Hats to Get Your Through the Seasons

As much as I’m thinking about it still being winter for a while, I’m also longing for spring and ready to knit something a little bit cooler than the big bulky wool things I’ve been stitching lately.

No matter which way you’re feeling or how the weather is where you live, this collection of hat knitting patterns will see you through the seasons in style.

For those still living with (or bracing for) winter, the Waves Hat from Yarnspirations and the Retro Ski Hats (PDF, designed by Tanis Gray) from Imperial Yarns both have a great retro appeal, and colors that are sure to make the winter a little less gloomy feeling.

Lion Brand’s Lace Beret kind of straddles the seasons in that it’s worked in a somewhat warm yarn (Vanna’s Sequins) but also includes lace for ventilation.

And speaking of lace, the Lace-Topped Cap by Meg Meyers and the Eyelet Arch Hat by Susan Mills, both for Classic Elite Yarns, speak of spring to me, with their finer yarns and more delicate eyelets.

Thinking of knitting a hat? I’d love to hear what you’re planning.

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

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