Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Knit a Hot Air Balloon

by

I’m fully willing to admit that the headline on this post sounds weird. And maybe it is a little weird to knit a hot air balloon.

But you know what? After seeing this pattern from Butterfly Love1 on Etsy, I kind of want to knit a hot air balloon.

These would be super cute in a nursery or kid’s room, a playroom, a teacher’s classroom (especially and art teacher, or in the library, or really anywhere that kids might be).

And honestly kids aren’t the only ones who deserve whimsy in their lives, so if after seeing this pattern you kind of want to knit a hot air balloon for yourself, too, I give you permission to do so if you need it.

The pattern is knit flat in stockinette stitch, and I’d guess it uses sock yarn by the size of the knitting needles called for. Which is great because you can easily make a striped balloon that is both adorable and a great use of all your leftover yarn from your socks and other projects.

These balloons even have a little basket made out of a stack of buttons to make it look like a hot air balloon and not just a regular, earth-bound balloon. Though of course those would be cute, too.

One of the comments on the pattern says this comes out big, but the pattern description doesn’t specify what size it is supposed to be. It might still be fun to use bigger yarn and make a huge balloon. They could also maybe be used as pillows in addition to having them hanging from the ceiling.

I wouldn’t be surprised if, having made one, you will find all sorts of reasons you need to knit more.

You can grab the pattern on Etsy. I’d love to hear about it if you make one!

[Photo: Butterfly Love1]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Knit a Garter Stitch Blanket with a Twist

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]