Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Because Knitters are Awesome

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new shawlI couldn’t resist sharing this really sweet story about the awesomeness of knitters. Knitter Susan Cottrell from London, Ontario, had been knitting a shawl in turquoise and blue lace, complete with 1,500 beads, while sitting at her husband’s bedside while he underwent a double-lung transplant.

One night she left the shawl in his hospital room and it disappeared. A search that included posting flyers around the hospital came up empty.

But one knitter from Colorado was inspired by the story and decided to knit her a replacement shawl. Katrina King recently sent the shawl to the newspaper that first reported the story and they delivered it to Cottrell, who declared the creation “beautiful.”

As for her husband, he’s now recovering at home, which is pretty beautiful, too.

Thanks for being awesome, knitters.

[Photo by Rick Madonick, via the Toronto Star.]

Comments

  1. What a wonderful ending for Susan’s husband and the new shawl. GOD bless the giver, gift and recipient.

  3. What a beautiful story. I hope the one she was making will turn up. What a shame someone took it from a hospital at that. Blessings for all in this touching story.

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.