Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

2020 is the Year of Using Your Stash

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Happy new year! As we work on our resolutions and goals for the year (and decade!) to come, I see a lot of people talking about using their stash and not buying new yarn/supplies while they have things they can use at home.

(I actually have a whole website devoted to this idea, so as you can imagine, I’m totally in.)

There are some knitters out there who are trying to help the rest of us get through our stashes, such as Amanda Scott (browngyrlknits on Instagram) who posted her stash down 2020 guidelines in November. She suggested doing a yarn inventory and making a list of patterns before the end of the year, but better late(ish) than never, right?

I also saw Julie Ann from Twin Stitches Designs is teaming up with the Crazy Sock Lady to host a stash busters knitalong, with different project themes for each quarter (Q1 is socks).

And speaking of socks, extermiknit is doing a year of scrappy socks knitalong, with the first quarter beign represented by the theme of color.

Do you have plans to use your yarn stash this year? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: BrownGyrlKnits via Instagram.]

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Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.