Freebie Friday - Boy's Hoodie

It's been awhile since we posted a pattern specifically for little boys, so we thought we should make up for that today.  The Boy's Hooded Tank, knit in Rowan Classic Cotton Denim, is adorable, timely, and really cute.  (They now recommend Belle Organic Aran.)  The handwarmer pocket really makes it!

This sweater can be made in any number of yarns, making it versatile across the seasons.  The original denim colored Cotton would be a great option for spring!  And an alpaca blend would make a deliciously toasty sweater.   Just remember to match the gauge on the labels when substituting yarns, and knit a swatch before tackling the whole garment to confirm your gauge is dead-on.  I'll completely understand if you want to make several in different colors;  if I were a kid this would quickly become my favorite sweater!

Freebie Friday - too cool for school

Elisabeth here.  I'm still in Cleveland with my son at the hospital, but I have a rare internet connection, so I thought I'd share a freebie.

Yesterday in the hospital cafeteria I saw a woman wearing the vest below.  It was gorgeous!  She had made it in a mohair blend, in a marled grey/brown.   I asked her about working on it, and she mentioned that it was only her second sweater!  (She looked to be about 20 years old.)  She'd been knitting for 3 years, and found it "challenging but not hard."  Give it a try!

Cabled Teal Vest 

Freebie Friday- 5 Shawls

Hi everyone, Colleen here again!  I spoke with Elisabeth earlier today and though her son is still in critical condition, he is off sedation and responding to familiar voices.  I could hear some definite relief in her voice, and that was music to my ears.  As soon as the medical update was over, she asked how her shawl is coming along.  I guess it’s rather cold in the hospital!

In keeping with tradition, I present you with my version of Freebie Friday.  Since I’m working on a triangular shawl in worsted weight, I trolled Ravelry for similar shawls.  All of the patterns seem to be rather adaptable to different gauges and offer options for changing the size to suit your needs.  Here are 5 for you to consider…

1: Fuzzy Bottom by Joyce Fassbender

This triangular shawlette is worked from the center back to the bottom edge.  The pattern suggests finishing off the shawl with a small amount (40 yards) of a different yarn, perfect for that small ball of luxury yarn or a little bit of leftover stash yarn. 

2. The Stay-Put Shawl by Jen Reilly

This is a formula to create a shawl to work with your particular needs.  It is worked from the center back to the bottom edge and can be stopped anywhere- great for those of us who like to use up every last scrap of yarn!

3. SuperSimple Scandinavian Style Shawl by Sarah Howard

This is a basic recipe for a Scandinavian-style shawl.  Jump on this one quickly, because the designer has noted that it will eventually be released as a more detailed paid pattern.

4. Arrowhead Lace Shawl by DragonWing Arts

This shawl is worked from the bottom up and can easily be adapted to any gauge.  This one in particular looks like a great summer shawl.

5. Harvest Colors Shoulder Shawl by Lidia Tsymbal

This shawl uses a simple lace pattern to highlight the color changes of variegated yarn.  It also includes directions for a crocheted bobble trim if you’re the bobble-y type!
 

The links I provided are all to the Ravelry project pages.  The first four shawls are all published as free Ravelry downloads.  Here is a separate link to the designer’s blog post for the Harvest Colors Shoulder Shawl.  Maybe some of you will decide to knit a “hug” for someone close to you- I’d love to hear about it!

Adorable Freebie Friday

How cute is this hat?!  I've been thinking that it's time to sart knitting ahead for holiday gifts, and yesterday I came across this.  It's call the Penguins Galore hat.  It's terrific in these colors, and I was realizing it could be done in the colors of any hockey team or school, too.  Just the color bands would change - everything with the white background would stay the same.  LOVE IT!

Freebie Friday - Surprise!

This week's freebie comes from Cherry Tree Hill Yarns, and it's not your standard late-spring fare:  Gloves!

Ok, hear me out.  First of all, many of my readers are from the Southern Hemisphere, so it's fall for them.  Second, in the summer, we want light, small, portable projects.  A whole lap full of wool is tough to take on a hot and sunny afternoon.  Third, they're made on TWO NEEDLES!  I know, right?  Thanks to Discounted Brand Name Yarns for making this PDF available free of charge.

