Knit in the New Year

I’m not sure there’s a lot of call for knitting things to commemorate the new year, but if you’re hosting (or attending) a New Year’s Even party it might be fun to have something stitched up — like a washcloth or cup cozy — that has the new year on it for a bit of extra handmade fun.

A search on Ravelry didn’t reveal any patterns worked with 2015 yet, but it’s simple enough to change the last number on a chart to make it correspond with the coming year. Here are a few projects you might want to add to your holiday stitch list.

This little 2009 cloth form Kris Knits is really cute and relatively simple, with a seed stitch border and garter stitch numbers. It’s 5.5 inches square, so it will knit up really quickly, just remember when you change the numbers that the chart shows them worked backwards (you could also just redraw the chart and have them facing the other way, if you’d like).

If you like an iced coffee throughout the year, this extra large cup cozy, originally worked for 2011 by Sandy Davis, would be a great choice. It uses five different colors and says KH for “Knitting Help” (because it was knit for a Knitting Help New Year’s Eve Party) but you could easily change that to your initials, leave that part blank or repeat the little ball and needles design that’s also featured.

For 2012, she also worked up a simple stitcher’s wallet or pocket to hold tools. Again it includes KH on one side and the year on the other, but you could easily change it up in any way you wante.

One Crafty Mama worked a 2012 dishcloth (which she also updated for 2013, and a 3 is almost a 5) that’s super simple and would be great to use all year.

Lisa Millan had a 2008 New Year’s dishcloth in her store that includes the year and a pair of clinking champagne glasses. If it’s still sold, it runs $2.

Have you ever knit something that marked the new year? I’d love to hear about it.

Next Pattern:

There are so many baby blanket knitting patterns out there I could probably do a post a month full of them and not run out for a very long time. This time I thought I’d look specifically at single color baby blankets that are interesting because of the inclusion of textured stitching. This makes them easy enough for new knitters but engaging for knitters of all skill levels.

Take the Textured Checks Baby Blanket from Janet Dubbelman for example. This project is mostly stockinette stitch, with some what looks like reverse stockinette and garter stitch thrown in to make the ridges. You can use whatever yarn weight you like to make blankets of different sizes. Find the pattern on Ravelry.

The Seedling from Modern Made Shop is just about as easy as it comes, combining seed stitch with a garter stitch border. It calls for worsted weight yarn and is perfect for beginners.

The Julie Baby Blanket by Elisabeth Kristiansen is another one with an easy allover stitch pattern that you can knit up in a flash in whatever size you want. (The pattern notes say any gauge but it also says 28 stitches per 4 inches, which would be a superfine or fine weight yarn. Learn more on Ravelry.

The Oscar Baby Blanket from Snufflebean is another one with an easy repeating stitch pattern that has a really fun, graphic effect. This is also great worked in a bright color, reminding us that babies don’t have to be in pastels! This one uses DK weight yarn.

If you want to get a little fancier, check out Sammy Bristow’s Georges Blanket. This one alternates blocks of stockinette stitch with boats and anchors made by purling on the right side of the blanket. It calls for DK weight yarn and has multiple sizes for dolls through toddlers. Check it out on Ravelry.

Another cute texture is this heart blanket with diamonds that are a little reminiscent of argyle. Yarn Sonata Patterns has this one, which is worked in DK weight yarn and comes in four sizes. It includes a chart and row by row instructions.

Or try the pretty Seton Portage baby blanket from Knitted Wishes, which has a border of trees and textured stitches that look like snow falling. The pattern includes different options for snowflakes and doing a mirror image of the trees on each end of the blanket. It’s worked in worsted weight yarn. This one includes charts, written instructions and video tutorials for special stitches.

Next Pattern:

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