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Reasons to Knit Your Own Winter Accessories; What Are You Making?

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reasons to knit your own accessoriesNow that it’s almost Labor Day in the United States, it’s starting to feel more like fall even though the temperatures are still pretty warm where I live.

But if you want to have new knit accessories for the season, now is the time to start!

And if you need motivation for getting out your needles and some cozy wool, check out this post from Bustle with seven reasons to knit your own accessories for fall and winter.

We could make our own list, of course. You can get things that fit or are just the length you want (in the case of a scarf), make them in your favorite colors, use real wool if you want, add more colors and custom designs than you’re likely to find in purchased items and have the pride of “I made it myself” when you wear it. To name a few.

Do you like to knit your own hats, mitts, gloves, scarves, etc. for the season? I’d love to hear what you’re planning. I’m planning some pattern roundups so I’d love to know what sorts of patterns you are looking for.

As for me, I’m knitting a simple scarf right now and I really want to do a pair of mittens for me, and probably the girl as well. I think she needs a new hat, and there’s a sweater that’s been on the needles much too long I’d like to get done this fall. And, and, and…

[Photo from Fairmount Fibers via Bustle.]

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Comments

  1. Right now, I’m knitting a lace scarf and pair of fingerless mitts to go with my new winter jacket that I bought on clearance last Spring. After that, I might try knitting some Christmas stockings. My mom has asked for a set of stockings for her mantle, but I’ve never knit them before

  2. It’s still mid-90’s here, but I have the urge to knit some gloves. It’s about the only thing I personally find useful for winter here. (I put on gloves before I put on long pants! Gloves usually keep me warmer.) I like to knit my own to make them exactly the right size, and I usually don’t care for the color trend of the year, or the usual dull colors they give you as alternatives to the trend color.

Have you read?

Knitting Patterns for Pride

It seems like every year there are more rainbow colored (and other flag hued) knitting projects out there to celebrate Pride. Whether you celebrate at a local event or just want to add some more color to your wardrobe, these Pride knitting patterns are a great place to start.

See also these Pride knitting patterns, tiny Pride flags, and more rainbow projects if you need more inspiration.

These Pride socks from Birger Berge are a free pattern on Ravelry. They feature a rainbow flag on the heel and toe, plus stripes on the cuff with the word Pride and a heart worked in. 

Or you can Put Some Pride in Your Step with these allover colorful socks from Oriahna WhimsyStitch. Using a self-striping fingering weight yarn, they have a spiral rib on the legs and come in three sizes. The pattern has suggestions for if you don’t have self-striping yarn to use. You can find it on Ravelry.

Amy Snell’s Pride Like the Wind is a triangular shawl that uses slipped stitches to add texture to the multicolored stripes. The pattern was made with a large skein of rainbow colored yarn and mini skeins in rainbow colors, but you can use stash or whatever you can find in theose colors for a different look. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

Pride and Elegance is a pretty pair of rainbow striped arm warmers made by martaschmarta. They call for fingering weight yarn and have sparkly beads incorporated at each end for extra flair. This pattern is also on Ravelry. 

Pride in Parallelograms by Treena Evans is a mobius knit cowl worked in a multicolored ombre yarn. It calls for DK weight yarn and is a free pattern on Ravelry.

Stephen G. Krueger has designed a lovely kippah/yarmulke pattern that can be worked in the colors of any Pride flag you like. The pattern is free on Ravelry and uses fingering weight yarn.

And if you want to make a full progress flag in knitting, you’ll need the modular progressive Pride flag pattern from Kim Smith for Alterknit Universe. The pattern comes in two sizes using different weights of yarn to suit your needs, and the modular style of the project makes it seamless. You can purchase this pattern on Ravelry.

If you want to add a touch of Pride to a sweater, wall hanging or other project, the abstract waves chart from Hits Knit Patterns is a great place to start. It uses the colors of the lesbian flag, but you could change it to whatever colors you like (there are six colors used and the chart is 49 stitches by 80 rows).