Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

I Heart Laguna!

by

My first impression of this bag was how attractive it is. It’s extremely well made and sturdy. (I even road tested it on the back of my motorcycle). This bag has been my constant companion for weeks now living in a pile by my chair, and travelling on the floor in my truck, set in the dirt and gravel and even gotten wet. It has a set of strong magnets to hold it closed and sturdy handles as well as a detachable shoulder strap. The outside is sporty with an exterior zippered pocket and snap pouch (my phone and keys fit in there perfectly, and since the snap closures are also magnetic there’s no worry about it coming open. Inside 2 seemingly bottomless compartments are separated by a zipered pocket. More interior pockets make this bag perfect for a day at the office as well as for toting craft projects. I actually use it for both at the same time. If there was a downside to this bag it might be that it’s so roomy inside that it would be easy to lose stuff in the bottom, but with so many pockets and compartments, no problem! 
     
Laguna is destined to become your next knitting bag!
  

Have you read?

Pencil Knitting Patterns

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.