Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Mother’s Day Gift Hints

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Mother’s Day is this weekend! If your mother or grandmother or mother-in-law is like me, they would enjoy gifts related to their hobby.

I am always running out of room to store my projects and thought these items fromKnitting Warehouse are great! There are so many choices and are not overly expensive.

How about getting a good set of circular needles? She would then have most of the desirable sizes available at her fingertips. The Knit Picks et is a good choice.

A very good idea that keeps on giving is a magazine subscription to her favorite publication. There are many to choose from, but my favorites are Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting and iNknitters

if none of these suggestions work for you, then you might consider a gift card at her favorite yarn store. Mom, or Grandma can use the card for a class or even to add to her yarn[/tag] stash!

Update 05/11/07 I just spoke with an individual at INknitters magazine.  It seems that due to hurricanes in Texas, where they are located, they will no longer publish the magazine.  However, back issues of the magazine will be available in approximately one month.  Check INknitters website for updates.  I am sad to see the magazine cease publication.

Have you read?

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.