Announcing… new classes and great teachers!

Here at Knit Culture Studio we’re a big fan of robots and monsters — and we’re not alone! The past few years we’ve seen a lot of creative patterns and designs for these metal and fur beasts. So let’s pick up our hooks and needles and create some new friends.

Top Left: Crobots by Nelly Pailloux has not one, but twenty different robots you can crochet. With this book you can create your own little robot army.

Bottom Left: This adorable little book by Christen Haden has a robot, and several different kinds of monsters to chose from, from cthulhu to zombies.

Top Right: Knitwhit’s latest limited edition kits feature monsters with fuzzy faces. This is Cebu!

Bottom Right: Penelope the Empathetic Monster from Dangercrafts is so cute we feel bad calling her a monster.

For more robot and monster-inspired project ideas, check out our facebook album!

Sign up for the Hat and Booties class here!

Sign up for the Baby Sweater class here!

Happy Bastille Day! In honor of this French national day of celebration, take a look at this collection inspired by France and French style!

Top Left: Rowan Kidsilk Haze, to make dreamy, diaphanous garments and accessories like the pink gauntlets pictured at bottom right.

Top Right: This chic book, French Girl Knits, has so many beautiful tops you’ll want to make them all.

Bottom Left: The Star Crossed Slouchy Beret, a FREE pattern by Natalie Larson, is a fast and satisfying knit with worsted weight yarn. Liz made one in Mirasol Miski and it is lovely.

Bottom Right: Derya Davenport designed these delicate Champs-Élyssées Handwarmers with Kidsilk Haze. Perfect for keeping the chill off when dining at an outdoor café.

For more of our French-inspired project ideas, including a shawl inspired by the Eiffel Tower, check out our facebook album!

When Fourth of July comes around summer is sinking in, the days are bright and the evenings warm. What a great time to an afternoon picnic and cap off the evening by lying back on a blanket to watch fireworks. We’re bringing our knitting with us as we celebrate fireworks, picnics, and our independence.

Top left: Lay back on the picnic blanket and enjoy a summer evening.

Top right: Blue Sky Cotton is great for warm-weather knitting.

Bottom left: Though it’s not “Old Glory Red” we love this red Malabrigo, and all the other colors too!

Bottom right: Sizzle is the sound of the fireworks falling from the sky, the meat hitting the BBQ, and the name of this great Knit and Tonic pattern.

Have a wonderful fourth of July! For more Independence Day knitting ideas, visit our facebook album.

These linen washcloths are a great, simple and satisfying knit. Practice your lace knitting and make a set as a gift for a baby or bridal shower!

Download the pattern PDF here.

Finished measurements: approximately 10 ½” x 10 ½”

Materials:
Louet Euroflax Sport Weight, 270 yards, 100% Linen
1 skein will make 2-3 washcloths
Size 5 needle, or size needed to get gauge
Darning needle

Gauge: approximately 5 sts = 1 inch in st st, however gauge is not as important for this project, and a different gauge will make a smaller or larger washcloth.

Flying Eyelets Washcloth (on the right in photo below):

CO 52 sts

Knit 3 rows then start eyelet pattern:

Row 1 and all WS Rows: K3, P46, K3

Row 2 (RS): K9, *yo, ssk, K9, rep from * to last 10 sts, yo, ssk, K8.

Row 4: K10, *yo, ssk, K9, rep from * to last 9 sts, yo, ssk, K7.

Row 6: K6, *K2tog, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K4 rep from * to last 13 sts, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K6.

Row 8: K3, *K2, K2tog, yo, K5, yo, ssk, rep from * to last 5 sts, K5.

Row 10: K4, *K2tog, yo, K9, rep from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 12: K3, *K2tog, yo, K9, rep from * to last 5 sts, K5.

Repeat these 12 rows 7 times, project should measure approximately 10”.

Knit 3 rows, BO and weave in ends.

Cat’s Paw Washcloth (on the left in photo below):

CO 55 sts

Knit 3 rows then start Cat’s Paw pattern:

Row 1 and all WS rows: K3, P49, K3.

