Knitting

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Knit for Yourself Shrug Pattern

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I feel like we’re far enough into December as I write this that all thought of knitting for gifts for other people should be over. Unless you’re knitting, like, a super bulky hat or something, there’s probably not time to make anything else for anyone else.

And that’s actually a great thing, because that means it’s time to knit for you.

There are people who would call this “selfish knitting,” but I don’t think it’s selfish to want to make something nice for yourself with the skills that you have. I know lots of people like to knit for others most of the time, and that’s great, but I love making myself stuff and I think you should, too.

This knit shrug pattern from Petite.Donut for We Are Knitters is presented as a video on Instagram, but it’s a pretty simple process to make these knit sleeves for yourself.

I say it’s for yourself because you really need you to be there so you can try it on as you knit to make sure all the pieces are the right length for you. It’s worked from one side to the other, knitting one sleeve in the round, then splitting the stitches to make a tiny front and back that go across your body, then joining up again to knit the second sleeve.

The project is worked in bulky yarn and if you know how to knit in the round this should be no problem for you.

Of course you could make it for someone else if you knew how long their arms are and their shoulder to shoulder measurement, but wouldn’t you rather have this sweet little shrug for yourself? I think this would be super cute over a sun dress or a tank top, or I would totally wear it under a sweater for extra warmth.

Check out the pattern on Instagram.

[Photo via We Are Knitters]

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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.