Knitting

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Playing with Texture

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Knitting patterns using lots of textured stitches.Lately I have not been feeling stockinette stitch all that much. I mean, it’s quick and easy to knit, but it just doesn’t have a lot of personality. Maybe after knitting all the projects for a book that was mostly stockinette (thanks to it being a book on color knitting) I’m a little burned out.

Or maybe I’m just looking for something more interesting to keep me entertained through cold winter evenings knitting in front of the TV.

If you find yourself looking for something a little different, too, here are some projects that have caught my eye recently.

This Chevron Shawl from Yarnspirations is fun because it uses a chevron that switches directions, and a slightly shiny yarn for a bit of extra fun (though this would also be great in a plain wool, or even in cotton yarn for a super casual look).

Speaking of chevrons, the Zigzag Throw (shown as a shawl) is a beauty in jewel tones, and pretty quick and easy to knit thanks to bulky yarn. This is definitely one that would keep you plenty warm.

The Baby Alpaca Hues Cowl pattern from Plymouth Yarn uses a fun diagonal rib stitch to add texture to a fluffy multicolored yarn. And the Basketweave Afghan, another one from Yarnspirations, is a great way to keep warm with a pattern suitable for even beginner knitters.

Do you like to add texture to your projects with stitch patterns or are you more of a stockinette and garter kind of person? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Krampus Sweater Knitting Pattern

Santa and Saint Nicholas generally get all the good press, but Central European kids know you don’t want to just be good so you get presents from St. Nicholas; you also want to avoid the ire of Krampus. (He’s depicted as a human-like figure with horns and usually hairy or furry who gives birch rods instead of gifts to kids who are bad.)

If you’re the type to embrace the naughty side (or you just want to scare the children into good behavior over the holidays), maybe you’ll want to knit a Krampus sweater.  

This one, from Sofie Amalie Laulund, is a top down circular yoke sweater with Krampus faces at the top and cavorting Krampuses further down the body, with some traditional Scandinavian snowflakes thrown in for fun. 

Because of the large motifs there’s not a lot of room for adjusting the fit, but it is available in five sizes (the Ravelry page doesn’t say what the sizing is, and it says its worked with no ease but the photo looks like the sweater has a bit of positive ease, so if you decide to make this one just check the measurements and your own comfort level for ease when picking a size). 

It also uses five colors, but there’s very little red and brown so you can probably use scrap yarn for those parts. It calls for DK weight yarn. You’ll want a background color that helps the creatures stand out. You could also work the snowflake bands in different colors if you want to mix it up. 

The pattern is available in both English and Danish, and you can find it on Ravelry. This is the designer’s first pattern, which kudos to them because it’s such an ambitious (and fun!) project I’m happy to add to my collection of whimsy-filled knits. 

[Photo: Sofie Amalie Laulund]