Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Book Review – Speed Knitting

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speed knitting book giveaway

Congratulations to Gill!

I’m here to help you with your holiday knitting problems, with this week’s giveaway of Speed Knitting.

OK, even if I mail this one more promptly than usual, it might be a little late for this year, but I’ll bet you can still ship up a couple of pairs of bulky mittens, a lacy poncho or a skinny scarf before the holiday season is over.

This book includes 24 projects, worked with big yarn and needles, and tries to hit a lot of different gift recipients, from babies to dogs and cats, teens and women, and a couple that would work for men as well. There are garments, accessories and projects for the home.

It’s got a lot of great basic patterns (see on Ravelry) that you’ll enjoy knitting even when you’re not in a huge hurry.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, Nov. 28. I’d love to know what you’re working on for gift knitting this year. Other than the requisite warm things for my daughter, I’m not sure I’m knitting anything for anyone, but I’ve been known to change my mind at the last minute!

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

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

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Comments

  3. Everyone I would knit presents for has moved to warm climates – Floria, Arizona, Dubai – so I’m left knitting just for me, my daughter and husband. And they like hats. Hats, hats and more hats.

  4. thanks for having this giveaway, I would love to have it in my library. I am working on some scrubby’s, and other household helpers for everyone this year.

  6. I’d love to knit from this book! I’m 5′ along in a scrumptious double-knit alpaca scarf my teen requested last year- it WILL be under the tree next month, all 7′ of it!

  8. I’m at the end of a shawl, and there are a couple of sweet Neighbor girls who could use a good Winter hat. I’d love to make one of them something a little on the frilly side, with little curly Q’s on it, so it would make her smile, and possibly get her Mom to put it on her, when the weather is cold enough!! She’s in her terrible 2’s!! This book sounds like it would have some interesting projects in it, and would have some last-minute ideas, too, so you won’t be empty-handed for the Holidays!! Have a wonderful Christmas, and all the best in the coming Year!!

  12. I’m knitting a vest for my husband, but have totally lost my mojo to finish it before the holidays. Maybe I just need some quiet time to get back in the groove, and I should be able to carve some out now that Thanksgiving has passed.

Have you read?

Beyond Basic Pumpkin Knitting Patterns

Over the years I have shared a lot of pumpkin knitting patterns, and I’ve knit and crocheted a lot of pumpkins myself. But it feels like there are always more fun things to try with knit pumpkins, so this year I wanted to look a little more beyond basic stockinette or ribbed pumpkins and share some pumpkin patterns with cables, bobbles and colorwork. 

In the cable collection we’ve got these cute little basic cable and ribbed pumpkins from Elly Bear Knits. There are two sizes that make a wide, flat pumpkin and a taller round pumpkin. Both are worked in the round as a tube that’s cinched top and bottom when you’re done, and they use bulky weight yarn. 

Another cute cable pumpkin knitting pattern comes from Gray Bear Akswokrat. This one is knit flat and it looks like a chunky yarn but you could use other weights to make pumpkins of different sizes. This one also has an I-cord stem and uses yarn to cinch up the sections of the pumpkin, giving it a more natural look. 

Add some bobbles to your pumpkins with this design from Autumn Shelter Makes. Also worked in the round in a tube, it features a repeating pattern of bobbles and uses yarn wrapped around the outside to make segments. This one looks like worsted weight yarn to me. 

Of course there’s nothing that says your pumpkin has to be a single color, so let’s throw in some colorwork. I love the look of the Cozy Fall Pumpkin knitting pattern from South Stitch Girls. The little leather loop adds a rustic touch but you could also just add a stick. These pumpkins have five colorwork options and are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round. 

There’s also the Autumn Fair Isle Trio pumpkins pattern from Equestriann Style, which has three different sizes of pumpkins with four colorwork designs. They are worked in super bulky yarn in the round and look good with high contrast or more muted color combinations.