Download Yarnspirations Patterns to Help Charity

This summer, Yarnspirations is working to support Dress for Success, a charitable organization that provides women with support and professional clothing to help them achieve economic independence.

From now through July 23, 2023, if you download a selection of free patterns from the Yarnspirations website, they will donate to Dress for Success ($1 for every 20 patterns donated, up to $20,000 Canadian).

You can find the knitting patterns here (there’s a filter so you can choose to see just knitting patterns, just crochet patterns or both). In all there are 47 free knitting patterns that are eligible to count for this program, mostly for blankets and hats. There are also 75 crochet patterns, if you also do crochet or are ready to learn.

A few of my favorites from the free knitting patterns include:

Knit Foxy Toy: worked in one piece, this sweet little fox features a little cabled sweater that’s part of its body
On the Go Knit Shawl: uses a multicolored yarn and a mesh like stitch for a design that looks complicated but isn’t really that hard
Lumberjack Blanket: worked in mitered squares of different colors and patterns for a buffalo plaid look made easy
Turning Points Knit Blanket: I guess I’m attracted to mitered squares today, because this blanket with half squares of different colors is also made with mitered squares but has a totally different look

If you’re into crochet, I’m a little obsessed with waffle stitch right now, so you know I had to download the crochet Waffle Stitch Hat. It’s so cute, and can be worked in color blocks, stripes or a solid color.

I hope you’ll check these patterns out, download a bunch and come back and let us know which ones you’re itching to stitch! Thanks to Yarnspirations for supporting the community and spreading the word about Dress for Success.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

Even more than normal this year I’ve been trying to use yarn that I already have. I’m doing lots of odd ball projects, scrappy things and small projects, but it’s also nice sometimes to be able to use a whole skein, and just a single skein, on a project for yourself or for a gift.

The Sunburst Shawl by Jem Arrowsmith is a great option if you have a single skein of sock yarn (100 grams or 400-425 meters, which is around 437 to 465 yards) that you don’t want to make socks out of.

The design includes a section of stockinette with blocks of simple lace mesh offset to make a zig-zag design across the shawl that looks sort of like the rays on a drawing of the sun.

The lace is just yarn over, knit 2 together repeating, so this would be a great first lace knitting project if you haven’t tried that before. The designer also has a video tutorial on their website if you need more help with the technique.

You can use any sock yarn you have on hand, but this one is especially fun with the brightly colored, variegated, speckly and sparkly yarns that you might not otherwise know what to do with. The solid section lets the colors play uninterrupted, while the lace part adds a bit of texture and gives a different look to the yarn.

This asymmetrical triangle shawl measures about 73 inches or 185 cm in wingspan and is 18 inches/45.5 cm deep.

There are several completed projects on Ravelry already so you can see who the design looks in different colors and types of yarn, from self stripping to more solid and tonal options.

The pattern is available for free on Ravelry (note: on the designer’s website it says the pattern is free through Aug. 31, 2026, so I’m not sure if it will be free after that on Ravelry), and if you don’t happen to have the perfect skein of yarn to make this project, the designer also offers kits on their website that include the yarn, pattern and a stitch marker.

[Photo: Jem Arrowsmith]

Have you read?