Need a Great Way to Say "Thanks": FREE Knit Pattern Idea



Looking for a terrific way to say "Thanks"

Spring "Budding Shawlette"

Free knitting pattern by Joyce (YuLian) Yu

Photo and Hand Knitted:

Knitted Candy Diva, April 2014



I was supposed to start Sea Leaves after finishing my last shawl/wrap. But I found out there is MadMay, knit something using Madelinetosh, happening on Ravelry for the month of May.  And during the same time I wanted to knit a “Thank You” gift for now a dear friend who has greatly helped me during the past 8 months. So I flipped the order of my two projects and the pattern that came to mind to knit for my friend is Budding Shawlette, a FREE Ravelry pattern, by Joyce (YuLian) Yu.

Why knit this again?

I’ve knitted this one skein pattern before in 2012 for my now SIL.  It was a fun, quick knit. I am a firm believer of stress-free, relax knitting where I can knit while commuting, watching TV or chatting with my knitting group. While Joyce's pattern looks complicated, it has an easy-to-remember flower bud lace stitch pattern.  And she includes both charts and written so whatever your knitting style is, her pattern covers both.



Light and airy at 62 in x 23 in
Spring "Budding Shawlette"
Photo and Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva



My stylish friend, who’s girly, wears a lot of color, loves to travel and works in an air conditioned office so I thought this Araucania hand-dyed, purple variegated fingering weight shawl would be a great, versatile gift knit for her since she'll have many ways and places to wear it.



Drapes beautifully, very feminine.
Spring "Budding Shawlette"
Photo and Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva

Results and ideas

Loved how the shawl turned out. Gentle blocking really made the flower buds pop.  It’s large, light and airy. The pattern is customizable, you can increase or decrease the bud lace stitch pattern repeats.  I made a few modifications so that I used most of the skein - had only 4 yards of yarn left!


Can you see the flower bud lace pattern?
Spring "Budding Shawlette"
Photo and Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva



If you are looking for warm or cool weather knitting ideas, this FREE knit pattern is a great option to have in your library. The first time I knitted this, it was with an alpaca DK weight skein, with the intent to keep my SIL warm and cozy and easy to layer on and off when she flies overseas. I think this shawl/wrap would also look great knitted with either mohair, angora, cashmere or something with a little silk in it.

Knitted my Spring with fingering weight
Araucania Ranco Multy, Color 344, 376 yards
75% wool, 25% nylon
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva



Wanna learn more about my knitting modifications to this pattern, please visit my Ravelry project page.

Love to hear from you:  Do you have Go-To gift knitting patterns that you like to share here? What is your pattern picking thought process?

Hanalei "Frisson": My Tropical Completion

For the past couple of weeks, I've been away working on getting my never ending coursework, our 2013 taxes, and other things done which has left me little time for knitting. I joined Ravelry's 12Shawls2014 group last month, and after knitting  Surprise "Spring is in the Air" and Spring "Wave". I was feeling stressed because the goal is to knit 12 shawls by the end of 2014 and we are now in April. Fortunately, there was a Game of Thrones watchathon last week and over the weekend I had long periods of power knitting and finished knitting this, my 3rd shawl.

Hanalei "Frisson"
Pattern by Brittany Wilson
Photo and Hand Knitted:
Knitted Candy Diva

Why this yarn and pattern?

When I was looking for my next knitting project. It was either between this Brittany Wilson shawl/scarf pattern or Sue Schreuder' Sea Leaves. Brittany's Frisson won out because one of my 2014 goals is to learn new knitting techniques. This is my first sideways shawl. But as I was knitting this, I wasn't knitting sideways in a traditional sense in which you knit to an increase point with half your yarn then knit decreasingly with the remainder of the yarn. It was more like knitting diagonally each of the 13 points. Pretty much used up 98% of the hand-dyed skein. I would definitely knit this easy-to-remember garter mesh lace pattern stitch Frisson again and add it to my Go To Gift Knitting pattern library.

Ths shawl is HUGE!  92 in x 15 in
Photo and Hand Knitted:
Knitted Candy Diva

I had Brittany's pattern in my Raverly library when she was so kind to have Frisson free for a short time during her last February's patten release. I originally was going to knit this using a hand-dyed variegated blue merino skein, but at the last minute changed my mind and knitted my Frisson with this Hanalei Strings Merino Bamboo Fingering because it felt right.

Hanalei Strings Merino Bamboo Fingering
4745 Blue Green, 450 yds
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva

In general, I really enjoy taking the time, and it can be months, sometimes years, to find the right pattern to go with the right yarn. The day before I got married last September in Kauai, I purchased this soft-to-the touch hand-dyed Hanalei Strings skein at their unique yarn and ukulele store. I was really drawn to the vibrant shades of blues and greens. The colors remind me of Hanalei, itself, the bay and the lush tropical green mountains surrounding it. I love the harmonious auspicious results. It's like having Hanalei wrapped around me!

Feeling the tropics around my shoulders.
Hanalei "Frisson"
Photo and Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva

To read more about my knitting details, please visit my Raverly Hanalei "Frisson" page.

Close-Up, Garter lace mesh stitch
Hanalei "Frisson"
Photo and Hand Knitted: Knitted Candy Diva

NOTE: My next shawl knitting project will be the FREE Sea Leaves because I've wanted to knit with this.

Madelinetosh Merino Light, Jade
Photo: Knitted Candy Diva

 If you would like to join me, please do.

Love to hear from you: What is your yarn pattern decision making process? Do seek out yarn stores when you travel? Do you have any favorite shawl/scarf patterns you would like to share?