In honor of Memorial Day, the unofficial start of the summer, we would like to give you a chance to win a patriotic prize! All you have to do to enter is check out Plymouth Yarn on Pinterest . Follow your favorite board while you’re there. Then, come back to our blog or facebook page and tell us what you like the best or what content you would like to see.
I have two prizes available. You will receive a copy of pattern P417
Encore Worsted Sock Pattern P417
and two balls of Encore Worsted in color 1009, Old Glory.
Old Glory, #1009
Your tootsies will love these socks, and think how great it will be to slip these on after a long day at the pool or beach! We know so many of you take part in charity knitting. How about making these for your local veterans’ association?
Winners will be picked at random on Tuesday, May 29th. Winners will be notified via email for blog submissions and inbox message on facebook. Tweeters will be notified by direct message. So be sure to keep your eye out on Tuesday! Have a great Memorial Day weekend.
“Is knitting easy?”…This is a question I get asked often. My son plays at least one sport every season so this means mommy gets lots of time to sit and knit. On the rare occasion a coach may ask me to help out when they are light on parent helpers, but after seeing me try to throw a baseball to a catcher from second base, coach tells me I can go back to my knitting. A couple of the moms have asked if I could teach them. With all of the time we spend at practices and games, we could knit entire wardrobes!
I am going to baseball practice tonight loaded up with Encore Mega and needles, for the students of course. After I get them started, I am going to pull out a skein of our new yarn, Scandalicious and get to work. I am excited for them to see what they can do after they have their basic stitches down.
Scandalicious
What I love most about some of these ruffle yarns is that it just takes one skein and a couple hours and you have something that looks like a masterpiece. Don’t get me wrong, I have knit many a complicated pattern but since I am showing folks new to the craft, I want to wow them and Scandalicious will surely do that. It is a very versatile yarn. You can follow the instructions below, in both knit and crochet, for the scarf . But since it’s been flowing into the shops, some of the customer have shared their ideas and projects with me. I saw a great cowl made by sewing two lengths of it together and a shrug made from cutting off the ends and using the tube as the sleeve! Let your imagination run wild with this one and beginner knitters can look like they’ve been at it for years! Share your pictures with us on facebook, twitter or pinterest!
SCANDALICIOUS
Scarf
Needles & Hook: Size 7 needle, Size H Hook
Knit Scarf – Shorter, heavily ruffled version
Length: about 36-40”
1. Unfold the ribbon. Fold the ending piece over about 4 inches. The original cast on sts will go through both thicknesses.
2. Cast on 3 sts by sticking needle through the top edge of the netting from right to left.
3. Turn the needle.
4. Insert the needle in to the most left hand st, pull netting through to create a new st, do not drop original st off the needle. Insert needle into middle st , pull netting through to create a new st, do not drop original st off of the needle. Insert needle into the most right hand st, pull netting through to create a new st, do not drop original st off of the needle.
5. Now there are 3 sts on each needle. Let the original 3 sts drop off of the needle.
6. Turn needle and repeat steps 4 & 5.
7. Continue repeating steps 4 & 5 until most of skein is used. At the end, fold the last piece (about 4”) over for the final set of sts so you will knit through both thicknesses. Without turning, bind off just before the end – pulling the middle st over the left hand st, then the right most st over the remaining one. Use a small piece of yarn to anchor the last st in place so it will not unravel.
Longer, less ruffled version:
Length: about 55”.
Work as for the shorter version, casting on and working 2 sts instead of 3 sts.
Crochet Scarf
Length: About 55”.
1. Unfold the ribbon. Fold the ending piece over about 4 inches. The first sts will go through both thicknesses.
2. Loop over crochet hook. Go out about 2” and loop over crochet hook again. Repeat for a 3rd loop on the hook. Pull the 3rd loop through the second loop, then the second loop through the 1st loop. Only 1 loop is on the hook now.
3. Go out about 2” and loop over crochet hook again. Repeat for a 3rd loop on the hook. Pull the 3rd loop through the second loop, then the second loop through the 1st loop.
4. Repeat step 3 until most of skein is used. At end, fold over last 4” or so and work through both thicknesses. When final loop is left on needle, Use a small piece of yarn to anchor the last loop in place so it will not unravel.
I know many of you love it already because we are sending orders for it left and right! This 98% Alpaca, 2% Nylon blend is a soft and wonderful yarn. The color palate includes both brights and neutral shades that have been dyed using a tricolor injection method. Our customers are telling me it’s the perfect Alpaca to use in projects for men because of the colors and composition of the yarn. Check out our color card here.
So I asked some of our facebook fans what they most wanted to see a free pattern for today and Camino Alpaca was the clear winner. Give your favorite yarn shop a call and get started this weekend! You can also try F412 PDF Download for easy printing.
