New FREE Pattern - Crochet Farmer's Market Bag!

Cross-posted from our News Blog!

I know it's out of season, but I was updating the store's free patterns, and heck, the holidays are around the corner in terms of your gift production!  So here is a FREE pattern for you, our Crochet Farmer's Market Bag!   Hope you enjoy!  :-)

Fingerless Finished Objects

A client sent me the pattern for these Fingerless Mitts and I thought they would look so good in Silk Garden colour 269 that I set out to make them. Surprisingly, it only took 1 skein of silk garden, which was cool considering I added an inch to the wrist area.  Next time, I'd like to make the palm portion an inch longer to accommodate my longer hands. I also added an extra stitch to the thumb pick-up to keep the pattern consistent, which turned out fine, the thumb is not too big. 

I'm thinking about doing these again in either the Manos Maxima or Malabrigo Worsted .... or both ;-) When I do I'll use a 4mm needle. 

New Free Hat Pattern from Knit-O-Matic

Simply Ribbed Hat in Noro Silk garden

Simply Ribbed Hat in Manos Maxima

Simply Ribbed Hat 

FREE Pattern by Haley Waxberg for Knit-O-Matic

This is a very simply styled hat that anyone and everyone can make and wear. The 1 x 1 rib helps the hat keep it's shape and gives it a denisity for warmth. If the ribbing seems tight, don’t worry, we are making it tight on purpose because silk has a tendency to grow. We've also made it in a 100% merino wool, which is great beacuse it is soft and has lots of body (it's puffy by nature). If you would like to substitute another yarn, consider going up to a 4mm needle (or a size 0.5mm less than the median suggested size on the ballband). 

Size
S(M, L, XL)
Head Circumference 21(22, 23, 24) inches

Materials: Striped Version
1(1, 2, 2) skeins Noro Silk Garden 
1 pair of 3.75mm-16” circular needles
3.75mm double pointed needles
4 stitch markers (1 in a contrasting colour)

Materials: Variegated Version
1 skein Manos del Uruguay Maxima or Malabrigo Worsted
1 pair of 4mm-16” circular needles
4mm double pointed needles
4 stitch markers (1 in a contrasting colour)

Download the Free pattern for the Simply Ribbed Hat on Knitomatic.com!  Or see it on Ravelry!

Heads First

I finished my Manos Maxima Hat this weekend and it turned out great! I love merino, it does exactly what you want it to. It's so well behaved.  The colour distribution is lovely, the texture is lovely, the fit is lovely, and it feels LOVELY!  I am thinking of making some fingerless mitts it int next. 

In other good news, I tried the hats on a size model, so the pattern will be ready to go very soon!  It's not a fancy pattern, it is intended to be a go-to for man hats. 

Maximal Hat

Half a Hat in Manos Maxima

For kicks I figured I'd see how my ribbed hat pattern works with other yarns, above is half of what is to be another Ribbed Hat using Manos Maxima.  So far, it's beautiful. I don't know if the 1x1 rib is doing the colouring justice, this colourway is very subtle.  I'll have to knit up the remains of the skein in stocking stitch to see.  See the picture below. 

Regardless, the Manos Maxima is stunning! It feels so yummy - and you know how I prefer not to mix my knitting and food metaphors.  It is so soft, and has a really satisfying squish to it. The closest comparison would be Malabrigo Worsted, although the dyeing is more sophisticated than Malabrigo. 

 here is the skein

Karate Sweater

An early peak at the most recent store project, the Karate Sweater by Wenlan Chia from her first book, Twinke's Big City Knits. We are using Cascade Magnum in colour 9418, a very intense royal purple. So far, so good - looks great!

Here's the picture from the book.

Hat's A-GoGo!

Hat in Noro Silk Garden 293

So many yarns, so little time ... This week I have been playing with Noro Silk Garden. My creative cut was not running over, and whenever I am in need of inspiration and/or a fiber pick-me-up, I go to Noro.  Can't beat it, every ball is a surprise, I am almost always happy with the results, especially in hat form (there was this one colourway that was a full rainbow and then they threw in black - blech). Anyway, i knitted up a few 1x1 ribbed toques (a winter hat in Canadianese, pr. 'two-k') in a few neglected colourways.  I'll publish the pattern as soon as I can have some size models try it on .

Hat in Noro Silk Garden 297

Hat in Noro Silk Garden 273

  

Blackstone Tweed Chunky Beret

Check out our Beret made with Berroco Blackstone Tweed Chunky!  It's great - it was fast, easy, and soft. I love soft tweeds, because traditionally they are very itchy textiles. Must get back to work! :-)