Get Cozy with the Granny Cardigan

I’m sure you’ve heard of a grandpa cardigan, which I imagine as a kind of shapeless, probably oversized, V-neck, button up cardigan you might find on an old man or Mister Rogers. There’s nothing wrong with that style, but where are the grandmothers in all that? Don’t you think they’d have better sweaters?

Enter the Granny Cardigan from Joji Locatelli. This cabled cardigan retains some of the boxy shape of the grandpa version, as well as the V neck and buttons, but on the whole it’s a more refined version, like a hug from your granny.

The design is worked from the top down and involves minimal finishing since the sleeves are picked up from the shoulders and worked in the round from the top down and the button bands is knit in one piece all the way around the body.

There are 10 size options with a chest measurement ranging from 38.5 inches (that’s 96 cm) to 69.25 inches (or 173 cm). It’s meant to be worn with 5-10 inches (13-25 cm) of positive ease, but she worked in a little less ease on the smaller sizes so little frames won’t feel like they are totally swallowed up in the sweater. Unless you want to be, in which case choose the amount of ease that you prefer.

The pattern calls for a DK or light worsted wool, so make sure you check your gauge before getting started.

You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

Looking for more fun cable knitting projects? Check out this collection of cable knitting patterns to help boost your skills and confidence with cable knitting. And if you’re looking for more great cozy cardigan knitting patterns, I’ve got you covered with these easy cardigan knitting patterns. Or maybe grab another one of Joji’s patterns, perhaps for some fun cabled socks to go with your cabled sweater?

[Photo: Joji Locatelli]

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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