Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

My Newest Project – Ooooh I’m In Love!

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You know how some yarn is totally made for a particular set of needles and then a pattern jumps in the mix and you have Utopia? Well this is the story…

So I got some new yarn from Knit Picks, it’s the Wool of the Andes Tweed. Actually the color I got isn’t the blue that’s shown in my project, but more of a purple heather, (Indigo Heather below); not sure why my camera freaked out and changed it to blue. But, I’m totally in love with this newest yarn. It’s a worsted weight, so knits up nice and quick (as compared to the socks on 1’s and 2’s). It’s a cross between Peruvian sheep, Corriedale sheep and Merino. It also supposedly felts beautifully, this I don’t want to find out about just yet. The wool has a nice sturdy feel to it, meaning, it’s not flimsy, and it holds up really nicely to tinking (don’t ask… I’m not over it yet).

This is a lot closer to the actual color: Indigo Heather:

I’m knitting this vest pattern (more on the pattern later….):

Cool, eh? But what’s really neat is for the first real project, I’m using my new Harmony Interchangeable Needles, also from Knit Picks. I’ve used them for swatches before and to try them out, but didn’t have a “new” project to try them out on until now. (read between the lines: don’t switch needles in the middle of a project….).

I just love the Harmonys. Of course they’re pretty, but they just feel nice too. Don’t like to use steel or other metal needles, the Denise plastics are nice too but with a natural yarn, you need natural needles, no? The shafts seems to be a bit longer than other circs I’ve used (and yes, unless it’s dpn’s, I use circulars exclusively) and the tips are just pointy enough to capture the knits and purls, without being dangerous. And for some unknown reason, my hands don’t get tired quite so quick. I’ll be exploring this theory more in the future….. just sayin’……

My next project will be another pair of socks, this time on the Harmony DPNs rather than my bamboos. I’ll be excited to see if I love them as much as the interchangeables! Now, got to get back to my new love!

 

Comments

  2. The first knitting project I ever knitted was knit with Wool of the Andes, and I too am so in love with this tweed–must get some!!

  4. If I remember right, it was Knitting off the Axis, by Interweave. I totally love how it turned out, and I wear it all the time. Very pretty!

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.