A Simple Top to Knit in Many Colors

There are so many great little mini skein packs or samplers of yarn that you can buy, but it can sometimes be hard to figure out what to do with those little balls of yarn.

This knit T-shirt pattern from Knit a Bit Crochet Away is a great option for using a lot of little bits, whether they’re from a purchased mini-skein pack or just odd balls you happen to have in the house.

This easy top down pattern would of course look great in a solid or multicolored yarn, or try it with a self-striping yarn for a similar look with a lot fewer ends to weave in.

It’s meant to be worn with about 4 inches of positive ease and is available in nine sizes. You can grab the pattern from her website.

[Photo: Knit a Bit Crochet Away.]

It’s a common complaint among women and femme dressing folk that our clothes do not include enough (and enough useful) pockets. And even if your clothes do have good pockets, there’s always a chance that you’d rather have another pocket to put some essentials in rather than having to carry a whole bag.

But because we are knitters, we can take this problem into our own needles and knit ourselves some auxiliary pockets.

Beatrice Mase did just that, with a kind of fancy toolbelt pocket accessory that they call VELVET Pockets.

The stitch pattern has a plush, sort of velvet effect, thus the name, but it’s worked with regular fingering/sock weight yarn. (The sample uses wool, but you could experiment with other fibers, too.) It calls for 776 yards of 710 meters, which you might just have in your sock yarn stash.

The pattern includes several pockets of different sizes, with the main body of the pocket worked flat in one piece and the exterior pockets sewn on at the end. You also have the option of adding screw rivets and a coordinating clasp that make it look even more toolbelt chic.

The design is worked with a loop of knit fabric at the top so it can slide onto a belt. The pattern includes explanatory diagrams, photo and video tutorials and is adjustable to fit different sizes of belts.

It’s almost enough to make me want to start wearing belts again, even though I haven’t for years. Because who wouldn’t want a few extra little pockets to hold things when you don’t have enough to really justify carrying a bag around?

The pattern is available in English and French on Ravelry and you can also buy a kit complete with the yarn, rivets and clasp (the pattern is not included in the kit) direct on Etsy.

[Photo: Beatrice Mase]

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