Classic Elite Web-Letter

Issue 114 – Ariosa Dress in Color

2009-11-18T18:44:51Z

Web-Letter, Issue 114 – Ariosa Dress in Color It's easy for me to fall in love with the shape, style and texture of a garment, but when the time comes for choosing what color to make it in, I'm often stumped. Photoshop has become a staple tool in helping me visualize which color I like best with a design. Take a look below at Cecily Glowik MacDonald's Ariosa Center Cable Dress pattern, found in Winter Whimsy. We've used Photoshop to adjust the dress color to a close representation of most of the Ariosa colors. I love this dress in Russet and Aquarius. What are your favorites?
The Yarn:
*Ariosa* 90% extrafine Merino, 10% cashmere Ariosa is a light and airy blend of extra fine merino and cashmere. Extra fine merino has a low micron count. A fiber’s softness is determined by its diameter—the smaller the diameter—micron count—the softer it is against the skin. Extra fine merino also has a long staple, a feature that adds luster and allows Ariosa’s relaxed twist to resist pilling. While garments knit in chunky-weight Ariosa will keep you warm, they’re light and lofty to wear. Ariosa knits up between 3½ and 4 sts per inch. Even with its loose twist, Ariosa has great stitch definition. Ariosa is available in a palette of 15 colors that ranges from lovely neutrals to vibrant brights.
The Story:
4813 Basalt	4814 Slate Gray	4803 Foam	4836 Tannin
4855 Russet	4827 Sangria	4858 Lipstick	4810 Jet Blue
4881 Camomile	4815 Balsam	4857 Ballad Blue	4809 Aquarius
4889 Aurora Pink	4895 Azalea
On Ravelry? Find this design. If you do not yet have access to Ravelry, add your e-mail to their list, and check back once you've received your invitation.
If you like the design above, you'll like this too:
		*Ariosa Pom-Pom Hat* Pattern available in Web-Letter Issue 71

Issue 112 – Fall 2009

2009-11-03T20:19:21Z

Web-Letter, Issue 112 – Fall 2009 These days, I’m loving stockinette stitch. I’m also loving simple shapes and simple stitches--trends that we’re seeing in the ready-to-wear world, too. CEY’s fall 2009 pattern collection represents all kinds of knitting—cables, colorwork, lace, and other knitterly things. We’ve made sure that there are plenty of pieces that are easy, fun, and interesting to knit—pieces that make the most of simple stitches and fresh embellishments. Here are some of the Web-Letter team's fall favorites. Creative Director
The Yarns:
Giselle Giselle is a beautiful kid mohair and wool blend. It’s a little heavier than lace weight but plenty light and airy for floaty designs.		Kumara Kumara is a blend of baby camel hair and extra fine merino. It has a hand almost as soft as cashmere. Undyed camel hair is spun with dyed wool to create a subtle heathered effect.		Chesapeake Cheasapeake is the latest addition to our Verde line of eco-friendly yarns. It’s a blend of organic cotton and soft merino and it has a very slight mouline effect.
The Booklets:
9102 Weekend Ravelry link	9103 Snow Day Ravelry link	9104 Winter Whimsy Ravelry link	9105 Saturday Afternoon Ravelry link	9106 Sunday Brunch Ravelry link
The Patterns: I really like to knit garments that I will want to wear everyday, and I love lots and lots of stockinette stitch and simple details. The stockinette stitch Kumara Funnel Neck pullover has amazing garter stitch collar and sleeves; Véronik Avery used simple embroidery stitches to make the Duchess Embroidered Cardigan extraordinary; Pam Allen worked a lovely skirted bottom and added adorable buttons to the Montera Embroidered Jacket; a simple stockinette raglan is made extra special by Melissa LaBarre’s addition of folded over and buttoned collar and cuffs; and Carrie Bostick Hoge’s oh-so-vintage looking Fresco Lace Bodice Cardigan becomes very precious with the addition of lace panels.
Kumara Funnel Neck Pullover 9102 Weekend	Duchess Embroidered Cardigan 9103 Snow Day	Montera Embroidered Button Jacket 9104 Winter Whimsy	Moorland Foldover Cowl Pullover 9105 Saturday Afternoon	Fresco Lace Bodice Cardigan 9106 Sunday Brunch
As it gets chillier by the day here in Maine, I want to wrap myself from head to toe in knitted goods. Pam Allen's Montera Fair Isle Yoke Pullover would certainly be a part of my cold weather uniform. I love the simple-yet-intersting colorwork and the fact that it is a double-stranded knit— fast, fun and super warm! Also, Véronik Avery’s Fresco Fair Isle Vest is calling my name. I love the soft, friendly color palette and the fact that it is worked in Fresco, one of my favorite yarns. And lastly, I’m a sucker for great knitted accessories. I’d be one happy camper knitting Cecily Glowik McDonald’s Forbidden Beret and Wicked Flower Stitch Gloves, and Catherine Shumadine’s Long socks in Alpaca Sox.
Montera Fair Isle Yoke Pullover 9103 Snow Day	Forbidden Beret 9104 Winter Whimsy	Wicked Flower Stitch Gloves 9104 Winter Whimsy	Fresco Fair Isle Vest 9105 Saturday Afternoon	Alpaca Sox Long Socks 9106 Sunday Brunch
While working on tech editing this season's patterns, I fell in love with the construction, feel and fit of so many of them—It was hard to choose just a few favorites. I had the liberty of trying on many of the model garments. Pam Allen's dolman-sleeve dress in Giselle, Carrie Bostick Hoge's cabled shrug in Aspen and poncho-style vest in Princess stood out as ones that fit me well, hugged my curves and had interesting-enough construction that I'm eager to knit them up. Pam's La Gran dress has beautiful lace and a fun construction that I would love to experience knitting up. And my own lace cardigan in Miracle is a great everyday cardi that I dreamed up while camping and would love to knit one of my own.
Giselle Dolman-Sleeve Dress 9102 Weekend	Aspen Cabled Shrug 9103 Snow Day	La Gran Drop-Stitch Dress 9104 Winter Whimsy	Miracle Lace Cardigan 9105 Saturday Afternoon	Princess Poncho-Style Vest 9106 Sunday Brunch
I confess that often when I finish something I’ve designed, I’m disappointed with it. What looked great in the imagining sometimes falls short in reality. That said, I like the way the Miracle Lily-in-the-Valley cardi turned out. I love the easy-to-wear silhouette and the bobbly stitch pattern that edges the neckline on this piece. Other favorites? Cecily Glowik McDonald’s charming pink garter-stitch mitts in cashmere (Forbidden), embellished with matching buttons and worn with the orange Montera Jacket, and her light-as-air lace top pullover in Giselle, a floaty new fine-gauge mohair. I also love the clean lines of Carrie Bostick Hoge’s three-button swingy yellow jacket worked in our new eco-friendly Chesapeake. And I adore Kristen TenDyke’s long richly textured cabley vest in soft Inca Alpaca. I love the fit, the color, and the stitches in this vest. I’ll be making one for myself. Finally, I think the mix of easy texture patterns in Robin Melanson’s Classic One Fifty lace-up pullover is lovely. And the sweater’s ribbon tie is the perfect final touch.
Chesapeake 3-Button Jacket 9102 Weekend	Giselle Lace Bottom Pullover 9102 Weekend	Inca Alpaca Long V-Neck Vest 9103 Snow Day	Forbidden Mitts 9104 Winter Whimsy	Miracle Lily-of-the-Valley Cardigan 9105 Saturday Afternoon	Classic One Fifty Lace-Up Pullover 9106 Sunday Brunch

