Ombre Hand Dyed Yarn…coming soon!

Aloha! I am working on a new dying technique which was requested by one of my customers, a yarn shop in Redding California, Ewe-Ba Street Yarn! The idea is to stack the colors, instead of a variegated mix of colors. I’m still figuring it out, but here is a great sample and a simple cowl pattern I created to show off the technique!

I knit it up in Bamboo/Merino Worsted.

Here’s the inspiration!

Pattern:

Simple Cowl Pattern

Materials

1 skein worsted weight yarn, 100 grams

(I used Hanalei Hand Dyed Yarn Tunnels Reef Ombre)

Size US7 or US8 16” circular needles

2 stitch markers

needle or crochet hook to weave in ends

Cast on 60 stitches, place marker, cast on 60 stitches place 2^nd marker for a total of 120 stitches, join round.

Knit in the round in 1 x 1 rib pattern for 25 rounds.

On the 26^th round, after first stitch marker Knit 3 together (Slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over the k2tog) knit in rib to second stitch marker, move marker and K3tog using the same technique as before.

Continue knitting in rib pattern for 8 rows.

9^th row, after first stitch marker, k3 tog, knit to 2^nd stitch marker, k3 tog after marker.

Knit 6 rows and repeat reduction in the next row.

Knit 4 rows and repeat reduction in the next row.

At end of 100 gr skein, cast off loosely.

Weave in ends.

Mysteries of the Sea…

So there is something really intriguing about a shell. It’s such a mystery to me, how nature never ceases to create beauty and symmetry and texture. When I walk the beach I cannot draw my eyes away from these little jewels that wash up in such incredible abundance. Some are so tiny they are completely missed unless one crouches low to the sand and studies intently…

We’ve added a bit of this mystery to our website and in the shop and we are so excited to share! Shell Stitch Markers! Finally we’ve thought of something new to do with them. (After gluing them on frames, boxes, vases and making a lot of jewelry….) Stitch Markers! Now we can share a bit of Kauai and our beloved ocean.

Check them out online at http://www.hanaleistringskauai.com/index.html

Aloha!

Karen

More Color-Ways…

Sunset and Makana Mountain

Makana Sunset SW Merino Worsted Weight

There is an amazing and unique mountain on the North Shore of Kauai. It is named Makana and is very sacred to the local people. According to some, Makana means “Gift from God”. This mountain was very important in the lives of the ancestors here. There was a class of Hawaiians called the fire throwers. These brave men would climb the mountain and throw burning logs off of it in the dark of night to please the ruling Ali’i (royalty). I have seen this tradition revived in the past few years and it emotional and stunning. When the sun sets in the summer occasionally the colors flame gold and pink and dark deep purple. Makana Sunset!

We’re BACK!

Aloha! I have not been blogging on this site for the past couple of years. The lure of the dye pot has possessed me! We changed our format in our little Ukulele/Yarn shop in Hanalei and for the past few years have carried only our very own Hanalei Hand Dyed Yarn. Finally I have reached a point where I am ready to branch out into the world! I’m visually sharing some information today about what inspires me!

This is Tunnel Reef…And Tunnels Reef the our color-way! This is the beach across the road from my home and dying shed. When I’m hot, sticky and exhausted a dip here makes everything OKAY!!

Kalalau is an AMAZING Valley on the rugged Na Pali Coastline of the North Shore of Kauai. Every summer we gather up the kids and jump in kayaks and head down this coastline. As we paddle past Kalalau the aqua ocean and red dirt hills, the sandy beach and green of the foliage makes my heart pound!

Sunrise Shell. These shells are like gold here on Kauai. They are traded, bartered, hunted. Some dive for them, some rise before the sun to search the sandy beaches for them. One thing is for sure, if you find one…you have received a gift from the ocean and it is a special moment!

Well, those are three of our most popular colors and what inspires them. Stay tuned for more inspiration!

Aloha, Karen

Kelly’s DNA Scarf!

This scarf is so easy, and due to the drop stitches your yarn goes a long way! Kelly calls this her DNA scarf and loves to knit it out of our rainbow color-way. It looks fabulous in Kalalau and takes on a watery feel!

Kalalau is inspired by a beautiful valley that can only be accessed by ocean. It is part of the rugged Na Pali coastline. As you approach via kayak, or boat, the acqua color of the ocean, the white caps gently touching the shore and the golden sand beaches will lure you in!

Easy Drop Stitch Scarf Pattern

Materials: 100 to 150 gr worsted weight yarn

US 8 needles

Pattern:

CO 26 Stitches (or any multiple of 10 plus 6)

Knit 4 rows

Start Pattern:

Row 1: K6, *YO, K1, YO twice, K1, YO 3 times, K1, YO twice, K1, YO, K6 *,

repeat between ** across.

Row 2: Knit across, dropping all the yarn overs a you go.

Row 3 & 4 Knit

Row 5: K1, *YO, K1, YO twice, K1, YO 3 time, K1, YO twice, K1, YO, K6*

repeat between ** across, ending with a K1 .

Row 6: Knit across, dropping all the yarnovers as you go.

Rows 7 & 8: Knit

Continue these rows until almost out of yarn, or until scarf is as long as you want it.

End with another 4 rows of garter stitch

Weave in your ends.

Hanalei Nautilus Scarf

HANALEI Hand Dyed yarn, 100% Superwash Merino in the color Kalalau.

