Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knitting Project Monogamy

by

This has to end. I’m declaring to an end to this. What is “this”? The random, willy-nilly casting on of new projects just because I have that yarn in my stash that would be wonderful knit into this, that or the other thing. Or I’ve come across a new pattern (usually free) that I can NOT live without the knitting of said pattern.

Enough! Take that knitting karma! I’m taking control. So I pledge the following:

1. I will not cast on for any new projects until the 3 that are currently living on my end table are done. All are in a ridiculously “so close to being done” state that I can surely accomplish this by the end of the year. I won’t have to make my forced fast last for too long.

2. I will take control of this ridiculous obsession I have with the fibery goodies. NO NEW CASTING ON! Hear me, Karma? Nothing new shall be cast on until the top of the end table is once again viewable (except the 2nd in the slippers, that doesn’t count).

3. Karma, I’m not sure you’re listening. I’m prepared to deal with you, bring it on, but you will not win with this one! Nothing like a war with myself to get the blood flowing!

There, now I’ve sufficiently jinxed myself and am surely doomed to fail. But I can fix that too. All I have to do is look for another pattern to start.

So, this was found: A free pattern for 3 different Tams, from Knitty! I had seen one made up in pale blues, purples and frosty whites. Gorgeous. And, yes Virginia, you do still have time to whip this up, unless of course you’ve tempted fate like I have and are in bed hiding under the covers!

And, what will be the next project I cast on for after my self-induced fiber famine? The Wisconsin Socks. Nothin’ like hand knit socks in worsted weight up here in N. Michigan!

Another shot to Karma, and most likely a blow to myself… all of my grandchildren (7 counting, I think) shall receive a hand knitted gift from me on their birthday this year, but, seriously, what in the world can you possibly knit for a 13 year old boy??

Comments

  1. 13 year old boy?

    I have a 13 year old cousin that I made the Half Pipe hat for as a Christmas gift. I’ve found that you generally can’t go wrong with a hat for a guy of any age (except my dad who isn’t a hat person).

Have you read?

A Shawlette with a Ton of Design Options

There’s a lot to like about the Eloise Bandana from Katryn Seeburger. This cute little colorwork triangle can be worked as a bandana or kerchief size or a bigger shawlette. 

It’s worked in two colors of fingering weight yarn so you can use whatever yarn you have in your stash and just make it as big as you can (since it is worked from the bottom up). 

You can see the two sizes from the photo, and also two colorwork options: strawberries and lily of the valley. 

But that’s not all the choices you have. In fact, there are 34 different charts you can choose from to knit onto your project. Some of the options include happy faces, a lobster, a pumpkin, a snail and a butterfly. There are cherries, peaches, tomatoes and radishes.

There’s even a blank square you can use to draw your own little design if you want to use something else. Or keep it blank and make it a plain checkerboard design. 

And while both of these shawls use the same icons throughout, you could also use different designs throughout if you want. Say a fall version with a bat, pumpkin, leaf and acorn, or a summer beach theme with sailboat, fish, lobster and a bird? I keep suggesting four different icons because the larger size has four rows of squares, but the smaller has three, so you could do stripes of the same icon or alternate a couple of different ones, whatever you like. 

Look through the finished projects on the Ravelry project page to see lots of different options, from rows to individual icons. There are also some projects that are smaller than the suggested size to make a smaller bandana. You could also keep going a make a bigger shawl working increases in the same way as you have been going. 

Check out all the details and grab a copy of the pattern on Ravelry. 

[Photo: Katryn Seeburger]