Issue 111 – Kumara Arm Warmers

2009-10-27T18:08:52Z

Web-Letter, Issue 111 – Kumara Arm Warmers Knitting offers great fodder for the creative process. A good knitwear designer takes familiar stitches and techniques and uses them in unaccustomed ways to create new and imaginative garments. Laura Zukaite’s book Luxe Knits: Couture Designs to Knit and Crochet (Lark Books, 2009) is a lovely example of how a gifted creative thinker can make an old craft modern and exciting. Read on… Creative Director
The Story: “In Luxe Knits I wanted to show how design evolves: from an initial inspiration to an interpretation of technique; from technique to fashion sketches; and from sketches to an actual garment.” So begins the introduction to Laura Zukaite’s new book, a collection of 26 sweaters and accessories. The ‘luxe’ part has to do with the fibers she chose to work with—silks, cashmeres, handpainted linen, etc. But even if you can’t afford to treat yourself to an expensive skein of yarn, Laura’s garments are well worth working up in more affordable fibers. And her creative exploration of tried and true knitting moves make this book well worth investing in. For example, the first chapter explores knitted folds in stockinette stitch—the technique in which you knit a few rows then pick up a previous row of stitches to create a horizontal tuck. Laura uses delicate rings of sculpted tucks to trim the cuffs on sleek cashmere gloves and to embellish a simple striped hat. In other projects, prominent tuck-folds help an attached scarf fold and drape and on a simple rectangular shrug, they make a striking design element In subsequent chapters, Laura explores the possibilities in smocking, cables, combining yarns of different colors to create tonal effects, honeycomb patterns, and freeform crochet. (A perfectly plain stockinette sweater with a crocheted butterfly to fill in the cut-out back is one of several truly knockout pieces.) Bags, gloves, mitts, even jewelry find a place in Luxe Knits, as well as sweaters, wraps, and two very wearable skirts. Not least of the pleasures in Luxe Knits are Laura Zukaite’s fashion illustrations. It’s fun to see the imagined piece in counterpoint to the photo of the final, realized sweater. And knitters will appreciate the book's layout. Instructions for each design are shown with multiple photos of the garment. As you knit, you can check the instructions against the pictures. Learn more about Laura Zukaite, her book, and her job at Polo at http://laurazukaite.blogspot.com The Yarn: *Kumara* 85% extrafine merino, 15% camel Kumara is a blend of extra-fine merino and baby camel hair. Merino is a warm and buoyant fiber that takes dyes beautifully; camel is a super soft, luxurious fiber that, because of its short staple length, adds a lovely halo. The merino component is dyed before it’s spun with undyed camel hair. The blend of dyed and undyed fibers makes soft, muted colors. Kumara’s six twisted plies yield great stitch definition. Kumara is available in 15 soft and dreamy colors.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable Kumara Arm Warmers pattern. If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2 The Stitches: Laura’s mitts have thumb gussets formed by increasing stitches between 2 markers. Once the required number of stitches have been increased, these stitches are bound off. On the next rnd, the Backward Loop Cast-On method (AKA Single Cast-On method), is used to cast on sts to close the thumb opening and the piece is joined to continue working in the rnd. Learn more about casting on mid-row.
On Ravelry? Find this design. If you do not yet have access to Ravelry, add your e-mail to their list, and check back once you've received your invitation.
If you like the design above, you'll like this too:
	*Inca Alpaca Fair Isle Mitts* Pattern available in Web-Letter Issue 32

Issue 110 – Rhinebeck Review

2009-10-20T19:52:06Z

Web-Letter, Issue 110 – Rhinebeck Review

Greetings! This past weekend, on two raw October days, thousands of people gathered to view sheep, shop yarn, and renew friendships with fellow knitters at the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival in upstate New York. Today, Cecily Glowik MacDonald gives us a rundown of her experience at the show. Note the warm, KNITTED gear seen in her pictures—the show is a great place to show off projects to an appreciative audience.

Creative Director

The Story:

The New York Sheep and Wool Festival takes place every October in Rhinebeck, NY. To those that have gone before, it is affectionately known simply as RHINEBECK! Knitters, designers and spinners come from all over to take part in classes, sheep viewing, the pleasures of an amazing selection of food, designer spotting, author signings, and, of course, shopping. One of my favorite parts is getting to see everyone wearing their beautiful handknits—lovely knitted items are everywhere.

The festival takes place on the Duchess County Fairgrounds and you can see the excitement on the faces of Melissa G (the pattern for the hood-scarf she is sporting is available through Patternfish) and Melissa LaBarre as we wait in line to enter.

After we entered we ran into Bob (well, Ysolda in her amazing handknit Bob suit), Hannah Fettig, and Jessica (co-founder of Ravelry). Hannah is wearing her lovely Lightweight Pullover (knit in CEY's Fresco yarn) and Jess is wearing Gundrun Johnston’s Vaila from Twist Collective's Winter '08 issue. Also in that issue of Twist is Pam Allen's cozy cowl worked in CEY's Ariosa yarn.

We then wandered over to see the sheep breed featured this year, the Leicester Longwool, and to watch a sheep shearing demonstration.

Here we ran into amazing knitwear designers Gudrun Johnston and Melissa Wehrle wearing some of their lovely handknits.

It was time to check out some of the fantastic fair food. No, I am not eating fleece, it is maple cotton candy, made and spun right there from genuine maple sugar. The other big hits this year were the fried artichokes and home made chicken potpie.

I’m wearing my new sweater knit in my current favorite yarn, CEY's Kumara.

Fueled up on sugar, it was time do some shopping. Not only were there wonderful yarns from small mills, there was a wine and cheese tent and many other handmade items for sale. I got a lovely necklace!

