Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Interweave’s Harmony Guides and a Question…..

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First, the question. I’m a sucker for punishment. Yes, that I am. This year I will endeavor to knit something for all of my grandchildren for their birthdays(currently there are 7).
The first is in March, a boy, will be 13. Ugh! Well, might as well get the hard one out of the way first. I’m thinking something with shadow knitting and the University of Michigan logo. Any thoughts? I think a scarf would be best, and I found the best University of Michigan Logo, however the design is copyrighted. I can post a link, however, here

I was recently handed a box. A really cool box. Very sturdy with luscious knitting stuff inside box.
Harmony Guides, 101 Stitches To Knit. Seriously, Interweave Rocks! They’ve outdone themselves this time.
One of the greatest challenges a knitter can face is finding the perfect stitch pattern for a project. Whether you want to create a highly textured lace scarf or revamp a basic sweater silhouette with a new stitch pattern, 101 Stitches to Knit is the perfect portable one-stop source for stitch inspiration.

Each card features a stitch design on the front side and concise easy-to-follow instructions on the back. A color-coded system which divides the cards into themes—Knit & Purl, Lace & Eyelets, and Cables & Arans—makes organization a breeze. Forget about carrying a hefty book or crinkled photocopy of a stitch pattern! These sturdy cards can be slipped into a handbag or wallet as a quick reference, making knitting during your commute or lunch break easy as pie!

Furthermore, the cards and eight-page booklet on basic knitting techniques are packed in a sturdy box frame. Whether you’re a beginning knitter or an expert, these handy compact cards promise inspiration for any knitted project.

And, I promised you pics of my slippers and the mossi cardi, those you will get, as soon as I find my camera…… sigh!

Comments

  1. I think a scarf is a good safe bet, either that or a hat.

    I have a 13 year old cousin, and I made him a hat (Half pipe hat from the guy SnB book) and he loved it. Of course he also loved the Lidsville hat I made for his dad too.

    I’ve found that if you need an idea for a young guy, you can never go wrong with a hat. It’s my back up plan for almost every guy that is on any gift list.

Have you read?

Knit Little Fish to Use Your Yarn Scraps

I rarely understand why something becomes a trend in crafting. Gnomes and geese are both cute I guess, but I never thought we’d be making them for all seasons. (See, for example, this collection of gnome knitting patterns, or these knit geese.)

Another one I don’t totally understand is sardines or little fish more generally. Sure, they’re cute, and the shape is fun, but I had no idea when I was sharing this pattern for a fish-shaped pouch last year that it would become a hugely popular pattern that people are still searching for on the site. It is pretty cute, though, so if you weren’t around then or don’t remember you should got check it out. 

Recently another fishy knitting pattern crossed my monitor: the little knit fish from Classical Songbird Designs. 

Just as the name suggests, these fish are little, about 4.5 inches or 11 cm from end to end. They look like little sardines and take about 12 yards of sock yarn to make. 

You can even make a two-tone fish and use just 6 yards of each color. 

This sounds to me like just about the perfect use for the yarn that’s left over after knitting a pair of socks, or a mini skein or several that have been sitting around unused in your stash. 

The fish are knit flat in one piece, which makes it easy to stitch on the eyes with more yarn or embroidery floss before stuffing, and you can stitch up the sides while you stuff (though it’s not a very big piece so you could probably stitch and then stuff, finishing with the end of the tail). 

Because I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one wondering, I measured an Altoids box and as the pattern is written the fish are a little too big to fit in it (the box is about 4 inches/10 cm long). But you could make the fish a little smaller if you want to make a box of them. Or just make a fishy bag to put them in!

You can grab the free pattern for the little knit fish at Classical Songbird Designs. 

[Photo: Classical Songbird Designs.]