Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Jazz Up Your Projects with Tassels

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If you’ve been reading this page for very long, you probably know that one of my obsessions (or shall we say interests?) is using yarn stash as much as possible. I have an unreasonable stash, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one, so whatever we can do to use a little more yarn in each project seems like a good thing to me.

And one way to use more yarn on a project or as a totally different standalone thing is making tassels.

They add interest to clothes, purses or any item you add them to. In jewelry making, they’re a perfect addition to boho necklaces, fancy earrings, purses, clutches and scarves. If you knit a pillow, blanket or scarf, you can add tassels to the corners to emphasize a color used in the project or just to add another color that ties into your decor or your favorite coat.

They are super quick and easy to make and can have so many different uses. You can make tassels for pillows, blankets or bookmarks, add them to back packs, purses or zip pouches.

Hello Sewing has a tutorial for making tassels out of yarn that includes a video to show you how it’s done. They also have a suggestion to make smaller tassels just but cutting a skein of embroidery floss, which is a great option if you do cross stitch or embroidery and maybe have a little more thread than you need (also guilty).

While their examples show using the same kind of yarn throughout the tassel, it’s also a lot of fun to grab a bunch of leftovers in the same color or coordinating colors to make a boho, multi-textured tassel that uses even more leftovers. These are great to decorate gift bags or even make a fun holiday garland if you use the same colors that are on your tree.

Get the tutorials from Hello Sewing.

[Photo: Hello Sewing]

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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.