As we wandered on, we came upon a table set up where knitters could help knit the world’s largest hand-knitted sock and a circle of knitters competing in a speed knitting competition. Then it was time to battle the traffic and go back to the hotel to get ready for the Ravelry party.

Classic Elite Yarns and St. Denis were two of the generous sponsors for the Ravelry party this year. It was packed when we first arrived! I also got to see the wonderful women in my Lowell knitting group at the party.

The New York Sheep and Wool Festival is a very fun and friendly experience. I know that I will be back next year.

Issue 109 – Classic One Fifty Frothy Set

2009-10-13T20:13:34Z

Web-Letter, Issue 109 – Classic One Fifty Frothy Crochet Set Different yarns suit different purposes and seasons. When days are short and frigid, I reach for cozy yarns with fuzz and halo for knits that are snug and warm. When days are cool but it’s still too early for down parkas and sturdy boots, I like to reach for a scarf and mitts that meet the season without overkill. Today’s Frothy scarf and mitt set—oh so CROCHETED—are worked in Classic One Fifty, a smooth, round sportweight yarn that’s perfect this time of year. We love Rebecca Velasquez's use of a stunning stitch pattern used to good effect with a solid and contrasting color. Read more… Creative Director
The Story: From Rebecca: When I began work on the design for my scarf and mitts, I spent countless hours flipping the pages of my crochet stitch books, marking patterns of inspiration with thoughts and ideas. There has always been something that I love about the pattern, Single Crochet Magic. It’s elegant yet common, lacy and simple. I’ve worked many projects with many yarns. Now, finally, I feel all my experience has come together and my persistence has paid off with this hand warmer & scarf set. Visit Rebecca's website. The Yarn: *Classic One Fifty* 100% fine merino Classic One Fifty is a smooth, soft, 100% merino yarn. Its lovely hand has to do with the softness of the fiber and the structure of the yarn. It's made from fine, fine plies which are themselves, fine, fine, fine plies twisted together. All the plies and the twisting create a round, tube-like lightweight yarn with very little fuzz on the surface. It’s a great yarn not only for knitted projects, but for crochet ones, too. Classic One Fifty comes in a palette of 31 colors that offers many options for great color combinations. It knits up between 5½ and 6 stitches to the inch. The Stitches: A simple edging can often add striking detail to a garment. The picot edging around the outer edge of the scarf and the wrist edge of the mitts is easy to make, and it can be added to any edge. It is worked by simply working 3 single crochet stitches, chaining 3, then working a slip stitch into the last single crochet that was worked. By working into that single crochet stitch the chain-3 forms a tight loop making an elegant little picot. Learn more crochet stitches here.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable Classic One Fifty Frothy Set pattern. If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2, page 3
On Ravelry? Find this design. If you do not yet have access to Ravelry, add your e-mail to their list, and check back once you've received your invitation.
If you like the design above, you'll like this too:
	*Wicked Flower Stitch Gloves* Pattern available in 9104 Winter Whimsy

Issue 108 – Lush Autumn Pullover

2009-10-06T17:46:23Z

Web-Letter, Issue 108 – Lush Autumn Pullover Greetings from Portland, Maine! Fall color is peaking here and the air is getting cooler—or not. Some days I come out the door in summer mode and promptly turn around to add a layer. On other days, however, I exit my house in scarf and coat and have to turn around and regroup in something less toasty. Transitioning from one season to the next is tricky when the weather can’t make up its mind. Carrie Hoge's Lush Autumn Pullover with elbow-length sleeves and seed stitch yoke would be the perfect thing for me. Its easy shape fits over a tee or shirt, but it’s snug enough to go easily under a jacket. And Lush’s luscious angora halo makes the sweater soft to touch and snuggle in—a great way to ease into sturdier winter garb. Creative Director
The Story: Autumn’s golden palette is an inspiration for me every year. The warm glow of the falling leaves, the delicious fall harvest, and chilly weather are all reminders that it is once again my favorite season: sweater season. I made this sweater with apple picking in mind. And it would be great to wear strolling through our many country fairs or cuddling up in an easy chair with a mug of hot apple cider. Visit Carrie's blog, and her website. The Yarn: *Lush* 50% angora, 50% wool Lush is a blend of wool and angora spun into a 4 ply worsted-weight yarn. The wool in the mix keeps the yarn stable and sturdy, while the angora part makes the yarn extremely soft and gives it a warm, cuddly feel. Knitting with Lush is a pleasure—it has the hand of a luxury yarn but without the price. Lush comes in 24 colors that range from soft and subtle to rich and bold. The Stitches: For the Seed Stitch instructions in this pattern, we've used the phrase "knit the purl sitches and purl the knit stitches as they face you." We find that this phrase is the best way to explain how to continue working Seed Stitch after the first row is established—as sometimes stitches are increased or decreased, changing the beginning or ending points in the stitch pattern. In order to clarify what this phrase means, please take a look at this tutorial.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable Lush Autumn Pullover pattern. If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2
On Ravelry? Find this design. If you do not yet have access to Ravelry, add your e-mail to their list, and check back once you've received your invitation.
If you like the design above, you'll like these too:
	*Lush Sweater, Shell, Cardi and Dog Sweater)* Pattern available for download from Patternfish

Issue 107 – Montera Cob Toque

2009-09-29T18:50:07Z

Web-Letter, Issue 107 – Montera Cob Toque The cool mornings here in New England are a sure-fire sign that the holiday season and chilly, winter weather are approaching quickly. To help us prepare, Kathy North has offered us a quick and fun-to-knit hat—knitted in CEY's tried-and-true Montera—perfect for ourselves or our loved ones.
The Story: From Kathy: Hats seem to be universally loved and appreciated by everyone. They also offer unlimited design opportunities and are an easy way to play with new stitch combinations. Since my style tends toward the classic and a "keep-it-simple-stupid" philosophy, if a stitch pattern has a good rhythm to it, is fun to work and easy to execute, I often like to test it on a hat. When I came across the "cob nut" stitch pattern (from the Reader's Digest Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting & Crochet Stitches), I thought it would work well as an all-over fabric for a hat. But of course the fun of designing is being able to change your mind! Rather than using this stitch pattern throughout, the "cob" stitches were staggered only three times. At that point, I changed my mind and decided to start decreasing for the crown in circular stockinette stitch. Something unexpected happened. The contrast between reverse stockinette on the body and stockinette on the crown resulted in this wonderful toque shape—a happy accident! The lush Montera yarn lends body and warmth to this design, showing off the "cob" stitch pattern. In this yarn, the knitting flows quickly and effortlessly. The Cob Toque is fun to knit, with the added bonus of trying a stitch pattern you may not be familiar with. I hope you enjoy making some for your friends, family and yourself! Visit Kathy's website. The Yarn: *Montera* 50% llama, 50% wool Montera is a single ply yarn of a lovely blend of 50% llama and 50% wool. It is soft yet strong and knits up quickly at a gauge of 3½–4 sts per inch. Montera is available in 100 gram hanks in 35 solid colors and 13 heathered colors. From warm winter sweaters to bright hats and fair isle mitts, Montera is a wonderful and time-tested yarn. The Stitches: The stitch count in the cob stitch pattern used in Kathy's hat changes from 4 stitches to 6 stitches, then back to 4 stitches. On rounds 1 and 6, three stitches are worked into one stitch, increasing 2 stitches. Then on rounds 3 and 8, the increased stitches are decreased by knitting three stitches together to form one stitch.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable Montera Cob Toque pattern. If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try this: page 1
On Ravelry? Find this design. If you do not yet have access to Ravelry, add your e-mail to their list, and check back once you've received your invitation.
If you like the design above, you'll like this too:
	*Forbidden Beret* Pattern available in 9104 Winter Whimsy Ravel it.
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Issue 105 – MinnowMerino Bow Tie Tube Hats

