Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Looking for a Challenge for the New Year? Join a Knitalong

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There are lots of potential New Year’s resolutions a knitter might have — and I’d love it if you’d share yours! — but one thing that’s fun and a way to build your knitting skills is to join a knitalong.

You can find all sorts of knitalongs on Ravelry, related to everything from knitting a particular kind of garment or project to knitting along to “Downton Abbey” or another television show. (And of course they’ll be whatever they decide to call the knitting marathon that happens to coincide with the Winter Olympics.)

Knitalongs can be events where you choose the pattern you want to knit, sometimes along a theme (like 1920s inspired, or socks), or where you are knitting the same pattern as all the other participants (these are often run by the designer or a yarn company). Then there are the mystery knitalongs, where you don’t really know what the finished object is going to look like until you’ve knit it. These always sound a little scary to me.

But I recently heard about one that Underground Crafter is doing in 2014 that could be a lot of fun for newer knitters. It’s a mystery sampler that will take you through basic knit and purl stitches on to cables, bobbles and more fun techniques. In all there will be 25 blocks, and there are monthly prizes for participants, too.

Would you ever take part in a mystery knitalong? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Comments

  1. the mystery sampler sounds like a lot of fun, and a way for a new knitter to get some practice on the basics.

  2. KALs are so a great way to take the mystery out of a project especially if you’re newer to knitting. I really like them because good ones explain how to modify patterns to fit, or adjust garment dimensions to suit.

    I hadn’t realised you get KALs for programmes! Great concept.

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Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.