Cascade Yarns Blog

For April, I made another hat in Cantata - a fun, multi-season yarn with a unique construction (a cotton cage with superwash wool blown inside). A heathery-denim look pairs well with great stitch definition in this soft, lightweight yarn. The stitch pattern is a swirling, slightly lacy rib that moves in a diagonal direction. We will be giving away 3 kits of 2 skeins each (enough to make 2 hats) - 2 through Facebook and 1 here on the Blog. To enter on the Blog, comment with your favorite color of Cantata. The winner will be selected on Monday, April 22, 2019 at 3 pm PST. Materials 1 hank Cantata (70% Cotton/30% Merino Wool - 218 yds/100 g) - #13 (Purple) US 7 - 16" circular needles US 9 - 16" circular needles and DPNs Stitch Marker Yarn Needle (to weave in ends) Abbreviations K: Knit P: Purl K2tog: Knit 2 together YO: Yarn over Sizes Teen/Small Adult, Med/Large Adult With US 7, Cast on 80, 96 sts Join in the round, careful not to twist ...

This year my older son was part of a Little League baseball team. It has been a truly wonderful experience for him. The team did quite well during the season - and then it was the playoffs. Regular season had games that were up to 2 hours in length. Championship playoff games were 6 innings. His baby brother was at almost every game strapped to me in an infant carrier... which meant my hands were free. So I was able to get some knitting done. Most of this hat was completed during 2 of the playoff games (until Baby Brother decided he was done with sleeping and wanted to watch). Anthem is one of our newer yarns - and it is great for baby projects, charity, crochet, and anything easy care. It is a soft acrylic that reminds me of wool. Each 100 gram skein contains 186 yards and is available in 33 vibrant colors. The medium size hat used less than 1/2 of the skein - so you can easily get 2 small or medium hats out of 1 skein. Gauge & Measuments: 4.5 sts = 1" Shown in 18...

Luna is a single-ply Peruvian cotton with a wrap that gives a nubby texture while maintaining the cottony softness. It works up beautifully for hats, blankets, washcloths, and shawls. Each 50 g skein contains 82 yards and is enough for a quick baby hat or washcloth. Materials - 1 skein Luna (100% Peruvian cotton - 82 yds/50 g) - shown in #724 (Lemon) - US 7 16" circular needle (for larger 2 sizes) - US 7 DPNs - Stitch marker - Yarn needle Abbreviations - K - Knit - K2tog - Knit 2 Together Sizing - Shown in 16" circumference  (pattern for sizes  12", 14", 16", 18" circumference) Cast on 56, 64, 72, 80 sts Join in round - Place marker at beginning of round. K for 4.5", 5", 5.5", 6" Begin decreases 1 - K7, K2tog 2 - K6, K2tog 3 - K5, K2tog 4 - K4, K2tog 5 - K3, K2tog 6 - K2, K2tog 7 - K1, K2tog 8 - K2tog Knit remaining stitches in the round for 3" (or longer if desired) - ...

Fixation is great for hats for all ages - especially for those that need something with a little bit of stretch. Each 50 g ball contains 100 yards which is plenty for a quick baby hat or chemo cap. The little bit of elastic helps the cotton hold its shape. In addition, there is a wide variety of solids and spray-dyed colors to choose from. Materials - 1 ball Fixation (shown in 2706 - Showcase Teal)  - US 5 16" circular needles (for larger sizes) - US 5 DPNs - Stitch marker - Yarn needle Abbreviations - K - Knit - P - Purl - K2tog - Knit 2 together - P2tog - Purl 2 together Gauge 5.5 stitches = 1" in stockinette Cast on 72, 80, 88, 96 (13", 14.5", 16", 17.5") Join in the round, careful not to twist. Place stitch marker to mark beginning of round. K2, P2 4 times Start Pattern: 1 - K2, P2 2 - P1, K2, P1 3 - P2, K2 4 - K1, P2, K1 Cont until 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6" from cast on edge Start decreases 1 - ...