2009-09-15T19:21:53Z

Web-Letter, Issue 105 – MinnowMerino Bow Tie Tube Hats Knitting for babies is a great way to give free reign to one of the pleasures of knitting—working with color. No need to wonder if you’ll ever wear an orange neck warmer or a purple hat. Babies love color. Jil Eaton knows this, and so does Laurie Kimmelstiel, designer of the sweet little hats we’re featuring as this week’s free pattern. Laurie drew on Jil Eaton’s lively MinnowMerino color palette to make her mini chapeaus. Creative Director
The Story: From Laurie: I knit everywhere I go. And I constantly try to create designs that allow me to knit and do several other things simultaneously: walk, listen to music, read, converse with a friend—sometimes all of the above. Most of the knitting for these hats can be done just as I have described above—mindlessly. The design for the hat evolved to meet the need to knit during our two hour drive to our country home in the Taconic foothills of upstate New York. I love all the colors in MinnowMerino. Because I had trouble choosing just two or three, I bought all the colors I liked to inspire my creative juices. I loved mixing and matching the vibrant shades for powerful combinations—and who better than a baby to carry them off? These are happy hats that bring a smile to my face—even though I didn’t have to look at them much while I was knitting. Visit Laurie's blog. The Yarn: *MinnowMerino* 100% extra fine superwash merino wool MinnowMerino is a super-soft, machine-washable, worsted-weight yarn. The loose twist of this single-ply, extra-fine merino allows for quick knits that are cozy and lightweight. Laurie’s adorable hats show off a few of the kid-friendly, bright, clean colors in the MinnowMerino palette. Visit the minnowknits website to sign up for MinnowNotes—receive quarterly messages filled with MinnowInfo. The Stitches: Laurie’s whimsical baby hats are a quick, fun, and easy knit. You cast onto a circular needle, then join the stitches and work in the round to form a tube. After a few rows, you begin the simple Fair Isle pattern, then continue in the main color only. A round of evenly spaced yarn overs form eyelet openings for an I-cord tie which gathers up the crown of the hat with a tied bow. Here are some links that you may find helpful when knitting the Laurie’s baby hats: How to work Fair Isle. How to make an I-Cord. How to make a yarn over.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable MinnowMerino Bow Tie Tube Hats pattern. If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2
On Ravelry? Find this design. If you do not yet have access to Ravelry, add your e-mail to their list, and check back once you've received your invitation.
If you like the design above, you'll like this too:
	*#220 Birthday Chapeau* by Jill Eaton Ravel it.
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Issue 104 – Solstice Dias de Betty

2009-09-15T13:29:31Z

Web-Letter, Issue 104 – Solstice Dias de Betty There are summery cottony yarns and wintery wooly yarns, and then there are yarns that fall somewhere between. Blending fibers that don’t seem to go together often results in a stunning yarn. CEY has several of these interesting hybrids: Solstice, a comfortable blend of organic cotton and soft merino featured in Stephanie Voyer's Dias de Betty pullover; Soft Linen, a cool mix of linen, alpaca, and wool; and Summer Set, a soft, plump combination of pima and alpaca. I love these unorthodox blends. They offer the soft hand and elasticity of winter fibers and the cool touch of plant fibers. All three of these yarns show off stitches—as evidenced by the crisp diagonal lines of Stephanie‘s Dias de Betty pullover. Creative Director
The Story: From Stephanie: Dias de Betty means Day of Betty. Why this name? I am a big fan of the Ugly Betty series and was inspired by a certain episode to create this sweater pattern. Three words describe Dias de Betty: eyelet, decrease and angle. A mix of these techniques result in a feminine pullover with ¾ sleeves. The empire waist and low, overlapped V-neck accentuate the bust line and lengthen the neck. For more designs by Stephanie Voyer visit her blog. The Yarn: *Solstice* 70% organic cotton, 30% merino wool Solstice, a yarn in our eco-friendly Verde Collection, is a blend of organically-grown cotton and soft merino wool. Combining these two fibers allows Solstice to make use of the best qualities of each. The cotton component keeps the stitches crisp and clear, provides structure, and allows the finished garment to breathe. Super soft merino wool adds warmth, drape, and helps the knitted piece to hold its shape. The Stitches: When designing a garment that uses a stitch pattern with a large repeat, it is often necessary to adjust where to begin and end within that stitch pattern for each size. This allows for more control over the finished measurements for a better fit. Where to begin and end each size is marked on the charts for Dias de Betty. Kristen explains here how to read her lovely charts. Also, you might want to look at our tutorial on how to avoid stair-stepped shoulder bind offs.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable Solstice Dias de Betty pattern. If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2, page 3
On Ravelry? Find this design. If you do not yet have access to Ravelry, add your e-mail to their list, and check back once you've received your invitation.
If you like the design above, you'll like this too:
	Solstice Long V-Neck Pullover Pattern available in *9096 Johns Bay* Ravel it.
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Issue 103 – Silky Alpaca Lace Scarf

2009-09-01T21:02:44Z

Web-Letter, Issue 103 – Silky Alpaca Lace Scarf

Lace doesn’t need to be complicated in order to look intricate. Simple to work lace patterns that yield beautiful fabrics are easy to find in stitch dictionaries. Take, for example, Alice Halbeisen’s Silky Alpaca Lace Scarf. It grew from a test swatch to a fetching accessory.

