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Get Cozy with This Free Knitted Shawl Pattern

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We had our first snow this past week. Our cool fall weather dipped below freezing, and we were hit with 6.4″ of heaping snow in one afternoon. With the temperature staying close to the freezing point each day since, that snow is here to stay. Now that winter has finally arrived, it’s time to bust out our favorite seasonal items. We’ll get that fireplace crackling and that hot cocoa made. We’ll bake some delicious cookies and rest on the couch while our favorite winter movies play. For the next few months, we’ll be hibernating indoors, which gives us plenty of time to whip up this fantastic free knitted shawl pattern.

This free knitted shawl pattern is a great project for keeping warm this winter. The yarn is so irresistibly soft and comfortable that you’ll want to drape it around you whenever you can. It’s perfect for reading, watching movies, or curling up with a mug of cocoa on the couch. Even better, this free knitted shawl pattern is easy to make, so you’ll have your new favorite winter craft done up in no time!

Get Cozy with This Free Knitted Shawl Pattern

You’ll Love This Free Knitted Shawl Pattern

By Christine Chen for redheart.com

 

MATERIALS

  • RED HEART® Strata™: 7 balls 2405 grey bulky yarn
  • Susan Bates® Knitting Needles: 8mm [US 11]
  • Yarn needle

 

GAUGE: 13 sts = 4″ [10 cm]; 16 rows = 4″ [10 cm] in Stockinette stitch.

Finished Size: Shawl measures 17″ [43 cm] wide x 72″ [183 cm] long.

 

DIRECTIONS

Note: Slip first st purlwise and knit last st through back loop of every row for a more finished looking edge.

Cast on 58 sts. Knit 5 rows.

Row 1 (Right Side): Knit.

Row 2: Purl.

Rows 3-12: Repeat rows 1-2.

Row 13: Knit.

Row 14: [K1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back] to last 2 sts, k2.

Row 15: Knit.

Row 16: K2, [slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back, k1] to end of row.

Rows 17-40: Repeat rows 13-16. Repeat rows 1-40 for nine more times, then rows 1-12 once. Knit 6 rows. Bind off.

 

FINISHING

Weave in ends.

 

ABBREVIATIONS

cm = centimeters; k = knit; mm = millimeters; st(s) = stitch(es); [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified.

Looking for more amazing knitting patterns that will keep you cozy this winter? Check out this Extra Chunky Gratitude Blanket.

What are some of your favorite knitting patterns for winter?

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Twist & Twirl Yarn by Bernat

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New to the stores shelves is Bernat’s newly released yarn called Twist & Twirl. It comes as a 100 g ball and one ball can make 1 scarf.

This yarn can be deceptive on how to use it. Let me show you how to operate this yarn. Cnce you get into the groove of understanding how to use it, it will whip up a scarf in about 2 – 3 hours.

Here is an exclusive look at a tutorial using this this yarn.

PLAY TUTORIAL NOW

Enjoy the fancy colours and this yarn is reasonably priced considering it can make a generous size scarf.

Once you understand this yarn, you can go see AllFreeCrochet for more ideas because maybe you can use it for other things that hasn’t yet been thought of.

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Meet and Make: Kristin Omdahl

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Today’s Meet and Make designer is Kristin Omdahl, the creater of the design company KRISTIN and website, StyledByKristin.com. Kristin loved to knit and crochet.

Let’s meet Kristin!

10 Fun Facts about Kristin Omdahl:

  1. I’m a single mom whose learning (and loving) to be a tomboy with my adventurous son – camping, fishing, sports and whatever else he comes up with!
  2. I learned to run, trained for, and ran a marathon last year (26.2 miles)
  3. I taught myself to knit and crochet while pregnant and living over seas
  4. I’m teaching myself how to play guitar right now. I want to learn to play “All Summer Long” by Kid Rock, and any Zac Brown Band or Bob Marley songs. I would love to play well enough to not embarrass myself at the beach.
  5. My favorite movies are The Godfather and P.S. I Love You. If the day ever came where I had to choose between Gerard Butler and Jeffrey Dean Morgan…
  6. I love to cook and bake, and enjoy experimenting with my own recipes. I’m especially fond of Mediterranean cooking: Italian, Lebanese, Moroccan & Greek.
  7. I love math more than I should admit. I find reasons to make calculations in my head all the time. And I calculate my gas mileage every time I fill my gas tank.
  8. I was a model as a teenager. I had the same agent at Cindy Crawford in Chicago, went to the same parties as the Victoria Secret models in New York and worked with Brooke Shields once. I met a rock star at a party once, was so afraid of his proposition, I hid in the bathroom for half an hour until he left!
  9. I love to read before going to sleep every night. My favorite books are “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coehlo, “The New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle, “The Witching Hour” by Anne Rice, “The Stand” by Stephen King and my favorite series is “The Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon.
  10. If money were no object, I’d live in a palace on the sea. Otherwise, I hope to one day live in a cottage or hut on the beach.

