Recently at the shop we received a beautiful deluge of colour – the arrival of two new yarns, Uptown DK and Estelle Chunky! What came in looking like this…
Popped onto our shelves to look this this!
Look at all of those shades! Nothing is more inspirational than having lots of colours asking to be reorganized into stunning multicolour projects~
Uptown DK is a pure anti-pilling acrylic, while Estelle Chunky is an acrylic/wool/nylon blend – both are machine washable and would make great blankets.
In honour of these new shop rainbows, let’s look at some free patterns that would really make them shine…
Both Spice of Life by Sandra Paul and Neat Ripple by Lucy of Attic 24 (this iteration by Ravelry user KnitKnatKnotUK) are crochet options that call for DK weight yarns such as Uptown DK. Crochet is perfect for lighter weight blankets, speeding up what might otherwise (for knitters) be an endless ordeal! As a beginner crocheter myself, I think Neat Ripple would make a perfect first big crochet project, while Spice of Life is a great sampler for the intermediate.
We can’t talk about blankets without looking at some feather and fan. Both Pastel Rainbow by Stitchlinda Designs and Feather and Fan Rainbow by Cathy Waldie put a rainbow spin on a classic knit. While both of these picture a pastel baby theme, what’s great about colourwork projects is how simple it is to substitute your own colour theme – maybe a gradient from black, to navy, all the way through to light blue? Black stripes with shots of neon? Red, white, and blue for your expat sibling in America?
If feather and fan isn’t your thing, we have an alternative rainbow ripple – Western Hills by Julia Stanfield – or a knitted Log Cabin by Staci Perry! Blankets are great projects for playing with yarn substitutions, as they are easily sized up or down by working more or less repeats. Unlike a garment, they don’t have to fit, so gauge isn’t as much of a concern either. It’s a blank canvas!
Of course I can’t bring up colourful blankets without mentioning our True North creations! The Polka Dot Baby Blanket is by our fab crochet instructor Cyndy.
Also a shop favourite is our True North Garter Stitch Baby Blanket, featuring the ever-beginner-friendly garter stitch and a simple worked-as-you-go i-cord edge.
Both the Polka Dot and Garter Stitch blankets are so SO easy to size up into an adult afghan, and workable in any weight!
Looking for a natural fiber? I’ve heard a few rave reviews lately about how Cascade’s Ultra Pima cotton DK washes up, and Cascade 220 is a well-established pure wool with lots of colours~
I hope you’re as inspired as I am by this rainbow tour – stay cool yarn lovers~
True North Yarn Co. 