Stitch Along with Yarnspirations on a Summer’s Worth of Bags

Yarnspirations is hosting a three-week, three-project knit and crochet along (three patterns for each craft), with Vickie Howell providing the knit patterns and Mikey of the Crochet Crowd sharing the crochet projects.

Starting June 29, you’ll be able to pick up one free pattern a week for a different beach bag, with videos to help you with the techniques. Stitchers who join the stitch along formally have until August 15 to finish their bags and share pictures for a chance to win prizes. There will be a prize for each weekly bag and a grand prize for someone who makes all the bags (I assume just all the knit or crochet bags, not all six).

Winners will be chosen at random from entrants who meet the requirements. Weekly prizes will be 20 balls of Lily Sugar’n Cream, while the grand prize winner will receive one ball in every color that’s produced.

Bags can be made in any color but must follow the instructions, and photos must be submitted via email in order to be in the running for the prizes.

The knit bags that will be part of the stitch along are: the Market Bag, Poolside Tote Bag and Sea Breeze Bag. My favorite is the Sea Breeze Bag, which looks really simple and quick to knit with all those elongated stitches, which also makes it perfect for the beach because sand can get out.

I’d love to know if you plan to participate or if any of the patterns caught your eye!

[Photo via Yarnspirations.] Looking for more patterns? Check these market bag patterns out on Etsy.

It feels like it’s too early to be thinking about back to school, but as I write this my daughter has just a couple of weeks of summer left! So let’s get in that school and fall knitting spirit by looking at some apple knitting projects.

If you have a 22 needle circular knitting machine, knitting an apple is one of the easiest things you can do. I have an apple pattern over at Our Daily Craft that will take you just a few minutes to knit and they’re a great addition to your fall decor.

Apple hats are a classic, and whether you want to knit a hat that looks like an apple or one with apples on it, we’ve got you covered. For hats that look like apples check out the rolled brim version from Emma Crochet Design 4 U, which uses worsted weight yarn and comes in sizes for kids of all ages; and the ribbed brim version from Hand Knit Hugs. This one also calls for worsted weight yarn and comes in four kids sizes. Both include a stem and leaf.

If you’d rather have apples on your hat, try the Red Apple Hat from Little Red Window. This one is sized from newborn to 2T and calls for four colors of worsted weight yarn.

How about apple socks? You’ll find Ariel Chang’s Apple Picnic Socks as a free download on Ravelry. These use three colors of sock yarn and come in three sizes. Stone Knits also a pair of stripey apple socks that show the inside of the apple. These also have three sizes but they use six colors total, with the main color being a self-striping yarn.

If you want a little apple accessory for the house, the apple potholder from Nifty Knitter Designs is cute and a great way to practice double knitting. It uses two colors and you’ll find the colors in the reverse on the other side. The pattern only uses about 50 yards of each color of worsted weight yarn, so it’s a great use for odd balls, too.

Once you’ve got your double knitting skills sorted you can also try the double knit apple scarf from Crow and Chai Shop. The Winter Apples scarf is shown in red and gold, but you can use whatever colors you like. There are apples, stars and random stitches in the design, which calls for DK weight yarn. There’s also a matching fingerless glove pattern.

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