Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Double Knitting Patterns

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One of the skills I want to use more this year is double knitting. This is a technique that uses slipped stitches in a particular way to make a double-sided fabric.

You can use it with a single color, or with a different solid color on each side, like in this knit bandana from Ozetta on Etsy, which uses two colors of fingering weight yarn to make a pretty little reversible accessory.

But most commonly this technique is used for colorwork, because the cool thing about it is the colors reverse when you knit with two colors on each side. That makes for really fun projects that are reversible in a different way.

A lot of double knitting projects are for scarves, and that’s a great place to start because it gives you lots of practice (and lots of ground for detailed designs, as we’ll see).

If you’re totally new to double knitting, a project like the Dottie Scarf would be a great option for you. It has just a little bit of colorwork so you can focus on your technique, and it makes a super cozy scarf as it’s worked in worsted weight yarn. You can get the pattern from Originally Lovely on Etsy.

You can also try knitting a bit of double knitting as the base of a reversible hat. Carissa Browning’s Niefling hat has a double knit brim that transitions into reversible two-color brioche. This is another good way to practice because it’s just a solid color on each side of the double knitting. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

Ready for more of a challenge? J Hummingbird Designs on Etsy has this lovely dahlia scarf, which really shows off the difference when the colors are reversed.

But of course you don’t have to use the same pattern all over your project. Hearts and bears decorate this lovely baby blanket from Loani Prior. I love the rainbow stripe on one side and the solid color on the other, but you can use two contrasting colors instead if you know the colors of the baby’s room.

Go on a journey with a cat with the Catventure Scarf from Lisa Hannan Fox on Ravelry. This two-color design follows kitty as they go from the house, claw on a tree, play around and finally come home in the evening.

And I’m pretty sure I’ve shared this one before, but no talk of double knitting projects would be complete without sharing the Star Wars Double Knit Scarf from Jessica Goddard. This one is on Ravelry and it pretty much speaks for itself. It’s also free, so grab it when you’re up for a galactic challenge.

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Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.