Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: Knitting Skill Books from Leisure Arts

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Win two Leisure Arts books to help you build your knitting skills.

Congratulations to Jen!

I know a lot of my readers are newer knitters, or even just people who are interested in knitting but maybe haven’t picked up needles yet. Or maybe you’re an experienced knitter but you want to share the love with someone else.

Either way, this week’s giveaway is a great one for newer knitters. It includes two little books from Leisure Arts: Learn to Knit, Now! and Expand Your Knitting Skills.

Learn to Knit, Now! includes instructions on how to make a slip knot, perform the long-tail cast on, knit, purl and bind odd, as well as tips for reading patterns and seven projects to try. The projects are skill building so as you work through the book you’ll learn how to sew a seam, work ribbing and perform other pattern stitches. Links to video tutorials are included if you need more help.

Expand Your Knitting Skills offers 17 patterns for knit accessories that go beyond the basics and include such skills as knitting cables, working in the round, picking up stitches and creating a ruffled edging for your knit project. The projects are mostly hats and scarves, but there are also mittens, fingerless gloves and a knit bag to try out your new skills on.

I will pick one winner to receive both books from people who leave comments on this post before the end of the day Sunday, January 12. I’d love to know if you’re a new knitter or who you would gift these books to in order to encourage their knitting.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing and good luck!

Comments

  1. I’ve never learned to knit but it has been on my “bucket list” for a long time now. I really would love to have a portable crafty hobby.

  2. I tried learning from a book years ago, but haven’t knitted anything in about 40 years. Would love to get back into it.

  3. I’d like this, I learned as a kid, but never made anything and am now picking it back up because you can make so many lovely, original things.

  5. I am interested in knitting. My mother knits and I would love to learn so I can knit with her. She was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, so I am looking to do things with her that aren’t strenuous.

  6. My daughter and I have been knitting for a few years now and we try to convert everyone! These would be great.

  7. Been knitting for a while but can always learn something new

    Hope to find some projects to donate to charity for kids and adults

  8. I learned to crochet as a child and learned the very basics of knitting in a therapy class many years ago. I would love a refresher course and maybe really make something!

  9. I was taught to knit by my grandma in elementary school. Hadn’t done it in ages but started again before Christmas. I’m hoping to do more … have grand kids I can make things for now.

  10. I love knitting and have my granddaughter age 10 and her mother knitting. I am thrilled they have taken up knitting and are working on some lovely projects. We would love to share these books and hone our knitting skills. It would great for us to knit a similar item in different yarns and have the completed articles to enjoy and discuss as a family project.

  11. I was pretty dire at knitting as a child however, as an adult, browsing web pages has inspired me to start again. My skills are very basic but I see so many beautiful and colourful yarns that I can’t wait to transform them into a piece of hand knitting art work. I would love to develop my skills & produce items for the more needy people in my local community.

  12. I can’t start or finish a knitting project, but I can do basic knitting stitches. I need these books so I can surprise my Mom with a handmade knitted gift next Christmas. She would be so surprised because she knows I’m not much of a knitter and she always has to finish most of my creative projects. Thank you for the opportunity to win these great books.

  18. These book would be so helpful to me. I am a beginner and need all the help I can get!
    Thank you for the opportunity to win the books!

  19. I would gift these to my friend’s daughter who is just starting out and enjoying knitting and crocheting.

  21. learning to knit from the net so many sites and information,..doing ok so far so many ideas to choose from, I need to learn to knit faster to get my results ASAP!

  22. Knitting has always eluded me. I can crochet but every time I pick up knitting needles it ends in anger, cursing and a terrible scene! Lol. I’m determined to master knitting and I’m hoping this book will be the one tutorial to get me there!

  23. Hi – i learned to knit as a child and haven’t done it in a LONG time and wasn’t really good beyond the basic stitches. But i wanted to get back into it to teach my girl scout troop so we can do blankets for the homeless and pediatric wards. I have 13 girls who all want to learn and I’d love to be able to teach them properly. Thank you for this opportunity.

  24. I learned to knit at age 10 but haven’t knit in years and never got past making a messed up mitten. This book sounds like something that would help me learn all over again and to teach my granddaughter. Thank you so much for this offer.

  25. I would love these books so I can give them to my granddaughter. We live in different states so I can’t be there to help her. Thanks for considering me!

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.