Knit a Wreath for Sandy Relief

There are so many different knitting and craft-related projects going on to help people affected by that storm called Sandy that I couldn’t possibly keep up with them all. I consider that a very good thing indeed.

Another very good thing indeed is this lovely Hampstead Wreath, a knit wreath adorned with a pretty cable pattern and designed by the good people at True Brit Knits. I know they’re good people because they’re donating the proceeds from the pattern’s sales through the end of the year to Citymeals-on-wheels NYC, which provides and delivers meals to homebound people and, as I learned from reading about this project on Mason-Dixon Knitting, has been working to help the food insecure since the hurricane hit.

It’s a great cause and a great value (£3, or a little less than $5) for a pretty wreath you’ll want to hang on your door or over the mantle this holiday season. And you’ll feel good doing it. What could be better?

[Photo from True Brit Knits via Ravelry.]

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Knitwear designers can get inspiration from almost anything when it comes to re-creating a color scheme, an image or a texture in stitches. Sometimes the inspiration isn’t always obvious in the finished project, but sometimes it’s more literal.

That’s the way it is with the Tin Ceiling Blanket from Purl Soho. Not just because the inspiration is in the name, but if you’ve ever seen one of these old ceilings you can see that the design of the blanket is quite similar to the pattern of the tin tiles.

This is also a good example of the idea that you don’t have to use fancy stitch patterns or lots of color to make a big impact with your knits. This single-color blanket (designed by Gianna Mueller and inspired by a washcloth and towel set designed by Sandi Rosner) is made completely with knits and purls, other than slipped stitches at the beginning of rows to make neater edges.

The pattern is written out row by row, but there’s also a chart, which means this project is a great opportunity to practice reading a chart where you can check your work against the written pattern if you need to.

It comes in two sizes, a crib blanket and a throw. The yarn used in the sample is an organic cotton sold by the cone, which is a great way to get a large quantity of yarn and have fewer ends to weave in. In fact, you can knit either size of the blanket with just one cone of yarn, which isn’t inexpensive but makes you a great, sturdy, heirloom quality but still washable blanket you’ll use for years to come. (Of course you can use any sport weight yarn you like to make this blanket.)

Check out all the details and grab the free pattern from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

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