Cascade Yarns Blog

Slip-stitch patterns work up beautifully in hand-dyed yarns.  It helps the colorway show itself off a bit differently and adds some texture. Pure Alpaca Paints is soft and warm - begging to be a cowl.  There was some very interesting pooling and texture with this stitch.  If you do not want a rolled edge, I would suggest several rows of moss stitch on each edge. Materials: -1 hank Pure Alpaca Paints (100% Baby Alpaca - 220 yds/100 g) - shown in 9377 - Rose Garden - US 6 circular needles (at least 24" circumference) - Stitch Marker - Yarn Needle Abbreviations: - K - Knit - sl2 - Slip 2 stitches - wyif - with yarn in front Gauge: 22 stitches = 3.75" Finished Circumference approximately 31" before blocking Pattern: Cast on 180 stitches Join in the round (careful not to twist) Place marker 1 - K 2 - sl2 wyif, K2 3 - K 4 - K2, sl2 wyif Continue until desired width. Bind off loosely.   Weave in ends. Block.

Tis the season for quick knits.  Decided it was time to play with Magnum again - our extra bulky wool that is the epitome of instant gratification.  So I grabbed one of my favorite colorways of Magnum Paints and decided on a reversible cabled scarf.  The result has been a quick and warm scarf with interesting color pooling. Materials - 1 skein Magnum Paints (100% Peruvian Highland Wool - 123 yards/250 g) - shown in 9735 - Gems - US 17 needles (use US 19 if you tend to knit on the tight side) - Cable Needle - Yarn Needle Abbreviations - K - Knit - P - Purl - C4FRib – Slip 4 stitches to CN, Hold in front; [K1, P1] x 2; [K1, P1] x 2 from CN - C4BRib – Slip 4 stitches to CN, Hold in back; [K1, P1] x 2; [K1, P1] x 2 from CN Pattern: Cast on 16 stitches K1, P1 for 2 rows Start Pattern: 1 - K1, P1, C4FRib, [K1, P1] x 3 2 - 4 - K1, P1 5 - [K1, P1] x 3, C4BRib, K1, P1 6-10 - K1, P1 Continue until almost desired length. End: 1 - K1, P...

I enjoy playing with color. Double stranding a fine yarn and shifting 1 strand at a time is a fun (and easy) way to gradiate through colors. Top-down shawls are simple, yet provide a fabulous template to add some details.  In this case, I chose a yarn with a subtle sparkle, double stranded it, gradiated through the 2 colors and added a bottom ruffle.   Materials: - 1 skein each of 2 different colors of Kid Seta Noir  ( 60% Super Kid Mohair -  22% Silk - 11% Nylon  -  7% Metallic Yarn (Lurex) - 232 yds/25 g) - shown in A - 11(Platinum) & B - 20 (Cerise)  - US 10 1/2 needles - 4 stitch markers - Yarn Needle Abbreviations: - K - Knit - YO - Yarn Over - pm - Place Marker - sm - Slip Marker - KFB - Knit into the front and back of a stitch Gauge is unimportant for this project I divided the balls of Kid Seta approximately in half. With 2 strands A (2A) CO 3 Set-Up: 1 - K1, YO, K1, YO, K1 2 - K 3 - K1, YO, K to las...

Sparkle is fun and perfect for the holiday season.  Hollywood  is a superwash wool with a hint of sparkle.  Combined with a simple 4 row (3 stitch repeat) pattern, it worked up quickly into a lacey cowl that can be worn long and open or doubled around the neck. Materials - 1 skein Hollywood ( 87% Superwash Wool -10% Acrylic - 3% Polyester - 208 yds/100 g) - shown in color 11 (Ruby) - US 8 circular needles - 1 stitch marker - 1 yarn needle Abbreviations - K - Knit - P - Purl - Sl1 - Slip 1 Stitch - K2tog - Knit 2 Together - PSSO - Pass Slipped Stitch Over - YO - Yarn Over Cast on 150 stitches Join in the round, careful not to twist.  Place marker at beginning of round. K 2 rows Start pattern: 1 - [Sl1 - K2Tog - PSSO, YO, YO] 2- [K1, (P1, K1 into double YO)] 3 - K 4 - K Continue until desired width. Bind off loosely.  Weave in ends.  Block.