Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Classic Elite Does It Again!

by

You Need This Book:
Classic Elite Knits, 100 Gorgeous Designs For Every Occasion.
But before I convince you how much you need this book, check out this link; you can actually see the projects in the book: http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/pattern_detail.php?patternID=65
And you can see who’s knitting them on Ravelry!

Ok, ready? Here’s my take on this book.
The cover is interesting in the fact that they have combined a warm orange with a cool purple/mauveish shade and totally made it work.

If you check out the link above, you’ll see sweaters, vests, scarves, mittens, bags, coats, t-shirts to fit every size human! Even the cutest little princess socks.
These projects are easy, these projects are design intensive, these projects are all consuming. One book, every type of knitter. Make the Bulky Ridge Cardigan quickly and easily. Or, go all super knitter and tackle lace, cables, short row shaping, embroidery, and colorwork. Classy or sassy, whatever you like, it’s in there!

This is what the publisher, Taunton, says: “This exciting collection features patterns by well-known names in the field, including Melissa Leapman, Annie Modesitt, Michele Rose Orne, and Kathy Zimmerman, along with the work of up-and-coming designers. So much variety.”

Knit these design in Classic Elite’s yummy assortment of yarns and you can’t go wrong. This book’s a keeper, sorry local library!

Obligatory snowflake pattern post:
Augh! I’ve exhausted the knitted snowflake patterns on the net. If anyone knows of any, please send them along. I’m interested in just knitted snowflakes, like the kind you’d block out, starch and then display.
Today I’m going to pour through my collections of patterns and magazine clippings for ideas, yes, I’ve been known to tear out a picture or pattern in a magazine.
Looking forward to all of your wonderful snowflake patterns…… (HINT!)

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.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

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.