New Knitty is Here!

It doesn’t quite feel like time for spring and summer patterns, but it is time to get them on the needles so you can enjoy the finished projects in the right season. And there are plenty of beauties in the latest issue of Knitty, which just came out.

There are lots of great patterns, and I’m seeing tons of pins for the lovely Regenerate shawl, a project inspired by renewed growth after devastating earthquakes in Australia designed by Mary-Anne Mace; and one of my favorites, the lace-backed Icarus tank, designed by Leah Goldstein, which may be the perfect project for spring into summer.

I also love Sarah Alderson’s Kali vest, worked in a fun slip stitch pattern; and the Octopodes socks from Jennifer Raymond, a toe-up design with an octopus on each foot. You’ll also find tips for reading Japanese knitting patterns, videos for working magic loop and knitting with two circular needles at once, and much more.

I’d love to hear which projects are making it into your queue!

[Photo via Ravelry.]

The butterfly on this piece — the Owl Butterfly Playmat by Sophie’s Stitches — caught my eye before I even knew what the project was. Now that I’ve give it a closer look I’m still not 100 percent sure what it is meant to be for, but I still love it.

I think it’s maybe to give you a flat surface to roll dice or play cards on, but there are no images of the project in use so I’m just speculating on that. If you know what it is, be sure to let me know!

What it physically is is a worsted weight mat (the sample is worked in cotton) that measures 14 by 24 inches, or 35.5 by 61 cm. The impression I get from the pattern notes and the photos is that you knit the rectangle plain and the butterfly is stitched on after using duplicate stitch, which is provided as a chart.

Of course you could choose to knit some of the colorwork as you go, either using stranded knitting or intarsia techniques, or maybe some of both. It just looks like a lot of duplicate stitch (and it is!) so knowing me if I were making this project I’d probably try to knit some of it instead of stitching it all.

The pattern also suggests that you can knit a second plain mat to sew on the back and cover up all the yarn ends, as well as making the mat thicker and a little more stable. There’s also a photo that shows fabric sewn to the back, which is also a good option if you have some fabric that has a bit of grip.

I like the graphic on this one enough I might just make it as a table pad for our entry way table. You can always make the mat part a different dimension, just make sure you’re centering the image if you do.

You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Sophie’s Stitches]

Have you read?