Our Favorite Woolly Winter Hat

As the weather cools down you definitely want something to keep your ears and your head warm.

We love this hat pattern: It's simple, it's fast, it looks great. 

Make a few for yourself, make a few as gifts.  This is a great project for beginners because it utilizes some of the basic knitting skills like ribbing, decreasing, and using circular and double pointed needles.

 

The pattern is available for free here 

We made a few adjustments to this pattern:

• We used a size US 10.5 needle for the ribbing, and a size US 11 for the rest of the hat. Keeping the ribbing a little smaller helps this hat stay on your head, and we like the look of a tighter ribbing. 
• We used Eskimo instead of Andes.  We particularly love the Eskimo colors for this project. You can stick with Andes or use Eskimo as a substitute.

Eskimo Color 27 is a beautiful brick color that lends itself well to the Autumn Season.

We have a lot of great Eskimo colors to make this hat in. We love the color mixes because they give a fun variegation of color.  But we also carry solids in every hue of the rainbow. You could also choose a few colors and make a striped version! This pattern is very versatile.

You only need two skeins of Eskimo for this hat! Find all the available colors in our Webstore. 

Or you can use 1 ball of Andes. Browse all the Andes colors in our Webstore.

                                                                             

Post your hats to our Facebook page when you're finished!

Happy Crafting,

**Alpaca Party!**

It's that super special time of year again....

It's time for a SALE!

All 8 of our Alpaca or Alpaca blend yarns are now 25% off until the end of 2013!

We have some ideas of our own for great Alpaca Party Projects, and we can't wait to see what you all come up with using these great Drops yarns!

There is a whole page of awesome knit and crochet hat patterns perfect for the cooling weather, and all made with Alpaca yarns! Find all the hats here >> 

You can also join the Facebook group for the Alpaca Party Knit Along to get tons of ideas and share your projects with other Alpaca yarn lovers.

Let's look at the yarns:


Drops Alpaca
Content: 100% Alpaca
Yarn Group: A (23 - 26 stitches)
Weight/yardage: 1.8 oz (50 g) = approx 183 yds (167 m)
Recommended needle size: US 1,5 - US 4 / 2,5 - 3,5 mm
Gauge: 4" x 4" / 10 x 10 cm = 23 sts x 30 rows
Hand Wash, cold max 30°C / 86F. Dry Flat / Feltable


Browse all free patterns using Alpaca









Drops Alpaca Boucle
Content: 80% Alpaca, 15% Wool, 5% Polyamide
Yarn Group: C (16 - 19 stitches)
Weight/yardage: 1.8 oz (50 g) = approx 153 yds (140 m)
Recommended needle size: US 8 / 5 mm
Gauge: 4" x 4" / 10 x 10 cm = 17 sts x 22 rows
Hand Wash, cold max 30°C / 86F. Dry Flat / Feltable


Browse all free patterns using Alpaca Boucle








 Drops Alpaca Silk
Content: 77% Alpaca, 23% Silk                                                   
Yarn Group: C (16 - 19 stitches)
Weight/yardage: 0.9 oz (25 g) = approx 153 yds (140 m)
Recommended needle size: US 8 / 5 mm
Gauge: 4" x 4" / 10 x 10 cm = 17 sts x 24 rows
Hand Wash, cold max 30°C / 86F. Dry Flat 

Browse free patterns where Alpaca Silk can be used

DROPS Andes

Content: 65% Wool, 35% Alpaca
Yarn Group: E (9 - 11 stitches)
Weight/yardage: 3.5 oz (100 g) = approx 105 yds (96 m)
Recommended needle size: US 13 / 9 mm
Gauge: 4" x 4" / 10 x 10 cm = 10 sts x 14 rows
Hand Wash, cold max 30°C / 86F. Dry Flat / Feltable


Browse all free patterns using Andes









Drops BabyAlpaca Silk                                                         
Content: 70% Alpaca, 30% Silk
Yarn Group: A (23 - 26 stitches)
Weight/yardage: 1.8 oz (50 g) = approx 183 yds (167 m)
Recommended needle size: US 4 / 3,5 mm
Gauge: 4" x 4" / 10 x 10 cm = 23 sts x 30 rows
Hand Wash, cold max 30°C / 86F. Dry Flat / Feltable


Browse all free patterns using BabyAlpaca Silk



   

 Drops Lace
Content: 70% Alpaca, 30% Silk
Yarn Group: A (23 - 26 stitches)
Weight/yardage: 3.5 oz (100 g) = approx 875 yds (800 m)
Recommended needle size: US 2,5 / 3 mm
Gauge: 4" x 4" / 10 x 10 cm = 28 sts x 34 rows
Hand Wash, cold max 30°C / 86F. Stretch to right measurements and Dry Flat / Feltable


Browse all free patterns using Lace








 Drops Lima
Content: 65% Wool, 35% Alpaca
Yarn Group: B (20 - 22 stitches)
Weight/yardage: 1.8 oz (50 g) = approx 101 yds (92 m)
Recommended needle size: US 6 / 4 mm
Gauge: 4" x 4" / 10 x 10 cm = 21 sts x 28 rows
Hand Wash, cold max 30°C / 86F. Dry Flat / Feltable

Browse all free patterns using Lima





 



 Drops Nepal

Content: 65% Wool, 35% Alpaca
Yarn Group: C (16 - 19 stitches)
Weight/yardage: 1.8 oz (50 g) = approx 82 yds (75 m)
Recommended needle size: US 8 / 5 mm
Gauge: 4" x 4" / 10 x 10 cm = 17 sts x 22 rows
Hand Wash, cold max 30°C / 86F. Dry Flat / Feltable


 Browse all free patterns using Nepal




So many great choices! It's so hard to pick just one color or type of yarn, good thing this sale can allow you to try lots of yarns with super low prices.

