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More Holiday Goodies from Red Heart

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holiday patterns red heartI’ve gotten way behind on Red Heart’s 12 Weeks of Christmas free patterns, so consider this your catch up if you’re not getting the emails yourself.

I love this Keepsake Stocking, worked mostly in a multicolored yarn with solid red at the cuff, heel and toe. There’s also the wee Fashion Sweater Ornament, which is a great scrap-knitting project you can make in any color and it will still be adorable on the tree.

And if you’re looking for a collection of knit and crochet patterns for Christmas rather than having to download them one at a time, Red Heart has also put together the free Have a Cozy Holiday ebook, which has 15 knit and crochet projects, many of which have been shared in this email series.

I’m finally starting to think about knitting holiday decor, are you? I’d love to hear what you’re working on.

[Photo via Red Heart.]

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Comments

  1. The link to the Keepsake Stocking isn’t working. (You need to remove the craftgossip.com stuff from the URL.) Thanks for posting these, since I’m not on Red Heart’s email list.

  3. I got as far as the right heel slipping the remaining stitches to the right needle. I’m confused by how I would Join B and work over the first 12 stitches. There were seven right heel stitches left (in Color B), and then I would have to work stitches that were on the stocking part.(Color A)I’m frustrated and want to finish this…Anyone help me?

Have you read?

Knit a Garter Stitch Blanket with a Twist

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]