Patterns, projects and techniques
Don’t have a clue where to start with your knitting? Well, that’s easy. You start with the toys, I mean accessories. In this post Elisa outlines what you need to get started. What are you waiting for? You’ve got to see the gorgeous scissors she’s collected! Over HERE at the Craft Snob Blog (say THAT fast 3 times!)
I feel like I’ve knit most things that you can knit through my many years of knitting and designing, but one thing I’ve never done is a sweater worked in fingering weight yarn. It just sounds like too much commitment to me, like it will take forever and be too delicate for me to want to wear.
I know none of that is true. Despite the gauge fine knit sweaters don’t necessarily take longer than other projects, especially if they have something to hold your interest like fun colorwork. And the level of detail you can get in a project with so many stitches really can’t be beat.
Consider Bloem by Natasja Hornby. This bottom up crew neck sweater has colorwork all over, whether it’s stripes or these big mandala-like flowers on the front and back (flowers also show up on the sleeves).
I think there’s really something to the idea that colorwork goes faster because you want to see what’s going to happen next, and in the case of this sweater there are other design elements that you’ll be excited to knit. The yoke of the sweater is a hybrid design that ensures a good fit and probably a knitting experience you haven’t had before.
You’ll knit the body of the sweater in the round from the bottom up to the underarms, then knit the sleeves separately and join all together for the yoke.
The pattern has 8 size options, with finished bust measurements ranging from 33.5 to 61 inches, or 84 to 152.5 cm.
You can choose more muted, harmonious colors like the ones shown in the sample or go bolder for a real showstopping piece. Check out the finished projects on Ravelry to give you some ideas and see how it fits on different size bodies. There’s one where the knitter made all the flowers different colors that I just love.
Learn more and grab a copy of the pattern on Ravelry.
[Photo: Natasja Hornby]
Easy Fair Isle Sweaters for Kids and Adults
Heh, when I started reading I assumed you meant knitting the toys, since that’s where I started. And continued. And will probably die that way too.
That’s why most of my free patterns are toys (http://kimberlychapman.com/crafts/knit-patterns.html). It’s a good place to start for new knitters because you get to see the results of your efforts quickly, and generally speaking things like gauge and size don’t matter too much. Good for mamas because your kid might outgrow that sweater before you finish it, but toys are appreciated much longer.