Knit a Square for a Chance at a Trip to VK Live

Here’s a fun contest I thought some of you might be interested in. Have you seen Nicky Epstein’s book Knit a Square, Create a Cuddly Creature? Here’s the book on Ravelry if you haven’t. The idea is that you knit a square with different details on it and then fold, sew and stuff it in such a way that it turns into an adorable animal.

Anyway, the folks at Vogue Knitting Live are hosting a contest for a knitter to design a new knit a square animal, with the top prize being a VIP package to a VK Live event in 2018 (this gets you four free classes but does not include transportation or lodging). Other top winners will receive gift bags full of Nicky Epstein goodies.

Designers from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico can submit up to five knit or crochet animals whose bodies are based on squares of no larger than 24 inches. Other pieces may be added for legs and other details. Photos and design information are due by Oct. 2 and will be judged by the Vogue Knitting editorial team. Finalists will be asked to mail their animals and yarn ball bands so they can be displayed and judged at VK Live Seattle, where the winner will be announced. Check here for complete rules and entry forms.

What kind of animal would you like to make? I’d love to hear about it if you enter!

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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.

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