Cascade Yarns Blog

Summer Scarf Designed by Melissa Leapman Finished Measurements:  5 ½ x 52" Materials:  Ultra Pima #3735 (1 skein) - 220 yards per 100 g A great one skein scarf in Cascade's new Pima Cotton! Ribbed Lace Stole Designed by Lily Chin Materials:  4 hanks – Ultra Pima (100% pima cotton) shown in 3707 (Purple Ice) A beautiful, lacy stole - make it in your favorite of the 53 colors available in Ultra Pima.

Alpaca Direct  will be at Stitches West in booths 815 and 817 sellng a wide variety of Cascade in their booths, including: Pastaza  - 50% llama/50% wool - 132 yards per 100 grams; 4 stitches per inch - Beautiful cables - Great for felting - gives a fuzzy halo - Durable - Warm Pima Silk  - 85% Pima Cotton/15% Silk - 109 yards per 50 grams - 5 stitches per inch - Subtle shine - Graceful drape - More than 25 colors to choose from Dolce  - 55% Superfine Alpaca / 23% Silk/22% Wool - 109 yards per 50 grams - 5 stitches per inch. - Great for lace, cables, and other pattern stitches - More than 35 colors to choose from

Great Yarns  is located at booths 301-309/400-402.  They will be selling several of our yarns including: Eco Alpaca  - 100% Baby Alpaca - 220 yards per 100 grams; undyed, natural colors and amazingly soft. Pure Alpaca  - Eco Alpaca's dyed counterpart - available in more than 40 colors 128 Superwash  - 100% Superwash Merino Wool - 128 yards per 100 grams; Fabulous hand, knits up quickly, and machine-washable and -dryable. Eco Duo  - Our newest addition to our alpaca family and Eco yarns!   70% Bably Alpaca / 30% Merino wool (both undyed) - 197 yards per 100 grams; Creates a stripey effect - the higher contrast between the colors in the hank, the darker the stripes.  Heavenly soft and squishy, Eco Duo feels wonderful to knit and wear and has great stitch defintion (it makes beautiful cables as well).

Mr. Popper's Penguin by Laura Nelkin Mr. Popper's Penguin was the result of combining a favorite book with the need for a cover for a red hot water bottle.  The result is snuggly, wooly, whimsical, and warm. SIZE:  One Size, to fit standard hot water bottle approx 8 inches wide x 13 inches high.  (Approx 15.5 inches tall x 17 inches around at widest point. Since piece is felted, final size can be adjusted during the felting process.) Knit in Cascade 220  (100% Peruvian Highland Wool - 229 yards per 100 g) [MC] #8555 (black); 2 skeins [CC1] #8010 (cream); 1 skein [CC2] #7824 (orange); 5 grams Knotty but Nice Designed by Natalie Larson A great 1 skein hat perfect for anyone - including yourself. Knit in 220 Superwash  (220 yards per 100 g) - Color 841 Finished measurements - 15" circumference (unstretched) and 7.5" high (Will fit up to 24" head)

Purlescence Yarns  will be selling a wide variety of Cascade Yarns at Stitches West.  They will be in booths 830/2/4/6.  Among the many yarns they are taking are: Ultra Pima  - Cascade's newest cotton - 100% Pima Cotton - 220 yards per 100 grams - Knits 5 1/2 to 6 stitches per inch.  There are many reasons to love Ultra Pima including the broad palette (53 colors), fabulous drape, amazing stitch defintion, and easy care (yes it is machine - washable and - dryable!). Greenland  - 100% Merino Superwash - 137 yards per 100 grams; Knits at 4 - 4 1/2 stitches per inch.  With its springy twist, Greenland  is for all levels of knitters - cables really pop and garments spring back to shape after steaming.  There are more than 45 colors, a cool cottony feel, and easy care in this yarn that is great for the whole family. Venezia Worsted  - 70% Merino Wool/30% Silk; 219 yards per 100 grams; 5 stitches per inch. ...

Zig Zag Scarf Designed by:  Renee Lorion Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2010 (Photo by Paul Amato) Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima  - (220 yards/100 g - available in 53 colors) 1 skein each:  3701 (burgundy), 3752 (pink), 3718 (cream), 3706 (light purple), and 3743 (yellow) Ultra Pima is machine - washable and -dryable and has amazing stitch defintion and drape.  It is like mercerized cotton in look and care (AKA easy - great for kids), but is buttery soft and easy on the hands.

