Knitting

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Let The Fur Fly…

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While searching for the perfect project to start my 3 pre-teen granddaughters on, Be Still And Knit boldly marched right up and saved me!

Isn’t this too fun? And talk about a stash buster, knit on size 13 needles, it would be a pretty quick knit also.

These three girls are all roughly the same age, the twins will be 11 in Dec. and the other will be 11 come April. And I have no doubt they’ll all come up with something totally different. One will be girly girl, one will most likely be sporty and the other will be a mish mash of favorite colors.

Can’t wait to get started!

What projects have you used to teach young’uns how to knit?

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Comments

  1. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this idea! I got caught up in the fun fur phase when those silly little scarves were all the rage and find that I now have a ton of the stuff. This is an absolutely perfect way to use up the yarn in a very useful way (I hate to waste anything). I’ve been using the fun fur as trim for baby sweaters, etc. but this project will make a significant dent in my fuzzy stash of yarn! Thanks so much for featuring it!!
    Patricia

Have you read?

Knit a Spiky Balaclava

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]