A Couple of Tasty Knitting Patterns

Sometimes I feel like crochet beats knitting in terms of whimsy. I know there are plenty of fun and funky knitting patterns with all sorts of subjects, but it just feels like there are so many more options for fun stuff in the category of crochet amigurumi as opposed to knitting.

But every now and then I’ll come across some fun patterns (or make something myself!) that reminds me that knitting can be just as much fun and as silly as crochet is.

Before you go on check out our roundup of cross stitch patterns to celebrate women’s history month.

Case in point: these knit food pillows from Lion Brand Yarn.

First I saw the pretzel pillow knitting pattern, which is a super cute and easy project, worked in bulky weight yarn in the round. It’s just a giant tube, so it’s great practice for working in the round if you need that, and then you twist it, sew it into a pretzel shape and embellish it with beads for the salt. So cute!

Then I noticed there was also a pattern for a macaron pillow (not to be confused with a macaroon pillow), which would be so cute in a girl’s room since these treats are often pastel colors. This design is also made with bulky weight yarn, and while this one is also rated easy there’s more going on in the knitting. Because the pattern is worked in one piece, you’re starting from the center of one side of the cookie, increasing to the desired size, working a bit without increasing for the filling, then you decrease back down on the other side to make the second cookie. Once the cookie is knit, you work the filling as I-cord and then sew it in place.

These fun pillows are almost good enough to eat and would be fun for a dorm room, play room or TV room as well as a kid’s room. Or make one for your pretzel-loving pal.

Both are free downloads from Lion Brand Yarn that you can access at the links above.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

Next Pattern:

Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

Next Pattern:

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