Ravelry Patterns - Topping the charts this week 5/17/2011

I check Ravelry each week for items my fellow knitters and crafter's are que'ing up for their next projects. It's a great way to see what color trends people are looking to for a season or what will be the next big wearable you will start seeing on city streets. It also helps me plan stash busters so I can get new yarn.

Please make sure to ask me questions, leave a comment or inquire further. I am hoping to do some tutorials soon on the awesome that is Ravelry for those of you who are not yet on board.

by Jared Flood

Published in - Brooklyn Tweed

• Craft - Knitting Category Neck / Torso → Scarf Neck / Torso → Shawl / Wrap Edging
• Published - April 2011
• Yarns suggested - Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace Solid
• Yarn weight- Lace / 2 ply
• Gauge - 8 stitches and 15 rows = 2 inches in Garter Stitch, relaxed after aggressive blocking
• Needle size - US 6 - 4.0 mm (always check against a swatch to measure gauge)
• Yardage- 600 - 680 yards (549 - 622 m)
• Sizes available- One Size

This beautiful summer shawl currently has 437 projects que'd, in progress completed or on the needles in some fashion. Jared's patterns always include the most luxurious yarn suggestions and have meticulous crafted details. His patterns are easy to understand should you have any trouble the many helpful hands in some of his groups on ravelry know exactly where to move you through that next stitch. Jared himself makes all sorts of helpful tips available on his blog, groups and erratta.

by Mags Kandis Published in Knitty, Spring + Summer 2011

• Craft - Knitting
• Category - Sweater → Cardigan
• Published - April 2011
• Yarns suggested - Americo Original 100% Pima Cotton Flame
• Yarn weight - Fingering / 4 ply (14 wpi)
• Gauge - 17 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches
• Needle size - US 8 - 5.0 mm
• Sizes available - XS[S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X]

Designed to pull a warm weather pull over this beautiful pattern is very easy to work up even for the move novice of knitters. This is a "top down" styled raglan, where you work literally from the top of the garment to the bottom working the sleeves in the process. It makes for a much more seamless and well tailored item. The buttons are made with either yarn from your garment or a contrasting color so you do not need to buy them! Not only does this prevent droop but it makes for a beautiful embellishment should you use a contrasting yarn color. The pattern is free and easily read on notes and instructions. I am casting this on next week for a fantastic cover up, since our tempatures here in the south east are still dropping to the 40's at night.

byJulie Crawford

Published in - Knitty

• Craft - Knitting
• Category - Tops → Sleeveless Top
• Published - April 2011
• Yarns suggested - Kollage Yarns Luscious
• Needle size - US 6 - 4.0 mm
• Yardage - 550 - 1700 yards (503 - 1554 m)
• Sizes available - Bust 32[34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 48, 52] inches

How cute would this look with Amiga! This last pattern is free as well from Knitty. Light and airy a super whip up. It is again a circular piece worked in the round from the bottom up. The bust section has decrease shaping. Being an almost a lace patterned piece the author suggests wearing another tank under for concealing anything you don't want to have seen.

The Kollage yarn suggested is 63% cotton, 37% nylon elastic, so when going with another you need to make sure to have a good blend of cotton (wool alpaca) with a nylon elastic as well for stretch. Pattern is a very quick repeatable even with each band in the tank being a different stitch.