Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway – Boutique Knits by Laura Irwin

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boutiqueWhat’s funky, trendsetting, head turning, styling and just flat-out fun? Boutique Knits, 20 Must Have Accessories by Laura Irwin from Interweave Press.

You can get it from Interweave, here: http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Books/Boutique-Knits.html

Or, leave me a comment telling me about your knitting blog (or your favorite blog if you don’t have your own) and maybe win this book free! As usual, I’ll try to get my puppy to wake up long enough to pick the winner!

Boutique Knits includes:

  • Patterns that cover a variety of knitting techniques in varying degrees, including felting, intarsia, Fair Isle, lacework, and cables
  • Advice on incorporating non-knitting tools and techniques to transform your knitting to achieve that one-of-a-kind boutique feel: pliers, hammers, a sewing machine, use of millinery techniques, and handsewing techniques.
  • Unique adornment inspiration, such as buckles and bolts borrowed from leatherwork close an intricately cabled belt, a chain handle finishes a felted bag with circle pockets, leather lacing dresses up a knitted bag, and grommets finish a half-felted handbag.
  • Inspiration from vintage lace, beads, ribbon, and fabric-covered buttons!
  • Knitting and felting techniques to create effects like ruffles, shibori-style pleats, and clever shaping.
  • And more!

This collection of modern, stylish patterns will inspire beginning and intermediate knitters with its uncommon techniques and materials. Transform your knitting with Boutique Knits!

Comments

  1. Well, my blog is not devoted to knitting but I do talk about knitting with pictures of projects and how it helped me get through some tough times.

  2. I started a blog with the express intent of it being a knitting blog. But, then I had a baby, and with how long knitting takes, I just haven’t had a lot of time to accomplish much. I’ve done some amigurumi and other crafts, though, so there’s usually something to see. Now that baby is 6 months old, I’m getting back to my knitting and purling, and loving every minute of it! So, I’d definitely love this book!

  4. I started keeping track of my projects, thoughts, feelings, random knitting observations and yarn dislikes and likes at my blog. http://gnomenapper.livejournal.com/
    I’m actually hoping to transfer all the knitting related posts to a knit specific blog one day.
    I heard great things about Boutique Knits, a friend just made the cover hat and it’s gorgeous 🙂

  6. I don’t have a blog but I started reading the yarn harlot’s blog… Then expanded to others, like yours. I like your blog because you post every day (almost) and share fun sites for freebies.

  8. Hi!! My name is Dawn and my blog is dsknits2.blogspot.com. I love to knit, just wish I could finish more things (I’m s l o w!).
    I checked this book out from the library and would love a chance to win a copy. I also love your blog, it’s one of the ones I always keep up with in Google Reader. Thanks Bunches! 🙂

  10. i don’t have a knitting blog, but i do enjoy the yarn harlot’s site, and franklin habit’s panopticon blog.

  11. I have a semi-new blog. I don’t think I have blogged about knitting yet. I have so many WIPs that i really should tell on myself in blog form 😉

  13. I love LOVE the Spud and Chloe blog (spudandchole.com). There are always fun (and very bright) patterns. The Photography is particularly impressive. This is so as many Knit-centric blogs, books and magazines fall a bit short on this (NOT all, mind you!!!!), which is O.K. for us knitters out here as we can usually see the potential in the technique or general idea and don’t need our hands held too tightly. But on the other hand, it is nice to see a blog that even a non-knitter can appreciate the beauty of!

  14. I don’t have a blog – but I enjoy Vickie Howell’s Blog – always something new and fresh! Thanks, Kim

  16. I don’t have a blog and I really haven’t checked out many online yet. I do love to knit though having some patterns from before computer to keep me busy. Maybe some of you can give me some good web sites or blogs to check out….thanks

  17. i have a knitting and craft blog – http://sadiekate08.blogspot.com – that i’m trying to get really started! i like to post giveaways (got one going on right now!) and patterns and things i’ve made or want to make. sometimes i just rant about knitting! i think it is a lot of fun to have my blog 🙂

    thanks!

  18. I have a knitting blog and publish patterns. I also like to share recipes although lately it seems all about hats hats hats!

