Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Giveaway: A Year’s Worth of Projects from Debbie Bliss

by

knitter's year giveaway

Lennette is the winner.

I’m not quite ready to admit that a new year is almost upon us, but my brain has already started making plans for the clean slate that is 2016.

Of course, those plans include a lot of crafting, and a lot of knitting.

If you’d like to knit more in the next year, this week’s giveaway is for you. The Knitter’s Year by Debbie Bliss is full of 52 projects you can make in a week or so, to fill your year with gifts, seasonal knits and charity projects.

The book includes bags, pillows, socks, hats, gloves and scarves, as well as holiday decor like Christmas stockings, napkin rings and tree decorations. There’s a pumpkin pincushion for fall and flowerpot cozies for spring.

There’s a lot of fun stuff that would make sweet gifts for friends and new babies,a s well as things you’ll want to knit for yourself (always a good resolution). Check out all the projects on Ravelry.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, December 27. I’d love to know if you have any knitting-related resolutions for the coming year.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing and good luck!

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. I would love to win this it is always nice to have fresh ideas and if I do win I promise to try to get hold of JoAnne Micon and share with her. Sounds like she needs some fresh ideas and a new friend to share them with.

  3. I plan to use sock yarn I bought several years ago and finally make some more socks for my daughter and myself.

  6. I like doing quick project (I think I have a short attention span!) so would love to try a new project each week. I really enjoy learning to do new things- creative variety keeps me motivated.

  7. It’s very reassuring to see so many other people resolving to use up their stash. Problem is that, usually, new projects need more than I have in my stash but this books seems to have smaller projects too. Win win!!!

  9. This year’s resolution is the same as the last so many years-make a dent in my WIPs. Oh but the temptation to start something new is difficult to overcome.

  11. I am a beginner who can’t seem to figure out how to pick up dropped stitches, so that would be my goal for next year.

  12. What a great prize! Thanks for giving me a chance to win!
    I’m hoping to keep growing with my knitting and continuing to create new patterns and try new concepts.

  15. This would be perfect for my niece, Ashley, who’s just started knitting . Thanks the chance to win.

  17. I’d love to win this, even though I have several sweaters I plan to knit, plus some other projects. Seems I want to make everything!

  18. I have really been having fun with a project always in process. I want to learn continental next –oh and how to fix problems without pulling out rows.

  19. My resolution is to continue to use up my stash. This book might give me some further ideas to do so. Thank you for the giveaway.

  22. I used to knit, and have a gorgeous stash of yarn. Then I had twins! But they are getting old enough, and in school long enough now that hopefully I can start back up.

  23. I want to continue to challenge myself with learning new techniques and just knit, knit, knit! And visit my local yarn store more often.

  24. Would love to win this book, I think it could help use odd balls of yarn which should be next years goal.

  25. My annual resolution is to reduce my stash. I continue to knit and I haven’t purchased “that” much yarn, yet my stash continues to grow. That being said, books aren’t stash, and books help with knitting inspiration.

  27. This year I plan to make myself a sweater – something I’ve never done. I tend to love small projects, so my goal is to have a large project. Thanks for the chance to win!

  28. I have no ambitious knitting projects for the coming year but, when I retire, I plan to knit a Dr. Who scarf.

  29. I do have a resolution I’d like to get more finished, now most of my projects are large so I want to break it down to get X% done each month that sort of thing. Some things to just get done by summer Ect. Not fully thought out but it’s a start!

  30. Ooh, a knitting New Year’s resolution! I would say I would resolve to make more time to knit for others; I knit way too much for just myself.

  31. New Year’s knitting resolution – knit from stash…. oh wait that was last year’s resolution and the year before and the year before! Maybe this year I’ll do better.

  35. I no longer make any kind of resolutions – it would just be adding to the list of ways I can disappoint myself. Besides, I have lots of leftover resolutions. For instance I still haven’t knit a litle cushion for my pet rock. He’s getting old now, he’d like that.

  37. I’m planning on starting and finishing a sweater but also learning to spin. I’ve drop spindled but now have a wheel to try. I’m ready for the new year!

  39. I have several unfinished projects that I’d like to complete this year. (That doesn’t mean that I can’t start some new ones, also!)

  41. This year I’m going to read Principles of Knitting cover to cover instead of just the part I need to get past the speedbump in whatever project I have in my hands.
    I’m going to finish loading my stash on Rav so I know what I have to work with (and what I NEED to buy of course!)
    Either frog or finish FO’s. Really. I mean it this time.
    Keep up learning new techniques on a hat with stash yarn and then gifting stack of hats when snow falls to local shelters.
    Buy more yarn. 🙂

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.