Knitting

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British Knitter Finishes Her Husband’s Sweater, 33 Years Later

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finished sweaterI have ignored some unfinished projects for a long time, but Brenda Gilbert may well hold the record for the longest time to complete a knitting project. She started a sweater for her husband John in 1979 while working nights at a hospital, but she said she couldn’t do much knitting at once because of the small stitches on the blue Jim Curtis jumper.

Then there were eight moves in 20 years, and kids, and work, but when Brenda retired she joined the Knit and Natter group at a local library and decided to take the project out of storage. She finally finished it during the Queen’s Jubilee.

John says the sweater fits him surprisingly well given that she didn’t know how much his stomach would grow over the years.

Have you ever finished one of those epics WIPs? Or is there something lingering in your closet that’s been there too many years to mention? Spill it!

[Photo from This is Cornwall.]

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Adorable Ghost Knitting Patterns

Adding a bit of knitting to your fall decor is a lot of fun, whether it’s knit pumpkins or a bunch of adorable knit ghosts like these.

Knit ghosts can be super simple like this free ghost knitting pattern from Trixie Zynch on Ravelry. Using about 50 yards of worsted weight yarn, they’re worked from the bottom up and are super cute as a pair. 

This fuzzy little ghost from Forest Knitting Toys is holding a pumpkin and wearing a witch hat, though of course the accessories are optional, as is the fuzzy yarn. The main yarn is chunky and the ghost measures about 10 cm/4 inches tall. It’s worked in the round. 

Another fuzzy ghost in more of a Pacman style is this ghost plushie form South Stitch Girls. It’s worked in the round with bulky yarn and includes a sweet little bow you can make in whatever color you like. 

The ghost doll from Edith Grace Designs has little arms and a curl at the top of its head. The body is worked flat using DK weight yarn and you could also work it in glow in the dark yarn for extra fun. The body and head are worked in one piece with the arms knit separately. 

The Grim Grinning Ghosts from Susan Claudino are super cute and you can knit them in any yarn and gauge you like to make ghosts of different sizes. These are worked in the round with the body done in one piece and the arms are knit separately. The ghosts shown were knit in sock yarn, DK and worsted weight yarn. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Make a ghost with funny striped legs with this ghost shelf sitter design from Claire Fairall Designs. It’s worked in three colors of DK weight yarn, and the letters spelling out boo are made with strips of garter stitch sewn into shape.