Help Mom Relax with These Knitted Spa Patterns

I don’t know a mom who couldn’t use a little pampering, and there are lots of ways we can make that happen with the help of knitting. Why not whip up a scrubber or a soap sack and throw in some great soap, lotion and bubble bath? That’s a present I could get behind for sure (as well as the time to actually use them uninterrupted).

Here are some projects to make mom’s (or anyone’s) day a little more relaxing.

The Spa Scrubby and Soap Packet from Lion Brand Yarn are a great pair, and one of the best uses of bobbles I’ve ever seen. The Seamless Spa Mitt from Shelby Knits is another cute one that’s really useful, too.

Mary Anne’s Back Scrubber is the perfect thing for someone who can’t quite reach their own back, and the spa bath mat by Black Cat Designs is a great combination of yarn and pattern.

Alice Dillon has a great Spa Turban that’s perfect for wearing while in the tub or any other time you want your hair out of your way. Dot on the Run’s Spa Socks are a great way to try two-at-a-time socks, and they also have a fun textured pattern that will keep you interested. And speaking of socks, a pair of pedicure socks is always a great idea for a mom who likes that activity; this one is from Yarnspirations.

If you want to add some soap to your gift, a soap sweater like this one by Cynthia Hall is a great choice that can be embellished a ton of different ways. There’s also my soap sack, which is easy and reusable because the top opens.

A pretty washcloth can be a fun addition to a spa gift, too. Check out Kat Mcab’s Shell Spa Washcloth, Cindy Taylor’s Knitted Flower Washcloth, the adorably named Tribble (which I guess is acutally more of a scrubbie) from Abigail 1870pearl and the fun Rose Spa Cloth, which combines knitting and crochet and is also scrubby like since it’s shaped like a rose (it comes from Knitting Heaven on Earth).

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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