As we adjust to a new way of life, many of us are spending more time at home with more time to focus on our much-loved hobbies like knitting and crochet. Some are using the time to get a head start on their holiday knitting, some are working through their UFO’s, and others are using it as a calming and meditative form of stress relief. Whatever your reasons for picking up your needles or hook, whether you are an habitual crafter, a newbie, or it’s something you used to do and are now returning to, there is a certain sense of serenity that comes from creating something with your own two hands.
Need a little motivation or inspiration to get started on a new project? We have a terrific selection of free patterns available on our website. And with most local yarn shops still providing their awesome service, it’s never been easier to pick out the perfect pattern and pair it with the perfect yarn! You get a free pattern and you can show your appreciation and support for your local yarn shop, it’s a win win!
Once you select Estelle Patterns from the Free Patterns drop down menu on our website, you’ll see just how easy it is to navigate our page. The convenient side bar menu makes it fast and easy to filter your search for the various weights of yarn which means more time for knitting and less time searching!
Now that you’ve found the perfect pattern, simply download your free copy and then check out our handy Find a Retailer page to locate the closest store to you. Most are offering safe curbside pickup, mail order and even delivery in some locations. Be sure to let your LYS know just how important they are to you and your community by supporting them when they need it most.
Because we think that wrapping up in a hand knit shawl is the next best thing to a hug (and let’s face it, we could all use a hug right now), we wanted to shine the spotlight on a few of our most popular shawl patterns. All four of these stunning shawls can be knit with either Estelle Alpaca Merino DK, a sublime blend of 60% superfine alpaca and 40% merino, or Estelle DK, an economic, machine washable blend of 50% acrylic, 40% wool and 10% nylon.
Our new Plus One Shawl is the ideal project for destressing. Repetitive rows of striped garter stitch interspersed with sections of simple lace is both rhythmic and meditative, perfect for Neflix and knitting. Knit with just two balls of Estelle Alpaca Merino DK or Estelle DK, this shawl is luxurious and affordable! The Harbour Shawl is a fast and fun three colour shawl that’s knit in one direction and then picked up and knit in the opposite direction for an attractive visual effect.
The Colour Banded Shawl and the Correct Shawl both use three balls of our DK yarns and are guaranteed to look sensational regardless of which yarn you choose. A simple slip stitch pattern is beautifully highlighted in the Colour Banded Shawl, and the attractive centre double decrease spine and short row accent stripe in the Correct Shawl tick all the boxes for a fun, relaxing knit.
The patterns featured above are just a drop in the bucket, check out our website to view our extensive range of free patterns. We can proudly say that all Estelle Yarns patterns are created right here at home by Canadian designers.
Don’t forget to send pictures of what you’re working on using Estelle Yarns to onmyneedlesnow@estelledesigns.ca. We would love to share your masterpieces with our audience.
Stay safe everyone, and happy knitting and crocheting!