Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Things That Make You Go…. “Awwwwwww…”

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baby-vest-and-socks-091027-134131Imagine if every baby was this happy wearing hand knit garments!

This adorable set is from Red Heart and uses Heart and Sole with Aloe yarn from Red Heart.

For sock lovers looking for an affordable sock yarn with something special, Red Heart “Heart & Sole” yarn is a terrific option. Infused with all the wonderful properties of aloe vera, “Heart & Sole” can soften your hands as you work with it, and you’ll notice your needles & hooks gliding even more smoothly along each strand of this fiber gem. Effortlessly create socks, scarves, gloves, shawls, tops, sweaters and more with auto-striping & faux Fair Isle patterning. Also with a higher nylon content than most sock yarns, easy-care “Heart & Sole” has incredible snap-back features for excellent shaping & long wear. Beautifully crafted in Italy of 70% superwash wool & 30% nylon.

The pattern for the baby vest and socks is free here:  http://www.bargainyarns.com/yarn/Heart_Sole-Babys_Holiday_Vests_Socks_WR1960_Free-5151.html

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Felted Bag Knitting Patterns

I feel like felting is a knitting genre that deserves a resurgence. My first knitting book (which came out in 2008, eek!) was all about felting, but I don’t feel like there are a lot of felting knitting projects out there these days. I really like the technique as an easy way to make a thicker, more durable knit fabric, and it’s actually perfect for knitting bags.

The ZZ Bag from yamagara recently caught my eye and got me thinking about felted bags, and maybe remaking one of the bags that was in that book. This one has a fun zigzag pattern and is worked in worsted weight yarn. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

A lot of the other knit and felted bag patterns I could find were older, but that doesn’t make them bad patterns. I’ve always loved the booga bag from Black Sheep Bags (the pattern is on their website but the photo is broken so you can also check it out on Ravelry). This is a fun one because you can use all your leftovers or a self-striping yarn (the original was made with Noro) to give it a colorful look that’s super easy to knit. 

An envelope purse is another easy shape to knit, and this version from Lavender Hill Knits on Etsy comes in different sizes for younger girls and teens or adults. The small version is worked with one strand of worsted weight yarn, while the larger uses two held together.

The Japanese knot bag is a classic, and a felted version is a lot of fun. You can find this pattern from Cindy Pilon on Ravelry and knit one for yourself using bulky yarn. I also love her bag The Curve, which is also on Ravelry and has a fun rounded shape and contrasting handles.

And there’s also the amazing stained glass bag from Knitting Dream, which also uses a Noro yarn, but you could use wool scraps on the different fans to give it a unique look. There are two size options to choose from and it’s not as tricky as it looks.