Great Gift Ideas!

It's that time of year.  We all know it's coming, but yet it sneaks up on us every time!  Here are a few of my favorite quick knit and crochet projects.  They are all fast projects that are fun to make and wear! 

arika cowl

Arika Cowl, by Jane Richmond. This one skein cowl is fast and fun to knit and absolutely effortless to wear.  Using just one skein of Hikoo Kenzington, it pairs beautifully with a denim top and looks just as fabulous worn over a tank in the summer making it a very versatile accessory for year-round wear. It is an ideal gift knit or instant gratification knit for yourself!  The pattern and yarn are available at Stash!

 

kingsley hat

Kingsley Hat  The Kingsley is a great unisex hat pattern with sizing for either a more traditional fitted look, or a more relaxed slouchy fit.  Our hat was knit using the newest yarn in the Manos line up, Gloria, which is an amazing worsted weight, machine-washable, super soft yarn available in gorgeous colors. What more is there to want?  The pattern and are are available at Stash!

audrey boots

Audrey Boots  by designer Mamachee.  These super comfy slipper boots are sure to become a staple for anyone on your list!  Grab your favorite bulky yarn and big hooks.  I bet you can't make just one pair!  The pattern and yarn are available at Stash!

dewey decimal cowl

Dewey Decimal Cowl by designer Heather Walpole of Ewe Ewe Yarns.  Crochet in a Stash favorite, Wool Worsted, this cowl will keep you warm and stylish while you are reading your favorite book or making your next handmade project!  Did you notice the Granny Square pattern?  Granny squares are my favorite!  The yarn is available at Stash, the pattern is free on Ravelry or on theEwe Ewe web site!

Don't forget about yourself!  Stop by Stash and fill out a "Wish List"  so you can get what you really, really want!   Your friends and family can then bring the list to Stash and we will help them shop for the perfect gift, like that yarn you've been lusting after, a new set of needles, or a blocking kit so all your projects will be perfectly finished.   

Oh Baby, Baby Hats!

Supplies: Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted yarn, 1 skein if making a solid color hat, 1 skein of each color if making striped hats.  US 7 12" circ needle and US 7 DPN's.  Yarn needle for weaving in ends

Size: infant

Abbriviations:
CO - Cast On
PM - place marker
K - Knit
P - Purl
MC - Main color
CC - Contrast color
k2tog - knit two together
sts - stitches

CO 64 sts with MC using circular needle, PM and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist stitches

K2, P2 rib for 5 rows

If knitting solid color: Knit every row with MC for 4" then continue to decrease instructions.

If knitting stripes: K 1 row MC. *K 2 rows CC, K 2 rows MC. Continue from * alternating colors every two rows until hat measures 4". Follow decrease instructions, alternating color every two rows, as follows.  Change to DPN's when sts are too tight for circular needle:

Decreases:
Row 1: *K6, K2tog, repeat to marker
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: *K5, K2tog, repeat to marker
Row 4: Knit
Row 5: *K4, K2tog, repeat to marker
Row 6: knit
Row 7: *K3, K2tog, repeat to marker
Row 8: Knit
Row 9: *K2, K2tog, repeat to marker
Row 10: Knit
Row 11: *K1, K2tog, repeat to marker
Row 12: Knit
Row 13: *K1, K2tog, repeat to marker
Row 14: Knit

K2tog until there are 4 sts left, transfer all sts to one DPN and work I-cord for 4"

Option: Change color for i-cord

Great I-cord tutorial here

Tie I-cord in a knot

Cut yarn and thread onto yarn needle.  Thread yarn through live sts on DPN and fasten off.  Weave in loose ends and block as desired.

Broncos Slouch Hat - Free Pattern!

Bronco Slouch Hat

Yarn:  Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted (96yds).  MC: Sapphire 2 skeins for slouch hat and fold brim hat 1 skein for beanie, CC Orange Peel 1 skein for all styles.  Or approx. 200 yds worsted weight yarn in MC and 100 yds worsted weight yarn in CC

Needles: US 8 16” circ and US 8 Dpn’s

Other notions: stitch marker and yarn needle for weaving in ends

CO 80 sts with MC, join for knitting in the round, being careful not to twist you stitches,  K2, P2 for 2”

Next round: with MC knit all sts

Knit five more rounds with MC (6 rows total)

Knit two rounds CC

Repeat last eight rounds 5 times total for slouch and fold brim hat and 3 times total for beanie hat

Keeping in pattern (6 rounds MC, 2 rounds CC) start decreases as follows, changing to DPN’s when neccessary:

1^st decrease: *K6, K2tog; repeat to end of round

Knit two rows even

2^nd decrease: *K5, K2tog, repeat to end of round

Knit two rounds even

3^rd decrease: *K4, K2tog, repeat to end of round

Knit two rounds even

4^th decrease: *K3, K2tog, repeat to end of round

Knit one round even

5^th decrease: *K2, K2tog, repeat to end of round

Cut yarn and pull through live stitches with a yarn needle, weave in all ends and block as desired.

