Patterns, projects and techniques
Don’t forget to get in on our latest giveaway. Knit To Be Square, book by Vivian Hoxbro, at the end of next week, I’ll send emails from all of my comments and the first to respond with their address gets the book!
In your comment, tell me about your lace knitting!
Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.
If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.
This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).
There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.
It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).
The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.
This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.
If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.
[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]
I love to knit lace, especially on socks. The interplay between increases and decreases, color and light, always make me marvel that I actually created the intricate (or simple) patterns which stretch around my foot.
I love to knit fun original characters and novelty items, but have yet to venture into lace.
sounds like a good book
I love lace knitting. I have made several scarfs. I would love to tackle a shawl some day.
My next lace project will be lacy socks.
Sheryl
I’m a new knitter and love lace projects. I’ve started a lace baby blanket, so pretty!
Looks like a fun book!
I THINK EVEN I CAN KNIT A SQUARE
I’m currently knitting a lace shawl – the stormwater shawl to be precise. I’m making it in a fingering weight yarn, but its still lace.
I have just started a shawl after doing a lace scarf. It is a bit scary but very enjoyable.
I’ve only made a couple of lace items, one was a small scarf that could have been a shawl. Just don’t have the patience for it!
You know, I’ve never tried lace knitting. I want to, but just haven’t gotten around to it yet. That may have to be my next project.
I’m a new knitter and would love to know more about it 🙂
I recently took a lace knitting class, the very last class at The Point NYC before the store swiftly, sadly closed. The class improved my technique and helped me manage my yarn overs. Now I’m hungry for patterns to keep me going.
I love knitting lace – my first real project was a beaded lace shawl… came out lovely, got a blue ribbon at the county fair! I continue to like to make lace shawls with beads and am winding yarn this week!
I’m on my first lace knitting project. It is a scarf in the Feather and Fan pattern using Dream in Color Smooshy Sock yarn. It’s been really fun and the pattern really only has one line to memorize – the other 3 lines of the pattern are either a knit or purl row. Not hard at all to do and it’s coming out SO cute!
Thanks for the opportunity to participate in the giveaway!
Betsy
I LOVE Vivian Hoxbro’s patterns and her latest book sounds wonderful. I would love to see what she is up to now.
I’d actually love to win this for a friend of mine who love to knit!