Holiday Knitting Ideas-Week 5

This week our Holiday knitting inspiration is all about cowls and loops.  Most folks have made MANY scarves and cowls but I thought I would share a few of my favorites.  These make perfect gifts and there is still plenty of time to make a few.

Mountain Colors has several free patterns in this category.  Our Missoula Mobius is knit with 1 skein of Monarch, a soft-spun, slightly thick and thin, SUPER soft wool yarn.  This project is knit flat then joined with a twist when sewn together.  If you prefer a straight loop then just don't put in the twist!!

Missoula Mobius

Our Easy Moguls Scarf has a similar construction but it is designed for 2 skeins of Moguls.  Knit with 2 skeins of the same colorway or alternate two complimentary colors in an easy stripe sequence.  Then wear flat or make into a loop that you let hang straight or twist around your neck for a snuggly warm accent.  These make fast-to-knit gifts!!!  I have 2 skeins on my table waiting for me to knit one of these scarves.

Easy Moguls Scarf

Easy Moguls Scarf....twisted around neck

If you search on Ravelry you will find MANY free cowl patterns.  I made the Super Easy Cowl for a gift this year. I used our 4/8's Wool.  I have also made the Crofter's Cowl in Mountain Colors River Twist yarn. It is really soft and nice.

On my knit-for-me-soon list there is the Metamorph cowl and the City Creek Cowl .  I think I will use Crazyfoot for the Metamorph and 4/8's Wool for the City Creek Cowl.  I also have the Spiral Cowl in my queue. It calls for a Dk weight yarn so I will use our Weavers Wool Quarters.  This 100% Wool yarn is perfect for many projects.  One of our dyers is making a pair of Selbuvotter mittens with this yarn.

So grab your needles and a skein or two of yarn and cast on!

Holiday Knitting ideas- Week 1

Here in Western Montana we spent 10 weeks this Fall with extreme amounts of smoke from forest fires that were burning nearby.  It seems like September and October were the months that never happened!!  So now it is November and the holidays are fast approaching.  By our calculations we have just over 7 weeks of knitting time left!

To encourage ourselves...as well as you...we have been looking at designs online and found some great ones that will work with our yarns!  This week we are looking a shawls and shawlettes (is there a better word for these small scarves?).

If you have plans to knit a larger shawl, check out Prieta's Rough Sea Shawl on Ravelry. It is lovely and will work up perfectly in Mountain Colors Bearfoot or Crazyfoot.  Any shawl that calls for Fingering weight yarn will work with these two yarns. 

Want a shawl that uses our Winter Lace wool/silk lace weight yarn?  Annis can be knit in the full size seen in the photo OR there is a mini-version too. The Swallowtail Shawl is a beautiful design.  I am a "new" lace knitter and I finished my Swallowtail . It is light and soft and pretty.

Want a triangular scarf sized shawl (shawlette) in fingering weight yarn? 

Larch by Rue is a beautiful design.  There are also MANY other scarves that could be knit with Bearfoot or Crazyfoot. Each is lovely in a different way.

So grab your needles, some Mountain Colors yarn and create a wonderful gift for yourself or a friend.

The Mountain Loop--Free Pattern of the week

This lovely loop scarf uses 2 skeins of Mountain Colors 3-ply Wool.  It is knit on large needles and is very soft and warm.  After knitting the large loop, just give it a twist and put both loops over your head.

Wouldn't this make a great gift for someone on your holiday gift giving list??  Or perhaps YOU need to make one for yourself!!  The free pattern can be found below:

The Mountain Loop

By Diana McKay

Our coldest predicted winter in many years is now here.   I developed this scarf to keep the chill away.   It’s very quick to knit, cozily warm and is a great last minute Christmas gift to whip up.  Enjoy!

YARN:  2 skeins of Mountain Colors 3Ply Wool

NEEDLES:  #9 or #10 circular needles (24” seemed to work fine) or size you need for gauge

GAUGE:   3.5 – 3” stitches per inch

FINISHED SIZE:   8” x 58”
 

BROKEN RIB PATTERN STITCH:

Row 1:  K1, P1 around

Row 2: Knit around

CAST ON  200sts loosely.  Knit the first row and join into a circle without twisting the stitches.   Place a marker where you join.  Work the Pattern Stitch for 8”.  Bind off with a needle a couple sizes bigger than the size you are using to keep the bind off edge loose.  Weave in the ends and block lightly.  Wrap around your neck and keep it warm!

The link previously posted doesn't want to work.  If we get it repaired we will correct that problem!

Feel free to share this with friends.

Stay warm!