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.

Oh, this one has proper old-Hollywood winter charm.

The Pembroke Coat is a vintage knitted coat pattern that instantly made me think of crisp winter walks, leather gloves, polished boots, and the sort of coat your grandmother would have casually worn while looking impossibly elegant. It has that beautiful longline shape, a classic collar, button front, sleeve tabs, pockets, and a smart plaid-style design that gives it such a tailored finish.

This is not a quick “knit it while watching one movie” sort of project — and honestly, that is part of the appeal. The Pembroke Coat is one for knitters who love a satisfying vintage knitting pattern with a proper garment construction feel. The updated PDF includes the original vintage reference image along with a modern mockup, which makes it much easier to picture how this coat could look in today’s wardrobe.

I especially love that this pattern still feels wearable. Made in grey, camel, forest green, burgundy, or navy, it would be a gorgeous handmade winter coat with that timeless “where did you get that?” look.

As with most vintage patterns, I’d recommend reading through the instructions first, checking your gauge carefully, and being prepared to make small adjustments for fit and modern yarn substitutions. But for confident knitters who enjoy heirloom-style projects, this is a really lovely one to add to the queue.

You can find the Vintage Knitted Coat Pattern PDF in the CraftGossipStore on Etsy.

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