It’s hip to be square!

Take it from me (or Huey Lewis), it is hip to be seen in granny squares! Especially if it is this cute tank top in Interweave Crochet designed by Theresa Schables.

Made from Firefly (one of our favorite summer yarns), the vertical squares outlined by solid squares to give the illusion of waist shaping. The linen and rayon blend gives the granny squares the perfect amount of drape and stability at the same time. Joining the squares as you go gives the tank the added bonus of having minimal finishing.

Wear with flower power jeans and wedge sandals for a bohemian look or with a pencil skirt and kitten heels for a hip city look. Either way, you are sure to be hip!

Photos courtesy of Interweave Crochet. Matt Schodorf Photography.

What's on your Spring Queue?

Memorial Day is almost upon us, which means summer has almost (unofficially) begun! I hope that doesn't mean your needles and hooks are collecting dust...On my queue? Tremont by Talitha Kuomi in a to-be-determined palette of Provence, Fairfax (scroll down for the link) from Twist Collective in Brass Button, my hands-down favorite Solstice color, and the Emily Shawl in Firefly in the Mermaid colorway. Let me know what you're knitting in the comments or share it with our Ravelry group! 

In the meantime, Classic Elite yarns are popping up in all my favorite magazines. See anything that catches your eye?

Vogue Crochet 2012 (Special Edition)

Circle Jacket, designed by Cristina Mershon, knit in Classic Elite Yarns Fresco and Pirouette; 8 (10, 13) hanks of Fresco in #5353 Strawberry and 4 (5, 7) balls of Pirouette in #4058 Alizarin. Photo by Rose Callahan.


Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2012

Slit Shoulder Top, designed by Margaux Hufnagel in Classic Elite Yarns Seedling; 3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5) hanks in #4575 summer rain(gray), 2 (2, 3, 3, 3, 3) hanks each in #4501 Summer Cloud (white), #4581 Mint (green), and #4546 Glacier (blue). Photo by Rose Callahan.

Cap Sleeve Top, designed by Twinkle in Twinkle Handknits/Classic Elite Yarns Cruise; 9 (10, 11, 12) skeins in #35 Mint. Photo by Paul Amato for LVARepresents.com.


Knit Simple Spring/Summer 2012

Striped Boat-neck Sweater, designed by Mari Lynn Patrick in Classic Elite Yarns Provence; 3 (3, 4, 4, 4, 5) hanks in #2601 bleached white, 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3) hanks in #2650 New Moon. Photo by Rose Callahan.

I-cord Necklace, designed by Michele Muska in Classic Elite Yarns Chesapeake; 2 balls in #5919 carnation and small amounts each in #5955 Shanghai Red and #5925 Tokyo Rose. Photo by Rose Callahan.

Picot Trim Dress, designed by Jil Eaton in Jil Eaton/Classic Elite Yarns CottonTail; 4 (5, 6, 7, 9) hanks in #7554 Lavender, 1 hank in #7520 Aqua. Photo by Paul Amato for LVARepresents.com.

Interweave Knits, Summer 2012

Hana Shell by Ruth Garcia-Alcantud in Classic Elite Yarns Soft Linen:, 5 (6, 7, 8, 8) balls in #2256 Lavender. Photo by Carmel Zucker.


Knitscene Summer 2012

Robin Tank by Amy Christoffers, designed in Classic Elite Yarns Firefly; 4 (4, 5, 5, 5, 6) skeins of #7789 Pink Petunia. Photo by Nathan Rega, Harper Point Photography.

Merida Pullover by Talitha Kuomi, designed in Classic Elite Yarns Solstice; 6 (7, 7, 8, 10, 11, 11) skeins and #2338 Pine Cone, 3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6) skeins of #2358 Geranium. Photo by Nathan Rega, Harper Point Photography.


Twist Collective, Spring 2012

Fairfax, designed by Tanis Gray in Classic Elite Yarns Solstice; 9 (10, 12, 13, 14, 15) skeins in #2332 Magenta. Photo by Jane Heller.

Knitty, Spring 2012

Petal designed by Heather Hoefle in Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo; 7, 8, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 skeins in #136 Mulberry.

Indie Crochet Patterns

We love to see what independent designers can do with our yarns. I was recently trolling Ravelry looking for some gems, and came across some beautiful independent crochet designs. Enjoy!

Kristen TenDyke is a huge proponent of crochet, with quite a few patterns under her belt. Her Flame Scallop Cardi is soft and vibrant in Fresco.

Wendy Lewis designed the Jane Austen shawl (Rav link) in Silky Alpaca Lace. I can certainly relate to her story about finding your favorite craft and letting it take over your life.

Monica Brown's Cropped Cardigan is adorable and a free download in Premiere!

I adore Laura Nelkin's designs. I love that this fun, flirty summer top has a sewing component. It should be easy to find a companion fabric for one of the 26 colors of Wool Bam Boo.

Look at the beautiful edging on Lisa Gonzalez's Cut Away Cardi. Premiere is the star in this free pattern!

I love a dolman sleeve, especially when there's openwork involved. Robyn Chachula's Zany pullover (Rav link) has both those things in Wool Bam Boo!

Happy hooking!

Central Mass Gardens, Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home is our dedicated booklet of home accessories for Spring 2011. Fifteen designs in eight yarns, all photographed in the stunning Central Mass Gardens in Lunenberg, MA. You'll find designs in Allegoro, Classic Silk, Cricket, Firefly, Pebbles, Provence, Sprout and Summer Sox. All skills levels are represented, and you'll find knit AND crochet patterns!

The Central Mass Gardens greenhouses are lush and expansive, just the place to photograph the bigger pieces featured in this booklet. I love the bed set up between rows of plants and flowers, or the cozy velvety upholstered chair sitting amongst racks of daisies. I kind of want to live there, don't you?