Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: Summer Knitting Book and Yarn

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knitting in the sunI know it’s hard for a lot of people to want to knit when it’s hot outside. I have air conditioning and it’s still a struggle just knowing that it’s 100 degrees outside (though we finally got rain yesterday and it’s supposed to be cooler — 80s and 90s — for the next few days!).

Blogger Lime Riot is the same way, and she’s trying to motivate herself to do more summer knitting by hosting a summer knitting giveaway.

All you have to do is comment on her blog about how you’re incorporating crafting into your summer. Up for grabs are a copy of Kristi Porter’s Knitting in the Sun (that link is to my review on About) and two balls of Jo Sharp Soho Summer, a lovely, light cotton yarn. The contest is open through Saturday, June 21.

I’d love to hear how (or if) you’re crafting in the heat, too. Spill it!

[Photo by Wiley.]

Comments

  1. I sit in the shade on a little patio off my bedroom & knit – mostly hats. Seems all I want to do lately is knit. I resent having to do any housework because it takes me away from my knitting.

  2. I sit on my porch and knit, yes its hot our but when one has a 6 month kitten..Right now I working on a baby blanket, baby due soon!

  4. So far I have sat on my front porch and crocheted a wrap and slippers while watching the smoke of a 1200 arce fire which started 1/2 a mile away. It was a way to use nervous energy and keep an eye on the ball.

  5. I sit on the couch in front of a box fan (no AC) and knit/crochet scarves, socks, hats, and whatever doesn’t cover my lap.

  7. I knit dish cloths by the dozen, work on smaller christmas presents (fingerless gloves, scarves), and gather the materials for cozy winter knitting.

  8. I knit regardless of the weather, but I am grateful for my AC. I’m mostly making smaller projects like pillows and afghan squares.

  9. I am in a knitting club once a week and a guild once a month and in-between I knit love new patterns and the opportunity to win yhis lovely book louise

Have you read?

Knits for the Table for Thanksgiving and Beyond

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long. 

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders. 

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well. 

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn. 

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions. 

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table. 

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter. 

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.