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]

Book Review 200 Fair Isle Motifs: A Knitter’s Directory

Free Knitting Pattern Northen Lights Fair Isle Sweater

Fair Isle Knitting For Beginners

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Not too long ago I was seeing a crochet pattern for a glasses holder shaped like a bear all over the Internet. It was super cute, and also useful as a place to put your glasses on your bedside table instead of just throwing them somewhere random.

This project stewed in my brain for a little while and I decided I needed to make a knit version, but I didn’t want to make a bear. If you know anything about me you might know that I’m a cat person, so of course my version had to be a cat.

The base is just a basic little basic worked from the center out to the desired size, then up the sides as long as you want them. Knit some ears and add embellishments to make it whatever kind of animal you want.

The way I figured out to work the base from the center out was to use a crochet cast on, which gives you an easier way to pick up stitches from the back of the cast on than if you worked a more traditional cast on for a knitting project. It’s kind of fun to do things in a different way from time to time.

This little project is adorable if I do say so myself, and even as a plain little basket not made into an animal it’s a cute way to keep your glasses or other little things in one place. I’m tempted to make one for my desk to hold pens or even little little scissors and sewing needles that are always on my desk but somehow always seem to get lost on my desk.

If you need a little holder for your glasses on your table, check out the pattern at Our Daily Craft.

[Photo: Our Daily Craft]

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