Combine Knit and Crochet with this Cute Checkers Set

I used to be a knitter exclusively, and it took me many, many years (and finally learning how to knit while holding the yarn in my left hand) before I could crochet at all. But once you get it, it’s not hard, and there are some things that are easier or faster to do in crochet when compared to knitting.

It’s also fun to be able to combine knitting and crochet in one project, like this cozy checkers set from Lion Brand Yarn. The game board and the drawstring bag to hold the checkers are knit, while the checkers themselves are crocheted. These flat circles are done in just three rounds, so even if you’re not super confident in your crochet skills you should be able to do it.

The game board is worked from the bottom up, starting with the border that is worked with a bit of fair isle/stranded knitting and intarsia to make the diamonds. The playing area is worked in a single color alternating squares of stockinette and reverse stockinette. Then the top border is knit, and you pick up stitches on each side to work the side borders. The colorwork is charted only.

The project calls for worsted weight yarn, specifically Vanna’s Choice, which is a great option because it’s acrylic so it’s machine washable, and it comes in a ton of colors.

The bag is worked with the same colors in stripes from the top down and features a crochet chain drawstring.

It sounds like a lot, and I’m a little dubious that this is skill level rated beginner +, but if you’ve worked stranded knitting and intarsia before and are comfortable working from charts, it’s not really that difficult. The hardest part might be picking up stitches evenly so that the side borders match the rest of the project.

Still, this looks like it would be a lot of fun to knit and to have available for picnics, beach time, or just playing with in the backyard or on the living room floor.

You can grab the free pattern (email registration required) from Lion Brand, or you can buy all the yarn and other supplies you’ll need while you are there.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

There’s a lot to like about the Eloise Bandana from Katryn Seeburger. This cute little colorwork triangle can be worked as a bandana or kerchief size or a bigger shawlette.

It’s worked in two colors of fingering weight yarn so you can use whatever yarn you have in your stash and just make it as big as you can (since it is worked from the bottom up).

You can see the two sizes from the photo, and also two colorwork options: strawberries and lily of the valley.

But that’s not all the choices you have. In fact, there are 34 different charts you can choose from to knit onto your project. Some of the options include happy faces, a lobster, a pumpkin, a snail and a butterfly. There are cherries, peaches, tomatoes and radishes.

There’s even a blank square you can use to draw your own little design if you want to use something else. Or keep it blank and make it a plain checkerboard design.

And while both of these shawls use the same icons throughout, you could also use different designs throughout if you want. Say a fall version with a bat, pumpkin, leaf and acorn, or a summer beach theme with sailboat, fish, lobster and a bird? I keep suggesting four different icons because the larger size has four rows of squares, but the smaller has three, so you could do stripes of the same icon or alternate a couple of different ones, whatever you like.

Look through the finished projects on the Ravelry project page to see lots of different options, from rows to individual icons. There are also some projects that are smaller than the suggested size to make a smaller bandana. You could also keep going a make a bigger shawl working increases in the same way as you have been going.

Check out all the details and grab a copy of the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Katryn Seeburger]

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