Newsletter 904
Calzasocks...FOR YOUR HANDS!
It's no secret that Calzasocks' reliable self-striping yarn makes great socks - but we love it for mitts, too! And looky looky, a free pattern for that very thing! You can find the pattern and download or print it yourself RIGHT HERE.
Calzasocks is one of those secret-weapon yarns that makes it look like you did a lot more work than you actually did. Just start knitting up your favorite pattern and the yarn does all the work; each ball creates its own lovely pair of "colorwork" socks (or, uh, mitts).
Each self-striping ball of superwash wool/nylon goodness contains 459 yds - a single ball will make two reasonably-sized (we ain't talking thigh-highs here) socks (or this pair of mitts)! It's machine washable (on gentle, for pete's sake!) and you can pop it in the dryer.
You can see all eight Calzasocks colorways (and grab one) right HERE!
Camellia + Cables = Cool
Look, we're always ready to talk about Camellia Fiber Co, and this week is no exception! We've featured the Cable Hat in CFCo's Yak DK before and we love it in an all-new possibility: Elderberry, matched with a plum pompom.
Yak DK is a luscious blend of 65% super-soft merino, 20% silk and 15% yak. And we knew when we stumbled upon this cabled hat pattern on Ravelry that it was a perfect match for Yak! We love how the cables grow from the 2x2 ribbed band...such a simple, classic idea. Also: easy, even if you find cables intimidating (note: you needn't! They're hilariously simple to do. Just try it!)
You'll need just a single skein of Yak DK for your Cable Hat. You can find that RIGHT HERE. Poms are HERE and HERE. The pattern is HERE. Y'all: it's FREE, so get on it.
In the Pink with Ovis
We showed you Ovis super-quickly when it first came out a while back, but Meg finally got her own color combo off the needles and we're in love with her spin on a holiday hat in rosy pink and winter white!
Ovis is an adorable sheep-centric hat that's a great little colorwork project. It's a perfect use for Rambouillet DK; Meg worked hers up in Porcelain and held Bubblegum Pink variants of Double Sunday and Tynn Silk Mohair together for the pink bits.
You can find the Ovis pattern RIGHT HERE. Rambouillet is HERE. Double Sunday is HERE and Tynn Silk Mohair is HERE. You'll need one each of all three yarns to do it Meg's way!
New Amigurumi Books!
The book wall got a little fill-up this week, with restocks of reliable favorites and a few new things. Two of the latter are brand new entries on our amigurumi shelf: Peter Panda and Pals and Mini Amigurumi Zodiac.
With Peter Panda, designer Femke Vindevogel invites you to crochet ten irresistible animals, each one with its own uplifting story to tell. If you can't decide between Harry Hare and Bertha Chicken, or Albert Whale and Karate Pig, you'll just have to make them all. In other words...get ready to make them all. These toys burst onto the scene with their Scandi palette, joyful outlook and smart accessories. Have fun adding pops of color to your creations: mittens for Iggy Polar Bear, a scarf and derby hat for Tom Dachshund, a sweater for Jules Reindeer and a rainbow bag for Zoe Zebracorn.
Mini Amigurumi Zodiac brings both classic star signs and Chinese zodiac signs to life. On the classic side, choose from what we know as the twelve star signs: from an adorably fiery Leo lion and independent Aries ram to a wise and worldly Sagittarius doll. The Chinese end of things explores the fascinating world of the lunar animal zodiac with adorable mini figures representing the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Dragon and more. There's also a batch of "lucky charms" that bring good fortune into your life: a charming amigurumi toadstool, Daruma doll, chimney sweep and beckoning cat. Perfect for complete beginners and upwards, all the essential crochet stitches and techniques you need to get you started are included at the start. Each project is based on just two simple shapes, making them quick and easy to crochet, plus clear, step-by-step instructions and helpful diagrams guide you through the process.
Find Peter Panda and Pals RIGHT HERE.
Mini Amigurumi Zodiac is HERE.