Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

A Few “Best Of” Pattern Roundups

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eyelet cowlSince I was at home with a preschooler a lot longer than I meant to be over the holidays and beyond, I’m a little behind on year-end roundups, so I thought I would share a few of the favorite pattern collections that have hit my email box recently.

Lion Brand Yarn has put together a collection of its 10 most popular patterns. I love the pint-sized Colorplay Hoodie and the Entrelac Cowl (I’ve been meaning to knit something like that for a while). The most popular pattern was the District 12 Cowl Wrap inspired by “Catching Fire.”

Red Heart’s Best of 2013 includes videos and tutorials, so you can learn how to knit with Sashay (something I still need to do) and then make the most popular pattern, a Sashay scarf. I also find it really funny that one of the most popular patterns was Angel Baby, which is an eyelet baby blanket that’s a really old pattern — I knit it for a “baby” who is now 7 years old!

Yarn Market did a countdown of 30 popular patterns, many though not all of which are free. But the Gold Rush Fan Stitch Cowl pattern, which came in at the top, is a free pattern worked in feather and fan in a locely yarn from Crystal Palace.

And Yarnspirations has a roundup of five afghan patterns and five cowl patterns you might want to check out. I’ve had my eye on that Southwest Geometric Blanket for a while, and the Spiral Cowl is pretty, too.

Last but not least, if you haven’t seen it already, is my roundup of most popular patterns from About Knitting. That cowl pictured above is mine.

Comments

  1. Thanks, Sarah, for sharing these links for free patterns! With the beginning of the new year, I’m trying to lay out my knitting projects for the next few months. Some of these free patterns will definitely make the list 🙂

    Thanks again! I also have some free patterns on my website at http://purl3agony.hubpages.com/

Have you read?

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.