Learn Modular Knitting with This Fun Pattern

Sometimes as a knitter you start playing with yarn without a real idea of what you’re making or if it will turn into a project.

So it was with Tina Tse when she started playing with modular knitting, randomly putting together bits of patchwork knitting that eventually became a kimono-style jacket. She wasn’t writing down what she was doing, and then when she started documenting it she found the knitting wasn’t as fun anymore (been there) so her pattern is more of a formula for how you might use modular knitting to make your own garments of your choice.

The Home Sweet Home Formula “pattern” explains how to go about using modular knitting to create a project with Garter Stitch fabric that can be any size or shape you like, worked in stripes, solids or any combination.

Tina explains it like this:

It’s not about following rules. It’s about knowing the foundations and letting your hands move with the stitches. This formula will include all the foundations you need to create your one of a kind piece and I’m so excited to see what all of you make from it!

You can grab the formula — which includes guidance on making a cowl to get you started with the process — from Ravelry for $8.

[Photo: Tina Tse via Ravelry.]

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Check out these books dedicated to Knitted Cowl Patterns still looking for more cowl patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long.

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders.

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well.

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn.

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions.

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table.

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter.

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.

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