Check out the Knit Simple Preview

I had read that Vickie Howell is doing another knitalong based on a project of hers in the new Knit Simple, so I went to JoAnn this morning to buy a copy, only to return home to an email saying it’s not on newsstands until July 24. Oops.

The e-mail noted, however, that the preview of the issue is now online. Clearly everyone else in the knitting world got that e-mail, too, because as I write this the site is very slow-loading, but worth a peek if you’re patient (or wait an hour or two). The issue shows us that bulky wraps are still in this year (yeah!). There are also bulky pastel sweaters, colorful crocheted accessories for the home and colorful layers for back to school.

For the younger set there’s some fancy knits (and apparently a layette pattern that’s not pictured).

The Vickie Howell pattern (pictured) is a cabled hat that can be worked as a skull cap or a more slouchy beanie. Looks like fun!

[Photo by Knit Simple.]

Looking for more Knitted Beanie patterns? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

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.

I guess I must have had this pattern on my mind, because I had chosen this log cabin blanket recipe to write about, promptly forgot about it and a couple of weeks later started knitting a log cabin blanket using all my pink yarn.

It might stay pink if it makes it to baby blanket sized, or I might add in some pastel green and blue, too, to make a bigger blanket. We’ll see. I’m also holding several strands of yarn together to make a kind of bulky yarn, which means it’s deeply satisfying how much yarn is used even as the project is still relatively small.

In Kristen Finlay’s version, DK weight yarn scraps (or fingering/sock yarn held double) are used to make a simple scrappy log cabin blanket that’s lighter weight than my version. Log cabin is a great technique for knitters of any skill level because it’s worked in garter stitch. The only not completely basic technique you need for log cabin knitting is picking up stitches.

If you’ve never worked a log cabin knitting project before, this is a good introduction, and it is really nice to use all your yarn scraps in one big project you’ll use for years to come.

If you use a lot of DK weight yarn you can keep building on it whenever you finish a project, or if you use more worsted weight you can do the same thing with it, it will just be a little bigger starting out than the pattern calls for. How big it gets is totally up to you.

I have really been enjoying working on my log cabin project, and it’s my current sitting at my desk and need a break knit (do you have one of those or is it just me?).

Ready to start your own log cabin blanket knitting project? You can grab the free pattern from Kristen Finlay on Ravelry.

Need more log cabin inspiration? Check out more log cabin knitting patterns.

[Photo: Kristen Finlay]

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