Get Ready for the Holidays with a Knit Table Runner

I’m still quite in denial about the fact that the fall and winter holidays are coming on quickly, but if you’re ready to get crafting for the big food events of the season, purl3agony has got you covered with her beautiful Lace and Cable Table Runner.

As if that description isn’t enough, it also includes panels of eyelets up the sides where you can weave a novelty yarn (or ribbon) through for a little bit of color and shine. I actually thought it was beaded when I first looked at it, because the yarn she chose has a bit of sparkle.

It’s probably a good idea to have some experience with cable knitting and beading before you tackle this one, because there are a variety of stitch patterns on each row so you’ll need to pay attention to what you’re doing. But the work would be well worth the effort for a lovely addition to your table at holiday meals, or even just to highlight your everyday table decor.

[Photo via purl3agony.]

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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