I’m so delighted to hear from many of you on how much you like our new NaturallyCaron.com yarns. But I’d like to also hear about what you’re making with Country and Spa. Are you using the patterns on the website? Are you using a favorite pattern of your own but using Country or Spa? Are you making up your own pattern? What types of projects would you like to see more of on NaturallyCaron.com? Baby? Throws? Fashion? Accessories? Tell me, tell me! editor@caron-connections.com
I hope all of you enjoyed Frank’s description of S and Z twist yarns. I know that Dee Stanzio did, as she contacted me about using NaturallyCaron.com yarns in her class at Chain Link, the CGOA annual meeting in Manchester NH. If you’d like to learn more or sign up for Dee’s class, just go to www.crochet.org.
Now for this week’s featured patterns.
The first one, the Coco Bay crocheted shawl by Doris Chan, done in Spa is just amazing, as are so many of Doris’ designs. But rather than my describing it, I thought it should come from Doris herself, so heeeeere’s Doris….
If you’d asked me twenty years ago I’d have said I’d rather eat worms than wear a shawl. How times and tastes have changed. Since I rediscovered crochet and found ways to make shawls that stay on your shoulders I have a much improved opinion of these graceful, beautiful and, yes, girly garments.
When Cari Clement suggested I design a shawl for NaturallyCaron.com I immediately gravitated toward a personal pattern I’ve been nurturing for many years, my All Shawl. If you were a relative or an Extremely Good Girl Friend of mine ten years ago you could have expected some version of this shawl, hand-made by me, under your Christmas tree.
For Coco Bay, I’ve taken the basic shape of my treasured All Shawl and adapted it to take full advantage of this new yarn, NaturallyCaron.com Spa. Because Spa is wonderfully lightweight, soft and easy to work with, this design is a dream to make and wear. The rounded, roughly 3/4 circle shape allows just the right amount of fabric for wrapping around and staying on the body. Beginning with a section in an easy mesh stitch, this design then flows into a three-color pattern of V’s and Clusters for a dazzling center section. Finally, the shawl is ringed in a deep flounce of flirty, girly lace.
Feel free to adapt the shawl length and the colorway to suit yourself. I’ve chosen the three shades Misty Taupe, Rose Bisque and Ocean Spray, but any combination from the eight available colors of NaturallyCaron.com Spa would be lovely.
And for our knitted design, the Asheville jacket done in Country is perfect for cool summer evenings. Pair the jacket with a black dress and add a wide belt and you have a whole new look. Designer Kathy Perry is known for her expertise on the Sweater Machine, but her hand knitting design talents are also quite evident here. The Blackberry stitch edging makes the jacket very special. Working the body in stockinette stitch is SO great when you don’t want to think about fancy stitches – just knit and purl. Making the blackberry stitch band is perfect for travel knitting. The band is attached once the edging has been finished.
Per Kathy: I got some quiet TV time in making the trim with lots of little hand knit “blackberries”!
So check out the audio fashion show for both the Coco Bay shawl and the Asheville jacket!
