Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Review: The Art of Landscape Knitting

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Nature has a lot to offer in the way of inspiration to artists, and knitters are no exception. Anne Le Brocq used textures from the sea, forest, mountains and more to develop textured stitch patterns she shares in her book The Art of Landscape Knitting.

The patterns are arranged in different themes: terrain, beach, forest, mountain and weather. Each section includes patterns that evoke different things you might find in those areas. For example the forest section includes patterns designed to look like beech, maple or oak tree trunks, as well as large, medium and small versions of the leaves of each of those trees. There are also designs with a mix of leaves. The weather chapter has designs for rain and a variety of clouds.

Each of the patterns is written out in words and shown in a chart. You can work an individual square and combine different patterns into a blanket, or work a pattern as a panel to combine with panels of other stitches and colors, or you can knit a blanket using one allover pattern. The stitches are mostly all knits and purls so they are suitable for knitters of any skill level.

In addition to the blocks themselves, there are seven blanket designs that combine elements to show you how it might be done. You can stitch them as presented or sub in your favorite designs to make a blanket all your own.

The blanket pictured on the cover is called Sunny Beach, and it uses six different designs that can be worked either as individual blocks or in panels. Other designs evoke a summer mountain, stormy beach, bluebells in the spring woods, the deciduous woodland, a snowy mountain (the only blanket shown worked in a single color) and a pebbly beach. A few of the patterns can be see on Ravelry.

The patterns as shown use DK weight yarn, but you can use heavier or lighter weight yarn and adjust your sizing accordingly to make a blanket or squares the size you want.

These patterns are pretty and are sure to get knitters thinking about how to preserve their local landscape or a treasured place in knitting. You could make a cloud-covered baby blanket, a throw covered with fall-colored leaves, or a beach scene complete with footprints, pebbles and waves.

About the book: 144 pages, paperback, 50 swatches and 7 blanket patterns. Published 2023 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

 

Have you read?

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.