Knitting

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Knit Along with Downton Abbey

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downton cowlLots of knitters and other crafters have become enamored with the British drama “Downton Abbey” (which I lovingly call a soap opera with a British accent), and Shannon at Luv in the Mommyhood is so excited for its return to American TV that she’s hosting a Downton Abbey knit and crochet along when the series returns next month.

She’s a big cheater and has been watching as it airs in the UK, but for the rest of us this will be a fun time to cozy up with our needles and hooks and see what the Crawleys and their servants have been up to.

The idea is to knit or crochet a Downton-inspired project while the series is airing (it begins Jan. 9, 2013). Those who register for the knitalong and start a project (it doesn’t have to get finished) during the almost month of the knitalong will be eligible for prizes. You can learn more and get in on the project discussion at Luv in the Mommyhood’s Ravelry page. If you need inspiration she’s even got a cowl pattern you can purchase for the project.

I don’t know about you, but I could really use some fun knitting to kick of 2013, so I might be joining in on this one. If you do, too, I’d love to know it.

[Photo via Luv in the Mommyhood.]

Comments

  1. I am way behind and need to START watching Downton. I’m always late. 🙂

    I almost always have a knitting project going while watching TV at night. Not sure I’ll join the knit along but will be knitting while I watch!

Have you read?

Knits for the Table for Thanksgiving and Beyond

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long. 

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders. 

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well. 

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn. 

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions. 

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table. 

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter. 

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.