Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Get Organized for the New Year with These Resource Packs

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Every year I decide is the year I’m going to get my knitting stuff more organized. And every year I make a little bit of progress. I’ve decluttered my yarn pretty well over the years, and this year I finally organized my yarn storage by color, which is something I’ve wanted to do since I changed offices in the house (probably five years ago?).

If you need a little help getting your knitting life on track for the new year, I’ve got a couple of good resources for you from The Blue Elephants on Etsy.

First up is the Make it Happen Resource Pack, which is for knitters who need cheat sheets. This guide is for both knitters and crocheters, or those of us who do some of both. It includes:

  • Crochet hook sizes conversion chart with a place to check off what’s in your inventory
  • Common crochet abbreviations and a conversion chart for US and UK terms
  • Knitting needle size conversion chart with space for your inventory of different kinds of needles
  • Knitting abbreviations and symbols
  • Yarn weight guide
  • Laundry care symbols
  • Hat sizing guide
  • Blanket sizing guide
  • Sizing for other projects (scarves, shawls, household items, but not garments as far as I can tell)
  • Additional resources and favorite tools

In all its 23 pages you can print or edit on your computer.

There’s also a pack for people who knit things to sell and knitwear designers. It includes:

  • Project trackers
  • Yarn stash inventory
  • Project ideas list
  • Brand identity plan
  • Product line planner
  • Custom order tracker
  • Handmade pricing guide
  • Monthly income and expenses report
  • Pattern templates
  • Resources for makers
  • Printable tags to use on products

They’re really meant to be used together (there’s also an undated planner you can buy to go with them) but if you aren’t a designer or someone who sells, the first one would be good to have just for the cheat sheets.

If you have organizational or other knitting-related goals for the new year I would love to hear them!

Have you read?

Adorable Ghost Knitting Patterns

Adding a bit of knitting to your fall decor is a lot of fun, whether it’s knit pumpkins or a bunch of adorable knit ghosts like these.

Knit ghosts can be super simple like this free ghost knitting pattern from Trixie Zynch on Ravelry. Using about 50 yards of worsted weight yarn, they’re worked from the bottom up and are super cute as a pair. 

This fuzzy little ghost from Forest Knitting Toys is holding a pumpkin and wearing a witch hat, though of course the accessories are optional, as is the fuzzy yarn. The main yarn is chunky and the ghost measures about 10 cm/4 inches tall. It’s worked in the round. 

Another fuzzy ghost in more of a Pacman style is this ghost plushie form South Stitch Girls. It’s worked in the round with bulky yarn and includes a sweet little bow you can make in whatever color you like. 

The ghost doll from Edith Grace Designs has little arms and a curl at the top of its head. The body is worked flat using DK weight yarn and you could also work it in glow in the dark yarn for extra fun. The body and head are worked in one piece with the arms knit separately. 

The Grim Grinning Ghosts from Susan Claudino are super cute and you can knit them in any yarn and gauge you like to make ghosts of different sizes. These are worked in the round with the body done in one piece and the arms are knit separately. The ghosts shown were knit in sock yarn, DK and worsted weight yarn. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Make a ghost with funny striped legs with this ghost shelf sitter design from Claire Fairall Designs. It’s worked in three colors of DK weight yarn, and the letters spelling out boo are made with strips of garter stitch sewn into shape.