Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Log Cabin Knitting Patterns

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When it comes to meditative knitting, I’m not sure there’s much better than log cabin knitting. You start with a garter stitch square, then add a few stitches and knit another strip, pick up stitches along the sides and knit some more and so on. You can make small squares or go on forever to cover a bed, a couch, the world with log cabin knitting. 

I learned how to knit log cabin blocks from Ann Shayne and Kay Gardiner, who I feel like really popularized log cabin knitting back in the mid-oughts. (Their log cabin baby blanket pattern is available for free and you can find the link on Ravelry.)

But there’s a lot more to log cabin knitting than blankets. I mean, I love a good log cabin blanket and it was one, specifically Meet Me at the Cabin by While They Dream, which uses my favorite colorway of Lion Brand Ferris Wheel yarn, that got me thinking about log cabin knitting just now. But let’s take a look at some other options. 

I’m sure I’ve shared them before, but no log cabin knitting post would be complete without talking about Karen Templer’s log cabin mitts, which are free on her website. These pretty modular mitts are shown worked in three colors, but you could make each square a different color if you like, too. 

A log cabin style scarf would also be fun, and this one would go quite well with the mitts if you worked them in the same colors or not. This design from Hey Jude Knits uses a multicolored yarn to make it easier, and uses other shapes like mitered squares to make the modular design. 

I’m also delighted by the Walled Garden Vest by Sonja Bargielowska, available on Ravelry. This cropped, worsted weight vest has a split hem and a folded rib collar. It’s available in 10 sizes and I definitely want one now that I know it exists. 

From there it’s a quick jump to a sweater, like this one knit up in tons of texture from Knit Collage. Here the front is worked from the center out, while the back has stripes and is joined to the front as you knit it. The sleeves are striped and worked in the round once the body pieces are done. The pattern has nine sizes. 

OK, and one more blanket because this one makes me smile, too. Add stripes to your log cabin pieces to bring even more color to the party, as in this log cabin baby blanket from The Knitting Niche. It uses chunky yarn though you could do the same thing with different weights and just knit to the size you like, to cover baby or anything else. 

 

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Totoro Knitting Patterns

We’re a big Studio Ghibli household, and while they are sometimes very protective of their copyrights (as evidenced by the number of patterns on Ravelry that were removed from the service when it received a takedown notice back in 2021), there are still a fair number of Totoro knitting patterns (as well as other designs I’m sure we’ll get to someday). Let’s check them out!

Yaya Labs has a cute plush Totoro that looks like it might stand up on its own. The pattern is available on LoveCrafts, and it calls for DK or light worsted weight yarn in four colors. The pattern is considered advanced but it does include a photo tutorial. It stands 10.6 inches or 27 cm tall.

A similar pattern can be found a Shino Craft, which doesn’t have the leaf hat but does include little hands, and the legs aren’t as separate from the body. This one calls for sport weight yarn and is knit flat on two needles. 

All Made Here has a Totoro pouch that is super cute and looks pretty easy to knit. It measures 14 by 18 cm and is rated for advanced beginners. You can get the pattern when you subscribe to updates or follow the designer on Instagram. 

Stitch Totoro on a sweater with the Totorogenseren sweater from Anna-Sofia Vintersol. This free download on Ravelry uses worsted/aran weight yarn in two or three colors. The pattern comes in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 77 to 149 cm. 

The Forest Spirit Fair Isle Jumper from Kraft with Kindrex features a row of Totoros on the circular yoke, along with other little colorwork designs. The design includes three sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 91 to 101 cm. It calls for 4 ply (that’s fingering/sock weight in other parts of the world). 

Or you can stitch Totoro as part of a project with more Ghibli characters, as on the Magical Anime Knit Sweater (a longtime bucket list item for me) from The Bearded Sewist. This on has a circular yoke and rows of different characters including Totoro, Ponyo, soot sprites, Calcifer and more. The pattern comes in four sizes and is rated intermediate/advanced. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can grab a copy on Ravelry. 

Or try Katharina Kuntz’s Anime Scarf, also on Ravelry. This one is a double knit scarf worked in fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover designs from Studio Ghibli movies. She started by knitting the movies in chronological order but gave that up after she realized all her favorites would be in the middle and therefore not visible when worn. You can probably rearrange the motifs further somewhat if you want to showcase your favorites.