There are many ways to alter and change a pattern. These choices are exciting but can also be so overwhelming! Today I wanted to share some ideas for substituting the yarn or altering the size of the Ultra Alpaca Mystery blanket. Without ruining the surprise, I can tell you that the mystery blanket is made up of… Continue reading Emily Explains: Ultra Alpaca MKAL Alternatives
Category: make this
Amy’s Thread: Ultra Alpaca MKAL Color Inspiration
Growing up, I spent a lot of happy summer days sitting in my paternal grandmother's sewing room. She was a talented quilter with an eye for juxtapositions of colors and patterns. I've never felt like I've achieved her level of boldness or brilliance at this but I love the adventure of creating colorways. If I… Continue reading Amy’s Thread: Ultra Alpaca MKAL Color Inspiration
Designer Spotlight: Eleonora Shawlette by Andee Graves
Andee Graves learned to crochet from her mother when she was a little girl. More than 44 years later, she still loves crocheting, designing and generally playing with yarn. Andee designed her Eleonora Shawlette after falling in love with Berroco Boboli Lace at her local yarn shop. She got the idea to crochet a mesh… Continue reading Designer Spotlight: Eleonora Shawlette by Andee Graves
Emily Explains: Picking Up Stitches Along a Garter Stitch Edge
For our Ultra Alpaca MKAL, we each designed colorful, modular garter stitch squares inspired by Housetop quilts. Knitting this kind of block is really simple and fun! For my block, you begin knitting in the center, alternating between lavender and white. Then, leaving those stitches on holder, you pick up and knit with the white yarn along… Continue reading Emily Explains: Picking Up Stitches Along a Garter Stitch Edge
Ultra Alpaca MKAL: Yarn Quantities
If your interest is piqued to participate in our Ultra Alpaca MKAL, you're probably wondering how much yarn you need for the project! Here is some information to help you. Please note: all of these are only rough estimates. Your mileage (yardage) may vary! To make the whole blanket - comprised of 5 of each… Continue reading Ultra Alpaca MKAL: Yarn Quantities
Designer Spotlight: Free Bird by Margeau Soboti
After several years working for Gucci and Vogue Knitting, among others, Margeau Soboti decided to focus on independent knitwear design. Her first book, Margeau Chapeau, comes out soon and she’s already working on a second! Margeau’s latest design, Free Bird, is a beautiful, oversized top knit in Berroco Folio. Knit in flat pieces, the front… Continue reading Designer Spotlight: Free Bird by Margeau Soboti
What Inspires: Thoughts of Home
Growing up, I moved a lot. With each new place we would unpack the boxes, hang the quilts and paintings on the wall, and make the beds with lots of blankets and pillows. Textiles that my mom made and collected were a huge part of what made a new strange place a home. I love how handmade blankets,… Continue reading What Inspires: Thoughts of Home
Amy’s Thread: Anna Zilboorg Giveaway
When I taught myself to knit (from a library copy of Montse Stanley's Knitter's Hanbook* and Leslie Stanfield's The New Knitting Stitch Library) there wasn't this amazing online community of knitters and blogs. There was no Ravelry, and most of the yarn shops were very different than they are today. I wasn't really inspired by… Continue reading Amy’s Thread: Anna Zilboorg Giveaway
Designer Spotlight: Modern Stripes Baby Blanket by Kelly Komejan
Kelly Komejan is living the dream… or at least working it. As an employee at her LYS, Country Needleworks, Kelly not only spends her days surrounded by yarn, she also gets to teach classes on knitting, crochet and beading. It’s a great way to fund her habit! Kelly’s Modern Stripes Baby Blanket is a reversible,… Continue reading Designer Spotlight: Modern Stripes Baby Blanket by Kelly Komejan
Emily Explains: Beginning a Project with an I-cord
I love simple edges to garments and am always curious about ribbing or garter stitch alternatives. In the Spring/Summer '15 collection, we designed Lobelias, Mojave Aster and North Shore to begin with an i-cord for a perfectly simple aesthetic. Want some help getting started? First, cast on the required number of stitches and knit an i-cord:… Continue reading Emily Explains: Beginning a Project with an I-cord
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