I’m working on 7 new patterns at the moment, on top of my new LuLaRoe thing that I mentioned in my last post. So, if you’d like to knit some of my older patterns, enjoy 50% off for the next 48 hours! No code needed. Eligible patterns here.
unrelated
I’ve been buried in knitting design projects, as well as the usual busyness of being a work-at-home mama to 3 and 5 year old girls. So, of course, I’ve added another fun thing to my plate.
I’m slinging LuLaRoe now, too! I’m launching with my first sale this week (4/27) in my Facebook group here, but I’ll have another, non-Facebook regular online sale too, just leave a comment if you want me to contact you via a mailing list in the future. You can join the Facebook group via the above link. I’m holding a giveaway of a $25 credit this week.
Otherwise, this will return to being a craft-centric blogs soon. Just thought I’d explain my absence!
New Pattern: BABY Hiker’s Cardigan!
Finally, a baby version of my Little Hiker’s Cardigan is available today! It, and all of the patterns in my Ravelry store is 42% off for the rest of March for my birthday sale! No code required. Eligible patterns can be found here.
Much like its older sibling, the baby version is knit top-down, in garter stitch with a pair of cute pockets. It’s a quick little knit that flies off the needles. Pattern uses worsted weight yarn and has 4 sizes from 0-24 months. Find the pattern on Ravelry here. The version for older kids has sizes from 2-12.
Tutorial: Make Your Own Reusable Beeswax Food Wrap
We love reusable beeswax food wraps around here. They’re the perfect plastic-free way to tote your pb & j to work, preschool, or playgroups. And, it turns out, it’s pretty easy to make a simple beeswax-only version, too.
To make your own, you’ll need:
-an oven
-a cookie sheet (one preferably reserved for crafts, or this purpose)
-parchment paper
-scissors (I like to use pinking shears)
-a hunk of beeswax
-a grater
-paintbrush
-100% cotton fabric
Preheat oven to 195 degrees f. Cut your fabric to desired sizes (we use our 12″x 12″ and 9″x 9″ wraps the most). Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and place single piece of fabric on top. Grate beeswax and distribute evenly on top of fabric.
Place cookie sheet in oven and set timer for 6 minutes. When timer goes off, check to see if all beeswax is melted (if not, give it another 1-2 min). Remove from oven and use paintbrush to distribute beeswax evenly across fabric (fabric may look lighter in areas that are not adequately coated). Peel fabric from parchment before completely dry, and lay elsewhere to dry. It should be ready to use in minutes! (Note to self: turn off oven)
You can hand-wash or rinse your wraps after each use. Ours have lasted us for over 6 months already!
Peaks and Summit Hats
(because someone always asks about the boots, they are Keens)
My little family of 4 has been passing around a cold this week, and we’ve been glued to the couch and our hot water bottles. I’ve been all about the instant-gratification knitting, and WEBS’ Valley Yarns Superwash Super Bulky is a new favorite, knitting up at 2.5 stitches an inch. Even this mama, with almost no free time, was able to whip up 2 hats in just a few days. I finished them with huge fluffy poms, which I used to be terrible at making, thanks to these great pom pom makers that I read about on another blog.
These patterns, along with all accessory patterns in my Ravelry store, are 35% off until Christmas, no code needed.
Peaks hat on Ravelry.
Summit hat on Ravelry
The Knitted Hat Book
Interweave has just published a lovely new collection of hats in The Knitted Hat Book, and my pattern for the Scoop Brimmed Hat is included in the collection! I wanted to design a hat that worked for transitional weather too, so I chose an allover mesh stitch pattern that’s simple to knit. It’s a great hat to spring and fall, when some of us still want to wear a hat. This hat just 1 lovely skein of Dream in Color Classy with Cashmere, which is ridiculously soft and beautiful, and worth every cent.
If you order the book from Amazon between now and October 1st, you’ll receive a copy of my Welted Toque pattern for free after entering your order number here. The Welted Toque pattern is also included in my other book, Weekend Hats! (Full disclosure: when you purchase any items from amazon after clicking one of my amazon links, I do earn a very small referral fee which helps me pay for a month or two of hosting this website every year. Thank you!)
Here are photos a few others from The Knitted Hat Book:
Free Knitting Pattern: Getaway Poncho
Now that Weekend Wraps has been released, our publisher has shared one of the patterns from the book for free, and it happens to be one of mine. I thought I’d share it here, too, for my readers! The sample was returned to me in the spring, and I was able to wear it to a few preschool pick-ups before the weather turned too warm. Now that we’re experiencing cool mornings and evenings again in Massachusetts, it’s making its way back into rotation. You can find it on Ravelry here.
