As you may know, Crystal Palace Yarns is participating in the Stitch Red campaign for heart health.  This is a campaign throughout the yarn-industry to help fight heart disease.  Throughout the next few months, we will be adding new patterns to our Web site made out of our designated Stitch Red product, Merino 5 in #1012 "Crimson".   We have two of these patterns available now.

 The Pocket Fingerless Mitts are cute and functional.  They take slightly more than one ball to knit up.  Use them to hold change, keys, tickets, etc. while walking, jogging or commuting.  This pattern is worked back and forth on single-pointed needles, with double-pointed needles and stitch holders used to hold stitches while working up the pockets.  Dress them up with fancy buttons to make them special. 

The Woven Cable Scarf is a beautiful accessory with crisp stitch definition and a fashionable look.  The pattern is a great way to practice cables, and Merino 5 is the perfect yarn for the job.  The scarf consists of a four-row repeat with one cable row and three St st rows.  Merino 5's excellent structure makes the stitches pop, while its softness makes it great to wear.

Check our Web site often in the next few months for more Stitch Red projects, including a knitted hat, crocheted fingerless gloves and crocheted pillow.  Crystal Palace will donate 5% of the poceeds of the Stitch Red yarn to the campaign.  Show your support for this very important cause by purchasing Merino 5 "Crimson" and other Stitch Red products from your local or online yarn shop.

In addition to the Stitch Red projects, we have several other patterns now available.  The stunning Entrelac Scarf, done in Mochi Plus, is available for free offsite.  The slow-striping effect of Mochi Plus eliminates the need for manual color changing.  The way the colors blend into one another makes it so appealing to the eye, and the soft hand makes it so appealing to wear.  The sample pictured in the pattern is knit in the new "Equinox" color. 

 The Prism Cowl in Monaco, designed by Laura Andersson, is a fancy neck accessory for when you want to dress up a coat and stay warm at the same time.  "Monaco is a luxurious yarn - soft with an elegant sheen, just right for that special fashion touch for yourself, or for a quick gift," writes the designer.  "This design uses two balls. The design motif is both easy to do and fascinating to watch as it develops."

The Girl's Cardigan and matching 18" Doll Cardigan are the latest patterns from Gail Tanquary.  They are both knitted in Merino 5 and feature a ribbed edging, Stockinette-stitch body and a beautiful, cabled yoke.  Merino 5 is exceptional for stitch definition, strength and comfort.  The girl's version is sized 2 through 10 and uses six to nine balls of Merino 5.  The doll's version is one size, using just two balls of Merino 5.  The two cardigans together would make a great Valentine's Day set in the Stitch Red color, #1012 "Crimson".   

The TuTu Spiral Hat by Laura Andersson is just plain fun.  Knit along with Merino 5, this TuTu-accented hat "is worked in a gradual spiral (using the TuTu for only part of each round), making a uniquely fun design."  This expressive hat uses just one ball each.  Visit our Web site for more TuTu patterns. 

The Mock Plaid Scarf is the most recent addition to the free pattern library, and it is a knock-out! This cool plaid effect is deceptively easy to achieve.  The scarf features alternating bands of Mochi Plus and Plus Solid, with horizonal elogated stitches of Mochi Plus slipped across the Plus Solid bands.  The scarf uses just one ball of each yarn.  Use the sample colors "Spice Market" and "Walnut Brown", or choose your own combination.