Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Knit a Matched Set of Projects with a Fun Double Border

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I don’t have the best methods when it comes to deciding what to share with you all. Usually I will see something when I’m scrolling Ravelry, Facebook or Instagram and I’ll grab the link and add it to a very disorganized Google Doc. Sometimes I’ll notice a theme and add it to my schedule to do a roundup of certain kinds of patterns. And sometimes by the time I get back to a pattern it becomes a roundup all its own.

That’s the case with the NI mitts from Beatrice Mase. Since this pattern was published in 2022 I’m not sure exactly when it got into my list, but at the time it was published there was also a matching snood pattern, and now that I’m getting to writing about it there are also socks and a sweater. So you can knit a whole NI ensemble!

The thing that makes these designs fun is that they have double borders worked in different yarns, as well as a bit of garter stitch striping somewhere in each project. You can knit a batch all using the same colors, or maybe make them all with the same contrasting color but different main colors? Or just choose a single project you like if you don’t want to get all matchy.

They all call for DK weight yarn, except for the socks, which use sock yarn.

Here’s a quick rundown of all the designs (links go to Ravelry):

  • Snood: This piece looks like a cowl at the top, then increases around the shoulders to cover the tops of the arms. It comes in one size.
  • Mitts: These fingerless gloves have a little coverage for the thumb and go about to the low set of knuckles on the hand. This pattern is also one size.
  • Socks: The double border on these is meant to be folded over the top of a low pair of boots, or you can wear it folded regardless of what/whether shoes are involved.
  • Sweater: This short-sleeved sweater has a bit of a puffed sleeve, a drawstring at the neckline, and a contrasting color faux seam along the sides. It’s worked from the top down and comes in nine sizes (this was actually made with two strands of fingering weight held together, but you can also use DK). 

[Photo: Beatrice Mase]

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Yarn Cozy Knitting Patterns

I’ve been toying with the idea of making a yarn cozy or yarn ball holder on the circular knitting machine, but I haven’t gotten to it yet. In the meantime, here are some yarn cozy knitting patterns you can make with knitting needles. Use yarn to hold you yarn!

In its simplest form, a yarn cozy is just a sleeve or a little basket that holds your yarn when you’re working with a center-pull ball so it doesn’t fall apart when you knit. The easiest ones I could find are from Love in Stitches KN, which has a regular size and a mini size. They’re worked with sock yarn and there are options for making them with ribbing, faux cables and with self-striping yarn.

For bigger cakes there’s a project called We call it the “bail holder” from Nicole LeBlanc. This pattern is available on Ravelry and you can use any yarn and make it any size you like. It features an I-cord edging that has a loop in it so you can thread they yarn through the loop to keep it extra contained as you knit.

Another large one that has a slightly fancier pattern is this one by Mareike Meye. You can use any yarn and any gauge, and slip stitch pattern worked in different colors on the sides makes it a little more fun and uses a bit more stash. A strap buttons across the top to hold the ball in place and you can add a buttonhole to the middle of the strap to thread the yarn through. Check this one out on Ravelry.

Adding lace to a yarn cozy makes it fit a wider variety of balls and expand or shrink a bit as needed. Jennifer Sugarman’s Ball Sack uses sock yarn and is made to hold sock yarn. It has the option of making I-cord or using ribbon or cord you already have to make a drawstring at the top. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

Another lacy option is the yarn ball holder from Frugal Knitting Haus. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has an easy mesh lace pattern and an I-cord drawstring that’s sewn together at the ends so you could loop it over your wrist while you knit if you like. This pattern is also on Ravelry.

Speaking of wrist yarn holders, I also found this one form Knituition. This one uses sport weight yarn and has a spiral rib pattern on the body. The strap is attached to the bag with D-rings, or you could make it a little longer and just sew it into the bag.