Hoodies! – Knitting

I took a few picturess of the hoodie I’m working on desperately trying to finish right now. (really need to mess with the settings on this camera so I can get good indoor pictures).

I started to knit this in one piece, with the 2 fronts and back joined. When I got past the ribbing I decided that the resulting fabric was too flimsy and needed the stability of side seams.

I also went down a size on the needles, using 6’s and 8’s rather than 7’s and 9’s to make the fabric a bit tighter and also the garment in whole a bit smaller.

This yellow is beautiful and my granddaughter can wear yellow. But knowing that she’s a typical pre-teen girl, I didn’t use expensive yarn, but a nice worsted weight from Caron (Simply Soft, in Soft Yellow). I like this particular yarn, machine washable and dryable, which when knitting for a kid, it’s the only way to go!

This pattern I didn’t like so much. The cables were fun and there wasn’t any funky shaing, basically a knit it in the dark kind of project. But I’ve never knit saddle sleeves and have decided that I don’t like them. Maybe when its all said and done they will redeem themselves, but as of right now, I still prefer the good old raglans. The hood is knit in two identical pieces and they’re almost done. Then binding, zipper ( which might not be fun as I don’t work or play well with zippers – hmm not to late to do buttonholes..), sew it together, weave in ends, block it and send it on its way. I do love me a cuddly warm hoodie. I think the next hoodie pattern I do will be the wonderful wallaby, have heard lots and lots of good things about that one.

I scared up a few free hoodie patterns for you.

http://www.nakedsheep.com/cototohofrkn.html (toddler)

http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babyswehoodie.htm (baby)

Fronts of sweater. Joined to the back at the ribbing.

Back of sweater, not blocked, or stretched out, or even really adjusted to look like a sweater!

Stay tuned, here at knitting.craftgossip.com, you never know what we’re up to!

Terrye.

Next Pattern:

Baby Tiger Hoodies Knit 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.

Comments

Pat Kelly says
August 24, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I love the hoodie, especially the yellow color yarn. I am not a great knitter. I mostly crochet, but I’m in the process of making the wonderful wallaby for my 5 yr. old granddaughter. It’s made in the round. I was doing fine, until I got to the front pocket half way up the sweater. Hope I can figure it out before she’s going to college, instead of kindergarten.

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