Vogue - Spring/Summer 2010 photo by Rose Callahan Designer: Mari Lynn Patrick Cascade Fixation  (98.3% cotton / 1.7% elastic; 100 yds/50 g) For sizes: X-Small/Small (Medium, Large) 6 (7,8) balls in #2406 Lavender Fixation is a personal favorite - for its ability to spring back into shape and durability (made hand warmers/support for under a brace - and able to wear 3+ months before thumb wore out, while machine washing and drying).  This multi-directional vest is stunning and uses Fixation's stretch to an advantage beyond socks and swimsuits.

60 Quick Knits arrived EARLY into our warehouse so it is starting to be available in local yarn stores.  The arrival of the books was several weeks earlier than expected.  The book retails for $17.95 and has something for everyone - there are cute kid projects, cables, fair isle, and more - in a wide variety of levels.  Meanwhile - here is another preview: The Birdcage Mittens Designed by Elli Stubenrauch Watch your mitten knitting soar to new heights with these enchanting bird mittens. Using 2 shades and advanced techniques, these mitts are a great way to step up your Fair Isle skills. Materials:    Cascade 220  (220 yards per 100 g) 1 skein each:   2440 (Vinci) and 9489 (Red Wine Heather)  US 4 and 5 DPNs (Double Point Needles)

Cymbidium Designed by Kathy Zimmerman Materials: Ultra Pima  - 100% Pima Cotton (220 yards per 100 grams; available in 53 colors) 5 skeins 3709 (MC) 2 balls each:  3720(A) and 3710(B) Our beautiful new cotton is available in 53 colors and has amazing stitch defintion and drape.  Buttery soft, Ultra Pima is a joy to knit and also machine washable and dryable . This garment will debut on the Fashion Show stage at STITCHES West 2010 in Santa Clara, CA later this month (February 25-28, 2010) and will be in the Knitters/XRX booth (at STITCHES) most of the weekend.  This issue will be for sale at Stitches and will be available shops and on newstands early March.

Flower Tote Designed by Laura Farson Finished Size 7 x 10 x 3-1/2" Beautiful bag designed by Laura Farson - great color work project and a bag that doesn't need to be felted. Materials MC: 1 skein Cascade Pastaza Paints (50% Llama, 50% Wool, 100 gm, 132 yards)  #9826 CC: 1 skein Cascade 128 (100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 128 yards, 100 gm) Green #9430 Strap and Loop: 1 skein Cascade 220  (100% Wool, 220 yards, 100 gm) Green

Anaconda Hat and Scarf Designed by:  Janet Szabo for Big Sky Knitting Designs Knit in Lana Grande  - 100% Peruvian Highland Wool (87 yards per 100 g - available in more than 25 colors) "Sometimes we all need a little instant gratification, says Szabo. "This hat and scarf combo took one weekend to make, thanks to the chunky yarn and easy cable-and-garter pattern." The colossal scarf, of course, is knitted flat. Once you've done that, you essentially make another one flat until it fits round your head; you then join the ends together and finish the crown working garter stitch in the round. So joining that edge is the only sewing, and if you have your wits about you, you can cast off the edges together and avoid that whole issue. This is fabulous for women or men."

We had a great time at the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival! A giant Angora bunny (and yes it was as soft as it looks!) We got to meet the group from Hog Heaven  Rescue Farm, a group dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitate and foster of abused, neglected and unwanted hoofed animals. They take these animals in and provide vet care, feed and farrier care, work on getting these animals healthy, physically, emotionally & socially and then adopt them out to loving forever homes.  They were winding yarn for donations and were busy the entire weekend. We gave away 600 hats patterns and 1200 skeins of yarn to participants of the Festival. Randy Grossman (former Steeler and wife of festival organizer Barb Grossman) signed autographs (on patterns or whatever else was handy) while modeling the hat (designed by Lorna Miser).  Cathy Davis (the local arep for the area) helped at the booth all weekend and enjoyed getting a chance to meet Randy. CJ Ardas...