Row 2 (RS): K3, *K1, yo, SSK, K7, K2tog, yo, rep from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 4: K3, *K2, yo, ssk, K5, K2tog, yo, K1, rep from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 6: K3, *K1, yo, SSK, K7, K2tog, yo, rep from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 8: K3, *K4, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, K3, rep from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 10: K3, *K3, K2tog, yo, K3, yo, ssk, K2, rep from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Row 12: K3, *K4, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, ssk, K3, rep from * to last 4 sts, K4.

Repeat these 12 rows 7 times, project should measure approximately 10”.

Knit 3 rows, BO and weave in ends.

Download the pattern PDF here.

We are so excited to announce our Celebration of YOU– our fantastic customers! Come spend some time with us on Saturday, August 14th for our First Annual Customer Appreciation Day. We’ve been receiving lots of goodies from our distributors for giveaways including:

* Crocheted Flowers by Nicky Epstein
* Clover Needle Set
* Kits from Blue Sky Alpacas and Spud and Chloe
* Fabulous Knit Hats by Annie Modesitt
* Debbie Bliss Baby & Toddler Knits
* Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket DVD
* Kits from Woolpets
* Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
* Kits from Mountain Colors

Plus, the first 100 people through the door get a free issue of Debbie Bliss Magazine

… And there is a lot more here and a lot more on the way, including some great events.

We’re also celebrating an official name change — the store will be called Knit Culture Studio to merge with our website, knitculture.com.

Hope to see you there!

Father’s Day is for honoring fathers and father figures and thinking about what they mean to us. At Knitculture.com we’re celebrating the patterns, colors, and yarns that we knit for our fathers. Show the dad in your life some knitted love with these great project ideas.

Top left: Koigu kpppm (color 470) to make a tie for Dad!

Top right: Said tie on an adorable guy who may not actually be a father… but I’m sure he has one! Click here for the Interweave tie pattern.

Bottom left: Star Wars golf club covers (!) by TraceyKnits. Click here to purchase her awesome patterns.

Bottom right: Rowan Cocoon, one of our favorite yarns for men’s knits. We used it to create our FREE Harris Tweed Hat and Scarf Pattern!

Happy Fathers Day! For more Dad-knitting ideas, visit our facebook album.

June is here in Los Angeles; the weather is starting to heat up and on the weekend the 10 freeway going west becomes a parking lot. Families fill the sand and surfers ride the waves. That doesn’t mean it’s time to put down the needles and wait for the cool weather to return, there are a lot of projects and yarn that we think are even better in the bright sun.

Top left: Take a deep breath… aahhhhhh

Top right: Fish Hat in Malabrigo Worsted

Bottom left: Classic Elite Beach booklet

Bottom right: Mirasol Tupa silk/wool blend

For more fun summer knitting ideas, visit our facebook album!

We are so excited to share our latest free pattern with you — this scarf is perfect for fun summer knitting!

The leaves and flowers are knitted (yes, knitted — not crocheted) in small amounts of our absolute favorite and colorful Koigu KPM , although you can use any yarn weight you choose to make them bigger or smaller. These little projects are great for using up leftover yarn!

The scarf itself is knitted in Koigu KPM as well and is a very simple lace, knitted the long way on a circular needle, creating an interesting and delicate lacy rib pattern.

This is a great stash buster, the flowers and leaves only use a few yards of each color (see the pattern for more details)and a perfect project for those Koigu collectors with extra Koigu stash waiting to be used!. The flowers and leaves can be added to any type of project to give it that extra special little something.

Because this scarf is light and lacy, it’s a great summer scarf to knit and wear.

We love this pattern and hope you do too. Click here to download the pdf.

Come check it out in the store, and sign up for the class if you want some help knitting this lovely accessory!

Download the pattern pdf by clicking here!

Our latest free pattern is for the sophisticated baby in your life. Baby Coco’s sleek look is a lot simpler than it looks thanks to a bottom-up seamless construction. A few rows of eyelet lace and a little colorwork add some excitement, but this sweater would also look cute done in a solid color.

Our version is done using Zara, which comes in a wide range of colors, allowing for all kinds of beautiful combinations.

Baby Coco is worked from the bottom up in a seamless sweater design with only a few rows of color-work.

