It’s the perfect time of year to wrap yourself up in the squishy comfort of an extra long cowl. Whether you prefer to wear it long like a scarf or scrunch it up doubled for extra warmth the Blue Quartz Cowl is the ideal piece to add to your winter wardrobe.

Designer Fatimah Hinds drew on her background as a geologist to craft an interlocking matrix of cables and lace that evokes the beauty of a quartz crystal. Worked sideways and seamed this pattern can be easily customized to your perfect length. And when knit in Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky, with it’s combination of incredible loft and softness, it easily becomes a go-to knit for that perfect holiday gift.

How will you wear your Blue Quartz Cowl?

Want to knit something for a special, sweater-worthy someone this holiday season? There’s still time to knit the quick, cozy, bright and easy Campfire Pullover out of Berkshire Bulky!

It’s a bottom-up, seamless raglan pullover that’s front-back reversible, color stranded for added warmth, and would make a great gift for any outdoorsy types on your knit-list.

The colorwork is simple and cheery in two oranges that, when combined, look like the sparks of a crackling campfire –great for spotting the wearer in a First Night snowstorm or a crowd of after-holiday-sale shoppers! And since it’s front-back reversible, you can just throw it on and go — great for giving to a non-knitter who has trouble navigating a tagless neckline.

The big gauge of Berkshire Bulky makes it a quick knit that they’ll never know was made at the last minute. Its wool/alpaca fiber content make it soft and warm with just a hint of a fibery halo.

So whether you’re just now thinking of a sweater to give for the holidays or you’re hankering to keep it for yourself, do consider the can-do Campfire Pullover. It’s one of my favorite designs so far, being simple and functional, but also stands out with its color combination. It also happens to go well with my standard wardrobe of jeans and gray t-shirts – definitely a sweater I’d make and wear, myself.

-Kirsten

Have you had a chance to check out the latest issue of KnitSimple? The Fall 2012 issue is packed with fantastic patterns and includes a fantastic Raglan Hoodie that is knit in our Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky.

The comfortable hoodie is accented on the cuffs and edges with a darker color. The piping is created by whipstitching the pieces after finishing. You could even try some other color combinations. For a very different look, you could use two very different colors.

This project is knit in pieces and seamed. You pick up the stitches for the hood and knit them after seaming the sweater together. It is sized S-3X with finished measurements of 38 ½” – 52.” It takes 8-13 skeins of Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky in light blue and one in dark teal.

Would you like to win a kit to knit this sweater? Leave a comment here on the blog with what you most look forward to with the change of seasons. One comment will be randomly chosen and will receive KnitSimple Fall 2012, Berkshire Bulky in light blue and dark teal, and the needles to complete the project. You have until Wednesday, August 1st at 9:00am EDT to comment. We’ll announce the winner after that.

Hi Everyone,

In today’s Show & Tell we feature 429 Farmer Brown Pullover. The fun, cuff-to-cuff construction, combined with stripes and a garter stitch yoke, creates an easy to wear pullover that’s both rugged and cute. Cozy Berkshire Bulky makes this a great sweater for staying warm in fall, winter and spring.

Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky is a cozy blend of wool and alpaca that works up quick. With many color options, you can choose your favorites and personalize this sweater.

We tried on the 36.”

Kirsten
Height: 5’3″
Bust: 37″
Waist: 30″
Hips: 42″

“Love love love this sweater. Very cozy and warm – perfect for wearing as an outer layer through late fall, maybe even for shoveling snow in winter. I may have to make one for myself.”

Grace
Height: 5’0″
Bust: 38″
Waist: 30″
Hips: 38″

“This is a great warm and comfortable sweater, but I didn’t think the garter stitch on top was very flattering on me. I would make the top in plain stockinette stitch instead to break up the horizontal lines but make the sweater a little more streamlined for me.”

Dena
Height: 5’4¾”
Bust: 35½”
Waist: 29½”
Hips: 40″

“I was shocked that a bulky sweater with horizontal stripes could actually look good on me. Maybe it’s because of the proportions of the textured yoke with the stripes below. Plus the fitted silhouette helps too.”

Mary
Height: 5’4″
Bust: 39½
Waist: 32″
Hips: 43″

“I think Kirsten designed this sweater to be loose and comfortable and it is more form-fitting on me. I would like it better if it was looser. I like the way the vertical lines of the garter stitch play off the horizontal lines of the two colors of yarn.”

Liz
Height: 5’7 ½”
Bust: 36¾”
Waist: 34¾”
Hips: 38½”

“I like the feel of this pullover but it doesn’t look so great on my body. The garter yoke hits me in the wrong place on my bust line. I would also make a slightly larger size as this sweater shows off a little more than I’m comfortable with.”

Next week, we try on 434 Aquitaine Coat.

Mary