Featured: Rasta by Malabrigo + Free Pattern!

Malabrigo Rasta Yarn is like knitting with a handful of butter.  I know we often compare Malabrigo’s super soft merino to butter, but if you’ve ever worked with it you’ll probably understand.  Always smooth to the touch, this lush super bulky single ply slides through your fingers so comfortably it almost feels like it’s infused with lotion.  Of course it isn’t infused with lotion, but it is slightly felted so the yarn can maintain its almost un-spun appearance while still holding up to a little wear and tear.  This yarn is great for super bulky knit and crocheted accessories, blankets and super warm, squishy sweaters.

The Monolith Hat - knitted pattern download uses just one skein of Malabrigo Rasta Yarn; the color shown in the photo is our color 0350, Frank Ochre.  This super quick and easy hat is worked back and forth on large needles, then seamed.  The free pattern also includes tips on changing the pattern to be worked seamlessly in the round on double-pointed needles.  Suitable for knitters of all levels, the simple 1×1 rib offers just the right amount of stretch for this hat to fit a variety of head sizes.

Size: Fits most teens and adults.  Finished circumference is appx. 18″ unstretched.
Gauge: 9.5 sts and 12 rows to 4″ in 1×1 rib (unstretched) on US 15 needles.
Yardage: 1 skein (90 yards) Malabrigo Rasta Yarn or appx. 90 yards of super bulky yarn.

Another great one-skein Rasta project is the Drop Stitch Scarf.  This easy scarf is knit up on size US 17 needles and uses a simple yarn over pattern to create the dropped stitch rows.
Size: 4″ wide and 72″ long
Gauge: 2 sts to 1″ in garter stitch.
Yardage: 1 skein (90 yards) Malabrigo Rasta Yarn or appx. 90 yards of super bulky yarn.

One of my favorite samples around the shop is the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] .  This larger than life cowl is so much fun to snuggle up in, and I’m pretty convinced that there isn’t a wrong color choice.

Size: 32″ circumference
Gauge: 2-2.5 sts to 1″ on US 17 needle.
Yardage: 2 skeins of Malabrigo Rasta Yarn or appx. 148-166 yards bulky or super bulky weight yarn.

If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, you might consider using Rasta to make the charming Weekend Neck Down Pullover by Knitting Pure and Simple.  This cozy classic makes a great first sweater project, or near-instant gratification for more experienced knitters.

Sizes: 38 (42, 46, 50, 54)” bust
Gauge: 8 sts to 4″ in St st on size US 17 needle.
Yardage: 5 (5, 6, 7, 7) skeins of Malabrigo Rasta Yarn or appx. 396 (450, 510, 550, 625) yards of super bulky yarn.

Weavers might be interested in the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] .  This wooly blanket uses Rasta as an accent yarn to add a touch of color and texture.

Big yarn like Rasta lends itself well to easy projects like the Easy: Learn to Knit Cowl Pattern Download.  This free pattern gives you the basic instructions needed to make your own bulky cowl, and although it was written with beginners in mind, even more experienced knitters will enjoy the near-instant gratification this project provides.

Another fun free pattern that only takes one skein of Rasta is the Head On - Earwarmer Pattern Download.  This is a super fun way to add a bit of brightness to your cold weather wardrobe!

Lastly, Malabrigo has their own projects designed for Malabrigo Rasta Yarn – those can be found in the following books: