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Gift-Knitting Idea: Ava Mitts from Classic Elite

November 13, 2013 by Sarah White

ava mitts classic eliteI guess it’s past time to start thinking about holiday knitting, so I thought I would share some really good, easy ideas that you can knit for gifts or for yourself this holiday season.

I love the Ava Mitts designed by Susan Mills for Classic Elite Yarns. It’s a really straightforward pattern with a little bit of ribbing at the top and bottom and a gusseted thumb. But other than that its straight stockinette stitch, making these the perfect mitts to work in stripes on (hello, stash busting) or to put some embroidery or duplicate stitch on when you’re finished.

The yarn called for in the pattern is mostly wool with a little bit of shiny stuff worked in, so even if you leave them “plain” they’ll be a beautiful, warm project for anyone on your list.

Are you thinking holiday knitting? I’d love to hear what you’re working on.

[Photo via Classic Elite Yarns.]

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Knit a Great Button Down Shirt

Just about anything you can make in fabric you can make in knitting, but there are some styles that you just don’t see that often translated into knitting. 

For example, a button down collared shirt. This is a classic design, of course, and it looks great in a knit version, but it’s just not something you see much of. 

Noma Ndlovu’s Guglethu shirt is the pattern to try if you want to knit your own button down shirt. This one is inspired by cashmere tops (though the sample was made out of yak yarn, not cashmere, and uses two strands of lace weight yarn held together) and includes lots of high-fashion details like double-knit cuffs, collar and shoulder seams. 

It has a patch pocket on the front and 10 buttons including the button band and the cuffs. 

The designer says you can also use a DK weight yarn held singly if you’d rather, and that the shirt looks good in a variety of yarns. There is another version on Ravelry that uses Berroco Remix Light, which is a mix of nylon, cotton, acrylic, silk and cellulose fibers. It has a more relaxed look but it still really pretty. 

The pattern has 12 sizes, with a full bust measurement ranging from 32.35 to 72.25 inches, or 82 to 183.5 cm. The designer suggests 2 to 6 inches, or 5 to 15 cm, of positive ease when you pick your size. I could totally see knitting one that’s even bigger to wear more like a jacket, because I do that a lot with button down shirts I already own.

I love all the details on this shirt, which isn’t necessarily difficult to knit, but might introduce you to some things you’ve never knit before (like those cuffs with the plackets, or a shirt collar like this). 

To learn more about this shirt and grab a copy of the pattern for yourself, head to Ravelry. 

[Photo: Noma Ndlovu]

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