I always come across patterns that I like but want to change. It never fails. Either I don’t like the sleeve or I want to tweak the hem. Add a little here, take away a little there - I just can’t seem to stop myself.

So choose your own adventure. Feeling romantic and girly? Go for the wide v-neck collar and flouncy peplum hem. Or maybe you need a hip-length weekender sweater to snuggle in by the fire...

• Euro Yarns Peru DK Luxury (70% Merino/20% Alpaca/10% Silk; 124 yards/112 meters per 50 grams/1 3/4 oz.), Magenta (#09), 13 (14, 15, 16) balls (yardage estimates are for full jacket with collar and peplum hem or hip-length hem).
• Reduce by 1 skein if you omit the collar.
• Reduce by 2 skeins if you choose a cropped hem.
• H/8 (5 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• I/9 (5.5 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• J/10 (6 mm) hook or size needed to obtain gauge
• La Mode Silver Oval buttons style # 24785 (1 1/8”)

To lengthen or shorten body of jacket add or remove rows at waist between rows 37-43 on back, front right and front left.

To lengthen sleeves add rows between rows 47-51.

To shorten sleeves remove rows between rows 33-43.

Choice of 3 hemlines:

Cropped: falls between natural waist and top of hips.

Hip-length: falls to middle of hips, 2.5” below cropped hem.

Peplum: subtle 4” flounce from cropped waistline.

With smaller hook: 1 repeat = 1” (.94”) wide, 1 row= 1/2” (.44”), 4 repeats= 3.75”, 9 rows= 4”.

Pattern is worked from the neck down.

Special Stitch

Shell Pattern (sh patt): (3 dc, ch 2, sc) in each ch-2 sp.

I first saw recycled silk yarn in my local yarn shop. I was drawn to it because it was so different from all the other yarns. The beautiful colors, interesting texture, and randomness of it all was so inviting to be explored. The yarn is handspun in Nepal using fiber remnants from garments like the beautiful, colorful, luxurious saris worn by women throughout South Asia . The colors in each skein are hand twisted into a thick and thin yarn at random, so no two skeins are alike. When I first saw the yarn, all I could think of were pillows. This particular pillow design is done in the round, forming a long rectangular shape. The front is in recycled silk and the back in blended wool silk. This design is also very flexible in size and can be made to fit just about any pillow form, see notes below. If you don’t have a pillow form or can’t find one in a size you need, just whip one up using a fabric remnant and some polyfill.

• Himalaya Recycled Silk (100% Recycled Silk, 100g/80yds, aran weight), Varying Shades, 3 hanks *Yarn available at kpixie*
• Himalaya Wool Silk (60% Wool, 40% Recycled Silk, 100g/175 yds, worsted weight), 10-Black, 2 hanks *Yarn available at kpixie*
• Size I (5.5mm) hook
• 5 Stitch markers (I used contrasting pieces of yarn)
• Yarn needle
• 8-10” piece of cardboard
• Pillow or fabric remnant & polyfill for insert

{Great thanks to kpixie for supplying the yarn for this pattern.}

14”l x 19”w

Using 5.5mm hook and sc:
Recycled Silk – 10 sc x 11 rows = 4”
Wool Silk – 13 sc x 16 rows = 4”

US pattern notations used throughout
Ch = chain
St = stitch
Sc = single crochet
Sl st = slip stitch
Blo = back loop only

This pattern is crocheted in the round, joining at the end of each round. Due to the thick and thin nature of the recycled silk yarn, you will need to use stitch markers at each corner and at the beginning of the round. The front of the pillow will be worked through the back loop only and the back of the pillow will be worked through both loops. The recycled silk yarn will occasionally twist and curl into itself. To maximize the yardage, you will need to unwind it as you go by gently pulling and untwisting. The wool silk may pull apart if tugged too hard. You can just knot the two ends together and leave the knot on the backside as you continue the pattern. Any knots will not be seen. The recycled silk will be a little more stretchy than the wool silk, so both sides of the pillow should be close to the same size before stitching together, but it doesn’t have to be a perfect match.

Changing size
To adjust the pillow size, simply figure the difference between the length and width of the finished size and that will be the number of inches your foundation chain should be. For example, for a finished size of 16”x10”, the foundation chain would be 6”.

Alternate design options
The pattern can be made without tassels. If you choose to omit the tassels, you will have enough recycled silk to make an additional round on the pillow.

There is enough of the wool silk yarn left over to make additional rounds around the edge. This option would give a contrasting border that will make a bolder presentation of shape and color.

Tip
Weave in any tail ends as you go by crocheting over them. Begin new yarn 6-8” before you want to add the yarn, crochet over it with the working yarn. Add new yarn and crochet over old yarn for about 6-8” and cut any excess.

Sock it to 'em! It's winter, but that doesn't mean it's not time to show off our legs.

• 4 (5, 5, 6) balls Knit Picks Elegance (70% baby alpaca, 30% silk; 110 yards per 50g) in Color A (shown in Wild Rose)
• 2 (3, 3, 3) balls Knit Picks Elegance Color B (shown in Ash)
• 2 (2, 2, 3) balls Knit Picks Elegance Color C (shown in Coal)
  (Add approx 5% for each additional 1 inch in length you wish to add.)
• 5.00mm (US-H) hook
• 2.5 (3, 3.5, 4, 4.5) yds 1/8” - 1/4” elastic (thinner is better, clear elastic works best)
• 4 – 3/4” buttons (round 4 hole or barrel preferred)
• Sewing needle
• Thread to match elastic or yarn (if using clear elastic)
• Blunt tip yarn needle for weaving in ends

Skirt as shown is 16” long and sits just below the navel.  Length can be increased in ½” increments.

Instructions for the waistband of the skirt correspond to sizes as follows: XS (S, M, L, XL).  These sizes correspond to the hip measurement at its widest point as follows:

32 - 34” = XS
35 - 37” = S
38 - 40” = M
41 - 43” = L
44 - 46” = XL

Modifications available: can be lengthened.  Make certain to allow for additional length when purchasing yarn. Follow guidelines in Materials section.

8 stitches, 10 rows = 2 inches

The flounce of this skirt is constructed as one long striped panel (similar to a scarf).  Back-loop-only stitches are used to encourage the skirt to bend at the points of the pleats.  After the length of flounce is completed, the ends are slip-stitched together. The waist is then stitched in the round. Finally, a simple belt, reinforced with elastic rings, is created in order to secure the skirt and add a contrasting band of dark color at the waist (a minimizing effect).  This removable belt can be used by itself or with tops, as well as secured to the skirt.

Dart Stitch (ds) – insert hook into next stitch, yo and draw loop through, yo, insert hook into next stitch, yo and draw loop through, yo and draw through all 4 loops on hook. Click here for more on how to work the dart stitch on the return row.

2 Half-Double Cluster (2hdc-cl) – yo and insert hook into next stitch, yo and draw loop through, yo and insert hook into SAME stitch, yo and draw loop through, yo and draw through all 5 loops on hook.

Click here for instruction on how to make the double base chain (db-ch).