Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Getting a Start on Finishing

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prima shawlI don’t know if it’s spring or just beginning of the month frustration, but I’m just about sick of all the partially finished knitting projects sitting around my house. So I’ve decided that for the month of April, as much as possible, I am going to focus my time on finishing projects I’ve already started rather than casting on new ones.

I am a great starter and I often get really close to finishing without actually doing so. I have a knit dress that has almost all of its crocheted edgings done, for example, and has been in that state for more than a year! There’s a sock I started earlier this year that’s the mate of one I knit a couple of years ago. There’s that lace scarf I told you about that needs to be blocked, and a cowl that just needs its ends woven in.

Oh, and that pretty bit of knitting up there? It’s the shrug that’s part of a free class at CreativeBug I told you about recently. I’m not actually watching the class, and I’m using a different yarn, but isn’t that colorway just perfect for spring?

Please tell me I’m not alone in needing to focus on finishing. Better yet, tell me you’ll join me in working on finishing projects this month. Tell me what you need to finish and why it hasn’t gotten done yet, and we can keep each other accountable.

Through the month I’ll be sharing my finished objects and tips on getting things out of the UFO pile and onto your body, or wherever they need to go when they’re done.

I hope you’ll join me! All you have to do to start is leave a comment, and we’ll finish the rest together.

Comments

  1. You are SO not alone. Been trying to do the same thing since the first of the year. I HAVE managed to finish a few things but the pileof unfinished projects seems to be getting taller.

  2. You are SO not alone. Been trying to do the same thing since the first of the year. I HAVE managed to finish a few things but the pile of unfinished projects seems to be getting taller.

  3. LoL! I was just thinking that myself a couple of nights ago. I started projects for National Crochet Month, and suddenly the month is over, and I still haven’t finished! Well, I did finish one afghan/throw, so it wasn’t all bad. But there’s those supposedly quick projects that are almost done – the linen stitch cowl and the Reds Waves Cowl.

Have you read?

Pencil Knitting Patterns

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.