Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Knitting Stuff Giveaway!

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Part of cleaning out my various knitting baskets/boxes/rooms/stashes… involves finding things that I currently have no use for. A lot of these things are new, some slightly used, none will be damaged. They may or may not include books, patterns, needles, yarn, gadgets, whatever I find and throw in the box by Dec. 31, 2008 will be shipped off to a lucky commenter!

So comment away, just be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Slipper/boot update. I felted the first part last night. Something went wrong, part of it felted beautifully, part of it  not. Remembered I changed yarns halfway through the foot, so tonight, I’ll cut that part out, and sew in another piece, knitted and felted from the same yarn as the rest. Also the fuzzy white yarn at the top? Yeah, not so good. So I’ll maybe spin some white yarn to replace that, or maybe not, depends on how ambitious I get. Stay tuned for more updates!

Don’t forget to comment!

Comments

  3. Good luck with the felting! I’ve been wet felting some dreadlocks for a project and the merino wool isn’t cooperating.

    I hope I win the stash – I gave most of mine away in the move out and I’m just barely starting over.

  5. I love knitting.
    I don’t care for felting. I hate seeing all the hard work and beautiful stitches get smooshed.

    I am working on my own stitch design for a baby – car seat afghan. I like reversible stitches – where both sides of the item looks nice.
    Sheryl

  8. Win or lose, I’ve really enjoyed the posts you’ve given us since taking over this little gem on the Internet.

    Felting. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. They should call it animal fleece-based karma experience, don’t you think?

  11. I always find that getting rid of things I no longer use always energizes me, for some reason. Count me in for the giveaway. I’m not a knitter…yet, so if you have anything that could get a beginner started…pick me.

  15. I use so many leftover pieces of yarn as I do picture knitting (intarsia) and make up cushions and wallhangings. At times you really only need a small amount of a colour to finish up a project but have to go out and buy a full ball to do it. I would love to take up your leftovers and they would be put to good use.

  17. A mystery giveaway – involving fiber goodness – what better way to start the new year? Thanks!

  18. I sympathize with the felting not working! I just ripped out (3rd time) a cowl/hood for my mother-im-law! This time it will not be twisted, too tight, or too stiff!
    I’d love to get some of your excess knitting stuff- please enter me.
    Thanks and luck.

  19. yippee! yay for fluff! our family has moved cross country 3 times in the last6 months (lotsa. moving. yep, military.), and i have not been able to find a good yarn shop yet. i would LOVE to get what you don’t need, as i am currently suffering from new yarn withdrawal. thanks for the chance at this!

Have you read?

Knit Little Fish to Use Your Yarn Scraps

I rarely understand why something becomes a trend in crafting. Gnomes and geese are both cute I guess, but I never thought we’d be making them for all seasons. (See, for example, this collection of gnome knitting patterns, or these knit geese.)

Another one I don’t totally understand is sardines or little fish more generally. Sure, they’re cute, and the shape is fun, but I had no idea when I was sharing this pattern for a fish-shaped pouch last year that it would become a hugely popular pattern that people are still searching for on the site. It is pretty cute, though, so if you weren’t around then or don’t remember you should got check it out. 

Recently another fishy knitting pattern crossed my monitor: the little knit fish from Classical Songbird Designs. 

Just as the name suggests, these fish are little, about 4.5 inches or 11 cm from end to end. They look like little sardines and take about 12 yards of sock yarn to make. 

You can even make a two-tone fish and use just 6 yards of each color. 

This sounds to me like just about the perfect use for the yarn that’s left over after knitting a pair of socks, or a mini skein or several that have been sitting around unused in your stash. 

The fish are knit flat in one piece, which makes it easy to stitch on the eyes with more yarn or embroidery floss before stuffing, and you can stitch up the sides while you stuff (though it’s not a very big piece so you could probably stitch and then stuff, finishing with the end of the tail). 

Because I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one wondering, I measured an Altoids box and as the pattern is written the fish are a little too big to fit in it (the box is about 4 inches/10 cm long). But you could make the fish a little smaller if you want to make a box of them. Or just make a fishy bag to put them in!

You can grab the free pattern for the little knit fish at Classical Songbird Designs. 

[Photo: Classical Songbird Designs.]