Get a Jump on Halloween Crafting with a Free eBook from Red Heart

My daughter usually knows just what she wants to be for Halloween months in advance, but this year she’s given me no warning (I have an Elsa costume in reserve, just in case).

But if you’re already making plans for Halloween costumes and decor, you need to check out Red Heart’s Trick or Treat pattern ebook. This collection has 16 projects — both knit and crochet — for little trick or treaters.

Crochet a “snow princess” dress or a knight costume, or knit a “flower princess” dress and cape or a hat fit for a mummy.

There’s also a wee witch hat and dress for the baby who still wants a little Halloween fun.

Treat bags shown in crochet would also be pretty easy to adapt for knitting, so check it out if you’d like to craft something for your little monster this year.

Looking for more Halloween Knitting patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

[Photo via Red Heart.]

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.

Have you read?