Knit a Matched Set of Projects with a Fun Double Border

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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The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.”

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them.

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits.

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves.

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit.

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy.

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

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