Lucky Number, birthday-style.

Before he was born, I made him a blanket. When he turned six months, I marked the occasion with a wee vest. When he turned one year, I gave him a full sweater. And, so, Liam’s Birthday Sweater tradition was established! I love to knit yearly sweaters for him and (so far…) he loves to wear them.

This year, in honor of Liam becoming an official two-year-old, I went for the Lucky Number Pullover, though he’s a sweet little guy, so the luck part is hardly needed–two will be a terrific year!

The Details

Pattern: Lucky Number Pullover
Designer: Tonya Wagner
Size: Children’s 2 (3, 4, 5, 6) years
Needles: Size 7 (4.5mm) needles
Size 6 (4mm) needles
Size 6 (4mm) 16″ circular needle
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Sweater, shown in Lake #7504, Beluga #7521, and Life Jacket #7528
To purchase in the Spud & Chloë Pattern Store: click here

With the holidays coming up, I thought it may be a good idea to share these freebies again and change them up a bit for winter.

A two hank wonder!

Originally, we designed the Chinese Lantern Hat in Buoy #7219, but it looks equally lovely in Sugar Plum #7221. This two-hank wonder is quick holiday knitting on size 10 (6.5mm) needles. And with the Chinese Lantern Knitalong, filled with tons of descriptive photos, you won’t have any questions as you speed through this design. This is just the quick-knit gift I need for a friend who recently bought her first home. She won’t be cold at all while shoveling!

The Details

Pattern: Chinese Lantern Hat
Designer: Elizabeth Mautz-Redmann
Size: One
Needles: Size 6 (4mm) needles
Size 8 (5.5mm) needles
Size 10 (6.5mm) needles
Size K (6.5mm) hook
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Outer, shown in Sugar Plum #7221
Link: To download the free pattern, click here

One, two, or three hanks… you decide.

If a tiny person is on your holiday knitting list this year, the Baby Mitts pattern will have you covered. One hank will make many mitts. Choose three colors and mix and match! I made these purple combinations, just in time for my friend’s little one’s first Christmas.

The Details

Pattern: Baby Mitts
Designer: Susan B. Anderson
Size: 0 to 6 months
Needles: Size 7 (4.5mm) dpns
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Sweater, shown in Grape Jelly #7516, Lilac #7523, and Igloo #7517
Link: To download the free, updated pattern, click right here

One hank wonder!

I absolutely love the easy-to-memorize lace stitch in the Rosie Headband and the shaping for the ties is ultra-clever. All my girlfriends will have one of these in their stockings!

The Details

Pattern: Rosie Headband
Designer: Jane Richmond
Size: One
Needles: Size 4 (3.5mm) needles
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Fine, shown in Goldfish #7817 and Wildberries #7820
Link: The free pattern can be found here

Porch Swing Cardi by Kirsten Kapur

To be perfectly honest, I’m not much of a sweater maker. I dream big and love many a pullover and cardigan (and love stashing sweater quantities like a fiend), but I remain the queen of accessory knitting and gift knitting. I come from a very crafty family and many of my friends craft too, so something handmade is almost always truly appreciated. I realize I’m very lucky this way. However, there is a special something-something about the Porch Swing Cardi that gives me pause every.single.time! And, if the current weather situation (it was below freezing already in October!) is any indication I will be needing many sweaters this coming winter so it is with great excitement (and a bit of trepidation) that I have decided, and put down in black and white here, my winter 2012/2013 goal: I will make myself a Porch Swing Cardi. I’m definitely thinking Billiard (#7527), as there is something about that blue-y-green that just works for me.

So…who’s with me? Do you have big winter knitting or crocheting goals? I’m planning on starting a thread in our Ravelry group, for camaraderie and goal-meeting support. A place where we can ask for technical advice and cheer each other on while working through challenging projects, both big and small. I hope you will join me (and cheer a bit, too)!

The Details

Pattern: Porch Swing Cardi
Designer: Kirsten Kapur
Size: 31 (35, 39, 43, 47, 51)”
Needles: Size 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle, or 2 sizes smaller than larger needle
Size 8 (5mm) 32” circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 8 (5mm) double pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Sweater, shown in Firefly #7505
Link: Spud & Chloë Pattern Store

The Paw Hat by Sarah Smuland

Everyday I practice my knitting skills, much like a dedicated athlete. Perhaps there is a sports star in your life who would use a Paw Hat for after practice or on the way to a big game. Friends and family cheering in the stands would look great sporting one as well. And even if you are just “Team Knitty,” this hat with its playful paw worked in intarsia will be an excellent way to stretch your knitting muscle and hone your craft.

The Details

Pattern: Paw Hat
Designer: Sarah Smuland
Size: 18¾ circumference
Needles: Size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Sweater, shown in Lake #7504 and Ice Cream #7500
Link: Spud & Chloë Pattern Store

One pattern envelope…Spud & Chloë included.

For awhile, as I grew up, I tried to ignore my love of all toys. Particularly, toys of the stuffed variety. Then I became a knitter…it doesn’t take long to realize that making knit toys is awesome! I feel no guilt, because handmade is the best!

