“20 Small Projects Celebrating America's Beauty”
Knitted gifts for all occasions
Magic Triple Helix Scarf
A great gift in his or her favorite team colors. This scarf uses the technique “helix knitting, ” creating hundreds of single color stripes with no “jogs.” Knit in superwash wool. it can be tossed in the washer. From Beth: My son lives in Brooklyn and prefers to get around on his bicycle. He’s also a runner, so his scarves get a lot of hard wear. He asked for a warm, indestructible, machine wash-and-dry-able scarf in the team colors of his beloved Orlando Magic. I designed this scarf using a technique known as “helix knitting.” What looks like hundreds of one-row stripes is really just three that run around the tube, like stripes on a peppermint stick. That takes care of the ugly “jog” that comes with knitting one-row stripes and it’s kinda cool, even if you’re not a math or science geek! Finished Measurements: Approximately 72″ long and 8″ wide (182cm x 20cm) Project Gauge: 20 stitches and 27 rounds = 4″ (10cm) in stockinette stitch on US 6 (4mm) Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash (100% superwash wool, 220 yards/200m per 100g skein); 2 skeins Black #815 (MC)and 1 skein each #871 White (CC1) and Sapphire Heather #1951 (CC2)...
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Snowflake Reversible Mittens
Reversible gloves (the inside is a solid textured pattern) are versatile and really warm. They are knit in one piece and then tucked one inside the other. Designer Susan Todhunter was inspired by her Framingham, Massachusetts winters. From Beth: I have such happy memories of making snowmen with my sister Rory and Aunt Cookie at our early childhood home in Chicago. I can’t explain it, but slipping on a pair of mittens, rather than my grown-up gloves, instantly takes me back to the delight of playing in the snow, so bundled up I resembled the Stay Puft marshmallow man. Massachusetts designer Susan Todhunter does her best to keep your hands warm and undeniably stylish on cold winter days with these double-thick reversible mittens. The construction technique is a gift for the knitter — no sewing up. Finished Sizes: Women’s Small, Medium and Large Project Gauge: 20 stitches and 30 rounds = 4” (10cm) in stockinette stitch on US6 (4mm) needles Yarn: Berroco Vintage (50% acrylic, 40% wool, 10% nylon, 217 yards/198m per 100g skein); 1 skein each in Aquae #5125 (MC) and Snow Day #5100 (CC)...
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Staircase Bags
Mitered squares come together for this bag in two sizes, with instructions for making a matching scarf. Designed by Suesan Roth. Inspired by the many steps to the top of the Mother Cabrini shrine on Lookout Mountain near Golden, Colorado. From Beth: In 1910, Mother Cabrini founded a summer camp for her orphanage on Lookout Mountain near Golden, Colorado. Following her beatification, the location became a pilgrimage site, with a 373 step staircase tracing her path to the top of the mountain. Designer Suesan Roth has a special love for this landmark — her husband proposed at the top of the stairs. This set of bags commemorates those steps, represented by the mitered blocks. Finished Measurements: Large bag approximately 23″ wide x 13½” high (58cm x 35cm); small bag approximately 7″ wide x 8″ tall (18cm x 20cm) Project Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows = 4″ (10cm) in stockinette stitch on US 5 (3.75mm) Yarn: Ella Rae Classic Superwash (100% superwash wool, 219 yards/200m per 100g skein) 3 skeins Russet #37 (MC), 2 skeins Light Copper #13 (CC)...
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High Country Boot Cuffs
Mad for plaid? These tartan cuffs by Beth Moriarty were inspired by the Highland Games on Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina and add the perfect touch of knitted color to your boots without the uncomfortable thickness of chunky socks. From Beth: I spend part of the year at my cabin in North Carolina, home to the largest Scottish population in the United States. In mid-July fans of all things Scottish head to nearby Grandfather Mountain for the Highland Games. The event provides Celtic music, athletic contests and food. If you’re mad for plaid, don’t miss the Parade of Tartans. My boot cuffs are a great way to add a bit of Scottish charm to your wardrobe without adding unnecessary bulk inside your boots. Check the “Tips” section for how to make these into leg warmers if you want to go full-on tartan. Finished Measurements: Approximately 15” (38cm) in circumference and 5” (13cm) high with cuff folded Project Gauge: 24 stitches and 29 rounds = 4” (10cm) in stockinette stitch, stranded on US 6 (4mm) needles Yarn: Berroco Vintage DK (50% acrylic, 40% wool, 10% nylon, 288 yards/266m per 100g skein); 1 skein each #2134 Sour Cherry (MC), #2165 Wasabi (CC1) and #2156 Cork (CC2)...
