Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: DIY Holiday Magazine

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Win a copy of DIY Holiday magazine from Interweave/F+W.

Congratulations to Deanna, Maureen and Mary.

If you’re a multi-crafter who likes to give handmade and/or decorate your home with handmade things, you need to check out DIY Holiday 2014: The Crafting Life, a new crafty magazine from Interweave/F+W.

The magazine is 100 pages long and is chock-full of patterns and inspiration that you can quilt, sew, bead, knit, crochet and weave, as well as mixed media projects.

In the knitting realm you’ll find a cool woven heart ornament by Ann McDonald Kelly, Cathy Carron’s garter stitch mug cozies, a two-color snowflake cowl by Celeste Young and Andrea Babb’s unisex Walker Scarf, which features twisted rib and little trails of cables at the ends.

Other projects I like include a biased granny square crocheted pillow by Vickie Howell, the lovely, easy and ever-so useful quilted trivets by Debbie Bento and Susan Haynes Opdhal’s lovely embroidered Shisha Ornaments. The resin bangles by Heidi Boyd, which allow you to show off a little of your passion on your wrist, are simply amazing, too.

The magazine retails for $9.99 and is available online at the above link (paper or digital), but I’m giving you a chance to win one of three copies this week.

If you’d like one, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, November 23. I’d love to hear what kind of crafts you’re working on for the holidays, whether for yourself, your home or to give as a gift. I have three of the six cowls I need to make done, and I’m taking a break from them with some super simple all stockinette arm warmers that are just for me.

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

Comments

  1. Working on infinity scarfs, both sewing & crocheting! Making purses and quilting several pieces! I enjoy many different crafts!

  4. Right now I’m setting up my “new” craft room so that I can delve into projects I’ve been saving up to do in my new space!

  5. I am making lots and lots of Christmas gifts! Just finished placemats, working on mug rugs, a baby blanket, pot holders, doll clothes and a soft game board. Oh, and Christmas stockings!

  9. I love to knit and crochet and am gearing up for the frenzy of pre-holiday gift making. Thanks for the chance!

  11. i started a knitting group last month and everyone is working hard making gifts for the holiday.

  13. Completinga few more fabric scissors sheaths
    And finish the baby blanket this weekend. Then on to the baby dolls!

  14. I am currently working on a Christmas tree skirt for my son. It’s his second one since his ex-girlfriend walked off with the first one. I guess she liked it too!

  18. Hi! I make all my greeting cards, which keeps me busy. As well, this year, I am trying my hand at making penny rugs.

  21. I am trying to knit my husband a sweater for Christmas. This mag looks fabulous! Keeping my fingers crossed that I win a copy.

Have you read?

Knit a Classic Aran Cardigan with this Free Knitting Pattern

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time. 

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring. 

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. 

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row. 

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves. 

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body. 

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy. 

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn. 

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]