Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway – Simple Style By Ann Budd

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I run across quite a few knitting books in my travels, excursions and jaunts, most are kind of cool, however since my life and tastes run far, far from the NY runways, and while I can drool over patterns and techniques, a lot of them don’t have a practical use in my daily life.

Enter Simple STYLE. These sweaters, jackets, vests, wraps… offer a lot of style, with minimal “runway flair”.  13 designers contributed to this latest in the “STYLE” series including Veronik Avery, Deborah Newton, Ann Smith, and quite a few more. This book combines simple patterns and techniques to create stunning, contemporary designs, even garter stitch looks awesome, paired with lace edges. These styles seek to elimnate unnecessary details, minimize seams, and reduce finishing steps.

You can get Simple STYLE from Interweave Press, here: http://www.interweave.com/books

Well, you don’t have to go to Interweave to get the book  now, I’ll give it to you.  Leave me a comment by 3.31.09 and tell me what your favorite knitting blogs are. I’ll put you in the drawing.

Wow! 3 giveaways in one day. Someone needs to clean out their stash more often!

Comments

  1. I would love to win this book.
    My favorites are (besides this one)
    Wendy Knits, Shut up, I’m counting, and Simple Knits.
    Sheryl

  2. The blogs I check daily include The Yarn Harlot, Vickie Howell, The Rainey Sisters, Knitgrrl, And She Knits Too, The Heathen Housewife, and this blog, in addition to several others and some spinning blogs. Takes me forever to get through them all! LOL

  3. knitty.com
    nonaKnits (what happened to that?)
    Grumperina

    I also hop around, depending on what I’m looking for.

  6. My favorite knitting blog is Little Cotton Rabbits. I find Julie’s work amazing. Thanks much for the giveaway.

  9. Yarn Harlot hands down – she knit and makes me snort my coffee – what more do I need?

  15. I love Ann Budd and don’t have this book. Please add me to the giveaway.

    one of my favorite blogs is Kris Knits. She is very talented and does some really cute dishcloths and other patterns.

  16. I love blog.berroco.com! Their works are truly amazing and make you want to grab your needles and give the projects your best shot.

  19. I think my favorites are Vickie Howell and Knitty.com but I am always in search of others too. I would love to win this knitting book.

  21. I’m afraid that I keep adding more and more knitting blogs to my RSS feed but the main one I always read is the Yarn Harlot. She is a riot and brightens my day. Other ones are Grumperina and Knitspot. I just added this one this week.

    I love Ann Budd and refer to her books often.

  24. It’s tough to choose favourites, but I really like Cosmicpluto and The Plucky Knitter’s blogs.

  26. Please enter me in this great giveaway! My favorite blogs are Vickie Howell, Yarn Harlot, and Rachel’s Knitting Blogspot. Thank you!

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.