Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: Magpies, Homebodies and Nomads

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magpies, homebodies and nomads giveaway

The winner is kajubo!

Cirilia Rose’s new book has a funny name, but it makes a lot of sense when you understand it. Magpies, Homebodies, and Nomads are all parts of the knitter’s personality. We’re magpies in that we love hoarding little bits of special yarn. Homebodies because most of the time we’d rather be at home knitting and hanging out with friends than anywhere else. But also nomads because many knitters like to travel to festivals and other events to meet like-minded fiber fanatics and show off what they’ve been knitting to people who will truly appreciate it.

This book celebrates all three of those personalities with 25 different patterns, plus tips and ideas that can help you develop your own sense of style, whether you’re working with garments you knit or things off the rack.

The book explores color, thinking like a stylist, finding inspiration, substituting yarns, even shopping smartly at the thrift store. And the patterns are pretty, too, including great hats, sweaters, cowls, tops, projects for the home and more than include sweet little details that allow you to make your projects as unique as you want.

I’m giving away one copy of this book this week. If you want a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, December 7. Why don’t you tell me how you would describe your style? I try to do a little better than classic mom slouch, but jeans and a sweater are my uniform. This book really does make me want to do better, though, and it might just inspire you, too.

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

Comments

  2. Comfort, definitely. Nothing better than being cozy and warm with a cup of tea and my family nearby. Even if they interrupt me while I’m trying to count. 🙂

  3. I would like to be more stylish, but I think I always just fall back on my comfy clothes (I have a closet full of high heels but usually just wear flats these days). I also have a couple of cardigans that I knitted that I wear pretty much all the time.

    thanks for the giveaway!!

  5. Upscale thrift store: I find a lot of very nice styles that are classy yet comfortable without breaking the bank!

Have you read?

Totoro Knitting Patterns

We’re a big Studio Ghibli household, and while they are sometimes very protective of their copyrights (as evidenced by the number of patterns on Ravelry that were removed from the service when it received a takedown notice back in 2021), there are still a fair number of Totoro knitting patterns (as well as other designs I’m sure we’ll get to someday). Let’s check them out!

Yaya Labs has a cute plush Totoro that looks like it might stand up on its own. The pattern is available on LoveCrafts, and it calls for DK or light worsted weight yarn in four colors. The pattern is considered advanced but it does include a photo tutorial. It stands 10.6 inches or 27 cm tall.

A similar pattern can be found a Shino Craft, which doesn’t have the leaf hat but does include little hands, and the legs aren’t as separate from the body. This one calls for sport weight yarn and is knit flat on two needles. 

All Made Here has a Totoro pouch that is super cute and looks pretty easy to knit. It measures 14 by 18 cm and is rated for advanced beginners. You can get the pattern when you subscribe to updates or follow the designer on Instagram. 

Stitch Totoro on a sweater with the Totorogenseren sweater from Anna-Sofia Vintersol. This free download on Ravelry uses worsted/aran weight yarn in two or three colors. The pattern comes in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 77 to 149 cm. 

The Forest Spirit Fair Isle Jumper from Kraft with Kindrex features a row of Totoros on the circular yoke, along with other little colorwork designs. The design includes three sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 91 to 101 cm. It calls for 4 ply (that’s fingering/sock weight in other parts of the world). 

Or you can stitch Totoro as part of a project with more Ghibli characters, as on the Magical Anime Knit Sweater (a longtime bucket list item for me) from The Bearded Sewist. This on has a circular yoke and rows of different characters including Totoro, Ponyo, soot sprites, Calcifer and more. The pattern comes in four sizes and is rated intermediate/advanced. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can grab a copy on Ravelry. 

Or try Katharina Kuntz’s Anime Scarf, also on Ravelry. This one is a double knit scarf worked in fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover designs from Studio Ghibli movies. She started by knitting the movies in chronological order but gave that up after she realized all her favorites would be in the middle and therefore not visible when worn. You can probably rearrange the motifs further somewhat if you want to showcase your favorites.