Here’s Kristin’s Project:

Isis Beaded Hat and Flower

Materials:

  • Skein of Tilli Tomas Flurries; 80% spun Australian Merino Wool, 20% beads; 130 yards per 100 gms. Luxurious One Skein Yarn Kit available here
  • US8 (5mm) set of US8 double pointed needles
  • US8 (5 mm) 16″ circular US8 needles (optional)
  • US6 (4mm) knitting needles for flower
  • Stitch Marker
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Scissors

Gauge: 3.5 sts/4 rows = 1″

Finished Size: 20″ circumference

Instructions for hat:

  1. CO 8 sts over 3 double pointed needles
  2. Round 1: join in round, knit in each stich around, place stitch marker.
  3. Round 2: knit into the front and back (kfb) of each stitch around. (16 sts)
  4. Round 3 (and all odd numbered rounds): knit around
  5. Round 4: *kfb, k1. Repeat from * around. (24 sts)
  6. Round 6: *kfb, k2. Repeat from * around, (32 sts)
  7. Round 8: *kfb, k3. Repeat from * around. (40 sts)
  8. Round 10: *kfb, k4. Repeat from * around. (48 sts)
  9. Round 12: *kfb, k5. Repeat from * around. (56 sts)
  10. Round 14: *kfb, k6. Repeat from * around. (64 sts)
  11. Round 16: *kfb, k7. Repeat from * around. (72 sts)
  12. Note: switch to circular needles when or if you are more comfortable with circulars than dpns.
  13. Round 17: knit around.
  14. Repeat Round 17 until hat measures 11″ long.
  15. Next round: *k5, k2tog. Repeat from * to last 2 sts: k2. (62 sts)
  16. Next round: *k1, p1. Repeat from * around.
  17. Repeat last round for 2″.
  18. Fasten off as follows: *K2tog, move the stitch on the right needle back to the left needle. Move yarn to the front. P2tog. Move the stitch on the right needle back to the left needle. Move yarn to the back. Repeat from * until you have 1 stitch remaining. Cut yarn, pull through last stitch to fasten off.
  19. Weave in loose ends.

 

Instructions for flower:

Petal (make 7)

  1. With Flurries and US6 knitting needles, CO 5 sts
  2. Row 1, 3, 5, 8, 11: knit across (5 sts)
  3. **Note: carry the cast on tail along on row 1, to weave in the loose end.
  4. Row 2: k2, knit into the front, back and front of the same stitch (kfbf), k2 (7 sts)
  5. Row 4: k3, kfbf, k3 (9 sts)
  6. Row 6: k4, kfbf k4 (11 sts)
  7. Row 7: k1, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k1 (9 sts)
  8. Row 8: k1, ssk, k3, k2tog, k1 (7 sts)
  9. Row 10: k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1 (5 sts)
  10. Row 12: k1, s2kp, k1 (3 sts)
  11. Row 13: p3tog. Fasten off.

Joining petals

  1. With right sides facing, pick up and knit 4 sts into each petal cast on edge (20 sts).
  2. Row 1: p1, p2tog across to last stitch, p1 (11 sts)
  3. Row 2: with right hand needle, pass the 2nd stitch over the first stitch on the left hand needle. Pass the next stitch over the same first stitch on the left hand needle. Continue until the first stitch is the only stitch remaining.
  4. Fasten off. Wewebtile_2.jpgave in loose ends. Note: when ever possible, carry along a loose end for a couple of stitches to reduce weaving in time.

 

 

 

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Moonlight Yarn Madness & Knit & Crochet Movie Night

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Spinrite Yarn Factory Outlet, makers of Bernat, Phentex, Lily Sugar’n Cream, and Patons Yarns is holding another Tent Sale on September 15, 16 and 17th, 2011.

