Knit Accessories Inspired by Ballet

This week’s free pattern is actually four free patterns, all from Wool and the Gang, all inspired by accessories a ballerina might wear, but that you can also enjoy even if you’re not a dancer.

First, there’s the ballet scrunchie pattern, which uses two colors and a ribbed pattern. It’s rated for intermediate knitters and the post says it takes about two hours to knit, which makes it perfect as a stocking stuffer for girls and ladies of all ages in your life. Make them in different colors and fibers to bust some stash, too.

Pair that with the Perfect Sense wrap, which is basically a long-sleeved shrug, or an extremely cropped pullover. It has a funnel neck and a relaxed fit through the arms. It’s worked from the top down so you could make the body as long as you like if you want more coverage.

If you like a more traditional ballet style sweater look, check out the Elliot Sweater, a classic wrap sweater beloved by ballerinas and others who want to be cozy and stylish at the same time. This intermediate knitting pattern is worked in a super fluffy alpaca blend yarn for extra coziness, and you’ll want to slip it on over everything all season long.

Of course you can’t talk about ballet-inspired patterns without having some legwarmers (though honestly I think legwarmers should be more popular than they are; that little extra bit of warmth always makes me happy when I wear them). The Wilkinson leg warmers pattern calls for the same yarn as the Elliot sweater above, and uses two kinds of ribbing for a stretchy, slouchy fit that still holds onto your leg where it needs to. This pattern is easy and a great one for newer knitters.

[Photo: Wool and the Gang]

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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