Free Pattern: Worsted Lace and Rib Top

I am not really a lacy kind of girl. I lack the patience for knitting complex lace patterns, and as the mom of a toddler they don’t really fit my lifestyle right now (not that they fit my style before I had a kid, either).

But I do like lace with something extra. Large-scale lace is a lot of fun, for instance, and makes a big impact. Lace combined with other patterns into something more structural is more interesting to me than lace is on its own.

That’s why I love the Venezia Worsted Lace and Rib Top designed by Fiona Ellis for Cascade Yarns (the link to download the PDF is on the linked page). This pretty project combines mistake rib and lace is a raglan top with ties that has a lot of structure and interest. The lace section almost looks like cables, which is fun, too.

The yarn, Venezia, is a pretty combo of wool and mulberry silk. I haven’t used it but it certainly looks lovely and makes a cute summer/spring/multiseasonal top that’s perfect to slip on over your favorite tank top and jeans or your cutest summer sun dress.

[Photo by Cascade Yarns.]

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.

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