Are You Ready for Sweater Weather?

You probably know by now that I am not a huge fan of BuzzFeed, or Internet quizzes, but I couldn’t resist sharing this quiz to help you determine if you’re ready for sweater weather.

I’m pretty sure you don’t need a quiz to know if you are or aren’t, but it’s still kind of fun.

You get a point for every statement you agree with, ranging from things like “Seeing my breath create a little cloud of fog fills my heart with JOY” to “I wish I could live inside a sweater.”

It will surprise no one that my quiz results determined I was born ready for sweater weather.

If you’re ready but your knit sweater wardrobe is a little lacking, I’m going to hook you up with some great project ideas and advice through the month. For now I’d love to know if you’ve knit sweaters before and if you have any questions you’d like me to answer this month.

Or, do you have a favorite sweater pattern? Share it!

I’m excited to focus on sweaters with you this month. Let’s dive in and get cozy.

[Photo via BuzzFeed.]

Next Pattern:

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?