Knit Matching Colorwork Hat and Mitts

I love a good matched set of knitting patterns (though now that I think about it, the only matching things I have are a shawl and a pair of mittens I worked in the same yarn). They’re great to knit for gifts or to make for yourself, and kind of give you an extra air of being a maker because matched sets like that aren’t that common in stores.

The Wavebreaker hat and fingerless mitt pattern from Francoise Danoy features a take on the Ng?ru (wave) pattern in traditional Maori designs, evoking the swirling waves caused by a canoe paddle going through the water. The intent is to bring a sense of calm, both in the knitting and wearing these objects.

The repeating design, which looks a little bit like hearts on their sides, is repeated in bands of different background colors. You’re still only working two colors at a time, but if you’d rather you can always work the background in a single color.

The pattern uses sport weight yarn in three colors total. The hat is 20 inches around and the mitts are 7 inches around, so both should fit a small to medium woman. Both have ribbed edgings for a good fit.

The patterns are sold as a set, and you can get them with their pay what you can model on Ravelry.

If you’re new to stranded knitting, I’ve got a quick Fair Isle tutorial on my blog. Looking for more fun stranded colorwork patterns? I love these Summer Picnic Socks (which of course don’t have to be just for summer if you stitch them in different colors) and the Kenora Cowl pattern is perfect for the cold time of year because it’s knit with a lining layer that covers up your floats and brings an extra layer of coziness to the project.

[Photo: Francoise Danoy]

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Fair Isle Knitting For Beginners

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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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