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.  

  Martingale  has come out with 2 new books full of great ideas to make for those affected by cancer.  Crochet Pink by Janet Rehfeldt  is full of 26 patterns for crochet ranging from scarves and hats to wraps and throws. Lorna Miser  created Knit Pink - 25 Patterns to Knit for Comfort, Gratitude and Charity.  This collection offers a wide variety of projects to knit for charity or a loved one. Martingale will be doing a giveaway - you can win 1 of 8 skeins of pink yarn from Cascade Yarns and a copy of one of the books.  They will select the winner in a week. You can also win an ebook of your choice (knit or crochet).  Just leave a comment with your name and your last charity project (knit or crochet).  The winner will be anounced by the end of the day on Friday.

Natural Stitches  at The Village of East Side - 6401 Penn Ave   in Pittsburgh, PA is the next stop on our virtual yarn crawl.   Amy Maceyko  designed Fair Isle Beanie knit in Cascade 220 Sport . Fair Isle motiffs combine with the texture of vertical ridges in this autumn toned hat. Natural Stitches is located in the dynamic East Liberty section of Pittsburgh.  They feature a wide variety of yarns, including every available color of Cascade 220. Natural Stitches was opened in 2007 by Martha Underwood.  Since the opening, They have offered a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, with helpful and knowledgeable staff and teachers.  With late hours four nights a week, there is time for everyone to shop, from the stay-at-home mom or dad to the stressed-out college student to the professional who works until 5 or 6 every night. They offer classes for knitting, crochet and spinning, from beginner to advanced learner, and even for children.   With ...

The next stop from 60 Quick Knits from America's Yarn Shops is Woolen Collectibles at  183 1st Ave E N, Kalispell, Mt 59901.   Tammy Eigeman Thompson designed Fair Isle Stockings - gorgeous knee highs knit in Cascade 220 Sport .   A beautiful show of colorwork, these stockings will keep you warm and cozy. Tammy is a Montana native and has been knitting since she was taught by her mother at age eight to keep her hands busy during the holiday season.  When a local fly fishing store wanted hand-knits socks for their store in 1992, she began designing professionally.  Her designs are inspired by the natural beauty of Montana and are available on Ravelry . Woolen Collectibles was opened in 1998, with an emphasis on traditional knitting.  Several classes are offered each week, from socks to sweaters spanning a range of levels.  Saturday afternoons are devoted to open knitting - a perfect time to drop in for help, companionship and laughter. Every...

I was really excited when Karen McKenna told me she was going to do her first book and use Cascade Yarns in it.  She has designed a number of projects for Cascade including including the Arched Cuffed Fingerless Mitts crocheted in Heritage 150 Paints  (and she was sweet enough to make a pair for me).  We will be doing a giveaway from the book on the blog and Karen will be doing a giveaway on her blog . There are 6 different sets with different styles for each. Desert Southwest Scarf, Mitts & Headband Crocheted in Casablanca This sporty set only requires 4 skeins and can be worked in any of the 21 colorways available. Heartland Hat, Scarf & Mitts Crocheted in 220 Superwash Texture and simple lines combined with a washable wool make a great gift set for the man in your life. Purple Mountain Hat & Mitts Crocheted in Casablanca Whimisical and colorful, this set takes advantage of the long color repeats of the yarn. This is the prize you can...

  Our next stop from 60 Quick Knits from America's Yarn Shops is Cozy at  770 Ninth Street,  Durham, NC.  Lisa Doherty designed Mitered Squares Cardi  - an adorable baby cardigan - knit in 220 Superwash .  This super cute project combines mitered squares on the body and stripes on the sleeps and would be a fabulous gift. Cozy opened 9/8/2001, inspired by a handful of small businesses in other cities that had diverse merchandise in one store. None were exactly like Cozy, and Cozy has certainly evolved in its 12 year history.  They have grown with their  eclectic array of merchandise, from yarn to shoes into  “a sort of chick department store.” (Not that they don’t value our male customers who knit and crochet, but where else can you find yarn, great clothing, local jewelry, shoes, accessories, and clever gifts all in one great location?) Their yarn department offers free help hours six days a week with priority to those who are work...

I love to see what I can get out of a skein.   Souk is one of our new yarns for Fall 2013 - a silk-wool blend with a tweedy texture.  Each 220 yard skein shifts through 8 colors and there are 14 colorways to choose from.  Previously I'd created an Infinity scarf from 1 skein and wanted to try to do a quick shawlette.  The beauty of this yarn is that it does most of the work and simple patterns do best. Materials -         1 skein Souk (55% Silk/45% Wool – 220 yds/100 g ) – shown in 11 (Jewels) -         Size US 10 needle -         2 Stitch Markers -         Yarn needle Finished Measuments -         1 skein = 45” wide across the top x 20” long at the point Abbreviations -         K – Knit -       ...

Time for another giveaway! Kristen Stoltzfus  designed Take-a-Bow Neckwarmer for the October issue of Crochet World .  Crocheted in Jewel , her versatile design can be worn long and drapey or close around the neck for warmth.  Jewel is a fabulous thick-thin kettle dyed Peruvian wool.  It only takes 2 skeins to crochet this lovely cowl. Cascade Yarns  is giving away the yarn to make this cowl to 2 lucky winners.  All you have to do is post your favorite crochet project in Cascade Yarns to the blog or Facebook  between September 17 and 24.  Winners will be anounced on September 26.   The prizes will include 2 hanks of Jewel color 9283 - Dusty Rose. Remember to check back on September 26 to learn who the winners are! 

  The second stop on our virtual Shop Hop through 60 Quick Knits from America's Yarn Shops is Yarn Garden in Littleton, NH.  Their pattern is Holly Hat knit in Cascade 220 .  This adorable beanie designed by Paula Herbert features a darling applique of holly leaves and berries. Yarn Garden, in Littleton, New Hampshire, is a warm, friendly shop, with a great selection of yarns.  They are celebrating their fifth anniversary this November! Susan Smith and Paula Herbert opened the shop the fall of 2008, only a month after deciding to embark on the venture.    Both women were teachers worrying about sons in the military, so they created the shop to be a feel-good haven for themselves and their customers and it has continued to be just that.    Now they have both retired from teaching and are developing their website for on-line sales.    Their staff, Katie Rose Siggins, Casey MacMillan, and Laurie Despins, are inspirational t...