This is a quick knit in Berroco Peruvia Quick! Enjoy!
GETAWAY PONCHO by Melissa LaBarre (me!) from the book Weekend Wraps (Interweave, 2016)
Finished Size
Top of cowl circumference: 32″ (81.5 cm).
Neck circumference: 26″ (66 cm).
Bottom body circumference: 64″ (162.5 cm).
Length, from cowl along center front: 23″ (58.5 cm).
Yarn
Bulky weight (#6 Super Bulky).
Shown here: Berocco Peruvia Quick (100% wool; 103 yd [94 m]/3 ½ oz [100 g]): #9152 saddle brown, 8 skeins.
Needles
Size U.S. 10 ½ (6.5 mm): 24″ (60 cm) and 32″ (80 cm) circular (cir). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Notions
Stitch markers (m); tapestry needle.
Gauges
12 sts and 17 rnds = 4″ (10 cm) in St st.
12 sts and 22 rnds = 4″ (10 cm) in garter st.
Notes
Poncho begins at cowl neck and is worked in garter stitch with two decrease rounds to the neck. The body is then worked in stockinette stitch, shaped with yarnover increases along the center front and back and finished with a garter eyelet trim.
Stitch Guide
Garter Stitch worked in the round (any number of sts)
Rnd 1: Purl.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rep Rnds 1 and 2 for garter st worked in the rnd.
Stockinette Stitch worked in the round (any number of sts)
Knit every rnd.
Cowl Neck
With shorter cir needle, CO 98 sts. Place marker (pm) for beg of rnd, and join for working in rnds, being careful not to twist sts.
Work in garter st until piece measures 8″ (20.5 cm) from CO edge, ending with a purl rnd.
Dec rnd: K3, k2tog, *k8, k2tog; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3—88 sts rem.
Cont even until piece measures 10″ (25.5 cm) from CO edge, ending with a purl rnd.
Dec rnd: K2, k2tog, *k7, k2tog; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3—78 sts rem.
Cont even until piece measures 12″ (30.5 cm) from CO edge, ending with a purl rnd.
Body
Set-up rnd: K39, pm for center front, knit to end.
Body Shaping
Change to longer cir needle when there are too many sts to work comfortably on shorter cir needle.
Inc rnd: K1, yo, knit to 1 st before m, yo, k1, sl m, k1, yo, work to last st, yo, k1—4 sts inc’d.
Next rnd: Knit.
Rep last 2 rnds 33 more times, then rep inc rnd once more— 218 sts. Piece should measure about 20″ (51 cm) from cowl along center front.
Bottom Trim
Rnd 1: Purl.
Rnd 2: *Yo, k2tog; rep from * around.
Rep last 2 rnds 6 more times.
BO all sts pwise.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Block piece to finished measurements.
Receive occasional emails about new patterns, special discounts, and giveaways on the blog. New subscribers receive a special 50% discount code in 1st email.
Bright Spot
Sometimes, those little leftover bits of special yarn beg to be knit up into something special. I’ve been hoarding my worsted-weight Plucky Knitter leftovers, for just this kind of thing.
Meet Bright Spot, a worsted-weight fair isle hat that is a great use for those leftover bits of hand dyed yarns I used a black for the background, so it would mimic stained glass.
I finished it with a faux fur pompon, but you could make your own and use up even more leftover yarn!
This pattern is 50% off (no code required), until September 20th, 2016! You can purchase it here.
2 for Quince and Co: Alba and Helga
Quince and Co’s latest design team collection, Glen, has been released and I designed 2 of the 4 pieces! Alba is a simple fingering-weight colorwork hat that uses lovely Finch, leaving you tons of options for beautiful color combinations.
Helga is a tunic-length pullover with a hood and pockets, because what’s cozier than that? It uses 2 strands of Chickadee, held together, for a beautiful marled look and a heavy-worsted gauge (4.25 sts/inch) that makes it quick-to-knit!
Both patterns are available individually on Ravelry: Alba and Helga, or as part of the collection here.
Violet Cap & Bonnet: Individual Pattern Release
The Violet Bonnet and Violet Cap patterns from Making zine are now available individually! Both patterns are 35% off until Sept. 9th, no code required.