Spinrite's Factory Outlet Store.

Massive Tent & Truck Sale at Spinrite Factory Outet in Listowel Ontario. Come early as the crowd that come create really long lines to get in on the deals.

Spinrite is located in Listowel Ontario Canada. In the last tent sale, people are traveling as far as Cape Bretton, Texas, Vancouver, and much more. They have made the event as part of vacations. As you can see, the level of enthusiasm at the annual event is absolutely out of this world. Meet one of my fans in this video that came to the Tent Sale in August.

This is the first time a 2nd tent sale is going to be done within a year. I will tell you that the stock that is being offered this time around is completely new and wasn’t available for the 1st Tent Sale. Truck loads of these new yarn lines are arriving and they need to clear it out to make room in the warehouse for new yarn lines.

They are calling it a sale but it’s practically a yarn giveaway at the prices that they are offering. For more information about the location of this sale you can go to YarnFactoryOutlet.com.

OH YEAH… the last tent sale was to have a movie and knit out night in our PJ’s. For those who attempted it a few weeks ago, you know it rained so hard it nearly blew us all away. It’s been rescheduled for Friday September 16, 2011. Check out the website or subscribe to their newsletter to have the monthly newsletter sent to you so you can see the juicy details and be first to know what’s happening!

If you would like to get your hands on some great free crochet patterns. Be sure to go to AllFreeCrochet.com.

 

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How to Choose Afghan Colors

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Knitting or crocheting your own afghan is one of the greatest accomplishments you can have. It takes a lot of skill to be able to put such a beautiful piece together. Afghan patterns come in all shapes and sizes along with different stitches. You can also choose any color you wish too. There are so many colored skeins out there whether you’re looking for solid colored yarn or multi-colored, there is something for everyone.

Making an afghan for your home really adds to the decor. Let’s say you want an afghan for yourself that you know you’re going to keep in your living room. What color walls do you have? Do you have plain white walls, colored walls or textured? If you have plain white walls you might want to choose a multi-colored yarn so it will add some color and detail to your room. If your walls are brightly colored then you might want to stick with a solid color so it won’t get too crazy in there.

If you’re wanting to make a ripple afghan it would be neat to choose more than one color that way your pattern will stick out more easily. If you’re making an afghan for a baby then soft colors are more appropriate. You usually don’t see very bold colors for babies. For girls you usually see a light pale pink and for boys a light baby blue color. Yellow can be used for a boy or girl as it’s a neutral color.

This Classic Ripple Afghan uses a few different colors and it looks great. It allows you to see the zig zag pattern. Choosing your yarn colors for an afghan is really all about you and your taste. Afghans truly are a home decor piece so you can choose your colors according to your home’s design.

If you know you want your afghan to be more than one color but you just can’t decide what would look good together then check out a color wheel. These are charts that easily tell you what colors best fit each other. Contrasting colors are directly across from each other on the wheel whereas if you’re looking for something unusual you can choose colors of the same value. Each color is labeled with a number on the color wheel, so you can just choose the same number for a unique afghan.

You can also choose your afghan colors according to your mood and style. If you’re a cheerful person then you can use a yellow color. If you’re passionate, you can go with red. Blues are usually soothing and calming while greens can be cool or vibrant. Get to know your inner-self and start making your afghan.

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Ask Maria “Getting Beads on that Yarn to Knit or Crochet”

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Question

I have a question concerning Beading. How do you apply Beads to the Red Heart yarn? Want to make Caps and other project with Beads but the yarn seem so thick. Is there a way to do it?

Marilynn F

You have to thread the beads onto the yarn. You need to make sure the bead holes are large enough for your selection of yarn. Most patterns will list how many beads are needed and often the type of yarn used to create the project.

There are several ways to string the beads onto the yarn. You can use a long needle threader. This wire with tab is an easy way to string. Place several beads onto the wire loop of the needle threader, place the yarn inside of the loop, pull wire through the beads.  Another way is to use a needle. You thread the yarn through the needle eye, then just pick up the beads with the needle and pull onto the yarn. If the bead holes are big enough, you don’t need any tools, just string on the beads!

Maria Nerius has been crafting as a professional for over 25 years and enjoys being a writer and author on creative topics. Send your questions to her, our FaveCrafts.com Resident Craft Expert: Maria@FaveCrafts.com

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