Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Getting the Holiday Knitting Started

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christmas knitting patternsThere’s always a new crop of holiday knitting patterns every year, and there are a lot out there to choose from if you’re looking for Christmas knitting decorations and gift ideas.

Berroco’s annual Minutia — tiny sweater patterns for the tree– has been released. I love the little polka dotted one!

Check out the gift ideas booklet from Yarnspirations for great knit and crochet projects for kids, men and women. The Nordic Duo, a pair of sweaters for a little girl and her favorite doll, is my favorite. They also have a Home for the Holidays collection that includes things like pillows, gift baskets, ornaments and stockings.

If you’re looking for quick-to-make handmade gifts (knit and crochet), check out the handmade holiday countdown videos from Lion Brand Yarn and Kristy Glass. The videos show a quick look at the project, which is then linked below.

This Holiday Cowl from Red Heart is super cute, easy to knit, and a great gift or something to make for yourself for holiday parties.

From years past, check out the Knit Picks Ugly Christmas Sweater collection, Santa knitting patterns, the Red Heart Make it Merry ebook and Christmas ball collection, a few more ornaments and some more Minutia.

Have you been knitting for the holidays? I’d love to know what you’re working on!

Looking for more Christmas themed Knitting patterns? Check out some of our favorite Knitting patterns on Etsy and

These Christmas Knitting Pattern Books on Amazon

 

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Comments

  2. My usual non-knitting gift recipients have requested NO MORE KNITS this year, as they’re all a bunch of meanies. Instead I’m going to give them all yarn and needles, and let them know if they don’t like their gifts, I know someone who will.

Have you read?

Knits with Sheep

It felt like it had been a while since I’d done a roundup of knitting patterns involving sheep, and if search is any indication, that is true. I found a roundup of patterns for knit sheep from a few years ago, but the only one with v I could find is from 2015. So it’s definitely time to revisit this fun genre of knitting patterns.

This all started with a headband. Alyssa Kaat’s Icelandic Sheep Headband (free on Ravelry) to be specific. Ravelry showed it to me as a pattern highlight and I couldn’t resist taking a closer look. It’s worked with two colors of worsted weight yarn and alternates sheep with stars around your head.

Another great sheepy headband is this one from Loch Fyne Crafts on Etsy. These sweet little sheep are worked in bulky yarn and you can make the background look like field and sky or work it in a solid color.

Or make a headband (or a hat, cowl, or all three) covered with a flock of sheep with this set of patterns from New Age Knitting CA. These pieces also use the field/sky coloring, but you can use whatever colors of worsted weight yarn you like.

Speaking of hats, there’s also the sheep hat from Lynann Knits Designs. The sample was worked in Icelandic wool to make the sheep and the hat extra fuzzy and warm, but any worsted weight yarn will work.

There’s also the Wandering Sheep hat from Kat Hudon (on Ravelry), which features a fun collection of speckled sheep that can be worked in different yarn weights to make different sizes of hats for kids and adults.

And lest you think sheep need to be knit in traditional stranded colorwork, check out the Rebel Sheep Mob blanket by Deborah Moore. This one is worked in mosaic knitting using fingering weight yarn. In mosaic knitting you’re only working with one color per row so it’s pretty easy. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

I can’t possibly share sheep knitting patterns without mentioning the amazing Black Sheep Shadow Shawl by Mark Jamieson. Shadow knitting is a technique I want to do more of, but it involves working two rows alternating in two different colors and the pattern emerges when you look at the design from an angle. It’s so cool and the sheep on this one are amazing! It’s not a beginner project but well worth the work. You can find it on Ravelry or at the designer’s website.