Knit Jewelry Knitting Patterns

May 11, 2023 by Sarah White Leave a Comment

The other day I saw this gorgeous knit wire pendant somewhere on the internet, and it got me thinking that I hadn’t written about knitting jewelry in a while.

While you can knit with wire to make bracelets, necklaces and pendants, you can also use yarn, with or without beads, to make knit jewelry. There’s really something for everyone! Here are a few fun patterns to get you started.

Since I fell down this rabbit hole thanks to the wire mandala pendant from Katherine Walters, it makes sense to start there. This is a free pattern on YouTube (the link is to part one but there are two parts) that uses 16 gauge and 26 gauge wire to make a pretty round pendant. You can add beads in a couple of different places if you like, or keep it just wire.

Probably the easiest bit of knit jewelry you can make is this simple fidget bracelet, made from a tube of knitting with a marble inside. You can get the free pattern on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen.

While we’re on the subject of bracelets, this plaited bracelet from Janelle Martin is a great use for leftover bits of yarn. The pieces are worked in linen stitch and braided together with button accents to make a really cool cuff. You can get the pattern from Ravelry.

Or try the BCBC bracelet, which uses a cable instead of braiding separate strands. You can use any yarn at any gauge for this pattern, which also has a button closure. It’s designed by Molly HatChick and you can get it on Ravelry.

Laura Nelkin has so many great beaded knitting jewelry projects I don’t know how to pick one, but I did. Mingle is a little beaded cuff that can be either knit or crocheted. You string beads onto the embroidery floss before you start knitting, then slide beads into place when you need them. These look great in a stack, and would be a great gift for a tween or a teen who loves sparkle. You can get the pattern alone on Ravelry or buy a kit from Nelkin on Etsy with beads included.

How about a knit necklace? This cable braided necklace from Olga Jazzy is super cute and easy to stitch, and it could double as a headband. It’s actually made from strips that are woven together so no cable experience is needed.

Or if you want something a little fancier, there’s the Dulce mio necklace from Petra Breakstone. This one is on Ravelry, and it’s a little bit of garter stitch lace worked sideways. It’s a really quick knit and you can try it on as you go to ensure it’s the perfect length for you.

Knit Kits Wire Jewelry Patterns

Knit a Heart Pendant for Valentine’s Day

Fun Things to Do that Aren’t Exactly Knitting

Knit a Simple Chain Link Necklace

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Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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