Celebrate Knitting with March Mayhem

Just in case you don’t follow Mason-Dixon Knitting (and you absolutely should) I wanted to let you know that the sports-inspired celebration of the best knits of 2017, aka March Mayhem, is open for voting as of today (March 15).

The big four categories of knits this year are yokes (so many yoked sweaters in 2017!), neck and shoulders (shawls and cowls), sweaters and projects using mini skeins.

The best of the best will be chosen in rounds of voting — just like basketball games — until one project remains from each category and, ultimately, a winner is declared.

Even if you don’t take part in the voting this is an excellent way to learn about some really great patterns. The links above will take you to a roundup of the designs for each section of the bracket.

Which design will reign supreme? We’ll have to wait until the end of the month to find out!

[Photo: Mason-Dixon Knitting.}

Looking to buy your Yarn online? Check out these online yarn specials.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Check out these books dedicated to Knitted Cowl Patterns still looking for more cowl patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

This free knitting pattern falls in the category of cute but maybe not essential, as well as a nice way to use some yarn left over from another project.

The Briggs St. Fruit Hammock from Mycah Knits is beginner friendly because it’s a big rectangle worked in stockinette stitch on larger needles than the yarn would usually call for (size 11 US/8 mm for DK weight/weight 3 yarn) to provide more air flow around the fruit.

The idea behind a fruit hammock like this is both that it saves you counter space since it’s meant to be mounted under a cabinet and that air flow around the fruit helps prevent moisture from getting trapped below the fruit, which should keep it fresh longer. They’re also just cute and keep your fruits or veg accessible so hopefully you will eat more of them.

This pattern also includes I-cord handles, which is how you hang the hammock, and you’ll need to be able to pick up stitches for them, but that’s the only beyond beginner skill required in this project.

It only uses about 25 grams of yarn, so this is a perfect project for using a little something left over from another project. It would also be cute with stripes, so you can use odd balls from several projects. Or make the I-cord with a contrasting color to add a bit more fun if you like.

The designer does recommend using acrylic yarn for this project because it shouldn’t stretch out of shape with use and is easy to wash should your aspirations for eating fruit outstrip your reality. But they also provide tips for testing the stretch in a yarn you want to use and adjusting the pattern to account for that.

I don’t have a space in my place for this but it is super cute and a fun way to add knitting to the home, which I’m always a fan of.

You can grab the free pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Mycah Knits]

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