KnitBits: New Pattern Collections, Geeky Crochet and More

If you’re looking for something new to knit this weekend, you’re in luck. Knitting Daily has a new free collection of five chunky knitting patterns (must be registered to download, which is free), while Yarnspirations has issued a lookbook full of free (knit and crochet) patterns that are perfect for charity knitting or other gift giving. There are little hats, baby blankets, regular-sized blankets and some hat and mitten sets in this sweet collection.

Stranded magazine is a new digital knitting magazine that has just released its first issue. The magazine includes six patterns, as well as tips on choosing the right size in a knitting pattern. It costs $16 and is available from their website or on Raverly.

And if you’re looking for something special to stitch for a mom in your life (I’ll have more on that soon), check out these project ideas from Red Heart. I love the Laid Back Shawl.

The Classic Silk Faux Cardigan (it’s actually a pullover because it doesn’t have buttons) from Classic Elite Yarns is a great choice for spring knitting, too.

I can’t resist this article about mathematical crochet, because it’s just really cool to me that things that can’t be visualized otherwise can be expressed in yarn. (It works in knitting, too.)

And finally, Vickie Howell, who is everywhere and doing all the things, just launched a knitting and fiber-related podcast this week. Called Crafti-sh, three episodes have been released for the launch, including talks with knitter and novelist Rachael Herron, Knitter’s Review owner and author of the recent book (and New York Times bestseller!) Knitlandia, Clara Parkes, and Stephen Frasier of Spoonflower. So fun.

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

Over the years I have shared a lot of pumpkin knitting patterns, and I’ve knit and crocheted a lot of pumpkins myself. But it feels like there are always more fun things to try with knit pumpkins, so this year I wanted to look a little more beyond basic stockinette or ribbed pumpkins and share some pumpkin patterns with cables, bobbles and colorwork.

In the cable collection we’ve got these cute little basic cable and ribbed pumpkins from Elly Bear Knits. There are two sizes that make a wide, flat pumpkin and a taller round pumpkin. Both are worked in the round as a tube that’s cinched top and bottom when you’re done, and they use bulky weight yarn.

Another cute cable pumpkin knitting pattern comes from Gray Bear Akswokrat. This one is knit flat and it looks like a chunky yarn but you could use other weights to make pumpkins of different sizes. This one also has an I-cord stem and uses yarn to cinch up the sections of the pumpkin, giving it a more natural look.

Add some bobbles to your pumpkins with this design from Autumn Shelter Makes. Also worked in the round in a tube, it features a repeating pattern of bobbles and uses yarn wrapped around the outside to make segments. This one looks like worsted weight yarn to me.

Of course there’s nothing that says your pumpkin has to be a single color, so let’s throw in some colorwork. I love the look of the Cozy Fall Pumpkin knitting pattern from South Stitch Girls. The little leather loop adds a rustic touch but you could also just add a stick. These pumpkins have five colorwork options and are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round.

There’s also the Autumn Fair Isle Trio pumpkins pattern from Equestriann Style, which has three different sizes of pumpkins with four colorwork designs. They are worked in super bulky yarn in the round and look good with high contrast or more muted color combinations.

Have you read?