New KnitNet Is Out!

I ran across KnitNet around the middle of last year. It’s an online knitting magazine, published 6 times a year for a very modest price. You get 5 or 6 patterns in each issue (this current issue has socks, scarves and sweaters), industry news, new products reviewed, lists of guilds, knitting techniques and book reviews, lists of charity knitting groups, and lists and lists and lists of resources.

This particular issue features cables, such as the sweater pictured.
Knitnet also has a free e-newsletter you can sign up for.

StreetKnit, a group of knitters in Toronto who knit items for homeless shelters is mentioned. “Down at The Pump, a pub in our University of Toronto neighbourhood, knitters are gathering every Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. to chat and knit for StreetKnit, which collects new hand knit items to be donated to the various shelters and homelessness groups across the city. As the group’s Web site says, We can’t knit shelter, but we can do the next best thing.

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.

Have you read?