Creative Director

The Story:

From Alice:

My Silky Alpaca Lace Scarf began as a swatching exercise. While I’m not new to lace knitting, I had never worked a lace pattern in laceweight yarn. I preferred dk weight because it was faster and, I thought, easier to handle. Nevertheless, as a knitter who is always looking for something new to try, I grabbed a leftover ball of CEY's Silky Alpaca Lace, my collection of stitch dictionaries, and some size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, then sat down to browse the lace chapters.

I looked for a simple lace pattern—one that had few stitch and row repeats and didn't require any yarn overs or decreases on wrong side rows. Once I found my ideal stitch pattern, the Dainty Chevron pattern on page 275 of Barbara Walker’s A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, I cast on enough stitches for five repeats.

When working lace patterns, I tend to be impatient. However, I had to wait until I’d worked several row repeats to really see the pattern appear. The chosen stitch pattern came out so well that I just kept knitting until the yarn was all used up. And every few inches I steam-blocked the piece with the needles still on! A move that kept me motivated and chugging along.

At 437 yards per ball, Silky Alpaca Lace has great yardage. With only half a ball, I was able to make a nice long scarf that Catherine, my teenage daughter, has claimed for herself. I really love the soft halo in the finished project. I think once you try lace with laceweight yarn and see the delicate effect you get, you’ll want to tackle more lace projects. I've become completely obsessed.

The Yarn:

Silky Alpaca Lace
70% alpaca, 30% silk

Silky Alpaca Lace is a lace-weight blend of 70% alpaca and 30% silk. The alpaca lends a soft halo to the yarn and provides warmth; silk adds a subtle sheen to the knittied fabric and dresses up the stitches. Worked in a lace pattern with larger needles, it makes a lovely, light-as-air garment.

Silky Alpaca Lace comes in 16 colors: the palette includes soft, sensuous misty shades, neutrals, and rich saturated colors as well.

more photos

The Pattern:

Here is the free downloadable Silky Alpaca Lace Scarf pattern.

If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try this: page 1

The Stitches:

The lace pattern in Alice’s scarf uses yarn over increases to form eyelets. To balance out these increased stitches, left and right slanting decreases are worked to form the sides of the “triangle” sections of the pattern.

Learn more about yarnovers and left and right slanting decreases.

On Ravelry? Find this design.

If you do not yet have access to Ravelry, add your e-mail to their list, and check back once you've received your invitation.

If you like the design above, you'll like this too:

Silky Alpaca Lace Lacy Scarf

Pattern available in
9097 Heron Island

Ravel it.

Issue 103 – Silky Alpaca Lace Scarf

2009-09-01T21:02:41Z

Web-Letter, Issue 103 – Silky Alpaca Lace Scarf

Creative Director

The Story:

From Alice:

The Yarn:

Silky Alpaca Lace
70% alpaca, 30% silk

Silky Alpaca Lace comes in 16 colors: the palette includes soft, sensuous misty shades, neutrals, and rich saturated colors as well.

more photos

The Pattern:

Here is the free downloadable Silky Alpaca Lace Scarf pattern.

If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try this: page 1

The Stitches:

Learn more about yarnovers and left and right slanting decreases.

On Ravelry? Find this design.

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Silky Alpaca Lace Lacy Scarf

Pattern available in
9097 Heron Island

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Issue 102 – Soft Linen Lace Belt

2009-08-25T19:18:18Z

Web-Letter, Issue 102 – Soft Linen Lace Belt Today, Pam, Carrie and Cecily are all hanging out with sweaters, models and cameras up in Maine for the Spring 2010 photo shoot. It's that time of year, when we at CEY are thinking of Spring and Fall at the same time—Fall '09 was just released and Spring '10 is just beginning. It's a time of transition. This week Amy Polcyn shares with us a great transitional project—a knitted belt—great to knit and wear any time of year. And don't miss the chic pullover by Amy, knitted in Chesapeake, in the Fall '09 issue of Vogue Knitting.
The Story: From Amy: I love one skein projects, especially in the summer, because they're so easy to tuck in a bag and take with you to the park, the beach or wherever. I fell in love with this flower-shaped belt buckle and immediately wanted to make a knitted belt to go with it! I chose Classic Elite's Soft Linen for its crisp stitch definition and soft feel, both of which worked nicely with the simple leaf lace pattern I used. The stitch repeat is easy to memorize, making it a perfect take-along project. Visit Amy's blog to see what else she is up to. The Yarn: *Soft Linen* 35% linen, 35% wool, 30% baby alpaca Soft Linen is a blend of alpaca, wool and linen that combine to make a yarn which is both soft and sturdy. Pieces knit in Soft Linen will hold their shape, while remaining soft to the touch. This makes it a particularly good choice for accessories that will get a lot of use, like belts, shawls and mitts. Soft Linen is available in a palette of 15 refined, yet robust colors. The Stitches: Lace patterns are composed of increases and decreases. The arrangement of these stitches often alters the look of the edges of the knit piece. Most often the cast on edge receives the most visible change and will have a wavy or scalloped look (see photo). The bound off edge tends to take on some of the waviness as well. However, it is often necessary to bind off loosely and then pin and block this edge into shape in order to get the waves as deep as those in the cast on edge. If this edge will be used in a seam, blocking it out straight may be best. The sides of the piece can also be affected by the lace pattern and add an interesting design element, but would be difficult to seam together (see Soft Linen Minnie). Before beginning to knit a piece in a lace pattern, swatching the lace stitch will allow you to see how the increases and decreases will influence the edges.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable Soft Linen Lace Belt pattern. If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try this: page 1
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If you like the design above, you'll like this too:
	Soft Linen Minnie's Cover Up Pattern available in *Web-Letter Issue 97* Ravel it.
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Issue 101 – Cotton Bam Boo Girl's Dress

