Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Patterns are Stash Too!

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I am a pattern collector. I’ve downloaded every free pattern on the internet at least 3 times. I’ve classified them, filed them, drooled over them, and promised all of them that they’d be next. All of them. Yeah, you heard that right! Because I have 75 hours every day that I can devote to knitting. (what? You don’t?)

And, with the seasonal changes, my knitting mojo has returned. This is a good thing. It’s probably the impending fall weather. (i say impending with a grain of salt because the other morning when I rode my bike to work it was just barely not frosty. The actual temp registered was 35. Yup. 35! But we’re used to that up here, and its just a stark reminder that the white stuff is right around the corner.

So what do I have on my list for fall and winter knitting? A Trendsetter sweater that’s due the 3rd weekend of Sept. And since it will be on display and not just on me I might frog it and re-knit. Just to get a closer to gauge fabric. Then there’s a really cool jumper from reynolds.
Oh, and since we’ve already established my addiction to the Red Wings, and hockey season is albeit 6 weeks away, there’s got to be a hockey project……

I’ve always kind of used my patterns as a guide, rather than a standard and just figure it out as I go. Seat of my pants kind of gal! The kids say I do that with recipes too.

For example, on the almost done, really cool hoodie, it was supposed to be a pullover but I wanted it to be a cardi. No problem! I’ll do a bit of math (which I’m allergic to by the way) and split the front. I don’t want to be bothered with knitting a band later, so I’ll add the extra stitches on each front. Originally (after I changed it) it should have been knit in 3 pieces (2 fronts and the back) but I don’t like seaming so I started to knit it in one piece. Oops, this will need the stability of a side seam so we’re back to 3 pieces. The recipient is a tall girl so I knit it in a small women’s size and go down a size in the needles.

There is a point to my rambling…
Don’t be afraid to change things up a bit. If it doesn’t work out, chances are you’ll know why and how to fix it next time.

What’s on your winter knitting list? Leave me a comment here at knitting.craftgossip.com and let me know!

T.

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

Comments

  1. Since I knit this year’s Christmas Ornaments in January (I’m weird like that), I’m scarfing up dishcloth patterns. So far I’ve completed 3 different designs and have another half-dozen to knit through. Since I’m the only one in the family who knits/crochets/tats, handmade items are highly fought over during the family White Elephant Gift Exchange. I can’t wait!

  3. oh my gosh it’s like you climbed into my head and wrote down what i go through on a daily basis!

    my fall/winter knitting will consist of like ten sweaters. all for little kidlets, so don’t panic and think i’m the greatest american hero at knitting. i am not. i want to do something vaguely February Baby Sweater, but sized up to fit gals anywhere from one year to nine years old.

    all by christmas.

    while i write for Recycled Crafts here, my personal blog, and try to work full time and take college classes.

    so by november, can you please send someone to pull me out of the fetal position i will most likely be in?!

  4. My knitting list will probably have fingerless mittens and some headbands to make with destashed yarn. A couple of baby hats for gifts. Actually, it’s all gifts I think.

    I’ll check my ravelry list to see what I noted there and my huge list of patterns saved on my harddrive, too.

    Since I started crocheting, I’ll add amigurumi animals and some ornaments to my list, too.

    I always have to have a project in my bag in case I’m left waiting for my kids during their afterschool activities.

  5. I thought I was the only one!!!!
    My daughters make fun of me and my 8 superlarge binders of free patterns for knitting and crochet.
    But when they are looking for something to make, say a hat, and they go to mom’s hat pattern binder it’s not funny right!

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.