Knitting

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Big Sweaters are, Well, Big for Fall

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Giant sweaters are in fashion for fall.“Yarn for years” is how Wall Street Journal reporter Megan Hayes described the sweaters seen in collections for this fall (which were shown back in the spring). She notes that giant cowls and roomy sweaters were everywhere to be seen, as well as layers of knits — sweaters and skirts with a scarf and legwarmers, for example.

While knitters certainly would love to dress like that, most of the time you shouldn’t wear all knits all the time, the style experts say. They recommend pairing your knits with sleeker fabrics like leather or lace, and to tone down the volume of a giant sweater with skinny jeans.

Or try what fashion consultant Yasmin Sewell suggests: pair two sweaters of similar or matching colors. Wear one normally and tie the other around the neck. Will that work off the runway? There’s only one way to find out.

What do you think of the trend (back) toward giant knits? Would you knit an enormous sweater for yourself? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

[Photo by Danny Kim for the Wall Street Journal.]

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Looking for Fall patterns to Knit? Check out these Fall knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Comments

  2. Well, this trend does make it a lot faster to knit for tweens and teens! I already have one request for a big fuzzy sweater. I may knit myself some chunky leg warmers, though. That’s one of the few things I miss about the 80s. 😉

  3. Hmmmmm, knitting an enormous sweater for myself – usually done with bulky yarns? Would probably be fast and easy. But I already look like a blog so with a big sweater I’d look like a warm fuzzy blob. 😉 Sure would be comfy though!

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.