2009-08-19T12:43:02Z

Web-Letter, Issue 101 – Cotton Bam Boo Girl’s Dress Special is an important word in a little girl’s vocabulary—and this week’s pattern is special indeed. It’s a swingy little piece—with beads! Kim Wagner’s little Girl’s Dress has classic styling and it’s knitted in a most modern way—from the top down. No seams and embellished with sparkly beads, the dress is fit for a princess. Charlotte, Betsy Perry’s granddaughter and our model, could hardly be persuaded to part with the dress after the shoot. Creative Director
The Story: From Kim: Inspired by the dresses my sisters and I wore to Sunday school and the easy jersey dresses my daughter wore to play in, I’ve designed a dress that is feminine, fun, and age appropriate. The Girl’s Dress is sized from toddler to 4T. The dress is knitted in one piece, from the top down, with short row shaping in the shoulders and set in sleeves. The pattern stitches allow for hidden increases that give fullness to the swingy skirt. Knitted in a soft neutral color the simple stitch details would stand out, but the dress could also be pretty and playful worked in a bright happy color. The optional bead embellishment at the neck and hemline take this comfortable dress from playground to tea party. See more of Kim’s designs on Ravelry and you can read her blog with her sisters. The Yarn: *Cotton Bam Boo* 52% cotton, 48% bamboo Cotton Bam Boo is a smooth, lustrous sportweight yarn with great stitch definition. The cotton component allows the blend to knit up into a fabric that is soft and breathable. Bamboo adds a soft sheen, and it’s naturally antibacterial. It also has wonderful drape—as you can see in the Girl’s Dress. Cotton Bam Boo has a gauge of 6 stitches per inch and comes in 22 beautiful colors.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free downloadable Cotton Bam Boo Girl's Dress pattern. If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2, page 3 The Stitches: Adding beads to your knitting is easier than it looks with the help of a crochet hook. Use the hook to hold the bead and then slip it over the stitch. This allows you to place beads on individual stitches as desired without having to pre-string beads on the yarn. Learn how to add beads to your knitting.
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If you like the design above, you'll like this too:
	Cotton Bam Boo Little Shell Top Pattern available in *Web-Letter Issue 52* Ravel it.
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Issue 100 – Soft Linen Shawl

2009-08-11T17:06:20Z

Web-Letter, Issue 100 – Soft Linen Shawl

It’s hard to believe that this is our 100^th web-letter. And it has come at the perfect time—Classic Elite Yarns was recently purchased by Betsy Perry. The company will continue to do business as Classic Elite Yarns, under the LLC of Robertson-Chase Fibers (named for Betsy's two grandmothers).

Betsy joined CEY in 2003 as vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to joining the company, Betsy held positions in various corporations, including Humana and the Stride Rite Corporation. She received a degree from Kendall College of Chicago and an MBA from Simmons School of Management in Boston. An avid knitter and needlepointer, she also serves on the Board of Directors of The National Needlearts Association and the Advisory Committee of the industry's trade magazine, Yarn Market News.

We at CEY are delighted that Betsy is now at the helm and look forward to her leadership. We’ll continue to benefit from her enthusiasm, insight into the industry, and her readiness to try new things. To celebrate this new chapter in CEY history, Cecily Glowik MacDonald has designed a little something special. Read on.

The Story:

I think that handknit items are always the best gifts, shawls and scarves seem particularly so. There is something really special about making a gift for someone that is not only pretty, but can keep them warm as well. So, as a gift from all of us at Classic Elite, I designed a shawl for the company's new owner and long time employee, Betsy Perry.

Kristen and I approached Heather with color options and she thought through the shawls that Betsy had made for herself. We decided that a shawl in Soft Linen in the Smokey Rose color would fit well with her wardrobe. I wanted to design something that was uncomplicated, but pretty. I chose to work a simple triangle that is shaped by increasing at the edges and on either side of the center stitch and finished with a lace pattern. As I was searching through stitch books for just the right lace edging, I came upon a herringbone-ish pattern. The way that the zig-zaging eyelets are lined up along side the stockinette stitch portions reminded me of a fringed edge. I thought that this pattern was the perfect simple, pretty, yet not too frilly edging.

Visit Cecily's blog and read about her upcoming book.

The Yarns:

Soft Linen
35% linen, 35% wool, 30% baby alpaca

Soft Linen is very versatile yarn. When knit at a smaller gauge the fabric is smooth and soft and holds its shape beautifully. When knit at a larger gauge the fabric gains even more drape while keeping its shape. The alpaca component fills in the stitches keeping them from appearing too loose while the linen and wool keep the stitches straight and even. The 15 available colors of Soft Linen are earthy and sophisticated.

more photos

The Pattern:

Here is the free downloadable Soft Linen Shawl pattern.

If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try this: page 1

The Stitches:

I don’t think that I will ever cease to be amazed at how pieces using this type of shaping, end up such lovely triangles! On every right side row the shaping is worked by increasing one stitch on each end and one stitch on either side of the center stitch. The wrong side rows are worked even. When the piece is bound off, the rows form the longest edge of the shawl. The bound off row then becomes the two shorter sides and the point of the triangle. So fantastic!

See how this shawl is shaped.

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If you like the design above, you'll like this too:

Bridgewater Shawl

Pattern available in
Made in Brooklyn
by Jared Flood.

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Issue 99 – Allegoro Scoop Neck Pullover

2009-08-04T17:50:01Z

Web-Letter, Issue 99 – Allegoro Scoop Neck Pullover

Someday I’ll write an ode to stockinette stitch. It may be humble and plain, but its pleasures are many: it’s easy to work, and its smooth surface draws attention to knitterly details and shows off a good yarn. Carrie Bostick Hoge's neat Scoop Neck Pullover is a case in point. Worked in stockinette, her sweater makes the most of a graceful neckline, forgiving silhouette, and a smooth yarn in summer’s favorite fibers—organic cotton and linen.

Creative Director

The Story:

Three factors contributed to this design: color, style, and simplicity. (Well, four, if you consider that I was anxious to use Allegoro). Originally, I had a cardigan in mind, and I chose the Best Berry color to liven things up. But after swatching, I realized that this color, for some reason, wanted to be a pullover instead.

So, okay, I listened. And this led me to the second factor—I wanted to create a garment that would fit into my wardrobe. I wear very few pullovers, so I took a close look at my meager summer attire. I decided a scoop neck top that I could dress up or down was just the ticket.

With the basics determined it was time to think stitches, which brought me to my last motivation—simplicity. My summer has been a busy one with tending to the garden, caring for our animals, and helping with home renovations. So for the love of summer simplicity, it seemed that stockinette stitch would be most appropriate and comforting.

Violà! I happlily cast-on.

Visit Carrie's blog.

The Yarns:

Allegoro
70% organic cotton, 30% linen

Allegoro is a blend of organically grown cotton and linen. In keeping with its mostly earth-friendly fiber content, Allegoro is dyed using GOTS certified non-toxic dyes. (You can find out more about GOTS standards here: www.global-standard.org.) These dyes yield beautiful soft colors, the kind of colors that are easy to wear and you’ll never tire of.

Allegoro is great for transitional garments — little cardigans and tops. If you’re inclined to make something outright summery, like a tank top or camisole, Allegoro will keep you cool and comfortable — in the knitting and wearing.

It comes in 10 enticing colors.

(Allegoro is included in the “Living Green” article in the Fall 09 issue of Knit Simple magazine)

more photos

The Pattern:

Here is the free downloadable Allegoro Scoop Neck Pullover pattern.

