Review: 25+ Potholders to Knit

When I think about knitting for the home, I usually think about things like blankets and pillows, but I also love knit washcloths, dishcloths and other items that I can use every day.

Potholders are a great thing to knit because, like washcloths, you can use all sorts of patterns and try new designs and techniques on them without having to devote yourself to a large project. They are great travel projects because they are pretty small, and if you knit them in cotton (which is really the best choice because it doesn’t melt or scorch in high heat) they’re even great summer knitting projects.

Lest you think that knitting potholders sounds boring, allow me to present Stina Tislius’ book 25+ Potholders to Knit: Classic, Playful, and Festive Patterns.

The book does have a lot of projects worked in Garter Stitch, but there is shaping or colorwork or something to make it more fun. The classic design, for instance, if just a Garter Stitch rectangle with crocheted edging (which is common in the book) to make places to hang the potholder from if you wish (in some cases the crochet also holds two layers of knitting together).

There’s a mitered square project and one worked on the bias. There are others with simple stitch patterns and colorwork. Some potholders are in fun shapes like a boat, a sheep, a ladybug, a troll (looks like an alien to me) and a monster. An oven mitt and projects shaped like hearts, Easter eggs and a ghost round out the collection.

Of course because these projects are worked in cotton you could use them as washcloths, too, which would be fun with the shaped ones. I also think they’d be great as appliques on another project, like the little boat stitched onto a baby blanket or pillow for a little boy’s room.

The book also includes basic knitting and crochet instructions for those who might need help with any of the steps involved. It’s a fun, pretty book with some great ideas that will fill your kitchen — and no doubt your friends’ kitchens as well — with knitting.

Book specifications: 116 pages, paperback with interior flaps, 29 patterns (by my count). Published September 2015, Trafalgar Square Books, suggested retail $19.95.

Next Pattern:

The other day I saw a post from Pinterest about trends for summer and it said one of them was “cultivating whimsy.”

Well, I don’t know where Pinterest has been all this time, but we’ve been cultivating whimsy here at Craft Gossip for a long time. I love sharing projects that are a little different, things that make you smile when you see them, and will make you smile when you knit them and wear them or use them.

Such it is with the Tutti Frutti tee knitting pattern from Bea Creative Knits.

This cute little baby tee is worked top down in the round with contiguous shoulder construction to shape the sleeve caps. There are short rows for the neckline and folded hems with picot edging at the hemline, neckline and edges of the sleeves.

All of this would be great on its own, but then there’s the addition of a super cute fruit icon, which is added with duplicate stitch. There are a lot of options, including strawberry, banana, orange, cherries, watermelon, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, peach, dragon fruit, apple and pear, so it’s likely you can add on your favorite fruit.

It is offered in eight sizes, to fit a bust measurement ranging from 28-30 inches (71-76 cm) to 56-58 inches (142-147 cm). The design is meant to be worn with around 6.3 inches/16 cm of negative ease, but you can choose the fit you prefer. There’s also optional bust and waist shaping included in the pattern if you want to make it even curvier.

This is considered an advanced beginner or intermediate project because of all the skills involved, but it’s sure to be a lot of fun even if some of these techniques are new to you.

Grab a copy of the pattern for yourself form Bea Creative Knits on Etsy.

[Photo: Bea Creative Knits]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?