Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: Knitting on Top of the World

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Win a paperback copy of Nicky Epstein's Knitting on top of the world.

Congratulations to winner Debby!

Nicky Epstein’s Knitting on Top of the World is a really fun book, chock full of 50 designs inspired by knitwear and other traditions from around the world.

For example (opening to some pages randomly) an entrelac wrap inspired by strolls in Paris, a Fair Isle and diamond brocade cardigan, a super fancy Aran sweater (that’s it there on the newly designed cover for the paperback edition), a capelet that looks like giant versions of tams sewn together, a flower-covered pullover inspired by Spain, and a lace scarf fir for a Shanghai garden.

I started knitting the dragon from this book a long time ago. Never finished it, but maybe I will now that I’m thinking about it again.

This week I have a copy of the paperback version of this book to give away. One winner will be chosen at random from the people who leave comments on the post before the end of the day Sunday, October 19.

Why don’t you tell me where your dream vacation would take you? I would love to go to the Mediterranean!

Thanks for visiting, sharing and commenting and good luck!

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

Comments

  2. I want to go to the U.K. I want to see the broad northlands, Dartmoor ponies, Exmoor, the ancient Roman roads, so many places!

  7. I would love to revisit Australia, I visited quite a few years ago when my sister lived there, and I think i may have left a part of me behind. And not just the blood that the mosquitoes had out of me either!

  8. Well so many places to go but I think Peru. Visit the ancient ruins, and get some beautiful yarn!

  9. I would love to go to Provence in France..and the Alps.. and Italy…Switzerland; it’s a big world!

  13. I would love to see Egypt or India. And I love Nicky Epstein’s designs. Maybe I could talk her into going with me so we could get inspired together. 🙂

  14. My dream vacation would be Great Britain. I’d love to see all of the castles, historic sites, and the Harry Potter studio.

  23. It’s Scotland for me! It doesn’t matter what season, what time of year, I’d like to spend weeks (or months) there seeing absolutely everything.

    This looks like a fun book — thanks so much for the chance to win. 🙂

  25. I would love to go to Italy, and specifically to Rome. Thanks for the question, and for the great giveaway. I would love to win this book- Nicky Epstein is awesome! Thanks

  26. My dream vacation would be to go to the Galapagos Islands to see all the different wildlife there. I bet I could come home with fabulous photos. And I could probably do some fantastic scuba diving there.

  29. Have to say my dream vacation would take me many places – on a cruise ship to Tahiti , Fiji , all around Polynesia .

  31. I would love to go to Spain. We hosted a student from there so I would love to go see her and meet her family. I would also like to check out their yarn, she gave me a book with really interesting knitting patterns.

  33. Do I have to just pick one? Hmmm….I love going to Hawaii, so that’s always up there. Europe, the UK, and South America would be great too.

  38. My dream vacation would be to Ireland where I could visit all the yarn shops and talk with all the local knitters who knit the beautiful fishermens knit sweaters. I would see all the awesome castles and fantastic green countryside dotted with herds of sheep!

  39. Definitely the Mediterranean, it has always been on my bucket list! I’d like to start in Spain and end up in Greece or Turkey, maybe even make my way over to Israel. 🙂

  42. Glacier Bay, Alaska has always fascinated me. And it will be a great place to wear my handknits! Thanks for another generous giveaway.

  44. I would love to go on a yarn tour type of vacation. Explore new places and enjoy all sorts of yarn as I go along. Heaven!

  46. My dream vacation is an Ireland/Scotland road trip where I get to stay in rustic lodgings and pretend I’m in a historical romance novel 😉 Thank you for the giveaway!

  47. I have a good friend who lives in Germany and has traveled to the US to visit me a few times already. My dream would be to visit her in Germany and explore the countryside!

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.