If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2

The Stitches:

Carrie’s Allegoro Scoop Neck Pullover is worked from the bottom up. It begins with 1 x 1 ribbing, then changes to Stockinette Stitch for the body. Using the Backward Loop and Cable Cast On methods, stitches are cast on at the end of many rows to form the sleeves. The neck shaping is worked using right and left slanting decreases and short rows are used to shape the shoulders. Front and back are identical and joined along the shoulder and sleeve using the Three-Needle Bind off method.

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If you like the design above, you'll like this too:

Allegoro Loose Knit Cardi

Pattern available in
Web-Letter, Issue 89

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Issue 98 – Summer Sox Cable Ribbon Socks

2009-07-28T19:22:04Z

Web-Letter, Issue 98 – Summer Sox Cable Ribbon Socks

In August, sock knitters from around the country—the globe maybe?—will be convening in Portland, Oregon for Sock Summit 2009. If for some reason you haven’t heard about the first annual Sock Summit—you were say, without internet, phone or knitter contact for the last six months or so—then learn all about it at www.socksummit.com.

In honor of this event, we’re publishing Corrina Ferguson’s cool Cable Ribbon sock pattern worked in CEY Summer Sox.

Creative Director

The Story:

From Corrina:

In Florida where I knit and design, sometimes you just have to say no to the wool. Or at least mix something in so that your feet don't spontaneously combust! Summer Sox is the perfect blend of cotton, wool and nylon for socks that you can even wear in the Florida summertime.

Some people would think of cables and cotton and say they don't go together. But I've done hats where just the opposite has proven true. Cotton content in yarn seems to make cables pop and gives them a crispness that most wool yarns can't compete with.

So when I picked up two balls of Summer Sox at my LYS, I knew that I wanted to do something with cables. The swatch practically knitted itself, and I knew I had a winner. These socks use cables with large expanses of ribbing in between so they don't run too tight. And the picot cuff is worked on fewer stitches so it doesn't flair. Little details to make just-so socks.

For more by Corrina, visit her website: www.picnicknits.com.

The Yarns:

Summer Sox
40% cotton, 40% superwash merino, 20% nylon

Summer Sox sock yarn blends three fibers for the perfect year-round sock yarn. The cotton component allows the yarn to breathe and feel cool against the skin. The wool adds elasticity to the yarn and absorbs moisture. Adding nylon to the mix makes the yarn stable and sturdy for socks that last and last. The slight heathered effect in Summer Sox is the natural result of the different ways these three fibers absorb dye. Summer Sox is available in 12 striped colors and 8 semi-solid shades.

The Stitches:

Corrina’s socks use a number of techniques that are described in the CEY Web-Letter Stitches section. The socks are worked in the round for the leg using the magic loop technique. The heel is worked using short rows. When the heel is complete, stitches are picked up along the heel flap to form gussets. Then the foot is worked even for the desired length to the beginning of the toe shaping. Left and right slanting decreases are used to shape the toe, which is finished by grafting the stitches together using Kitchener Stitch.

more photos

The Pattern:

Here is the free downloadable Summer Sox Cable Ribbon Socks pattern.

If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2

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Cookie A's Summer Sox Socks

Pattern available in
Web-Letter, Issue 91

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Issue 97 – Soft Linen Minnie's Cover Up

2009-07-21T18:22:18Z

Web-Letter, Issue 97 – Soft Linen Minnie's Cover Up

As a lover of knitted lace I enjoy swatching lace patterns and tinkering with design ideas. But as someone who appreciates a project that doesn’t make me tear my hair out, I like lace garments that don’t challenge my sanity with tricky shaping.

This week’s project, Minnie’s Cover Up, is a great way to enjoy the pleasures of knitting an intricate lace pattern without the worries of shaping. And it isn’t a scarf! Thanks to Grace Mcewen for her lovely design. The vest is worked in Soft Linen, a pretty blend of linen, wool and alpaca.

Creative Director

The Story:

From Grace:

When I was considering what new project to knit, I looked up and noticed a doily that my great-grandmother, Minnie Clough, had tatted in a classic pineapple motif. I liked the flow of the lines and thought the pattern was just what I was looking for.

Minnie’s simple design makes a great garment for at least three seasons. And after all the work you put into knitting a sweater, it’s good to be able to wear it often. The dainty lace pattern allows you to use the cover-up for dressy occasions, and it works just as well at the beach. The loose fit means it looks great on all body types.

Grace Mcewen sells her designs at www.knitchicgrace.etsy.com.

The Yarns:

Soft Linen
35% linen, 35% wool, 30% baby alpaca

Soft Linen is composed of an interesting blend of fibers: cool, crisp linen, soft, warm alpaca and elastic wool. Together they make a soft yarn that’s comfortable to wear all year round. Garments knitted in Soft Linen have a nice drape while providing just the right amount of warmth. When knitted in an airy lace pattern, Soft Linen is great for transitional garments like Grace’s top. Wear it over a tank in warm weather or over long sleeves when the weather gets cooler.

The Stitches:

The Pineapple Lace Pattern in Minnie’s Cover Up uses an increase that makes nine stitches in one stitch. The increase is worked by alternating knitting and purling in the same stitch a total of nine times before dropping the stitch off the left needle. Increasing this many stitches in a single stitch causes an eyelet or hole in the row below, which fits in neatly with the yarn overs used in the rest of the pattern.

Learn how to make an m8.

more photos

The Pattern:

Here is the free downloadable Soft Linen Minnie's Cover Up pattern.

If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2

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If you like the design above, you'll like this too:

Soft Linen Hoodie

Pattern available in
9086 Make it Modern

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Issue 96 – Sundance Crosswheel Jewelry

2009-07-07T18:36:18Z

Web-Letter, Issue 96 – Sundance Crosswheel Jewelry

Greetings from a cold, gray, rainy Portland, Maine. Summer seems to be on holiday this year, the better to stay inside and knit--and READ. Speaking of reading, I hope you’re familiar with Piecework magazine. If not, I’d love to introduce you to one of my all-time favorites. Piecework is devoted to the history of needlework, but lest you think that makes it dry, the magazine never fails to make me want to knit. It’s thoroughly modern in its appreciation of craft, and it’s an excellent source of creative ideas and inspiration. Read more about Piecework in the story below.

And what does Piecework have to do with this week’s web-letter project? Oodles. The magazine recently initiated a competition for needlework brooches. You’ll be pleased to know that the winning entry in the knitting/crochet category, was a tiny sock, with even tinier Fair Isle checks, designed by Maureen McGinnis Patterson.

In honor of knitted jewelry of all kinds, and of the endless creative potential in yarn and needles and our knitting heritage, we offer you this week’s freebie pattern—a necklace and bracelet designed by Cecily Glowik MacDonald and created in Sundance.

