Knits for Canada Day

I know most people are probably thinking ahead to the Fourth of July, but just before we get to that holiday there’s Canada Day. Whether you live in Canada or just are a fan of maple leaves and hockey, creating something with a Canadian theme can be a lot of fun.

Here are a few projects to get you started.

First off there’s my Canada Coaster, which is a quick and easy knit that’s great for a backyard picnic or for protecting the table on hockey night. The Canada Day Placemat and Can Cozy from Knitca use red yarn and textured stitches for the maple leaves, making them good projects for newer knitters. Sue Sedlack’s Oh Canada Coffee Cozy worked in two colors is a great way to show your Canadian pride and keep your beverage warm.

Other projects for the home include the Garden Maple Leaf Dishcloth by Melissa Bergland Burnham, Audrey Ritchie’s Illusion Knit Dishcloth and the Maple Leaf pattern from KnitHit, which could be used on a dishcloth or washcloth.

The O Canada Toque from Amiable Knitting is pretty easy and really quick thanks to the giant yarn and needles used, while the Maple Leaf Earflap Hat by Michele Meadows has a really cute finishing detail in that the edging is worked in alternating colors of crochet. Add some of her Maple Leaf Mittens for a complete Canadian ensemble.

Katherine Matthews has a cute beaded cuff worked in a maple leaf pattern that would be lots of fun to wear to a baseball or hockey game or a Canada Day celebration.

This Felted Canadian Flag from Sabrina Thompson would be great as a little home decoration, or try a sweet Canadian Flag Garland, designed by Kristen Cooper. The mini sock from Denise Powell is really cute, too, and would be a great addition to your Christmas tree as well as a decoration for Canada Day.

Looking for more Canada Day Patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

Next Pattern:

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.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply