 4th. You can check out the Interweave Knits website for other editions and great project ideas!

Shade Quiz!

Allison — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:08:12 +0000

Win 10 skeins of Encore Worsted, read on for details.

Ok, I’ll admit it; I read the 50 Shades of Grey book series. My friends read it, my sister read it, my niece read it, my boss read it, and last but not least, my mom read it! (I’m pretty sure I won’t be accompanying her to the movies when that one comes out.)
Last week, I was chatting with a knitter looking to make a chevron blanket with various shades of grey Encore Worsted. As I searched in my computer system, I realized just how popular grey is, and that we have many, many shades of it. So for some fun this week, I decided to give away a bag but I am going to make your work for it! Give us your best guess to the questions below. One person, with the closest answers, will win 10 balls of Encore Worsted color 389. Comment with your answers to our Blog ONLY. Facebook and Twitter entries will not be accepted. In the event of multiple correct comments, a winner will be chosen among them at random. Plymouth Yarn employees, sales representatives and their immediate families are not eligible to win. Data on number of shades is collected from inventory reports. Winner will be notified via email on August 3rd 2012.
1.    How many shades of grey yarn are active in our inventory?
2.    How many shades of red?
3.    How many black yarns are active in our system?

Have fun and happy guessing.

Fall Yarns from Plymouth

Allison — Thu, 31 May 2012 15:43:36 +0000

I am so excited for our fall line-up of yarns this year. Many of you have seen them already and were kind enough to share some of your pictures and projects with us. When we introduce a new line, I normally pick a favorite and go with it. That is impossible this time around ! There are so many beautiful fibers and colors. It’s going to be a busy knitting season for sure! I figured I would share them all with you, in one shot. I will do my best to give the important information you need, even when I really just want to say “It’s just so pretty, I must have it.”

We have a fantastic crew who gets to pick these fabulous yarns. It takes a village you know. They travel to Italy, Turkey, and Peru, just to name a few, to find the highest quality fibers so Plymouth Yarn can offer these to your favorite yarn shops. We have a team of designers who get to play, I mean work, with all of the contenders. They are always hard at work visiting trade and fashion shows to see the latest styles. I consider myself a pretty good knitter but they never cease to amaze me when they demonstrate to us just what these yarns are capable of.

Without further ado…..fall yarns!

Soft and cuddly

Adore Color Card

Adore Pattern 2462

The beauty of Angora with a hint of sparkle

Angora Glitz Color Card

Angora Glitz Pattern 2383

Soft and lightweight Alpaca goodness

Baby Alpaca Aire Color Card

Baby Alpaca Aire Pattern 2353

Check out the video on youtube that features Bi-Use from Adriafil

Bi-Use Color Card
F437 Bi-Use Free Scarf Pattern PDF

Bi-Use Pattern 2354

Light and soft with a hint of glitz

De Aire Glow Color Card
F424 De Aire Glow Free Scarf Pattern PDF

De Aire Glow Pattern 2451

Fun, wild and unique.

Dakota Color Card
F423 Free Dakota Scarf Pattern

Dakota Pattern 2356

You can dye this with Kool Aid!

Great Hand Dying basics here

Roving style tweed, perfect for her or him!

Europa Tweed Color Card

Europa Tweed Pattern 2412

Europa Tweed Pattern 2407

Deep, saturated color. Let the yarn do the work! Customer favorite!

Gina Color Card
F430 Gina Free Cowl Pattern PDF

Gina Pattern 2415

Bulky and fabulous. Rich colors.

Grandiosa Color Card

F431 Grandiosa Free Hat Pattern PDF

Grandiosa Pattern 2421

A long time favorite in a new put up-in all of the best colors!

Jelli Beenz Color Card

Jelli Beenz Pattern 2452

Unbelievable colors, great Alpaca and Wool blend

Pasea Color Card

Pasea Pattern 2455

Your feet will thank you for making socks with this beauty. So many possibilities!

Sakkie Color Card

F447 Sakkie Socks Free Pattern PDF

Sakkie Pattern 2426

Soft and super bulky, I need a cowl!

Wilde Color Card

F429 Wilde Triangular Scarf Free Pattern PDF

Wilde Pattern 2429

Gorgeous colors and endless possibilities! Use with all your Worsted Merino Superwash patterns!

Worsted Merino Superwash Hand Dyed Color Card

Worsted Merino Superwash Hand Dyed Pattern 2432

Ruffles, ruffles and more ruffles! Make a one ball scarf in no time!

Joy Ruffle Color Card
F448 Joy Ruffle Scarf Pattern PDF

Big, bold and makes a statement

Joy Supreme Color Card

F444 Joy Supreme Scarf Free Pattern PDF

Ruffles and sparkles, you can't go wrong! One ball makes a scarf

Passion Ice Color Card
F445 Passion Ice Scarf Free Pattern PDF

Passion Nette Color Card
F443 Passion Nette Scarf Free Pattern PDF

Customers are having a blast with this one

Scandalicious Color Card

F415 Scandalicious Free Scarf Pattern PDF

Now that you have seen them all, get to your favorite yarn shop and get some! Color cards are available at plymouthyarn.com. Share your projects with us on Facebook and Twitter. Pin them on Pinterest! Have fun!

Oh yeah, we love crafts too.