Finished measurements: 23” chest (approximately 12-18 month size)

Materials:

Filatura Di Crosa Zara (100% merino wool, 50 grams, 137 yards), 3 balls 1468 (MC), 1 ball 1392 (CC)

Size 7 circular needle (or size needed to get gauge)
Size 7 DPNs (or size needed to get gauge)
Size 3 DPNs (for I-cord)

Stitch markers
Darning Needle

Gauge: 4.75 sts = 1 inch in st st

Abbreviations

K = Knit
P = Purl
K3tog = Knit 3 stitches together, decreasing stitch count by two.
Kf&b = Knit into the front and back of a stitch, creating an increase.
MC = Main Color
CC = Contrasting Color.
pm = Place marker
sm = Slip marker

Note: Because in the body each row of color work consists of only one row of CC, you will need to cut the MC and start it again at the opposite end. However, there are only two color-work sections, so end-weaving is kept minimal.

SWEATER BODY

Body Ruffle and Eyelet Border:

With circular needle, CO 348 sts in MC. Starting with a knit row, work 4 rows in stockinette stitch.

Next Row (RS): K3Tog across. (116 sts remain)
Next Row (WS): K across.
Next Row: Change to CC and knit across.
Next Row: Change back to MC and knit across.
Next Row: K1, (yo, k2tog) across until 1 st remains, K1.
Row 10: K across.

Body of Sweater

Work in stockinette until work measures 4 1/2” from cast on edge, end with a WS row.

Eyelet Rows

Next Row (RS): Purl across.
Next Row (WS): Change to CC and K across.
Next Row: Change back to MC and K1, (yo, K2tog) across until 1 st remains, K1.
Next Row: K across.

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 6” from cast on edge. Place project on waste yarn/holder and work on sleeves.

SLEEVES

Sleeve Ruffle and Eyelet Border

Using DPNs CO 72 sts, PM and join in round being careful not to twist. Work 4 rounds in stockinette stitch.

Next Round: K3tog around. (24 stitches remain)
Next Round: P around.
Next Round: Change to CC and P around.
Next Round: Change back to MC and yo, k2tog around.
Next Round: P around.

Increase Rounds

Next Round: (Kfb, K7) 3 times, Kfb. (28 sts).

Kf&b on each side of marker every other round 7 times (42 stitches), and then every 4th round 2 times (46 stitches).

Continue to work in stockinette until sleeve measures 6.5” from beginning of ruffle. On last round, work to 5 sts before marker, place next 10 sts on holder (removing marker). Break yarn leaving a tail 8″ tail. Use tail in finishing to graft underarm.

Repeat for 2nd sleeve.

Join sleeves to body

Work 24 body sts, pm, place next 10 sts on holder (removing original marker), work 36 sleeve sts, pm, work 48 stitches, pm, place next 10 sts on holder (removing second marker), work 36 sleeve sts, pm, work rem 24 body sts. (168 stitches)

Work in stockinette stitch for 1″ from sleeve join, ending with WS row.

Raglan Decreases

Next Row (RS): (Work to 4 sts before marker, k2tog, yo, ssk, sm, k2tog, yo, ssk) 4 times, k to end.

Next Row (WS): Purl across.
Repeat last rows 14 more times. At the same time, when piece measures 9.5″ from cast on, begin neck shaping.

Neck Shaping

Bind off 5 stitches at each neck edge, then bind off 2 stitches at each edge. Continue to decrease 1st stitch at neck edge every row 4 times.

Continue until finished with raglan decreases, leave remaining 30 stitches on holder, break yarn.

FINISHING

Neck Band

With RS facing, pick up 5 bound off sts from right front, pick up 2 sts from side bind off, pick up

9 side neck sts, work remaining 30 sts from body needle pick up 9 left side neck sts, pick up 2 sts from side bind off, pick up 5 bound off sts. (62 sts)

Next Row (WS): K across.
Next Row (RS): k1, (yo, k2tog) until last stitch, k1.

Knit 3 more rows in garter stitch, and bind off on right side.

Front Bands

With RS facing, pick up 42 stitches along each front edge (do not pick up along ruffle edge). Knit 3 garter ridges, and bind off on right side.

Knit 3 stitch I-cord in CC with smaller DPN for 40” and thread through neck edge for top closure.

Graft underarms. Weave in all ends.

Download a pdf of the pattern here!

