Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Time to knit a red carpet!

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A HUGE congratulations to my friends over at PBS’s Knit and Crochet Today: Brett Bara (host), Candi Jensen (producer), and the folks at Coats & Clark (underwriters)! The show’s been nominated for a regional EMMY! I’m so thrilled not only for them (all of whom I adore), but also that knit-related programming has finally been given some props. That my friends, is good stuff!

The whole KCT gang will be at TNNA in Columbus, OH this weekend, so if you’re in the industry (unfortunately, this convention’s not open to the public) make sure to stop by their booth to show your support!

I’ll also be at TNNA, signing copies of my latest book Knit Aid, and looking for a little product & book gossip to bring back to you! It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it! 😉

Next Pattern:

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Knit a Great Button Down Shirt

Just about anything you can make in fabric you can make in knitting, but there are some styles that you just don’t see that often translated into knitting. 

For example, a button down collared shirt. This is a classic design, of course, and it looks great in a knit version, but it’s just not something you see much of. 

Noma Ndlovu’s Guglethu shirt is the pattern to try if you want to knit your own button down shirt. This one is inspired by cashmere tops (though the sample was made out of yak yarn, not cashmere, and uses two strands of lace weight yarn held together) and includes lots of high-fashion details like double-knit cuffs, collar and shoulder seams. 

It has a patch pocket on the front and 10 buttons including the button band and the cuffs. 

The designer says you can also use a DK weight yarn held singly if you’d rather, and that the shirt looks good in a variety of yarns. There is another version on Ravelry that uses Berroco Remix Light, which is a mix of nylon, cotton, acrylic, silk and cellulose fibers. It has a more relaxed look but it still really pretty. 

The pattern has 12 sizes, with a full bust measurement ranging from 32.35 to 72.25 inches, or 82 to 183.5 cm. The designer suggests 2 to 6 inches, or 5 to 15 cm, of positive ease when you pick your size. I could totally see knitting one that’s even bigger to wear more like a jacket, because I do that a lot with button down shirts I already own.

I love all the details on this shirt, which isn’t necessarily difficult to knit, but might introduce you to some things you’ve never knit before (like those cuffs with the plackets, or a shirt collar like this). 

To learn more about this shirt and grab a copy of the pattern for yourself, head to Ravelry. 

[Photo: Noma Ndlovu]

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