Longwood is a treat to work with. The extra-fine merino superwash is soft enough for a baby and is spun into a complex twist that loves cables. Each squishy ball contains 191 yards and there are more than 40 luscious colors to choose from. Baby hats are a great way to play with a yarn as they work up quickly and the recipient usually will not complain. The hard part is if you take too long they will have outgrown it before you do the decreases. As an added bonus, you will get 2 of the smallest size hats out of 1 ball. Materials:  - 1 ball Longwood (100% Extra-fine Merino Superwash Wool - 191 yds/100 g) - shown in 15 (Green Olive) - US 8 16" circular needles - US 8 DPNs - Cable needle - Stitch Marker - Yarn Needle Gauge & Sizing: - 4.5 sts = 1" in stockinette - To fit 16", 19", 22" Abbreviations: - K - Knit - P - Purl  - C4B - Put 2 stitches on cable needle, hold in back, knit next 2 stitches, k...

Lana Grande is a bulky wool that works up quickly with great stitch definition. Lofty and durable, it works into a warm, squishy fabric. In the fall, it is easy to be drawn to chunky wools for that quick gratification that comes with finishing a project. I couldn't resist making a quick hat with a simple, easy to remember stitch pattern.  Materials - 1 ball Lana Grande (100% Peruvian Highland Wool - 87 yds/100 g) - shown in 6043 (Antique) - US 13 16-20" circular needles - Stitch Marker - Yarn needle Abbreviations - K - Knit - P - Purl - K2tog - Knit 2 Together Gauge & Measurements 2.5 sts = 1" 21" circumference 9" length from cast on edge Cast on 52 stitches Join in round, place marker to mark beginning of round K2, P2 for 2" Start pattern: 1 - K 2 - K1, P1 Cont until 7" from cast on edge Start decreases 1 - K2tog, K11 2 - K2tog, K10 3 - K2tog, K9 4 - K2tog, K8 5 - K2tog, K7 6 - K2tog, K6 7 - K...

In December, my Pilates instructor Rebecca came into the studio wearing a hat - it was both cute and simple.  She was kind enough to let me take a picture of it.  Meanwhile,  I had been wanting to make a hat in our new yarn Elysian - a superwash Merino - acrylic blend with a springy twist and it was a good pairing.  I had figured it would be reverse stockinette and double mock rib in bands. Gauge & Measurements: - 6 sts = 1" in 1x1 rib on smaller needles - Band approximately 17" unstretched - Hat approximately 9" long (from edge of band) Materials: - 1 skein Elysian - (60% Superwash Merino Wool/ 40% Acrylic - 219 yds/100 g) - shown in 12 - Twilight Purple - US 6 - 16" Circular Needle - US 8 - 16" Circular Needle - US 8 DPNs - Stitch Marker - Yarn Needle Abbreviations: - K - Knit - P - Purl - sl1 wyib - Slip 1 with yarn in back - Kfb - Knit into the front and back of a stitch (Increase 1) - P2tog - Purl 2 together C...

  Longwood is one of those yarns I could not wait to play with.  191 yards of Extra-Fine Merino Superwash per 100 gram ball in a complex twist that is meant to show off stitch definition.  There are 28 rich colors to choose from in this scrumptious worsted weight yarn. The challenge was to find a stitch pattern that would work for 1 skein, look interesting, and do the yarn justice.  I tripped over a stitch pattern that reminded me of dragon scales and scaled the size back to work a bit better for a small project on a medium weight yarn. Materials: Longwood (100% Superwash Extra-Fine Merino Wool - 191 yds/100 g) - 1 ball - shown in #18 - Green Spruce US 9 16" Circular Needles Stitch Marker Yarn Needle Abbreviations K - Knit P - Purl K TBL - Knit Through Back Loop YO - Yarn Over K2tog TBL - Knit 2 Together Through Back Loop Cast on 96 stitches Join in the round, careful not to twist. Place marker. K2, P2 for 1" Switch to pattern ...

  Souk is a fun new yarn with a tweedy texture and 8 luscious colors per colorway.  A Silk/Wool blend with a generous 220 yards/100 gram skein that works up beautifully.  I prefer simple stitch patterns since the yarn does most of the work.  There are 14 different colorways to choose from.  I couldn't resist the Rainbow colorway - it probably has something to do with grey Seattle winters and springs.  This cowl works up very quickly in a simple stitch pattern.   Materials 1 skein Souk - 55% Silk/45% Wool - 220 yds/100 g US 10 circular needles Yarn Needle Stitch Marker Abbreviations K - Knit sl2 wyif - Slip 2 stitches with yarn in front   Cast on 160 sts Join in the round, careful not to twist.  Place marker at beginning. 1 - K1, *[sl2 wyif, K2] - repeat from * to last 3 stitches - end sl2 wyif, K1 2 - K Continued until reach desired width.  Bind off loosely.  W...