Great Gifts for Last Minute!

sparrow mitts

"Fashionably reach for your wallet or your keys with our Sparrow Mitts. Pretty enough to wear out to tea, these Sparrow Mitts are feminine and functional. The interesting all over cable pattern reminds us of the tracks of a little bird. Combine Sparrow Mitts with the Timberline Hat for a matching set."  Pattern is available for purchase at Stash!

timberline hat

"The Timberline Hat has a wonderful allover cable texture that resembles the lines of evergreen trees growing at the top or our favorite local mountain. Combine the Timberline Hat with the Sparrow Mitts for a matching set."  Pattern and yarn available at Stash!

wearever wrap

The Wearever Wrap by Ewe Ewe yarns is awesome!  You will love crocheting this retro-inspired accessory that will go with any outfit!  Granny squares are super fast to crochet, you may make one for a gift then start one for yourself! Pattern and yarn available to purchase at Stash!

Great Gifts for the Last Minute!

crochet! in bloom beret or cap

Enjoy this Free crochet pattern, by Brittney Waterhouse, on Ravelry! Make this cute cap style or the beret style in no time. I bet you make more than one!

wabi mitts

I love these Wabi Mitts by Fringe Association, another FREE pattern on Ravelry!  I can see many mitts made with The Fibre Co.'s Meadow yarn. This is a great pattern for any guy or gal on your knit-list!

olivia cowl

This Olivia Cowl is AWESOME!  Again, a FREE pattern on Ravelry, from Swan's Island Yarns.  This cowl uses just one skein of Swan's Island Worsted and is the perfect pattern for this yarn. Knit on the bias using the basket weave stitch, it looks like you put more work into it than you did.  You may have good intentions of making this as a gift, but you may just end up giving it to yourself!

all pictures from the designers used on ravlery.com

Great Gift Ideas for Last Minute!

Seriously folks!  It's getting to be crunch time.  If you are anything like me you have about (oh who's counting!) gifts to make and only 24 days to do them!  I've been searching for great last minute gift ideas and I would like to share them with you. These are great gift ideas for the last minute crafter like myself:

snow on the laurel

"These pretty Arm Warmers feature an eye catching center cable surrounded by Reverse Stockinette to help showcase the delicate leaf pattern

For easier knitting the pattern is written worked inside out so you’re knitting mostly in Stockinette while the center cable stitches are created on the Purl side of the work. Simply turn the warmer right side out when completed to reveal the cables. Viola! Fun, simple, and oh so pretty. Since there is no thumb hole, you can also wear these as leg warmers."

Can you say no thumb gusset shaping = quick knit, even if you have to make two :)

This pattern is free for now on Ravlery until Christmas, so hurry over there and download it now~

peaked hat

Another FREE pattern on Ravlery the crocheted Peaked Hat is the perfect go to hat for the season!  Pick out a couple of you favorite buttons to show and start hooking!

Keep checking back here, I have many more projects to share!

Free Hat and Mitts patterns!

Big Chunky Comfy Hat

Chunky Lova Mitts

Super fun brights are everywhere this year.  The are perfect for fun accessories like this hat and fingerless mitts combo!  It's all about fast, chunky, and funky knits.

This yarn is part of the My Mountain collection from Schachenmayr Yarns.  Go to the My Mountain web site for tons of free hat patterns using all the yarns in the collection.  They are fun to knit and crochet!

Find the FREE Big Chunky Comfy Hat pattern on Ravelry.com.  This hat takes one skein for most, but took me a little over one skein, I needed just enough to finish the last three rows!  So I came up with the matching fingerless mitts pattern, and used up every little bit of yarn.  That's right NO left over yarn!

Here is the pattern for the Chunky Lova Mitts:

Needles:  US 11 DPN's

CO 20 sts, join for working in the round, careful not to twist the stitches!

Cuff: K2, P2 ribbing for 5 rows

Hand: K 10 rows even

Thumb opening:   Row 1: purl  Row 2: Knit.  Repeat last two rows three more times

Top of hand: K 2 rows

Finish: K2, P2 ribbing for 5 rows

BO loosely and enjoy!