Pattern submitted by and knitted by our very good friend, Alanna Bodenstab.

Hanalei Nautilus Scarf

Materials:

300-350 yards of worsted or double sock yarn….

# 10 needles (or can go smaller)

Stitch Pattern: Garter

CO 20

Row 1 & 2: Knit 8, turn work and knit same 8 stitches back

(Knitting a short row)

Row 3 & 4: Knit 6, turn and knit 6 back

Row 5 & 6: Knit 4, turn and knit 4 back

Row 7: Knit 20 across

Repeat above 7 rows to end.

Sew point ends together, if desired.

For a clean edge, Slip the first stitch at the beginning of a row except when reversing the Short row.

Great in a springy merino and also nice in a bamboo tape.

Alpaca tends to be too limp unless mixed with something else.

Mongato Creations!

WOW! Local artist, Nancy Mongato has created unique shawl pins JUST FOR Hanalei Strings!! They come in Brass, Copper and Silver fill and are hammered metal in the shapes of G clefts and Ukuleles!

Look for them, plus her other unique designs on our website…coming soon! or contact us here with inquiries!

MONGATO UKULELE SHAWL PIN…Hanalei Exclusive!

MONGATO G CLEF SHAWL PIN…Hanalei Exclusive!

MONGATO SWIRL SHAWL PIN

MONGATO SQUIGGLE SHAWL PIN

MONGATO SEA BEAN SHAWL PIN

AND….

Nancy has created the greatest buttons from sea beans picked up on the beaches of Kauai! So awesome. These too will be on the website soon!

This is a neck collar knitted with Hanalei Hand Dyed Organic Cotton in Red Dirt/Hibiscus colorway. Nancy’s sea buttons grace the front. Pattern to be posted soon!

Here is our beloved Nancy wearing a sweater she knit from our Hanalei Hand Dyed Pima cotton in the color Sunrise.

Notice the back detail!!! Sea Bean Buttons!

If you find yourself on Kauai…come and visit us!

Aloha.

Chevron Scarf in shop

Here is the pattern for the Chevron Scarf we have in the shop made out of Hanalei Hand Dyed Bamboo Silk!

100 gram of Hanalei Hand Dyed Bamboo Silk

Size 7 US knitting needles

Caste of 34

Knit 1st 2 rows in garter…then begin the pattern of row 1 and row 2.

Row 1 (RS): Knit 2 *K2tog, K5, YO, K1, YO, K5, Sl1, K1, psso* repeat instructions between * 1 time, knit 2

Row 2: Knit 1, Purl to last 2 stitches, knit 1

Repeat these 2 rows for pattern to end

knit last 2 rows in garter. Caste off loosley

Triangle Lace Shawl in Hanalei Hand Dyed Bamboo/Merino Yarn

Hanalei Hand Dyed Bamboo Merino Fingerling

Materials:

1 skein Hanalei Hand Dyed Bamboo Merino Fingerling Yarn

US 6 26″ circular needle

Caste on 400 with a size 6 circular needle (24″ or 29″ cord).

8 row repeat:

1st row: Knit 3 tog, knit to last 3 stitches, knit 3 tog.

2nd row: Purl across

3rd row: Knit 3 tog, k1, *k3 tog, knit into the front, back and front of the next stitch*,repeat to last 4 stitches, k1, k3tog.

4th row: Purl across

5th row: knit 3 tog, knit to last 3 stitches, knit 3 tog.

6th row: Purl across

7th row: *Knit 3 tog, Knit into the front, back and front of the next stitch*, repeat to end of row, ending with k3 tog.

8th row: Purl across

Repeat row 1 – 8 until 3 stitches left Last row, K3 tog.

Pima Cotton Blanket with Hanalei Hand Dyed Yarn

Hi All!

Here is the pattern for the Red (Heliconia color) Pima Cotton Blanket in the shop. I’ll add a photo on Tuesday!

 

Pima Cotton Blanket

Material: 8 skiens of Hanalei Hand Dyed Pima Cotton

US 9 Circular 24″ needles

 

Caste on 150 stitches on a US 9 circular needle.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2: Knit 2,* YO, k2TOG*, repeat between * to last two stitches, knit 2

Row 3, 4 and 5:  Knit entire row

Row 6: Knit 5, Purl to end of row, Knit 5

Row 7: Knit 2, YO, k2TOG,  Knit to last 4 stitches. Knit 2TOG, YO, knit 2

Row 8: Knit 5, Purl to end of row, Knit 5

 

Repeat row 7 and 8 until desired length. Be sure you retain enough yarn to knit last 5 rows in garter.

 

Last 5 rows:

Row 1: knit row

Row 2: Knit 2, Yo, K2tog, Knit to last 4 stitches, Knit 2tog, yo, knit 2

Row 3: knit 5 purl to end of row, knit 5

Row 4: knit 2 “yo, K2tog” repeat between * to last two stitches, knit 2

Row 5: Knit row

Bind off VERY loosely.

 

Be sure to check your gauge!

 

Some knitters knit very loosely and some knit very tightly. For something like this, check yoru gauge to make it the correct width. The caste on edge is the longer side. Be sure you caste on a number divisible by 2!

 

YO : Yarn Over (bring yarn from back to front while knitting creating a stitch.)

K2TOG: Knit 2 stitches together