Allison — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:09:04 +0000

I started my Christmas knitting but I’m also planning which cookies I am making and starting to piece together some of my holiday cards. I realized there are probably lots of other knitters and crocheters out there just like me. Your craftiness doesn’t end with yarn and you aren’t always using it with hooks or needles. I was first introduced to yarn while making plastic canvas tissue box covers with my grandmother when I was 6. Then, a decade or so later, I used a furry, eyelash type of yarn and wrapped it around a large wreath form. That wreath, which is a bit tattered, still goes on my inside door every Christmas season. It wasn’t until my early days at Plymouth Yarn that I started knitting almost daily. I am always looking for deals on blocks of paper and scrapbook supplies. I’ve tried at least half of Martha Stewart’s recipes. I own hundreds of buttons but rarely use them in clothing. Finally, anytime I go on vacation I try to find a ceramic studio to take my son to, as they are few and far between where I live. My yarn stash lives down in my basement but I have 3 shelves of non-yarn goodies too.

Where am I going with this? Most of us who like to play with yarn, also like to craft, bake and create. We had a rare snow in Bucks County, PA over the weekend and it was a wet, cold, slushy mess. I opted to stay in and found a fun website that caters to all of my crafting needs. If you are looking for a project, of any type, check out Craftfoxes. I found this adorable free pattern for a crochet zombie from the book Crobots: 20 Amigurumi Robots To Make by Nelly Pailloux. Image by Andrew Perris. Encore DK would be perfect for this project.

Crobots: 20 Amigurumi Robots to Make

I also found this fun free pattern for a crochet sandwich from the book Yummy ‘Gurumi: Over 60 Gourmet Crochet Treats to Make by Christen Haden and Mariarosa Sala. Image by Jeremy Hopley. You’ll find the perfect colors in Encore Worsted. Everyone needs a crocheted sandwich, it has only a fraction of the calories a real sandwich has!

Yummy 'Gurumi: Over 60 Gourmet Crochet Treats to Make

I also found how-tos on recycling old books, DIY decor, recipes from pickles to cookies, and so much more. They even have instructions on coffee dying! So if you want to make your holiday gifts this year, craftfoxes is the place to start. Become their fan on facebook and follow them on twitter. Find a yarn shop near you to start with those knitting and crochet patterns!

Custom Fit Knit Jackets

Allison — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:06:46 +0000

I have a tough time knitting garments for myself, some parts are short, some parts are round, well you get what I mean. If you are like me, you’re always busy knitting a gift for this baby and a hat for that charity, but that beautiful yarn in your stash that you know would make the most gorgeous jacket, still sits there, waiting for the perfect pattern to come along. The time has come!

Jean Frost, a recognized master of hand knit jackets, has created a fabulous collection of custom-fit, hand knit jackets. Isn’t it time that you could knit for your body and not the industry standard? With Custom Fit Knit Jackets you can turn your measurements into dimensions. From casual to couture, this is like 3 books in one. The first step takes you through the process of measuring for your custom creation, the second is a collection of jackets in 10 sizes and 4 gauges and lastly, it’s a source that helps with the details and finishing of your custom creation.

On page 108, you will find a woven jacket created with Plymouth’s Worsted Merino Superwash(a machine washable, fine merino wool) in charcoal and off white.

A Woven Jacket, Page 108

Check out this description from the pattern in Custom Fit Knit Jackets. Look for it soon in your favorite yarn shop, bookstore, or online retailer.

"Let’s pretend! Slip stitches can fool the eye.  
Here, 2-row stripes appear to be interwoven bands. We chose black and  
white for head-turning, graphic elegance. The Chanel styling and  
simple, hidden-snap closure are perfect for office dressing."

Pattern for Easter Basket

Christine — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:21:34 +0000

I have to share a wonderful project knit with Galway. What a great gift for your kids on Easter morning. Just a few hours and you can knit this beautiful pattern.

Not a hard knitting project to complete before the holiday.

Pattern P512

Using our Galway yarn and you can accent with any novelty yarn.

Consider this pattern for a gift for your favorite little one on Easter Sunday.

Knitting for the holidays is always fun.

Enjoy.

DIY

Christine — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:08:26 +0000

Do It Yourself

An era of DIY’ers has emerged, not just as a popular cable network, but as a way for people to express themselves. It will make you feel as you have accomplished something. You feel proud for trying something. Try a new yarn or a new pattern. Take a class – learn something new. Experiment with color.

Our Hand Dyed – Trabajos Del Peru, 100 % Fine Merino Wool, is a perfect yarn! I just love the subtle texture and the color – OMG – just beautiful. Try this 2 skein cabled scarf!

Trabajos Del Peru - F260

Materials:
2-100g Hanks of Trabajos Del Peru.
Size:
Approx 7 x 62”
Knitting Needles:
US 10 needles, cable needle.
Gauge:
14 sts = 4” measured over st st.

RC Sl 2 sts to cn and hold to back, k2, k2 from cn.

Cast on 30 sts
Knit 4 rows.
Then begin pattern:
Row 1: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 2: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 3: K2, *(p1, RC, p1, k4); repeat from * once more, end p1, RC, p1, k2.
Row 4: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 5: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 6: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 7: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 8: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 9: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 10: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 11: K2, *(p1, k4, p1, RC); repeat from * once more, end p1, k4, p1, k2.
Row 12: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 13: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 14: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 15: K2, *(p1, k4, p1, RC); repeat from * once more, end p1, k4, p1, k2.
Row 16: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 17: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 18: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 19: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 20: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 21: K2, *(p1, k4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p1, k2.
Row 22: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.
Row 23: K2, *(p1, RC, p1, k4); repeat from * once more, end p1, RC, p1, k2.
Row 24: K2, *(k1, p4); repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3.

Repeat rows 1-24 until total length is about 60”, or until almost out of yarn, ending with a row 23. Knit 4 rows. Bind off loosely knitwise. Weave in all ends.

Note: When working with hand-dyed yarns, for best results, alternate skeins every few rows (work 2 rows with 1 hank, 2 rows with another). Do not cut yarn, just carry up side of work.
©2008 Plymouth Yarn Company.