Getting Elemental with Berroco

Have you seen Berroco’s new Elements yarn? This wool/nylon blend is new for fall and hasn’t actually been released yet, but I’m super excited to try it out.

In the slideshow for the Elements pattern booklet, the yarn is described as a “technical yarn,” meaning that modern technology is the reason this yarn is able to exist. It’s described as a nylon net that the wool fibers are blown into, producing a halo of color around the nylon, which provides a metallic sheen that’s still subtle enough to wear in your daily life.

The yarn will come in 12 colors (I like Chromium, the light purple pictured here) and have 153 yards per 50 gram skein. That makes it a lighter yarn than you’d expect, so your sweaters and other garments will feel lighter on your body.

The booklet accompanying the yarn, #321, includes 10 patterns, or you can check out the free patterns Sagittaria — a ribbed cape with a button band and a bit of a collar– and Tauri Mini, a garter stitch keyhole scarf (a shawl-sized version is found in the booklet).

The projects are relatively easy, with lots of roomy shapes and minimal finishing. Pesasi is probably my favorite. It’s a simple A-line tunic with a V-neck that’s finished with slip stitches rather than ribbing or crochet. This means the edges roll slightly but it gives a nice informal look to the top — and in size small it weighs less than a pound!

Oriona is another interesting sweater in the collection. It is mostly stockinette stitch with a simple funnel neck (again no finishing) but the drop shoulders hit midway down the arm instead of actually on the shoulders, providing a fun detail.

If you check out the preview I’d love to hear what you think. Spill it!

[Photo by Berroco.]

Next Pattern:

I’ve shared a lot of Christmas stocking knitting patterns over the years (see posts 1, 2, 3 for example) but what if you want to knit a stocking for a non-human member of your family. If you’re looking for Christmas stocking knitting patterns for your cats or dogs, this is the post for you.

These large paw print stockings are perfect for either dogs or cats, so they’re great to knit if you have both. They are worked in the round using DK weight yarn, and the stocking measures about 17 inches/43 cm from the top to the heel. You can get the pattern from nicolaluke.

The K4 Project has a super cute Kitty Christmas stocking pattern, which is worked in worsted weight yarn. They also have a dog version, or you can buy both and get a discount if you have both dogs and cats to knit for. Both projects have two patterns, showing how to work the stockings flat or in the round.

Put your dog into a Christmas scene with this stocking pattern from ifanhourChild. It shows a dog in a dog house in the snow, and has room for the dog’s name at the top. It’s worked flat using worsted weight yarn and the pattern includes charts for many small and medium dog breeds (there’s a separate listing for bigger dogs) so you can stitch a dog that looks like yours.

Annie’s Woolens has both dog and cat stocking knitting patterns that are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round. You can change up the colors to suit your pet if you want, and they come with an alphabet chart for personalization. Or you can stick with holiday colors and buy a kit to make the dog or cat stocking.

Waiting for Santa Paws is a pattern from Kate Agner on Ravelry that would be cute for a dog or a cat. It looks like a leg with a paw print on the bottom part of the foot and more paw prints running around the top of the leg. This is a great option if you don’t want to mess with a heel turn because it doesn’t have a heel, because dogs and cats don’t have heels so why would their stockings?

Book Review – 20 to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit

Book Review – Knit Christmas Stockings

Next Pattern:

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