Happy Yarn Hunting and Happy Crafting!
XO,

What's New?

We have some new awesome products that we want to introduce to you! 

These are just a few things we have added to our selection lately that we think think you should see.

First off are some of our NEW Chic-a bags. We will slowly be adding new stock of these bags, but one of our favorite new bags is the Market Tote.

We have a few different patterns, and these bags are perfect not only for your knitting or crochet projects, but also as a grocery tote, a bag to take to the beach, or to carry work or school supplies!

We have 4 adorable patterns in the Market Tote, but just one of each in stock! Grab yours before its sold out!

Purchase these Market Totes plus all of our other awesome Chic-a Bags in our Webstore!

The interior has two pockets, a magnetic closure, and two snaps to extend the bag from smaller to larger .

 You don't want to miss this next item!

We have a new, very unique item you won't find anywhere else.

It's called a Yarn Susan, and its meant to keep your skeins of yarn or cones of thread from rolling away while you're working with them! It spins smoothly, much like a lazy susan on a table and is very easy to travel with since it features a removable spindle!
These would make a great gift for yarn lovers, and each one is one-of-a-kind and handmade in the USA. We met the creator, Jack, when we bought these yarn susans, and we selected a few of his most gorgeous Cherry wood susans!

As you pull your working yarn, the yarn susan smoothly spins on its base to dispense your yarn easily and keep your skein from rolling away.

A bottom view of the well crafted spinning mechanism on the Yarn Susan

It comes with its own cloth bag to store it away or travel in. The spindle is easily removable.

You can wind your yarn right onto the Susan by spinning it, or by using the spindle as a Nostepinne.
 

Purchase a beautiful Yarn Susan in our Webstore

 

 Have you ever tried Tunisian Crochet? 

It's a different method of crochet which creates a denser stitch, and can look more like knitting that traditional crochet. The hooks are attached to a cord, since this techniques has all the stitches you are working on the hook at one time.

If you've never tried this technique before, grab one of our Tunisian Hooks and give it a try.
You can buy all of our hooks by themselves in our Webstore. And if you love Tunisian Crochet, we have a whole set of Tunisian Crochet Hooks.

To learn Tunisian Crochet watch these videos:
Tunisian Crochet Afghan Stitch
Tunisian Crochet Knit Stitch

To make this easy pattern, follow these basic instructions:

Ipad cover in Tunisian crochet
Measure from side to side: 7½ x 10 inches (19x25cm)
2 skeins DROPS Nepal #8783 forget-me-not (or whichever worsted weight yarn you like best)
Work tunisian crochet following tutorial videos

With hook 5mm/H ch 29. Insert the hook back into the 2nd ch from hook, pull yarn through, then insert hook in next ch, pull yarn through and so on until end of chain row. All 28 new sts remain on the hook. At the end of row do not turn work, but now start binding off each stitch by first pulling yarn through 1 st, then yarn trough 2 sts at the same time until end of row. Pick up sts again and continue back and forth.
When piece measure 21 inch (54cm) work a row with sc along upper edge, making 3 button hole loops evenly by chaining 6-8 sts before continuing with sc in each st.
Fasten off. Fold piece double so top flap with loops overlaps. Sew tog sides. Sew on buttons to match the loops.
Voila! 

There are a lot of fun Tunisian Crochet patterns available on Ravelry if you need more of this fun stitch.  

Awesome Andes!

When Garnstudio released the new colors in our favorite bulky weight yarn, Andes, we couldn't wait to get our hands on them.
It took us a little while, but we finally have new Andes colors in stock, and they are GORGEOUS!

We couldn't resist making some awesome quick items with our favorite colors, and we're sharing them with you.

Purchase all of these New Andes colors in our Webstore

 

Nordic Mart staffer Theresa loved Autumn Orange and crafted a gorgeous headband from a free Ravelry Pattern!

The pattern is called Blue Leaf Headband designed by Adrienne Krey.

Its a quick knit, so its a perfect gift. 

Check out Theresa's version in Drops Andes, it only takes about half a skein!

There are so many great Andes patterns, and with its Bulky weight, its great for beginners and for warm winter wear. 

Pick your favorite new color and create this wonderful throw with this free pattern.

You can keep your feet toasty warm with these adorable slippers in Andes

And this super cozy jacket with lace pattern detail will look great for the holidays in our newest green shades of Andes. Here's the free pattern. 

Check out all the patterns for Bulky weight yarns where Andes can be used. They're all FREE!

 

Leave us a comment and let us know what you think of these new colors! There are a few more colors we haven't received yet, so be on the lookout for those coming soon, as well as new yarns like our Cotton Merino. We'll keep you updated on those arrivals via our Facebook page, so make sure you "Like" us! :)

Happy Crafting,