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Learn to Steek with this Coaster Knitting Pattern

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Steeking is a cool knitting technique that allows you to knit colorwork in the round even if the project you’re working isn’t fully circular (for example you can knit a cardigan in the round with a steek, then cut it open to make the opening of the sweater).

Anything that involves cutting your knitting can be a little intimidating, but the Sheepy Steeky Coasters from Michele Bernstein are a great way to get over that fear.

You work two coasters at once in the round, joined with two steeks, which you then cut open and finish the edges. You can get four coasters out of two balls of yarn, which should give you the confidence to steek a bigger project after.

Grab the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Michele Bernstein.]

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Have you read?

Stacking Stars Knitting Pattern

There are so many things I love about the Stacking Stars pattern from Frankie Brown.

First, it looks like a kid’s toy, which it totally could be, though the intent is to stack the stars into a Christmas tree bit of decor.

I love the rainbow gradient, which makes it all the more cheerful, and serves as a reminder that, while you can plan out your colors beautifully, you can also use your stash for your own brilliant hodgepodge of a star tree.

It includes patterns for nine different sizes of stars, from 2 inch to 6 inch, which makes the perfect pile to look like a tree. What’s more, these stars are worked in garter stitch, so it’s a pretty easy pattern, even if you’re new to knitting. And the stars are solid, so not only can you use them to make your own amazing stack of a tree, you can make more to decorate packages, use as Christmas tree ornaments, make a darling garland, or all of the above.

The pattern calls for DK weight yarn but of course you could play with the yarn weight, too, to make stars that are even larger or smaller than the ones shown. And the bigger ones are made by just working more repeats, so you could continue to work as established to make larger ones to suit all your crafty purposes if you like.

Frankie’s patterns are free on Ravelry, but they ask that people who enjoy their patterns send a donation to the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. Through the years they have raised more that £26,000 for the charity, which helps families of kids with liver disease. You can donate to Frankie’s fundraiser here. They have tons of great holiday projects and other designs you can check out on their designer page on Ravelry.

[Photo: Frankie Brown]

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