Chances are we don’t need to introduce you to the Knitwhits Kits! For months our Gray Bramble Owlie has been getting lots of attention in the store. Liz finished up the Sakura Doll the other day, and now she keeps him company on the desk. Come by the store to see the two of them together.

This week we welcomes two adorable new kits. All the way from arctic is Stanley the penguin, ready to try out our warmer climate. Along with him are the cutest little baby owlets you’ve ever seen.

If you’ve been wanting to make one of these adorable critter’s but are nervous about the techniques required, we encourage you to try out one of our classes this month. With our help you’ll get on those double points and on your way towards filling your life with adorable stuffed critters.

· Sale is limited to what is in stock.
· 3rd Street Valet parking (look for the orange uniforms/umbrellas) is $3.50 to park all day on Saturday and Sunday.
· Metered and free neighborhood parking are also available.
· Sale merchandise is always final sale.
· No returns, exchanges or credit on sale items.
· Frequent shopper cards are not punched during the sale.
· We cannot hold items before or during the sale.
· We appreciate your patience — it does get busy.
· Online clients can contact us at 323~655-6487 or drop us an email at info@knitculture.com

Liz is knitting this sweet little sweater from Interweave Knits Winter 2009, in a yarn we are very excited to get back in stock soon: Road to China Worsted by The Fibre Company.

This yarn is a super-soft blend of 65% baby alpaca, 15% silk, 10% camel and 10% cashmere. Lovely!

Liz is raving about how fun this yarn is to knit with. Seriously, she’s in love!

The pattern is Bells of Ireland Cardigan by Courtney Kelley, which is a bottom-up raglan knit in one piece with very minimal finishing.

In the picture below you can see where Liz put her underarm stitches on a stitch holder, those will be grafted when she’s done knitting.

Here’s the issue of Interweave she found this pattern in.

Come by the store and see this beautiful work in progress!

Check out the wondrous Road to China yarn when we get it in–we’re hoping it will be here within the next couple weeks! We’ll have five lovely colors to chose from.

We just got a bunch of Lorna’s Laces variegated hand dyes, Shepherd Worsted and Shepherd Sock!

We’re also anticipating the following new items:  The Fibre Company’s Terra, Mirasol’s Miski, Mountain Colors sock yarn “Bearfoot”, new buttons, lots of new knitting bags and cases from Offhand, including their new interchangeable needle case called Switch.

We’ve been seeing this adorable, clever, and classic owl cable design everywhere lately — from baby hats to adult sweaters. Unable to resist, we came up with our own FREE PATTERNS in both a CHILD size and an ADULT size to fit any owl lover in your life!

This cabled hat is cleverly designed to look like there are adorable owls encircling it– you can add buttons for eyes if you wish, or omit them for a more subtle effect. The child’s hat pictured here is knit in the super soft Lobster Pot Cashmere and the adult size is done in Rowan Coccoon.

We are also offering a class to help the cable-nervous get started.

Wise Old Owl Hat – Child Version

Finished measurements: 19” unstretched

Materials:
Lobster Pot 8ply cashmere or any worsted weight yarn with a gauge of 4.5-5 sts per inch
Size 7 circular needle and dpns
stitch markers
4 small buttons for eyes (optional, you can use more, less, or none at all)
sewing needle and thread.

Gauge: 4.5 per inch in stockinette stitch. The cabled owl sections will tighten up your gauge.

Abbreviations:
C4F: slip two sts onto cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle
C4B: slip two sts onto cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle

Owl Cable pattern:
(multiple of 11 sts)
Rounds 1-3: *p3, k8, repeat from * to end
Round 4: *p3, C4B, C4f, repeat from * to end
Rounds 5-11: same as round 1
Round 12: same as round 4
Round 13: same as round 1
Rounds 14-15: *p3, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1. repeat from * to end
Round 16-17: same as round 1
Round 18: same as round 4
Round 19: same as round 1

Directions:
Cast on 100 sts, join in round and work in 2×2 ribbing for 1 inch.

Switch to stockinette and work for 5 rounds, decreasing 1 st evenly spaced in row 3.
99 sts.

Work 19 rows of owl cable pattern over all sts.
Knit 1 or more rows and increase 5 sts.- 104 sts.

Continue in stockinette stitch until work measures 5 inches including ribbing or to desired length.