Pattern reverse-engineered by Helena Bristow, Clever Knits  yarn shop. Knit in Cascade 220  - 1 hank each of ecru (8010), Christmas red  (8895), and blue (8887 or 9494) Free download on Ravelry

Since David (our favorite child model) is four today, there will be four free patterrns that he has modeled for Cascade Yarns. Child's Alternative Cable Pullover  - designed by Yvette Silverman Originally knit in Cascade 109 Tweed (color 7627), this quick and cozy sweater can easily be knit in   128 Tweed  (available in 48 colors), 128 Chunky  (available in more than 50 colors), or 128 Superwash  (the most kid friendly choice and available in 42 colors).  Color 7627 is available in the 128 tweed and the solid version is 8013 in Cascade 128 and 862 in 128 Superwash. Materials - 3-4 skeins Cascade 128 (Tweed, Chunky, or Superwash) - US 10 Knitting Needles and 16" Circular Needles - Cable Needle Sizes - 1-3 yrs (Chest size:  24-28"; Length:  13-15") Children's Duck Sweater  - Designed by Amy Bahrt Bahrt size 2 (4,6) Materials: 220 Superwash  (100% superwash wool; 220 yards per 100 grams - available in more tha...

Triple Cable Scarf Designed by:  Debbie O'Neill Finished measurements Approx 7½" x 57" (19cm x 144.5cm) Materials ■ 2 3½oz/100g hanks of Cascade Yarns 220 Wool in #9495 (Harvest) ■ One pair size US 8 (5.0 mm) needles Every knitter needs a classic cabled scarf.  Knit this tradtional warmer in a bright color to add modern appeal to this classic.

Getting ready to head off to Pittsburgh, PA (if it doesn't snow too much more so we can't get there) later this week for the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival .  We are giving away 600 hat patterns and 1200 skeins of Cascade 220!  The first 300 participants each day will get a ticket to redeem at our booth for a Lorna Miser hat pattern (designed for the Festival) and the 2 skeins of Cascade 220 needed to make the hat.  Randy Grossman, former Steelers' tight end, will be at the Cascade Yarns table that will be located in the the pre-funcation area on both days at 1 pm to sign autographs.  On Sunday, there is a wearable art fashion show and luncheon that is benefitting Casting for Recovery (Breast Cancer awareness group).  The Confluence of Artistry and Math exhibit will be a special treat - there are many submissions from heads of Math departments that knit and show the correlation of the two.  The exhibit is free with admission both days. Meliss...

Man's Double Knit Scarf  - houndstooth on one side, stripes on the others. Designed by Melissa Leapman Lana d'Oro  - 50% Alpaca/50% Wool 3 hanks each of #1050 (A) and #1086 (B) In patt, 40 sts and 24 rows = 4" - US 6

" Copine was inspired by a thrift store sweater I've been wearing to death over the past year," says Okey. "The original is knit in fingering weight acrylic. I remade it specifically to suite Cascade's Eco Wool , which knits up quickly and comes in a wide range of natural, undyed colors... the shaping is so simple and flexible. Worked from the bottom up, the body is knit in one piece to the armholes in a 6 x 4 rib pattern, then back and fronts are worked separately to the shoulders in a 2 x 2 rib. This pattern originally appeared in Yarn Forward magazine #11 in the United Kingdom." Gorgeous set-in sleeves, crew neck, easy patterning: this is a relaxed and confident piece. Shown in color 8019 - 2-4 skeins (31.5 - 51.5" finished bust; 26 - 29.5" length)

Cascade Yarns is proud to be a new sponsor for the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival , held at the Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North on February 13 and 14, and will  have an informational table outside the main floor.  We will be unveiling a new hat pattern by Lorna Miser that was designed for the festival.  Melissa Leapman will be teaching all weekend as well as a variety of other talented teachers.  There will be more than 50 booths and the market will be open from 9 am to 4 pm both days.     The Festival was initially a fundraiser initiated by Barb Grossman, Festival organizer and the wife of former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Randy Grossman, for the Waldorf School of Pittsburgh, where her daughter was a student.  Warm Up America , a non-profit foundation which donates blankets to shelters, will be supported with a Warm Up America room where festival participants can knit or crochet rectangles that w...

The brioche stitch creates a double sided fabric and in the book is combined with cables, lace, and intarsia.  Nancy Marchant put together a beautfiul book with detailed instructions, sixty stitch patterns, and 25 garments and accessories.  The Book Exchange Cardigan Cascade 220 - 2443 - 9-12 skeins - chest sizes: 42.5" - 52.5" Hedera Jacket Uses 5 colors and stockinette brioche stitch Cascade 220  - 2 skeins each - 9420, 8892, 8267, and 9430 220 Quatro  - 2 skeins - 9434 Sizes - Small - X Large (38-50")   Zandlope r  literally transaltes to "walker in sand" but really means hourglass.  This scarf combines brioche stitch and double knitting. Cloud 9  - 2 skeins each - 119 and 134