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New Yarn – Knit Picks Aloft

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Aloft is Knit Picks new yarn. 75% Super Soft Kid Mohair and 25% Silk.

I made a neck warmer out of this yarn. Very soft, totally scrumptious, lace weight yarn. Very nice to knit with also. It’s a bit scratchy on my neck, which surprised me, but I’m rather sensitive in that area (also I have a throat and chest cold so that could be part of it too). I put it under my sleeve and wore it on my arm all day and no problems, no scratching, no itching. Warm and soft, like a hug.

I used this double strand, on size 9 needles. I know. Lace weight on size 9’s, but it is  very nice. Tomorrow, I’ll wear it as intended to see how, after it’s blocked, it drapes. I’m sure I’ll love it.

Pretty affordable, too, at only 6.99 for a 246 yd ball. The color I used is cranberry, and while red isn’t my favorite, it sure knitted up pretty!

Get yours here: http://www.knitpicks.com/cfyarns/yarn_display.cfm?ID=5420210

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Knit a Blanket with the Texture of a Ceiling

Knitwear designers can get inspiration from almost anything when it comes to re-creating a color scheme, an image or a texture in stitches. Sometimes the inspiration isn’t always obvious in the finished project, but sometimes it’s more literal. 

That’s the way it is with the Tin Ceiling Blanket from Purl Soho. Not just because the inspiration is in the name, but if you’ve ever seen one of these old ceilings you can see that the design of the blanket is quite similar to the pattern of the tin tiles. 

This is also a good example of the idea that you don’t have to use fancy stitch patterns or lots of color to make a big impact with your knits. This single-color blanket (designed by Gianna Mueller and inspired by a washcloth and towel set designed by Sandi Rosner) is made completely with knits and purls, other than slipped stitches at the beginning of rows to make neater edges. 

The pattern is written out row by row, but there’s also a chart, which means this project is a great opportunity to practice reading a chart where you can check your work against the written pattern if you need to. 

It comes in two sizes, a crib blanket and a throw. The yarn used in the sample is an organic cotton sold by the cone, which is a great way to get a large quantity of yarn and have fewer ends to weave in. In fact, you can knit either size of the blanket with just one cone of yarn, which isn’t inexpensive but makes you a great, sturdy, heirloom quality but still washable blanket you’ll use for years to come. (Of course you can use any sport weight yarn you like to make this blanket.)

Check out all the details and grab the free pattern from Purl Soho. 

[Photo: Purl Soho]