Decrease as follows:
*K 11 k2tog, repeat from * to end.
K1 round plain.
K 10 k2tog.
K1 plain.

Continue decreasing in this manner until 56 sts remain.
Then decrease every round until 8 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pass through remaining sts to fasten off.

Weave in all ends and block.

Sew buttons over the purl sections within the cable pattern that form the owl’s eyes

Wise Old Owl Hat – Adult Version

Finished measurements: 20” unstretched

Materials:
1 ball Rowan Cocoon or any chunky weight yarn you can get 3.5 sts per inch gauge with
size 10 circular needle and dpns, stitch marker
4 small buttons for eyes (optional, you can use more, less, or none at all)
sewing needle and thread

Gauge: 3.5 sts per inch

Abbreviations:
C4F: slip two sts onto cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable neeedle
C4B: slip two sts onto cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle

Owl Cable pattern:
(multiple of 11 sts)
Rounds 1-3: *p3, k8, repeat from * to end
Round 4: *p3, C4B, C4f, repeat from * to end
Rounds 5-11: same as round 1
Round 12: same as round 4
Round 13: same as round 1
Rounds 14-15: *p3, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1. repeat from * to end
Round 16-17: same as round 1
Round 18: same as round 4
Round 19: same as round 1

Directions:
Cast on 88, join in round and work in 2×2 ribbing for 1 inch.
Switch to stockinette and work for 5 rounds.

Work 19 rows of owl cable pattern over all sts.
Knit 1 or more rows and increase 2 sts.- 90sts.

Continue in stockinette stitch until work measures 6 inches including ribbing or to desired length.

Decrease as follows:

*K9, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.

K1 round plain.

*K8, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.

K1 round plain.

*K7, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round.

K1 round plain.

Continue decreasing in this manner until 40 sts remain.
Then decrease every round (no plain rounds) until 8 sts remain. Cut yarn and pass through remaining sts to fasten off.

Weave in all ends and block.

Sew buttons over the purl sections within the cable pattern that form the owl’s eyes.

Sign up for the Seamless Sweater Workshop here

Sign up for the Beaumont hat Workshop here

Sign up for the Girasole Shawl Crashcourse here

Scarves make great holiday gifts, but endless garter stitch can get old before you’ve taken care of all your relatives. We’re constantly hearing from people who want to do something interesting, but not too complicated.

The Reversible Cabled pattern is the perfect answer. Interesting, but not so difficult that it becomes frustrating. People will think it takes a lot more work than it actually does. Or, if you’re feeling nervous about all those cables, join us for one of the Cable Classes we’re holding this November.

And since we just got in a shipment of Baby Alpaca Grande, there are plenty of colors to choose from.

Suggested Materials:
2 Skeins Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande (or Baby Alpaca Grande Paint or Baby Alpaca Grande Tweed)
One pair of size 11 needles
One cable needle

Gauge (but it doesn’t matter as the scarf will just be thinner or thicker): cable pattern, 14 stitches = 4”

Scarf:
CO 32 stitches.

K4 P4 for two rows.

Begin Reversible Cable Pattern:
Row 1: (RS) *Slip 2 sts onto cn (cable needle) and hold in back; K2,
K2 from cn., P4. Repeat from * across row
Row 2 –3 : K4, P4 across row
Row 4: *Slip 2 sts onto cn and hold in back: K2, K2 from cable
needle, P4. * across row
Row 5-6: K4, P4 across row
Row 7: (RS) *Slip 2 sts onto cn (cable needle) and hold in back; K2,
K2 from cn., P4. Repeat from * across row
Row 8-9: K4, P4 across row
Row 10: * Slip 2 sts onto cn and hold in back: K2, K2 from cable
needle, P4. * across row
Row 8-9: K4, P4 across row
Row 13: (RS) *Slip 2 sts onto cn (cable needle) and hold in back; K2,
K2 from cn., P4. Repeat from * across row
Row 8-9: K4, P4 across row
Row 16: * Slip 2 sts onto cn and hold in back: K2, K2 from cable
needle, P4. * across row
Row 17-22: K4, P4 across row

Cont. even in Reversible Cable Patt until piece measures approx. 65-66″ from the beginning, or desired length.

BO (bind off) in rib.

Block

Download a pdf version of this pattern here.