Creative Director

The Story:

Piecework is more than a collection of miscellaneous patterns. Each project comes with a story that links us and our knitting to a sister /brother artisan or culture—the magazine is a reminder of how rich and individual—and modern—our heritage is. A heritage that we share with friends and the internet everyday, and one that we share with knitters past.

As an example, if you love to knit lace, look up the May 2009 Piecework. The entire issue is devoted to lace of all kinds. One of the projects is a beautiful shawl designed by the mentor of Russian knitter Galina Khmeleva. In the current issue, you’ll find a pretty scarf by Estonian lace expert Nancy Bush and a pair of warm lace wristlets knitted in cashmere. Both projects were designed to be portable for summer travels.

If you like traditional Scandinavian colorwork, as I do, you’ll want to knit the pair of sturdy mittens with colorwork motifs taken from a piece of Norwegian embroidery. (I’ll make mine in CEY’s Fresco.) Also in the current issue is a story on a nineteenth-century embroidered quilt. The colorful stitches have me thinking about what I might do with embroidered motifs on stockinette or felted fabric.

With all there is about knitting constantly coming in the door or showing up on the computer screen, I still welcome each issue of Piecework. When it arrives, I stop and sit down with it for a few minutes. The pictures of artifacts and current work, in all their varied colors, patterns, and textures, encourage me to invent anew and rediscover the satisfactions of all kinds of knitting.

The Yarns:

Sundance
50% cotton, 50% microfiber

Sundance is a machine washable blend of cotton and microfiber. Cotton is a wonderful natural fiber that is very soft and takes dyes well. The addition of microfiber eliminates some of the weight that could occur from 100% cotton yarns while adding a subtle sheen. Sundance’s 22-color palette allows for many color combinations that easily coordinate with this year’s summer dresses. Sundance is also machine washable. If the rings you use for the wheels in your necklace are washer safe, you can throw your Crosswheel necklace and bracelet in the wash and then lie them flat to dry.

more photos

The Pattern:

Here is the free downloadable Sundance Crosswheel Jewelry pattern.

If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2

The Stitches:

Recently, I have been very interested in the different types of closures that can be used in garments. Dorset buttons have become one of my favorites, they can be made to either match your sweater perfectly, by using the leftover yarn, or they can be worked in another color(s) and used as a contrasting design element. Dorset buttons may be used as working buttons, or just sewn on as decoration. Or, as in the Crosswheel Jewelry, they can be used to make an accessory all by themselves.

Learn how to make a Dorset Button.

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Issue 95 – Sundance Beach Bag

2009-06-30T16:55:34Z

Web-Letter, Issue 95 – Sundance Beach Bag

Lately, the weather here in New England has been nothing to write home about—clouds and rain. Tonia Barry’s beach bag is a nice reminder that summer is here and there will soon be opportunities to get onto the sand to enjoy the bright sun and cool ocean breezes.

The Story:

Going to the beach is one of my favorite summer pastimes. For years, I’ve wanted a pretty summer beach bag. Finally, this was the year to design and knit one! I picked one of my favorite colors and CEY’s Sundance—a yarn that would knit up into a sturdy fabric. For the stitches I combined two of my loves—cables and lace. This bag knit up amazingly fast and I had a lot of fun trying to figure out ways to keep finishing to a minimum.

This bag is perfect for a trip to the beach—carrying a towel, suntan lotion, and a good book. Once off the beach, I’ll use it to carry other things and enjoy a walk around town.

Enjoy!

The Yarns:

Sundance
50% cotton, 50% microfiber

Sundance is a machine washable blend of cotton and microfiber. Cotton is a wonderful natural fiber that is very soft and takes dye well. The microfiber eliminates some of the weight that could occur from 100% cotton yarns, and allows the bag to keep its shape. Sundance has a soft, smooth hand and a subtle sheen. It works up quickly without splitting and has great stitch definition. Did I mention that it’s machine washable and the addition of microfiber helps it to dry faster than if it were just cotton?

The Stitches:

In the Sundance Beach Bag, Tonia forgoes the traditional bobble and works up one of her own. This bobble uses yarnovers to increase stitches, sk2p’s to decrease stitches and has a garter ridge to add texture.

Learn how to make this bobble.

more photos

The Pattern:

Here is the free downloadable Sundance beach Bag pattern.

If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2

On Ravelry? Find this design.

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If you like the design above, you'll like this too:

Provence Diagonal Bag

Pattern available in
Web-Letter Issue 92

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Issue 94 – Sprout Set

2009-06-23T18:39:34Z

Web-Letter, Issue 94 – Sprout Set

Greetings from Portland, Maine, where spring is arriving by gray cloud and rain. Several weeks ago I planted some vegetables--arugula, tomatoes, basil, lettuce—in pots on my back porch. So far, I’ve only watered them once. The rain—so helpful—has managed to come in sideways to do the job for me.

Cool, wet springs are sweater weather—a good thing for those of us that relish knitted things. So, three cheers for CEY sales rep Elaine Brody who knitted a perfect little early-summer sweater and hat in Sprout, CEY's 100% organic cotton yarn.

Creative Director

The Story:

Elaine Brody’s little sweater is a quick and easy knit. She worked the sweater in reverse stockinette stitch because she liked the way the purl side highlighted the nubbly texture of the yarn. The hat is knitted in the round with the knit side out—because, says Elaine, it’s easier for her to knit than purl. When the hat was complete, she turned it inside out to match the sweater. Then she topped the hat with a little flower-type motif worked by casting on and then binding off stitches to form five petal-like loops. See The Stitches section below for detailed instructions.

Our model, Rye, loved our Sprout sweater and was hot to style an outfit to go with it. We think she did a great job on her layers. Don’t you?

The Yarns:

Sprout
100% organic cotton

Sprout is a chunky yarn spun from100% organic cotton. The yarn is formed by wrapping a thin thread around a soft, lightly spun cotton roving. The thick ply allows the cotton to knit up at a 3½ stitches to the inch, and the thin ply keeps the yarn strong and stable. The unusual structure of the yarn gives the yarn a slight, even texture and keeps it light, soft, and lofty. Sprout comes in 12 bright and lively colors, and—great news—it’s machine washable.

The Stitches:

The Sprout hat has a great little flower sewn on to the top, this addition is worked by casting on and then binding off stitches to form five “petals.”

Learn how to make this cute little flower.

more photos

The Pattern:

Here is the free downloadable Sprout Set pattern.

If you have difficulty downloading or printing the PDF pattern above, try these: page 1, page 2

On Ravelry? Find this design.

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If you like the design above, you'll like this too:

Sprout Baby Blanket

Pattern available in
Web-Letter Issue 86

Ravel it