Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

New Sockupied is Here!

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sockupied summer 13If you need a bit of sock inspiration to take on the go, check out the latest issue of Sockupied, the interactive sock knitting magazine from Interweave.

This season’s issue includes a look at small knitting bags you’ll want to take on your travels and beyond, a collection of self-striping sock yarns and tutorials for a variety of ways to knit two socks at a time.

There are five patterns in this collection (my favorite is Zokni Kötés, inspired by Hungarian folk costume socks, with colorful bobbles worked inside the ribbing running down the leg) as well as a profile of sock designer Hunter Hammersen, who also has a design in the magazine.

The magazine is available for download on your Mac, PC or iPad for $7.99. It’s a lot of fun for folks who can’t get enough of knitting socks!

[Photo via Interweave.]

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.