Vagaries (plus giveaway)
From time to time I have one of those days where I very much want to knit…maybe even need to knit…but I absolutely do not have the extra brain cycles to knit anything more complicated than plain stockinette in the round. On those days, a pattern like Vagaries can be just the thing.
The vast majority of this really is just stockinette in the round. But somehow those adorable little welts and the contrast color stripes provide just enough distraction to keep it interesting. I’m pretty sure the secret is picking a yarn you really like (this is Kunlun by Miss Babs, and it is awfully easy to like) and just letting it carry you away!
And then there’s the fun of picking the color for your stripes. Now…of course you could very easily make this all in one color. But a tiny stripe of something special is oh so much more fun. Work it in that color you dearly love but are afraid you can’t quite pull off (though really…if it makes you happy, you can pull it off…happy looks good on you). Work it with the little bit of leftover yarn that was too fancy to part with (each stripe takes about a dozen yards, you almost certainly have enough). Work it with that little ball of handspun you made in a class (it’s fine if it’s a little thicker or a little thinner than your background yarn…this pattern is seriously flexible). Work it in your team colors or your house colors or make a set for the whole family and match the stripes to everyone’s winter coats. There really are an awful lot of options (and you can even add in more welts and stripes if you’re having too much fun to stop).
And yes the pattern for the little wrist warmers is tucked in there too. I wanted to take step-by-step photos to show you exactly how to make the welts (they’re easy, I promise), and it seemed like more fun to use wrist warmers for the photos than to show you on a swatch. And yes…yes I do know exactly how cute these would be as boot toppers!
Now, like I said, the secret to really enjoying this pattern is being sure you’re working with a yarn that mellows you out. For me, that was Kunlun in a lovely calm gray (it’s called Fieldmouse) with a little hit of green for the contrast (that one’s Hops). The good folks at Miss Babs want to help one of you achieve a similar state of woolly bliss, so they’re going to send someone a skein of Kunlun in their choice of color (just pretty please pick one of the in stock colors…it’s show season, and sticking with the in stock colors keeps it all more streamlined for them). All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with the name of your favorite of their colorways.
And to spread the love around a little, they’ve also set up the code code KUNLUNHATS to take 10% off all their Kunlun online through November 20th (just remember, that’s online only). I have a sneaking suspicion I may be taking advantage of that myself here shortly…I promise to leave at least some for you too though!
And in case you need something to do with all that awesome new yarn, the code STRIPES will let you take 10% off the Vagaries pattern on ravelry between now and Friday. Just put Vagaries in your ravelry cart, click on the ‘use a coupon code’ button, and type in the code STRIPES. You’ll see the change in price reflected right away.
There’s not too much in the way of fine print. Comments left between now and the end of the day (eastern time) Friday, October 27, 2017 will be entered to win. I’ll pick a winner, contact them to get their addresses, and arrange to send yarn their way (they’ll need to pick a colorway that’s in stock when they’re notified). Be sure to use a real email address so I can contact you if you’ve won (I won’t do anything with those email addresses besides notify the winner). If I do email you, I need to hear back from you within 72 hours or I will pick a new winner and contact them.
There’s always a place for soothing knitting. I just read the comment about team colours, great idea. I think school colours would be good too.
Livid makes me feel anything but :). It’s a lovely deep color that would pair well with a silvery grey. And this pattern looks like the perfect travel knitting for a busy fall!
Kunlun is my special treat for making chemo hats. The colors are fun and the yarn is so soft. I am sure this pattern will be a great addition to my chemo hat collection. Thanks for another great pattern.
I LOVE Wolves Den! Its so fall like and give me goosebumps with its beauty. I feel like this color will give this simple elegant pattern some spirit and soul! Beautiful! Thank you for the giveaway Miss Babs!
Garden Party is gorgeous!!!
McHale’s is the color I chose for my wedding! Could it be any more perfect than that?
Blackwatch is a phenomenal color. But then, it is virtually impossible not to like them all! As for Vagaries, it is just what this old soul needs! I have found that I enjoy knitting most when it is peaceful and I can feel the beauty emerge from the texture. I could never figure out why I was stressed with counting every single stitch, but now I know. Thank you for a beautifully calm pattern!
They are all so beautiful it’s hard to choose…. But I will choose garden party. Thank you!
I love Russett and Reishi. I could totally see a shawl made out of those 2 colors. Beautiful.
Ooooh – Half Past Midnight! Or, or .. Blue Ridge? NO! Obsidian, with a dash of Livid! (Or Graphic?) What fabulous choices….
Oh for a pairing I’d have to flip a coin between Joan of arc paired with livid or reishi paired with French marigolds.
Russet is absolutely lovely. Perfect for this time of year.
my two favorite colors. love the brim, too. Fieldmouse and hops. gluten free anyone?
What a lovely, soothing, pattern just in time for the hectic holidays – and as one who hopes to learn Magic Loop, it will be so nice that the hat and mitts are so simple to execute but have such a WOW factor for their result!
Your hat is an inspired design! I always look forward to your fresh takes on time-honored, classic projects. Thanks!!
So many to choose, but I love walnut and blackwatch!
Miss Bab’s colorways have such great names! Zombie Prom, Half Past Midnight and A Pox on You all sound just like Halloween, don’t they? For an eyeful of gorgeous fall color, check out Joan of Arc. Makes me want to take a brisk fall walk in the woods. But for holiday knitting, I’d love a skein of Dark Andromeda. Just lovely.
Lovely, radiant yarns from Miss Babs! I would choose that vibrant russet . . . thank you!
Great looking hat! Scrunchy and orderly at the same time. Love Miss Babs yarn; today Russett, Ebony, and Sage Brush are tickling the fancies!
Lovely, simply Lovely!
Half past midnight or Berlin. If I used Berlin, I would choose a solid color for the stripes. And let the yarn do all the work for me! Another way to relax and knit.
For me it would have to be Provence, it is so relaxing and calming like your pattern.
Espresso is my fave right now from Miss Babs. Such a cute hat and wristlets! Thanks!
I love this pattern with the welts. I also love Miss Babs yarn!
Fake News is my color. Love the name and color lol. It reminds me of someone but the color is so much more beautiful!