Great Gifts!

Boot Toppers!

I love my boots! And almost everyone has a pair, the latest and greatest accessory: boot toppers!

Try this fast knit, a FREE Ravelry download or find the pattern here on Lewis Knits blog:

http://lewisknits.blogspot.com/2012/07/boot-cuff.html

I'm making a pair or two for me and a few to give away!

Crochet Boot Toppers!

I made my knit boot toppers last knit and LOVE them! I think everyone should have a pair, so here you go crocheters!

The boots would make a great gift too :)

FREE pattern on Ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/scalloped-boot-cuffs

Star Crossed Slouchy Beret!

This is a great hat to knit with easy cabling and it's fun to wear. it looks amazing knit up with Boboli yarn by Berroco. A little birdie told me a shipment of new colors is coming soon :)

FREE pattern on Ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/star-crossed-slouchy-beret

More Great Gift Ideas

This is a FREE crochet pattern by Hidden Daisyy, the Chain Loop Scarf,  a seriously fun, easy and FAST project.  I had fun making mine, all you need to know is how to crochet a chain!

The Hurricane Hat is another FREE pattern on Ravelry and from Love, Hestia

Who doesn't love a knit washcloth?  This would be a great gift with a special bar of soap or body wash.  Find this FREE pattern for the Gathered Washcloth on Ravelry

Happy Stitchin'

Dream Club

It is finally here! The September 2012 Dream Club kits are now available at Stash! 

See more pictures and read about a contest on Dream in Color's blog: http://www.dreamincoloryarn.com/2012/09/01/september-2012-dream-club/

BTW 5 kits are already spoken for (without even seeing the yarn/pattern), that means there are only five left! You can call the shop today to reserve your kit: 303-660-9276

New Classes for the New Year



Robin Hood Hat



Verity Hat



Intro to Entralac Knitting



Fair Isle Mittens

Toe-up Sock on Magic Loop

For more info on classes and pricing visit Stash's web site 

Beginning knit and crochet classes also available. 

Minnie's New Hat

Little Sophie (AKA: Minnie) came to the shop with her mom, picked out the hat and the rest is history. Mom says it's the only hat she will keep on. Maybe because it was "made for her!" Too bad the weather is heating up. The hat pattern is found in the book

Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson

Twinkle Soft Chunky and a Free Pattern

I am so excited about Twinkle's Soft Chunky! Wow! It is so soft and the colors are amazingly vibrant and it is so much fun to knit with. I've been looking for a great pattern to show off this wonderful yarn and I think I found it.

This pattern is called the "Really Warm Hat" It is a free download on Ravelry. If you are not apart of that wonderful community you can find it here. This hat took me just one hour including the finishing work and the extremely huge pom pom.

K*4*O*T* Basket full of hats for our Troops

Stash participated in K*4*O*T* (knitting for our troops) this past weekend. Thank you to all who donated their time and yarn for the hats. We collected 27 in all this weekend, with more to come. This is an all year event, so please keep knitting/crocheting hats to show your support to our men and women in uniform. Stash will collect the hats until the end of the year.

I love this yarn by Louet. The variegation reminds me of retro prints. It has the perfect yardage for making a hat with one skein. This yarn has just the right amount of silk blended in it to make it oh so soft to knit and great to wear.

Louet Bonnie Yarn in purple rhapsody
Emma models a hat knit with the louet bonnie yarn

Finished Shokay Hat

I finished the Shokay hat, and-then-some. It was the never ending skein! I knitted the first hat on size 8 straights (the pattern calls for size 8 circs). I couldn't find my circs at the time and wanted to get started A.S.A.P! The straights worked well, but the circs were much better. I guess I should follow the pattern :) This adorable hat is knitted from the top down, very intersesting. The Shokay yarn is so yummy to work with and once you throw it in the machine, yes, I said machine! It gets even softer. So I knitted the first hat, then the second , and the third. The last one has stripes. And I still have yarn left over! I'm sure I could get another small hat out of the left overs, we'll see. But, it's time to move on to the next project...

Shokay Hat

This will be my next project using Shokay 100% yak yarn. Get the free pattern from http://www.shokay.com/. This yarn is so yummy. Softer than cashmere, if you can believe it! And it's machine washable. It actually gets softer the more you wear/wash it. I'll be doing my hat in solid Azure with a Buttercup trim. I'll keep you posted. It's time to start knitting!