Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: 3 Leisure Arts Pattern Stitch Booklets

by

Congratulations to Teresa!

I’m a sucker for a good pattern stitch dictionary, and I’ve got way more of them on my shelves than you’d expect for a person who sticks to basic stitch patterns most of the time.

But these books can be a lot of fun for inspiration, and this week I’ve got three little booklets by Rita Weiss from Leisure Arts and the Creative Partners, LLC, that are sure to inspire some swatching and fun knitting projects.

One winner will receive a copy of each of these three books:

Each book offers big pictures and written instructions for each stitch pattern. Each pattern takes up a full page (or more, with some) so you get a good look at how the stitch pattern looks over several repeats.

These would be great as blocks for a throw or to make a full afghan, or incorporate them into other projects.

If you’d like a chance to win these, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, September 28. I’d love to hear how you incorporate different stitch patterns into your knitting projects, or if you’re a stitch pattern book hoarder like I am!

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

Comments

  1. I look at stitch pattern books as a subset of cookbooks. Reading them makes me happy, integrating new ‘recipes’ into scarves, afghans make me happier.

  2. I like stitch dictionaries for both reasons: to make my library more complete and best of all, I love finding new patterns to incorporate into my favorite projects – cowls!

  3. I don’t currently incorporate many stitch patterns into my knitting but I do hope to branch out into doing that. I think I would start with something simple like dish cloths and work up from there. I do love to collect knitting books and pour over them dreaming of the possibilities.

  5. I’m a stitch book hoarder. I print out stitch instructions off the internet and make my own stitch book collaborations.

  6. I’m a stitch book hoarder.I find stitch patterns off the internet, print them out, and make my own print book collaborations.

  8. I love stitch dictionaries. It boggles my mind how people find so many ways to play with sticks and strings. I love the challenge of seeing wonders unimagined emerge from my needles.

  9. I’m a beginner knitter, and I’m working my way through a stitch dictionary, making 6″ swatches of each stitch. It’s a lot less daunting than learning a new stitch as part of a whole pattern. With reasonable effort you can always get a small swatch right and you’re not messing up a big project while you learn. In addition to learning a lot of stitches with low stress, I get the thrill of a completed project every few days. Really great for motivation and growth as a knitter.

  12. So far, I’m still a by-the-pattern gal, but I love stitch books because they help me figure out difficult amateurish patterns!

  13. I love stitchionaries. Sometimes I just page thru them, dreaming of what I might make. Sometimes I knit sample swatches of various stitch patterns, particularly when I’m asking a yarn what it wants to be. And sometimes I actually incorporate those stitch patterns into FOs.

  14. I’m still really a beginner knitter but I’m already obsessed with new stitches and wanting to learn them, I’m making a sampler afghan this would be awesome to have since I’m not using a specific pattern just any stitches I like to make the right size squares. So the more options the better (I plan on making a huge afghan, more like a comforter really).

  15. I don’t have many stitch books so these would be awesome to add to my collection. I’ve started doing more designing and sometimes I have a general idea in my head but just want to add a different touch – which is where stitch dictionaries help tremendously

  16. When I first started knitting my sister told me to find my favorite pattern in a scarf, hat, sweater and mittens. Then collect pattern stitch books to change up all your old favorites for new and exciting knits! I love pattern stitch books and now I also have a favorite crescent shawl pattern and a triangle shawl pattern that I am able to incorporate and dress up these accessories, too! What a great give away! My books are very old and I would love to see the more modern stitch patterns and give them a try! Thank you!

  17. I am an aspiring knitter. My mother sat me down twice when I was young and said “I know you don’t want to learn to knit now, but someday you might be glad you learned how”. That time came when my daughter wanted me to make scarves for her out of fun fur (which is great for covering up imperfections). I would love to win these books to have incentive to try more stitches. It would please my mother, who is now 88 to know that I am still trying! Thank you for the chance to win!

  18. When you find a pattern that you like, as in the case that I did for a particular sweater, and wanted to re-make it, but switch it up a bit by using a different stitch, books such as these are a Godsend!! I’d also like to design my own sweater in the near future, and I’m sure that I’ll be able to find something out of one of these books!! I’ve also started to hoard different knitting and crochet books, because there are so many stitches that I’m unfamiliar with since I’ve started doing my needlecrafts 30 + years ago. Thank you for such a generous giveaway!!

  19. My Mum would love these. She is always trying new patterns and makes little blankets for my daughters’ dolls to try out new stitches!

  21. I love stitch dictionaries, whatever niche they cater to – cables, lace, textured, colorwork – whatever. In fact, I Just bout on on Fair Isle stitches at the thrift shop this morning! Most of what I knit is “my own design”, which is to say that I’ve taken a cable from this book, the saddle shoulder and shawl collar from that sweater, some colorwork from these magazines, and a bit of lace from the internet and turned them into something totally original. Sort of.

  22. crochet is great, so is knitting!! I have no patterns for knitting, and
    would love to start over again as it has changed a lot since I tried
    some years ago

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.