Play with Textures in the Doodles Sweater Knitting Pattern

I know summer is still a ways off where I live, but I’m already starting to think about/long for the garments I’ll want to knit and wear during the warmer seasons. If you happen to live somewhere it’s already the warmer season, maybe this one is for you.

The Doodles sweater by Yumiko Alexander strikes me as warm weather knitting because it’s semi translucent, light and airy. They used a yarn that’s a silk and cotton blend, which is perfect for luxurious summer knitting.

The pattern is worked flat in rectangles from the top down, and uses different stitches and techniques to play with different textures. It’s worked in knits, purls, eyelets and slipped stitches, sometimes with two strands of yarn held together and sometimes with a single strand for a more ethereal look.

Sleeves are optional and look to be knit separately from the body. You can choose more of a kimono-style sleeve or a sleeve that’s gathered at the cuff, and you can make the sleeves as long or as short as you like.

It’s a boxy boat neck design that’s super easy and comfortable to wear over a T-shirt or other lightweight top. The design comes in four sizes ranging from 45 to 57 inches (or 112.5 to 142.5 cm), which should tell you it’s meant to be worn with a fair bit of positive ease. The pattern doesn’t specify how much ease is recommended but you can use your own measurements and how much ease you tend to like as a guide.

The pattern also has three options for length so you can make it cropped or longer (the length options are 19.5, 22 and 23.75 inches, or 48.5, 55 and 62 centimeters).

This sweater looks like it would be a lot of fun to knit and to wear, and it will teach you some lessons about different ways to manipulate stitches to get a different look.

You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Yumiko Alexander]

Book Review Wilderness Knits: Scandi-style sweaters for adventuring outdoors

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.

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