Grab a Deal on Knitting Designs through 11/29

This time of year is a great time to grab a deal on great knitting patterns. The Indie Design Gift-a-long is a time when you can find lots of independent designers offering sale prices on some of their patterns on Ravelry.

Check on the Indie Design Gift-a-long group on Ravelry for all the details. But basically a bunch of designers have chosen up to 20 of their patterns to discount 25 percent through the end of the day on Nov. 29.

Once you grab your patterns you can join a group related to the pattern you’re working on (cowls, sweaters, socks, etc.) and have a knit or crochet along to get some of your gift crafting done. There will be prizes for participants and lots of fun and holiday cheer throughout.

Click this link to see the nearly 350 participating designers, and use the code giftalong2018 for your discount.

If you buy any patterns I’d love to hear about the projects you snag!

[Photo: Ravelry.]

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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]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]

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