Many of you have asked to see the Cherry Blossom Collection yarn knit up. You also declare that you want pattern suggestions. Here we go.
That is a baby hat pattern I'm working on, that, fingers crossed, will be available next week. The yarn is "New Leaves of Spring" sport merino. And hopefully it will give you an idea as to how these three colorways look when knit.
As for what to knit with the Cherry Blossom Collection, here is my list of projects I think would look smashing in this yarn.
Melody's Shawl in FSM
Jaywalker Socks in sock (Ravelry link)
Baby Surprise Jacket in any yarn you'd like
Magic Slippers in sock
Round Ripple Baby Afghan in sport merino, DK merino or worsted merino (Ravelry link)
Lacy Baktus in sock
Clapotis in ASM or FSM
Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf in ASM (Ravelry link)
Bellatrix Socks in sock yarn (Ravelry link)
Northern Lights Shawl in sock or FSM (Ravelry link)
Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl in DK merino or ASM
The three Cherry Blossom colorways are perfect for baby knits, especially the "New Leaves of Spring", which will work if you don't know if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl. I'm going to keep several skeins of all the colors to have on hand whenever an I need to knit a baby gift. You might want to stock up while the colors are available!
For the last few months, I have been watching the bare branches against the pale winter sky and waiting in anticipation as they began to engorge with flower buds and leaves just ready to sprout. I especially loved seeing the cherry blossom branches as they went from dark brown to a deep maroon, a dark red and finally, bit by bit, blossomed into the pale pink of the blossoms. We've had an early spring in Seattle, so many of the cherry trees are already blossoming and the earliest leaves, in all their pale green glory are popping out, creating little sparkles of green on all the dark branches.
The transition, while not as riotous as the changing autumn leaves, is just as breathtaking if one pays close attention to the small details and slow, incremental changes. I was inspired to bring back my "Cherry Blossom" colorway from years ago and create two additional colorways influenced by the transition from winter to spring. "Branches on Winter Sky" is the bare, brown bones of the trees set against the sky of pale blues. "New Leaves of Spring" is the pale early leaves with the brown branches.
Celebrate spring with us and enjoy these three colors that will only be available for the month of March.
This scarf is my ode to the Chevron Scarf in Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
, except I knit it in garter stitch, as I enjoy the squishiness of Sock Yarn in garter stitch better than stockinette. It gives the scarf a bit more heft and structure and it is the perfect project to use up 2 skeins of sock yarn.
, except I knit it in garter stitch, as I enjoy the squishiness of Sock Yarn in garter stitch better than stockinette. It gives the scarf a bit more heft and structure and it is the perfect project to use up 2 skeins of sock yarn.Since I modified the original pattern, I thought I'd tell you how I knit mine, in case you want to knit yourself one as well.
On US 5/3.75mm needles using Color 1, cast on 48 stitches.
Knit 4 rows.
With Color 2:
Row 1: K2tog 4 times, KF&B 8 times, K2tog 8 times, KF&B 8 times, K2tog 4 times
Row 2: Knit all stitches
With Color 1:
Row 3 and 4: Knit all Stitches
Repeat Rows 1-4 until the scarf measures 60" or until desired length, ending with Row 2. Knit four more rows with Color 1. Cast off.
For the 60" scarf, I used about 3/4 each of the two skeins of sock yarn.
KF&B = knit into the front and back loop
I choose two of my favorite colorways, "Dahlia" and "Daffodil" sock yarn and I happen to have 1 skein of both these colors. I thought I'd give them to someone who wanted to knit a scarf just like mine, so if you do, leave a comment by 5pm Friday, February 26, Seattle time, and I'll pick a winner at random.
And, if you haven't already bought Last Minute Knitted Gifts, you most certainly should.
Update! The random number generator gave me #26, which is Kathleen. Congratulations!
Thank you to everyone for your lovely, lovely comments. You've all made my week! We are going to try to dye up some of the Dahlia and Daffodil colorways so if you really want to knit the scarf in these colors, and you don't mind waiting, we'll do what we can!
We are working on getting a bunch of hand-made goods together to launch sometime in the next month and one of the items we are extremely excited about are some hand-carved shawl pins. I'll have more about these later, but I was so inspired by the beauty of these pins, that I'm working on a little scarf design out of FSM to wear with them.
I'll probably have the pattern available as a pdf download and also as a kit. The pins come in a variety of light and dark woods, some with lovely rose-toned hues and I'm excited to match colorways with the pins.
(the colorway of the FSM is something I dyed only 1 skein of just for me. in case you were wondering.)
Knit and Photographed by: Jocelyn
Pattern: Shetland Triangle lace shawl
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Fingering Silky Merino "Caramel Apple"
Needles: US 6/4mm
Finished size: 48" tip to tip, 18.5" down the center
Pattern Modifications: added 2 more pattern repeats of the main body chart for a larger size shawl
Notes: used only half a skein!
Knit and Photographed by: Thayer
Pattern: True Love socks
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Sock Yarn "Spun Sugar"
Needles: US 1.5/2.5mm
Finished Size: women's 8
Knit and Photographed by: Kate
Pattern: Ostrich Plumes Scarf by Anne Hanson
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Fingering Silky Merino in "Caramel Apple"
Needles: US 6/4mm
Finished Size: in between scarf and stole
Pattern Modifications: Knit 4 repeats of the lace pattern instead of 3 or 5.
Notes: This pattern was my first real lace project. I made it for my mother, since this sort of dusty rose color is her favorite. I modified the pattern because I wasn't sure I'd have enough yarn for the five repeats. Having finished the project, I think there would have been plenty, as there were 45 grams left when I made it as long as I wanted.
Knit and Photographed by: Laura
Pattern: Loppem by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Worsted Merino "Nuances of Nature"
Needles: US 7/4.5mm
Modifications: Garter stitch border at bottom edge and sleeves; lengthened body; moved buttonholes closer to edge
Knit and Photographed by: Nathalie
Pattern: Drops Circular Jacket (Drops 102-6)
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Aran Silky Merino Through Many Mists
Needles: US 7 / 4.5 mm
Finished Size: Largest pattern size (XXL-XXXL)
Pattern Modifications: My gauge was 20 stitches to 4" so I went up a size in the pattern. I normally wear a size Medium (or 36" chest). I worked all of my short rows using the wrap and turn method to avoid any holes. The pattern calls for turning and pulling tight which didn't eliminate the holes entirely. I was running very short on yarn due to the size increase so I did not flair the sleeves as described in the pattern. I also knit the sleeves in the round and increased 2 stitches every 10 rows or so based on fit, trying on as I went.
Notes: The Drops circular jacket has a really interesting construction. The body is a big circle, which is knit one slice at a time using short rows. The ASM was a perfect yarn choice. The drape and snuggle factor are outstanding!
Knit and Photographed by: Glenna
Pattern: Scroll Lace
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Sport Silk Most Beautiful Eyes
Needles: US9/5.5mm
Finished Size: 83in by 10in (blocked).
Pattern Modifications: No pattern modifications.
Notes: This project used approximately 250 yards. I had 2 skeins and only had to break into the second skein for 4 rows and bind off. The pattern could easily be modified or smaller needles used, in order to accommodate just one skein of the sport silk.