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Mallory Square Cowl
Festooned with turquoise ocean waves, blooming with hibiscus and dune flowers, this cowl is just the cheery pick-me-up you need for slushy, sleety, wet wintry days. Designed by Beth Moriarty and inspired by the beauty of Key West, Florida. From Beth: One of the first vacations I took with my husband-to-be was in sunny Key West. Despite the fact I grew up in Florida, I had never been. The Keys really are like their own country, with the laid-back party atmosphere and spectacular water, it feels more like a Caribbean island than the United States. Every evening, locals and visitors alike gather at Mallory Square to watch the sun set. My design for this embellished cowl, with its turquoise waves, yellow dune flowers and red hibiscus, transports a bit of the Keys to gray winter days for those not spending the season basking in tropical splendor. Finished Measurements: 27” in circumference and 10½” high (68.5 x 26.5cm) Project Gauge: 18 stitches and 21 rounds = 4” in stranded stockinette on US 8 (5mm) Yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Wool, (100% wool, 220 yards/200m per 100g skein); quarter skein each Caribbean #8907 (MC), Zinnia Red #9466, Granny Smith #8914, Natural #8010, and Goldenrod #7827...
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Silver Screen Sachets
Hollywood’s classic black & white movies inspired Beth Moriarty’s beaded, lacy, and star-studded sachets. One skein of Cotton Classic Lite makes four sachets. Make a batch to keep on hand for those last-minute gifts. From Beth: I just love those Hollywood films from the 30s and 40s where ladies retiring for the evening wore fabulously fluffy lace and beaded peignoirs. So maybe your lingerie drawer, like mine, is full of sports bras and cotton panties. All the more reason to add a bit of glam to those underwear drawers. Just a little reminder that you are, in fact, a girl! One skein of Tahki Cotton Classic Lite is enough for four sachets, making this an inexpensive gift knit. I designed this with mix and match colors to create a multi-color gift pack, or knit the whole set in one shade. If it’s December 23rd and you’re a present or two short, you still have time. Finished Measurements: Approximately 4¼” wide by 3½” high (11 x 9cm) after seaming Project Gauge: 28 stitches and 34 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on US 6 (4mm) needles. Gauge is not critical, but will impact finished size and amount of yarn used. Yarn: Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic Lite (100% cotton, 148 yards/135m per 50g skein); one skein each Black #4002, Light Silver #4006 and White # 4001 (each will make four sachets)...
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About the Book
Knitters are some of the nicest people on the planet, no doubt due to the soothing nature of knitting. They are also a generous lot, gifting loved ones with hand knit gifts, with love worked into every stitch. Thirteen American designers celebrate their favorite places with small projects perfect for gifting and inspired by the beauty of America — from the NY to Key West to Alaska and points in between. I’ve also included five yummy regional recipes as well as travelogues for an armchair tour of some of my favorite places. Happy knitting, traveling and cooking!
Learn More About AGK
Preview the Patterns
Wholesale Pricing for Yarn Shops
Meet the Author, Beth Moriarty
Meet the Author
Beth Moriarty, known to fans of PlanetPurl.com as the “PurlQueen,” has shared her online classes and instructional videos have been viewed on YouTube almost 3 million times. She designs individual downloadable patterns which are available under the PurlQueen Patterns label (PurlQueenPatterns.com), and her first book, Deep South Knitting was published in 2011, with 25 projects inspired by the history and beauty of the American South, together with travelogues and a dozen of her favorite southern recipes. Her second book, American Sock Knitting was released in 2013, with 13 sock designs inspired by the beauty of America, along with five yummy recipes and armchair travel pages.
Learn More About the Author
Meet the Author, Beth Moriarty
Preview “Deep South Knitting”
Preview “American Sock Knitting”
Visit PurlQueenPatterns.com
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American Gift Knitting
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