A Cool Way to Carry Your Crafts

If you’re a fan of knitting on the go (and beer) you need to go check out this project on CraftFoxes for a six-pack craft caddy. (Yes, you could use a soda sixer instead.)

It’s really pretty simple and brilliant. Knock out some of the interior sections if needed, add a grommet to one side to thread the yarn through, stash your yarn near the hole and other supplies in the other dividers of the beer box, and carry by the handle wherever you need to take it.

This is way cooler than the stationery station made of a six-pack holder I’ve been thinking of making.

It comes from the excellent-sounding new book Beer Crafts, which was released last month and offers 40 projects to make with bottles, caps, labels, can tops and boxes. Very cool.

I’m also kind of in love with the bracelet in that picture above.

[Photo from Beer Crafts, via CraftFoxes.]

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Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]

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