Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas
We all hate when people steal out ideas and even worse our knitting patterns but I had to mention this Fendi “inspired” bag created by Cara. One can argue that it’s not copyrighted as it is different from the original, including the handle style. The point is it’s adorable and I am sure we all are going to have a go at making it.
When I discovered Kate Atherley’s book Circular Knitting for Beginners and Beyond, I wasn’t sure there was enough to say about circular knitting to fill a book. It’s a pretty short book (144 pages) and includes 10 patterns to practice working in the round on small projects, and it provides a decent introduction to the various ways of working in the round.
The book covers using double pointed knitting needles, flexible double points and circular knitting needles with cables. It talks about working using the full circumference of a circular needle and various ways to work smaller circumference projects, such as using DPNs, magic loop and knitting with two circular knitting needles.
In addition there’s a discussion of preventing problems like twists and ladders, swatching in the round without actually swatching in the round, grafting, blocking and weaving in ends.
More specialized techniques likes knitting from the center out, stranded colorwork, helical knitting and jogless stripes are also explored, as well as working pieces like socks or mitts two at a time.
There’s also some information about seamless sweaters, including the different sweater designs that can be worked seamlessly (and why you might want seams in your sweaters) and how they are worked from the top down or the bottom up.
There are 10 patterns in the book, including a basic stockinette stitch cowl and one with a deliberate twist, wrist warmers, mitts and a pair of colorwork mittens, a hat worked in a solid color or in helical stripes, toe up and top down socks and a beret. It would have been nice to have a basic sweater pattern, too, since the book does talk about working larger garments with circular needles, but it’s still a nice collection of basic patterns worked in the round.
If you’re already comfortable working in the round in different ways, I’m not sure there’s much for you to learn in this book, but it is a good reference for people learning circular knitting or who maybe haven’t tried all the techniques yet or need skill building projects to try.
About the book: 144 pages, paperback, 10 patterns. Published 2026 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.
the Clara BeBe site is closed? here is the message: Please take note that i have removed the blog and sales sections.
I have been and would still be busy for quite sometimes.
Hopefully I would be free to pick up my knitting soon. Enjoy crafting!
You still can access and join the Knitters Community, a crafts discussion board 🙁
What a shame her blog is gone, I wonder if it was due to copyright and fendi issues??
I love Fendi and searched and searched and cannot find anything on Clara BeBe site other than she closed her site. What a shame! Maybe this would have been the closest I would have gotten to owning a Fendi. 🙁 Maybe one of you clever users can find Cara!
Damn..the blog is gone 🙁 I so want the pattern..do you by any chance have this pattern?? I love the pink bag you made..looks so so pretty…..so wanna make it 🙁
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The closest pattern for the Fendi bag is at berroco.com (free pattern fantissimo and crystal)with some adjustments I think it will be very close.