A Machine-Knit Sweater with Fun Details

I know most of you are not machine knitters, but I love the designs that Donatella at Inspiration and Realisation comes up with so I wanted to share this one anyway.

What I love about her stuff is that she’s always inspired by the runways and things she sees in fashion, and shows how it’s possible for a home knitter to get the same look.

In this case she took on a Jil Sander sweater, which is relatively simple and could absolutely be knit by hand, too. The detail that’s so interesting in this piece is the little split neckline, which gives a plain sweater that’s perfect for lounging just a little more interest. This was actually her stepdaughter’s first machine knit project, and I think it looks great.

I hope looking at this inspires you to play with patterns, to look at what you like in garments off the rack, and to see if you can find a pattern or come up with a way to do what you like in your own projects.

Have you ever come up with a design or altered a pattern based on something you saw in fashion or on a rack in a store? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo via Inspiration and Realisation.]

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

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.

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