Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Checking out the New Knitscene

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knitscene fall 2012Remember yesterday I told you about the Craft Magazines site at Zinio and the fact that Interweave publications were on sale? In the interest of testing out the service I snagged a copy of the fresh-to-the-newsstand fall issue of Knitscene for $2.99 and gave it a flip through.

One thing I will say for digital issues of magazines is that I felt like I spent less time looking at the digital edition than I would have if I’d had a paper copy in front of me. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I think I consider the patterns for a bit longer (and probably actually flip through the instructions, where here I could just skip them) when I’m looking at them on paper and it’s not so easy just to click through.

But I still found this issue enjoyable and I think you will, too, whether you read it online or on paper. The featured designer this time around is Rosemary (Romi) Hill, who is profiled by knitter pal Rachael Herron. Romi offers a cardigan, shawl, beret and cowl, all with motifs inspired by doilies.

In addition you’ll find a feature on installing zippers and three patterns that use them, a section of knits you’ll love forever (lots of sweaters and accessories for the changing seasons) and “ethereal knits” including a bulky sweater with an eyelet-patterned owl, a long and lean petticoat with ruffles at the bottom and a shawl with a wolf’s head worked on the back, among other treats. The issue ends with a closer look at the trend of animal motifs in knitting.

My absolute favorite pattern from the magazine just happens to be the one on the cover: the Agnes Pullover by Ruth Garcia-Alcanthol. It’s a scoopneck sweater worked in honeycomb stitch on the body with stockinette arms, and it looks like just the thing to take you into fall in style.

Have you seen the new Knitscene? I’d love to hear what patterns stand out to you.

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

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.

[Photo by Knitscene.]

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Knits with Sheep

It felt like it had been a while since I’d done a roundup of knitting patterns involving sheep, and if search is any indication, that is true. I found a roundup of patterns for knit sheep from a few years ago, but the only one with v I could find is from 2015. So it’s definitely time to revisit this fun genre of knitting patterns.

This all started with a headband. Alyssa Kaat’s Icelandic Sheep Headband (free on Ravelry) to be specific. Ravelry showed it to me as a pattern highlight and I couldn’t resist taking a closer look. It’s worked with two colors of worsted weight yarn and alternates sheep with stars around your head.

Another great sheepy headband is this one from Loch Fyne Crafts on Etsy. These sweet little sheep are worked in bulky yarn and you can make the background look like field and sky or work it in a solid color.

Or make a headband (or a hat, cowl, or all three) covered with a flock of sheep with this set of patterns from New Age Knitting CA. These pieces also use the field/sky coloring, but you can use whatever colors of worsted weight yarn you like.

Speaking of hats, there’s also the sheep hat from Lynann Knits Designs. The sample was worked in Icelandic wool to make the sheep and the hat extra fuzzy and warm, but any worsted weight yarn will work.

There’s also the Wandering Sheep hat from Kat Hudon (on Ravelry), which features a fun collection of speckled sheep that can be worked in different yarn weights to make different sizes of hats for kids and adults.

And lest you think sheep need to be knit in traditional stranded colorwork, check out the Rebel Sheep Mob blanket by Deborah Moore. This one is worked in mosaic knitting using fingering weight yarn. In mosaic knitting you’re only working with one color per row so it’s pretty easy. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

I can’t possibly share sheep knitting patterns without mentioning the amazing Black Sheep Shadow Shawl by Mark Jamieson. Shadow knitting is a technique I want to do more of, but it involves working two rows alternating in two different colors and the pattern emerges when you look at the design from an angle. It’s so cool and the sheep on this one are amazing! It’s not a beginner project but well worth the work. You can find it on Ravelry or at the designer’s website.