Get Sporti with this Gender-Neutral Knit Collection

Knit fabric made with ribbing is magical. It’s super stretchy, of course, and while it can be clingy it does so in a way that’s super comfortable.

Ribbed projects automatically look kind of sporty, and that’s the idea behind the Sporti collection by Jacqueline Cieslak.

This pattern in two parts is actually three different pieces. There’s a sweater that can be knit to full length or cropped to a shrug (or really any length in between) and a coordinating tank top that can be worn with the shrug or sweater or on its own.

Both projects call for fingering weight yarn, which makes them lightweight and easy to wear and layer with.

The patterns are size inclusive and include gender-neutral sizing, so you can choose the fit you like without being labeled as men’s or women’s sizing.

The sweater/shrug has nine sizes to fit an upper chest circumference of 30 to 62 inches (75 to 155 cm) and has options for wide and narrow shoulders. There are lots of tips in the pattern for getting a good fit and what to do if you are between sizes. There are also instructions for optional bust darts if you need them.

The tank top has the same size options and optional bust darts. Both projects are worked from the top down so you can try them on as you go for a custom fit. Because they are ribbed you will want to choose a size with at least some negative ease to get a good fit.

I love patterns like this that offer lots of options because you can knit them over and over in different ways, and make them match or not. The patterns are both available on Ravelry (sweater|tank) and if you buy them at the same time you can get 50 percent off the tank top pattern price.

[Photo: Jacqueline Cieslak]

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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