  19. I don’t have a blog. I like Lion Brand’s blog. They have KAL/CAL’s. I learn interesting things, tips and new skills.

  25. My blog began as a tribute to my obsession to knitting, then it turn to my venting of working in a hgh school library and now it is a tribute to my puppy girl Zadie.

  29. Well, my blog is not about knitting but little bit of knitting is included in my creations. But I definitely enjoy sixandahalfstitches.typepad.com blog full of knitting, sewing, pictures, and interesting writing.

  30. I’d love to win this book – I knit and have a blog. It started off as a knitting blog but has developed into more of a fibre and craft blog. It’s a slippery slope from knitting to spinning to weaving…. and a bit of drawing and art thrown in.

  32. Well I am just brnad new to knitting…. I made my first dish cloth this past weekend!So my blog mainly talks about scrapbooking my other addiction. How wonderful I am going to have to check out some of these sites! And the book looks fabulous 🙂

  34. My blog isn’t solely for knitting, though right now I am learning to do 2 socks toe up at once on one circular needle (not as hard as I thought it would be). My blog should be linked in my name 🙂

    The book looks awesome!

  35. I just discovered the Green Apples knitting blog and I’m really enjoying it. I’d love to win this book. 🙂

  37. Hi there 🙂
    I don’t have a blog – but I LOVE yours.
    I have just been introduced to the world of blogs – wow is yours good
    I would enjoy winning your book
    Cheers
    Catie

  38. I don’t have my own blog but I love the “Kantsteek en Co” blog. It’s a Dutch blog all about knitting and felting and there are many inspiring projects.
    I’ve been knitting for years thanks to my grandmother who taught and inspired me. Love to win this book!

  39. My blog is in need of updating! I did have fun setting it up, though, and hope to get back to it some day.

    I love the Boutique Knits book and hope your drawing has not taken place yet…and that if it has not, I win the drawing!

    Happy knitting!

  41. I have a crafting blog, with half the content about knitting and the other half other crafts, like sewing. However, my poor blog is rather neglected at the moment. I hope to get it updated it soon, though!

  42. I don’t have a blog, but I loooooove interweave press. I am a crocheter and whenever I get a copy of interwaeve crochet I find a lot of things I have to make. I made a gorgeous felted bag from an interweave press magazine and I have lots of other projects waiting in the wings!

  43. I will be knitting most of my gifts this year. I’m stuck lying around with my legs up because of a bad case of vasculitis.
    KNITTING has been my LIFESAVER. I can’t sit at my sewing machine but I can KNIT to my heart’s content.
    It is now the main outlet for my creative drive. I hope to win the book so I can make the projects as gifts for family and friends.

    I started my blog so I could keep track of which books I read so I wouldn’t buy duplicates.

    I’ve expanded to showcasing my latest creations and pictures of my pets.

    I knit my son a hat with beard attached for Christmas. I can’t post the photo to my blog because it would ruin the surprise.

  44. I don’t have a blog, but I love to read them. I love craft gossip the best. It has so many different crafts to inspire. I borrowed this book from my local library and am knitting the one on the front cover. I would love to own it though. My kids live in Russia and I could keep them in warm hats for sure! Smiles, Janet

  46. I really can’t give any one blog that could possibly be my favorite… sheesh that would be like asking what is my favorite dessert!! I love to knit and quilt and do all sorts of crafts… I am always inspired by so many creative people on the internet. Thanks for the chance to win this book.

  48. I love the hat. It is a real Flapper variety. My Gds would love to make something like this.
    As I don’t have a blog regarding knitting I will include this one. It covers lots of knitting/spinning/dyeing as well as other wonderful crafts http://calidore.wordpress.com/

    I’ll be back to check more of your blog.
    Maureen

  49. I keep a blog that is supposed to be about mostly knitting, but I forget to update it! (It’s the website link…) I’m trying to do better with it.

    Yarn Harlot is most definetly my favorite.

  50. I’m a total Yarn Harlot junkie. Also I check the Yarn Boy Yarn Blog every now and then. He doesn’t post often but I love his stories, and knitting projects and patterns.

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.