Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Play with Fisherman’s Rib in This Fun Long Vest Project

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Brioche knitting has been popular for a while now, but I feel like maybe fisherman’s rib is starting to catch up in terms of seeing it more in patterns. They have a very similar look but a lot of people feel that fisherman’s rib is easier. (I do, too, and I know a lot of people love it because one of the most popular posts on my blog is a fisherman’s rib scarf.)

Both brioche and fishermans rib make a kind of thick, squishy fabric that might not feel appropriate for hotter weather, but the Yapa vest by Cecilia Lalanne and Maria Cano for Maos del Uruguay definitely feels like something you can wear when the weather is warm.

It’s worked flat in pieces from the bottom up, so you can make it any length you like, but I like this long version. It uses two different colors of their Alegria yarn, which is a fingering weight blend of merino wool and polyamide, which brings a little coolness to the party (as do these pretty candy colors).

The pieces include integrated I-cord edging, which makes the finishing that much easier. All you have to do is sew the shoulder seams together and join the sides as much or as little as you want. (As shown the color change and the armhole shaping mark the border of where the sides are joined, but if you don’t want such a deep armhole or split hem you can sew up more of it.)

The pattern comes in eight sizes ranging from a bust circumference of 34.5 to 56.5 inches, or 88 to 144 cm. It looks best with a few inches of ease and is shown here with 4.5 inches/12 cm of positive ease.

This is a free pattern available as a download on Ravelry.

If you need help learning how to knit fisherman’s rib, check out my post on the subject.

[Photo: Manos del Uruguay]

Fisherman’s Rib Scarf Knitting Pattern

Knit a Bunch of Comfort in this Fisherman’s Rib Blanket Knitting Pattern

Fisherman’s Rib and Brioche Stitch: What’s the Difference?

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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.