Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Going on a Knitting Adventure

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clara yarnI’m super-excited to report that I’m spending this weekend at Mount Magazine, the highest point in Arkansas, at a knitting retreat with about 20 other ladies and the Yarn Harlot.

Awesome, right?

Except I still really have no idea what knitting to bring.

It’s unseasonably cold (there may even be snow. Today. In Arkansas.) and I’m wishing I had time to finish that alpaca sweater I started a few months ago and abandoned because I thought this time, for sure, it was really, really spring. But I’m probably taking a sock. And maybe a shawl. I kind of abandoned the fingerless gloves I expected to be working on because of a math error.

What do you knit in front of a knitting superstar?

I don’t know.

I am, for sure, taking this. It’s the first run of Clara Yarn, made by Clara Parkes. It’s beautiful and warm and fluffy and I can’t wait to dive in.

(Incidentally, if you want to follow the hijinks of my weekend I’m going to try to post updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.)

Comments

  1. I go to Mount Magazine in October for a quilting weekend-well it is really 4 days of quilting. I love the place! Great food, great scenery and accommodations are top notch. Have a wonderful time. Make sure your walk up to the highest point-great hike!

  2. sounds like you’ll have a great time.She(Yarn Harlet) is really fun. I have been able to go see her two times now, and would love to be able to do a retreat with her!! Sound like so much fun!!

  4. How fun! I take mindless project to knit retreats- vanilla socks or a garter stitch project.

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.