Knits for Mardi Gras

I guess Mardi Gras isn’t really a big crafting holiday, but at this point I’ll take just about any excuse for a party. I’ve knit a couple of Mardi Gras-themed projects in the past, including a fun knit bead necklace and a fleur de lis washcloth.

Searching Ravelry for more inspiration brought me another cute I-cord necklace from Craftown, a wee Mardi Gras sock (perfect for a keychain) from Lisa Diesslin, a cute washcloth with a mask pattern from One Crafty Mama and an actual knit mask by Heather Storta. Suzy Crancer also has a fun loopy hat knit in Mardi Gras colors, which of course you could make in any other colors or wear any time of year.

If you’re willing to pay a bit for a pattern, Purlqueen Patterns has some fun, colorful Mardi Gras party bangles ($6); Ray Whiting has a reversible cable, invisible intarsia scarf (which would be fun techniques to learn for a scarf of any color and will run you $8.50); and I love the Mardis Gras Crown washcloth from Emily Jagos that will cost you $1.79.

Do you knit for Mardi Gras? I’d love to hear what you’ve made!

Next Pattern:

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]

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