Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knit a Cozy Sweater Perfect for Lounging

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In my world, sweaters are for all year, but if you don’t wear sweaters in the summer and are in the Northern Hemisphere, this might be one to save for the fall. Our Southern Hemisphere friends can stitch this one up right away for their cooler days.

The Pillars Sweater by Perfectly Knotted is a cute and easy sweater with a deep V-neck and lots of ribbing at the bottom of the deeply split hem. The top part that’s in stockinette would be a cropped length, but adding all that ribbing makes it long enough to wear with leggings or anything else you want.

The pattern is worked from the top down, beginning flat to form the V neck. It’s then joined in the round for the stockinette portion of the body and split into flat panels again to work the ribbing. The sleeves are roomy (she knit hers pretty long but you could always make them shorter if you like them better that way) and the sweater is meant to be worn with 2o to 30 percent positive ease, though of course you can adjust that to your liking.

Actual finished chest measurements of the sweater range from 32 to 80 inches (81.3 to 203.2 cm) and there are 17 sizes. These are made to fit an actual chest measurement ranging from 25 to 66.5 inches (63.5 to 168.9 cm), though of course you can use less ease on larger sizes if needed.

The pattern calls for worsted weight yarn but also suggests you could work it with a DK weight yarn and a mohair yarn held together for extra warmth and coziness if you like. Maybe try both and see what difference it makes in the warmth — this would be a good lesson for your future knitting projects.

You can find the pattern on Etsy.

[Photo: Perfectly Knotted]

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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.