Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Knits from Outer Space -Knitting Patterns

by

With all the excitement surrounding the Pluto flyby this week, I thought it might be fun to look for some knit representations of space. I didn’t find any knits celebrating Pluto specifically, but there’s lots of fun space-themed stuff out there.

Of course we can’t talk about space and knitting without at least a brief mention of Space Invaders. The little aliens from that classic video game are perfectly shaped for knitting, and there are lots of Space Invader themed knits out there. Two I really liked were this tam from Erica Grønntun and Emily Sontag’s double knit Old School Space Invaders Scarf.

The Illusion Knit Space Scarf by Andrea Blumberg uses a fun technique to make a design that features a rocket, planet and stars you can only see when you look at the scarf just right.

If you love knit hexipuffs (like on the Beekeeper’s Quilt) check out the space-themed charts from Louise Lavender. There’s a rocket, a robot, a moon and Jupiter, and you could use them on other projects as well (I’m seeing them along the bottom of a sweater for a little person).

I also love SJ Griffin’s Moon and Star Socks, which feature lovely stranded colorwork and would be really warm as well as fun to wear.

If you’re willing to shell out a few bucks for some fun patterns, also check out the Little Ringed Planet pattern by Dawn Finney (it’s $2.50) or the super cute Aliens from the Planet Flangelzwat by Liz Wray (somewhere around $4).

Next Pattern:

Comments

Have you read?

Knits with Sheep

It felt like it had been a while since I’d done a roundup of knitting patterns involving sheep, and if search is any indication, that is true. I found a roundup of patterns for knit sheep from a few years ago, but the only one with v I could find is from 2015. So it’s definitely time to revisit this fun genre of knitting patterns.

This all started with a headband. Alyssa Kaat’s Icelandic Sheep Headband (free on Ravelry) to be specific. Ravelry showed it to me as a pattern highlight and I couldn’t resist taking a closer look. It’s worked with two colors of worsted weight yarn and alternates sheep with stars around your head.

Another great sheepy headband is this one from Loch Fyne Crafts on Etsy. These sweet little sheep are worked in bulky yarn and you can make the background look like field and sky or work it in a solid color.

Or make a headband (or a hat, cowl, or all three) covered with a flock of sheep with this set of patterns from New Age Knitting CA. These pieces also use the field/sky coloring, but you can use whatever colors of worsted weight yarn you like.

Speaking of hats, there’s also the sheep hat from Lynann Knits Designs. The sample was worked in Icelandic wool to make the sheep and the hat extra fuzzy and warm, but any worsted weight yarn will work.

There’s also the Wandering Sheep hat from Kat Hudon (on Ravelry), which features a fun collection of speckled sheep that can be worked in different yarn weights to make different sizes of hats for kids and adults.

And lest you think sheep need to be knit in traditional stranded colorwork, check out the Rebel Sheep Mob blanket by Deborah Moore. This one is worked in mosaic knitting using fingering weight yarn. In mosaic knitting you’re only working with one color per row so it’s pretty easy. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

I can’t possibly share sheep knitting patterns without mentioning the amazing Black Sheep Shadow Shawl by Mark Jamieson. Shadow knitting is a technique I want to do more of, but it involves working two rows alternating in two different colors and the pattern emerges when you look at the design from an angle. It’s so cool and the sheep on this one are amazing! It’s not a beginner project but well worth the work. You can find it on Ravelry or at the designer’s website.