Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knit Yourself a Puzzle Cube

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I say this a lot, but I love it when people knit things that surprise me, make me think or make me laugh. This one kind of does all three! It’s not a new pattern but I think it’s worth taking a look at, and it would be a super fun stash buster to keep on your desk as a fidget.

It’s also a great conversation starter because this is the knit version of the Soma Cube (which also happens to be the name of the pattern), which was invented by Piet Hein in 1936 while he was listening to a lecture about quantum mechanics.

There are seven different pieces of various shapes that can be fitted together to make a cube. But the really cool thing is that there’s not just one way to put it together, there are in fact 240 different solutions! So you or your kids or anyone who happens by can play with it over and over and come up with different ways to make the cube.

It looks like this project is made with worsted weight yarn, though the pattern page on Ravelry actually doesn’t say. It looks like people have used fingering weight, DK and worsted weight yarns, which would make cubes of different sizes but the pieces should fit together all the same. There are even a couple of crochet versions!

I was looking at different projects and one person commented that it’s worthwhile to knit the pieces in the order they are given in the pattern because some of the later pieces are “strange and bewildering.” Which sounds like something I absolutely want to sign up for!

Despite the weird shapes there’s not a whole lot of finishing on each piece. The designers used polystyrene beads to fill their blocks, but you could also cut pieces of foam to fit.

The pattern is available on Ravelry.

[Photo: Pat Ashforth & Steve Plummer]

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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.