The Details

Pattern: Spud & Chloë (Dudes! That is both Spud *and* Chloë in one envelope!)
Designer: Susan B. Anderson
Size: Spud = 8″ tall; Chloë = 10″ tall
Needles: Size 4 (3.5 mm) double pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge (Spud)
Size 5 (3.75mm) double pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge (Chloë)
Size 7 (4.25mm) double pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge (Chloë)
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Sweater, shown in Toast #7506, Firecracker #7509, Splash #7510, and Ice Cream #7500
Link: Spud & Chloë Pattern Store

Cozy in the Charlie Sweater by Ann Weaver

The chill is in the air. Weekend plans have switched from festivals and barbeques to snuggling on the couch with a movie and knitting. Making soup and planning a trip to the apple orchard. The Charlie Sweater is a great sweatshirt-like sweater your significant other will love to wear as you crunch through leaves and pick the perfect pumpkin. They should be given a warning though…this sweater is totally cozy and totally steal-worthy.

The Details

Pattern: Charlie Sweater
Designer: Ann Weaver
Size: 37¾ (41¼, 44¾, 48¼, 51¾)”
Needles: Size 8 (5 mm) 32″ circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 8 (5 mm) double pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Sweater, shown in Manatee #7525 and Pollen #7508
Link: Spud & Chloë Pattern Store

The totally adorable Leaf Blanket.

We have Leaf Blanket Giveaway Winners! Congratulations to:

Barb Dulany, “My favorite part of Fall is the deep, beautiful colors of the leaves on the trees in the fields behind my home!”

Kim Kruppenbacher, “Pumpkins!!!!! ”

Dori, “My favorite part of Autumn is pulling all of my sweaters down from the attic and getting ready to wear them!”

All the winners have been contacted. Thanks so much for participating.

Leaf Blanket, folded.

When the Leaf Blanket was originally published, my mind couldn’t help but wander to all the possibilities. With the chill in the air this past weekend, I was itching to cast on something ultra cozy, so I immediately thought of the Leaf Blanket in sweet Spud & Chloë Outer!

Leaf Blanket, flat.

I don’t have any wee ones on the way, but this speedy knit will wait for the next little one. It completely satisfied my cozy-knit-need and looks perfectly October in Cedar #7209.

If you are ready to kick off the Fall weather in leaf-style, leave a comment (one per person) noting your favorite part of autumn. Three winners will receive the yarn and pattern to make a Leaf Blanket of their very own in their choice of Outer!

The Details

Pattern: The Leaf Blanket
Designer: Susan B. Anderson
Size: 26″ at widest point x 38″ from tip of leaf to end of stem
Needles: Size 15 (10 mm) 32″ circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 11 (8 mm) dpn, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Outer shown in Cedar #7209
Link: Spud & Chloë Pattern Store

The Hoot Hat by Susan B. Anderson

Halloween is 28 days away! Get ready, set, knit!

Whoooooooo will you be knitting for?

The Details

Pattern: Hoot Hat
Designer: Susan B. Anderson
Size: 0-6 months (6-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-5 years)
Needles: Size 11 (8mm) 16″ circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 11 (8mm) double pointed needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Outer, shown in Carbon #7203, Flannel #7201, and Soapstone #7200
Spud & Chloë Sweater, shown in Ice Cream #7500, Pollen #7508, Rootbeer #7503
Link: Hoot Hat in the Spud & Chloë Pattern Store

Feminine and cozy in The Wendy Sweater

Picking color combinations for this sweater would be endlessly fun, though I might lean towards making The Wendy Sweater in just one of our new colors–Rhino (7220)–a flattering, soft, neutral gray that goes with everything. (Seriously, Rhino is the perfect gray!)

The Details

Pattern: The Wendy Sweater
Designer: Wendy Bernard
Size: 30.5 (33.5, 37, 40, 43, 46.5, 49.5, 53)”
Needles: Size 11 (8 mm) 29″ circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 11 (8 mm) dpn, or size needed to obtain gauge
Size 10 (6 mm) 16″ circular needle, or 2 sizes smaller than larger needle
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Outer shown in Peat #7204, Ballerina #7214, Cornsilk #7208, Sandbox #7212 and Soapstone #7200
Link: Spud & Chloë Pattern Store

A fun family activity, Situpons.

Growing up, I was a Girl Scout (I loved selling cookies!), so when Colleen and Sarah showed me their design collaboration, I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Situpons!” My troop made Situpons for many occasions, but most frequently for overnight camping trips with time spent around a fire. These colorful, round mats are suited to so many spots–I have a few for the chairs on my balcony that were made by two little girls I babysit!

Whenever they see me knit they want to try it, too! They aren’t quite ready yet to take on needles, but their little fingers quickly got the hang of making I-cord on a spool knitter. When they came home from a recent vacation (complete with first airplane ride!), their mom was certain they had enough I-cord to stretch twice across every state they flew over. I was able to make three Situpons with their I-cord, and next time my sweet little charges came over, we sat upon the Situpons and marveled at how they are already Knitters!

The Details

Pattern: Situpons
Designer: Colleen Powley and Sarah Smuland
Size: 15″ diameter circle
Needles: Size 9 (5.5 mm) dpns, or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn: Spud & Chloë Outer
Link: Spud & Chloë Pattern Store

See the complete Fall 2012 Collection Catalog here