Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Helical Knitting Patterns

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I recently mentioned that one of the things I wanted to do this year was play with helical knitting. This is a technique that allows you to knit single round stripes without any jogs in the colorwork, which is really pretty, and pretty fun to do, too. 

It’s accomplished by slipping the last few stitches at the end of each round, thus moving the end of the round throughout the project. This keeps the color changes from lining up and makes nice smooth stripes throughout the project. 

I was hoping by now I’d have my own helical knitting project to show you, but I’m still in the midst of it (a six-foot-long, rainbow striped scarf) but I’ll let you know when it’s finished. In the meantime, some more helical knitting projects for you to try. 

I went with a scarf as a first helical knitting project because there’s no shaping, but a cowl works just as well for learning the basics, and it’s a smaller project. Happy Dog Crafts has a cute cowl pattern that also incorporates a fade. This one would be fun to do with minis or just scrap busting. It calls for fingering weight yarn but you could also use thicker yarn for a bigger cowl. 

Another fun one but bigger is the Vertigo Cowl from Ashley Cornall, a free download on Raverly. This one also uses fingering weight yarn mini skeins, this time in rainbow colors, but you can make whatever colors you like. 

You could also try a helical hat like the Classic Helical Hat from Skacel Knitting (free on Ravelry). This sport weight project comes in two sizes and you can choose yarns with harmonious colors or bolder options. 

There are also a lot of sock knitting patterns that use helical knitting while choosing a single color to work the cuffs, heels and toes. Check out for example Anna Zhuravleva’s shortie Helix Basic Socks (free on Ravelry), the Helical Toe-Up socks by Lori Neff (also on Ravelry) or the knee-high Alice’s Striped Helix Socks from Phun Knits, which shows what helical knitting looks like when you use two harmonious colors.  

Or how about some fingerless gloves? The Helical Twins pattern from Karin Fernandes uses fingering weight yarn and garter stitch to make a cozy, tweedy looking pair of mitts with a simple opening for the thumb. Find this pattern on Ravelry.

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Pretty Tank Top Knitting Patterns to Keep You Cool

I’ve been writing about knitting online for a long time, and a lot of things have changed. But one good thing I think has changed over the years is that fewer people see knitting as a seasonal activity. Most people don’t seem to think anymore that there’s a time when it’s too hot to knit or too hot to wear knits. 

I don’t know if the proliferation of knit tank top patterns caused that shift or is the result of it, but either way, summer knitters and knitwear-wearers are the beneficiaries, and every year there seem to be more great tank top knitting patterns to share. 

How about the super cute Fleur Cami from Woolbirdx on Etsy? This sweet V-neck with thin straps features vertical panels of eyelets and ribbing. It’s worked from the bottom up in the round and is available in nine sizes. It calls for super fine yarn. 

Or there’s the knitted lace V-neck top from Exotic Works Hub. This one has lace panels on the front at the center and is otherwise worked mostly in stockinette stitch. It’s worked from the bottom up in fingering weight yarn and comes in six sizes.

The Mixed Rib Cami from Florence Miller is another on that caught my eye. Worked in light fingering weight yarn, it is worked from the top down using twisted rib stitches and optional waist shaping. It’s finished with I-cord edges for a super clean look. The pattern has nine sizes available and you can find it on Ravelry. 

Stine HoelgaardJohansen’s Golden Girl top is a cute sport weight top with a round neckline that’s deeper in the back, and worked from the bottom up in broken rib. There are nine size options (and six languages) and you can grab it for free on Ravelry. 

Prefer a sporty look? Andrea Gaughan’s Sumac tank is worked in fingering weight yarn from the top down with contrasting edges. The pattern has 10 sizes and two fit profiles, graded to a traditionally masculine or feminine frame respectively. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.