Knit in the New Year

December 16, 2014 by Sarah White

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.

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Pencil Knitting Patterns

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.