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.]

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long.

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders.

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well.

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn.

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions.

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table.

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter.

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.

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