Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knitting and the Olympics

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hannah kearneyThere’s no question that knitters love the Olympics, if for no other reason than that they allow us to sit for hours in front of the television, knitting, in the name of patriotism. But knitting and the Games are connected in other ways.

One of the most shared images from the first full day of the Games (for fiber lovers, anyway) was the picture of the Finnish snowboard slopeside coach knitting at the top of the course. Word has it the coach and players are working on a scarf that will be handed off to Finland’s Summer Olympic team when it heads to Rio in 2016. How cool is that?

I’ve been told there are a few knitters among the contenders for Team USA (and no doubt for other countries as well. Figure skater Gracie Gold knits and snowboarder Jamie Anderson crochets (check out a piece with her from Interweave Crochet), as well as 2010 Olympics gold medal winner in women’s moguls, Hannah Kearney, who I actually interviewed before the Games last time around.

Another fun knitting and sport connection comes through Jimmy Beans Wool and Coats & Clark, which are the official yarn suppliers to the U.S. snowboarding and freeskiing teams, which means they get yarn, needles and patterns. At some ski events there’s even a tent where spectators and competitors alike can learn to knit.

And of course there’s the Ravellenic Winter Games, a challenge that has competitors knitting (or crocheting, spinning, whatever) a project between the time the Opening Ceremony happens and the end of the Games. I always want to participate and then have a million other things going on at the time, but I’m doing book knitting right now so the odds are good I’ll start and finish a project or two in this time frame.

How are you celebrating the Olympics? Do you watch and knit? I’d love to know what you’re working on!

Comments

  1. My Ravellenics event is Finishing — as in, getting the WIPs out of hibernation and doing whatever it takes to get them done, and as many of them as I can! I’ve washed & blocked two pieces, and woven in the ends, and completed the first of a pair of armwarmers (elbow length — what was I thinking?) and started the second. Tonite I’ll wash & block a wrap, so I can get the buttons on it before the Closing. And I’ll get out the sewing machine (!!!) to apply a ribbon facing to a cardigan so I can put snaps on it. Whew!

Have you read?

Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.