Make these stocking stuffers now, and cross one recipient off your list.  Or make a few pair, and spend this fall baking apple pies and carving pumpkins instead of frantically knitting your gift list items.  Nobody will associate the knitting now with a gift they'll receive in six months.  Even if the recipient sees them now, you're golden!  Lie!  They'll forget by Christmas/Hanukkah.

Freebie Friday - Mayfaire Cami

How pretty is this?!  I love it.  The pattern is by Corrina Ferguson for Classic Elite Yarns, and it came out late last summer, too late for me to make it before the weather turned here in Buffalo.  This year, though, I have plenty of time. 

In a cotton/silk/nylon blend, it gets the best of all three fibers.  The cotton keeps it cool, the silk keeps it soft and light, and the nylon adds durability. 

Over a skirt, or under a jacket, this is definitely one of my new summer wardrobe staples.  Give it a try!
Download here.

Freebie Friday Anastasia Bear

These two are adorable, and completely knitted!  From the new magazine Knitting Today, on the right is Edward, and on the left is Anastasia.

I think any little one in my life would love one of these cheerful companions.  The litte girl in me is particularly drawn to the charming dress on Anastasia.  And those shoes! 

If you love them, too, click here.  Enjoy the weekend!

Freebie Friday with Nicky Epstein!

Happy Earth Day!  This is a gorgeous freebie from Nicky Epstein.  Her website offers periodic freebies, but they are often fee for a limited time only.  If you love it, download it soon, before it's a paid pattern!  It's called the Celtic Knot Afghan, and I think it would b gorgeous in earth-friendly fibers to celebrate the day!

Freebie Friday - Up Up and Away

I've been using a program called Intwined Studio for most of my design work for the last couple of months, and I've really come to love it.  Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to select strictly for the chart, and not the rest of the page.  So, here is your Friday Freebie, still in Excel.  As always, this cloth is 38 stitches by 50 rows, and does well in worsted yarn on 7s and DK yarn on 5s.  White = knit on the RS, purl on the WS.  Grey = purl on the RS, knit on the WS.  Enjoy!

Freebie Friday Yosemite Pullover

Here in Buffalo it's been in the 50's for days.  The thaw even caused a flood in my basement!  (Don't worry - the stash is safe!)  The birds are busy nest building and singing up a storm.  It's time to throw a winter's worth of biodegradable yarn scraps on the yard and let the birds decorate with it.  I love seeing little flashes of color on the edges of a  nest!  And I like to think the chicks are just a little cozier with my alpaca scraps around them.

On these in between days with the funny almost-a-coat-but-not-quite weather, I'm always looking for the right sweater.  Cotton sweaters are great over a tee or a tank, or under a jacket or windbreaker.  This one from Knitty.com is a perfect fit for today. 

Yosemite Pullover

Take a look.  It's available in sizes XS to 2x.  Though the original yarn is discontinued, Cascade Pima Silk is an ideal substitute.  Enjoy!~

Freebie Friday - Partridge Square Cloth

It's been a busy week in design and paperwork.  I've been so wrapped up in the book project that I haven't been translating drawings into computer files unless they pertain to the book.  Sorry!

This is the Partridge on a Fence.  This square is 38 stitches wide by 50 rows tall using a worsted weight (Cascade Cotton Rich or Pima Cotton)  and size US 7 needles, or a DK weight (Cascade Ultra Pima) and size US 5 needles. 

Grey squares represent purling on the RS, knitting on the WS.

White squares represent knitting on the RS, purling on the WS.

Enjoy!

Kids' Earth Day Tote - Freebie Friday

Relating to the theme that I haven't been posting nearly enough patterns for babies and children, here's one from Lion Brand Yarn.  The Kids' Earth Day Tote is adorable and functional.  An added benefit is that it's from Lion Brand's By Kids For Kids program, meaning that the pattern was designed by a child for other child knitters.  It's made from cotton, so it's soft and durable, and there is no concern about the knitting provoking an allergic reaction.  Imagine your child bringing a tote they made to school, camp, or a sleepover!  It would be a pretty cool show and tell item, too.

This would be a great Mom & Me project for a family of knitters.  Each could make a tote of appropriate size to their needs.  The Mom part of the project could easily be the Windy City Tote.  It's bigger, of course, but it might take about the same amount of time for an adult as the Kids' Tote take for the child.  Mom's tote is made of wool and then felted, making another stron and durable piece.  The knitting skills are similar, and both incorporate stripes.  Choose related colorways, and you're on you way!