Pattern F412
CAMINO ALPACA
Berry Stitch Hat
To Fit: Adult
Circumference: 21”
Materials: Camino Alpaca: 3—50G skeins, color 102
Gauge: 16 sts, 21 rows = 4” in st st on size 8 needles, 4.75 sts= 1” in Berry Stitch on size 8 needles.
Needles: US Size 8-16” circular, size 8 double points, stitch marker
Berry Stitch (Multiple of 4 sts)
Rounds 1 and 3: Purl
Round 2: *(k1, p1, k1) into next stitch, k3tog; rep from *
Round 4: *k3tog, (k1, p1, k1) into next stitch; rep from *
Repeat these 4 rounds for pattern.
HAT: With size 8 circular, loosely cast on 96 sts. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker. Work in 2×2 ribbing for 6 rounds, increasing 4 sts evenly across last round. 100 sts.
Begin working in Berry Stitch.
When hat measures 8” from cast on edge, purl across next round, decreasing 16 sts evenly. 84 sts.
Round 1: *(p5, p2tog); repeat from * (72 sts).
Round 2: purl
Round 3: *(p4, p2tog); repeat from * (60 sts).
Round 4: purl
Round 5: *(p3, p2tog); repeat from * (48 sts).
Round 6: *(p2, p2tog); repeat from * (36 sts).
Round 7: *(p1, p2tog); repeat from * (24 sts).
Round 8: *(p2tog); repeat from * (12 sts).
Cut yarn and thread through remaining sts. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.
There are so many amazing charities out there doing wonderful things for those who truly need it. There are thousands of busy hands that are right now knitting a chemo cap, gloves, blankets for babies in the hospital, prayers shawls and the list goes on. I am proud to say that I get to work in an industry where so many people are willing to give up their time and their stash to help others.
I recently got an email regarding an organization, Hair Flair For Hope. I loved their site and what they do is a bit different than some of the other charities. Here’s what they have to say “HairFlair for Hope is a creative non-profit project which utilizes the community to craft colorful, one-of-a-kind wigs (wearable art) for women and children who have experienced hair-loss due to medical illness or treatments.” Here is just one of their many creations….
Kate Pierson of the B-52's
To learn more about HairFlair for hope check out their website
They also host “make a wig” workshops, accept wig applications and you can donate at their website.
Check out their facebook page for tons of great wig photos.
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.
It got chilly here in Bristol today. Time to get into some new projects. Check out this great free pattern for a Coffee Beenz Textured Throw. It’s quick and easy. You might even get it done this weekend. Call your local yarn shop today to get started.
F343
COFFEE BEENZ
Textured Throw
Approx. Finished Size: 32” x 32”
Materials: 6 balls Coffee Beenz
Needles: 24” size 13.
Gauge: 10 sts = 4” over st st with yarn held doubled.
With 2 strands of yarn, loosely cast on 84 sts.
Knit 10 rows for bottom border.
Begin pattern:
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: K6, p8, *(k8, p8); repeat from * across to last 6 sts, end k6.
Rows 3-12: Repeat rows 1 & 2.
Row 13: Knit.
Row 14: K6, k8, *(p8, k8); repeat from * across to last 6 sts, end k6.
Rows 15-24: Repeat rows 13 & 14.
Repeat rows 1-24– 6 times, then work rows 1-12 once more.
Knit 10 rows for the top border.
Bind off loosely. Weave in all ends.
The tribe has spoken and Baby Alpaca Ultimo is the yarn with the most votes in our free pattern poll. You click, we listen. You will love this cowl in all it’s beautiful, cuddly, super chunky goodness! Since it’s knit on a size 13 needle, you can make it this weekend while sipping on some lemonade in the backyard. If your thinking about your holiday knitting projects, this will make a wonderful gift. Have a happy and safe 4th of July!
F371
BABY ALPACA ULTIMO
Cabled Cowl
Approx. Finished Measurements: 20” tall x 20 around”
Materials: Ultimo- 2 hanks
Gauge: 8 sts = 4” in garter st on size 13 needles over st st.
Needles: Size US 13 knitting needles.
Loosely cast on 50 sts
Row 1, 3, 5: K1, p1, k1, p1, k12, p1, k1, p1, k12, p1, k1, p1, k12, p1, k1, p1, k1.
Row 2, 4, 6: P1, k1, p1, k1, p12, k1, p1, k1, p12, k1, p1, k1, p12, k1, p1, k1, p1.
Row 7: K1, p1, k1, p1, cable 12 back, p1, k1, p1, cable 12 back, p1, k1, p1, cable 12 back, p1, k1, p1, k1.
Row 8: As row 2.
Row 9: As row 1.
Row 10: As row 2.
Repeat rows 1-10 until total length is about 20” long, or desired length, ending with row 2.
Bind off. Sew the cast on edge to the bind off edge. Weave in all ends.
