Category Archives: colorwork

Go to your Happy Place

We all have a place that we hold dear in our hearts - our own 'Happy Place'. Now you can have two more to wrap yourself in - the Happy Place Afghans! These afghans make beautiful bedspreads and feature whimsical scenes from some popular happy destinations. The Forest afghan takes you to a dense, geometric pine forest with an owl for company, while the Ocean afghan invites you to share the rolling waves with an inquisitive whale.

Read more »

An old Favorite returns in time for Fall knitting!

As much as it pains me to know that summer is on it's way out, I'm so happy to be getting back to sweater knitting for Fall. That's why I'm over the moon that we've re-released the beautiful Lofoten Pullover! This Norwegian-inspired unisex pullover is worked in Wool of the Andes Sport, making it super toasty and a much quicker knit that a traditional ski sweater. Right now we have kits available in Brown and Black versions, or you can use our Kit Builder feature and pick your own colorway!

Read more »

Zippered Pendleton needle case makes travel easy

But, having a selection of Options needle tips and cables available doesn't make me any more productive. For the next couple of days, Bob and I are staying with friends who have a home just outside Vancouver, B.C. Wendie and Dave are delightful hosts.

Read more »

Cupcake Fingerless Mitts on the go

I have inched up to SpillyJane's Cupcake Mittens like they were a wild tiger. I fell in love with the design, bought the pattern and even chatted with SpillyJane on one of my podcasts. Of course, while we were still in Mexico, I didn't easily have access to Palette yarns. I decided that I could wait until I could try making a raid on our office yarn stash.

Read more »

Palette Galore!

I think that by now, we're all pretty familiar with the gorgeous shot of the Palette family that's been in the catalog and on web since September of last year. I know it particularly well because Kerin and I are the ones who sat down and sorted each ball into the lovely color order that you see here and I'm the one who sat down AGAIN and resorted it after the photography department was done with it in order to label each ball correctly in catalog. I can't tell you how long this took, only that I'm getting pretty good at spotting the differences between Thicket and Briar Heather!

Read more »

Among the Bamboo Blanket

Blankets are one of my favorite go-to projects for baby showers and little ones - there is just something really special about putting one's time and efforts into a larger project like a blanket or throw. And even though it is a bigger commitment than say, a sweater or a hat, I like knowing that a blanket is sure to get a lot of use and will be there, even as the little one gets older. I tend to lean towards simple stitches for these larger projects, but the super adorable Among the Bamboo Blanket is definitely tempting me to reconsider my simple ways the next time I need a baby blanket project. My favorite part? This pattern is available as two different kits: a colorwork version and a knit/purl textured version! Among the Bamboo Blanket (colorwork version)

Read more »

Harmonious colors in Fia

If you've been intrigued by the Celtic motifs of the Fia Pullover but aren't so keen on green, here are a few more suggestions of colors that would work well for this pattern! Fia looks best in two colors of the same family: two pinks, two blues, two greys, and so on. The most important thing to look for is a difference in value - how different the colors are in brightness. Choose the 'background' color first, which in the case of Fia is the darker color. From there, compare colors in the same family that are a lighter version (check out the great color descriptions with each one!). Colors that are only a touch different, like Delta and Whirlpool for instance, won't contrast enough with each other to show detail. But if you like Delta, Sky and Clarity are in the same family and would make a better match.

Read more »

Customer Question of the Week: Colorwork Alternatives to Wool

Hey there! Welcome to “Customer Question of the Week”, a new weekly blog feature wherein our crack team of experts (okay, it’s the KP staff) answers your most pressing fiber-crafting queries. Have a ponderance or problem you need solved? Email us at customerquestion@knitpicks.com. Even though we won’t be able to respond to every person, your question may be chosen for this feature!Our first question comes from no one person in particular—but a chorus of customers over the years. Kudos to our wonderful Multimedia Manger, Jenny K., for tackling this one. Q: “I love colorwork, but not wool! What can I use?” A: If wool isn’t your fiber of choice and just the idea of using 100% wool for a sweater starts to make your skin itch, don’t despair – you still have options when it comes to colorwork. Known for its fine crimp and low micron count (which determines softness), Merino wool is certainly a fiber that will have you thinking twice about using wool. If you’re looking for a yarn with an extra soft touch, the Stroll yarn family blends superwash merino wool (75%) together with a touch of nylon (25%) – making it a wonderful choice for those with sensitive skin. Stroll Fingering substitutes beautifully in place of Palette in most cases, and it boasts a wonderful selection of solids and complicated heathers to make your next colorwork project picture-perfect.

Read more »

When geology meets yarn…

A moraine is a deposit of rocks and debris left by glaciers as they advance and recede. Moraines often add some really interesting terrain to the existing land, resulting in crazy looking hills and land that looks  folded or striated. Glaciers make for some pretty spectacular geologic features - moving bits of the Earth from place to place, bit by bit, blurring the line between 'here' and 'there'. Musing on those glacial effects resulted in the Moraine Pullover! It might be hard to see where to draw a comparison, but in the stitch patterning of Moraine, each 'point' recedes and advances through colors, leaving its mark in the next ripple.

Read more »

Book review of Knitting Hats & Mittens from Around the World

As knitters we are so lucky to enjoy a craft that has cultural influences from so many different parts of the world. And because people depended on knit items for their survival in colder climates. Ingenuity and necessity have been the catalysts for knit styles and techniques that we are familiar to us today.In Knitting Hats and Mittens from Around the World, Donna Druchunas has gathered a fascinating collection of accessories designed by a variety of designers and inspired by our global knitting heritage.

Read more »