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Get a Deal on a Pattern for a Gift with the Indie Designers Giftalong

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One of my favorite knitting related events of the year is the Indie Designers Giftalong on Ravelry. While it technically is a knitalong complete with prizes and crafty fun, I’m in it for the pattern sales.

Many independent designers have some of their patterns on sale for the giftalong, from now through Dec. 2 (use the code giftalong2019 for 25 percent off all patterns listed in the giftalong bundle).

Browsing through the offerings is a great way to learn about some designers whose work you might not have seen before and to get some good deals on knitting and crochet patterns to make as gifts or for yourself.

I haven’t been through the full list yet (I’ve only looked through about 10 of the 113 pages!) but I’m eyeing this classic Mary Jane Mucklestone Fair Isle Skirt, the Waipi’o Cardigan from Kristen TenDyke, the super-bulky lace shawl Ovate from Tori Gurbisz, Wondrlanding’s intriguing wrap skirt Citta, the Ease pullover from Alicia Plummer, Anna Dalvi’s striped and lacy Cheshire Cat Shawl, and the fun retro-inspired belted jacket Mod Podge by Adriana Hernandez-Bergstrom. That ought to keep me going for a while!

See anything you like? I can’t wait to hear about it.

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.

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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.