This Simple Knit Tray Will Have You Thinking Spring

I love having knit things in my home where I can use them all the time. It’s a reminder that what I do is useful, for one thing, but it also lets people know when they come to my home (if they didn’t already know) that making and using homemade things is important to me.

I don’t have any of the brilliantly colored Isaac Mizrahi yarn that Made by ChrissieD used for her Knitted Tray (alas, the nearest Michael’s is an hour away), but I think I may need one of these trays, anyway.

It uses exactly one skein of yarn (which is only 79 yards, so I’m sure I’ve got some super bulky in my stash that would work, and you probably do, too) and its worked in a square and for shallow rectangles for the sides, so it’s a super simple and quick knit, too.

Do use use knitting (or crochet, or sewing) to make baskets, trays or other storage vessels in your home? I’d love to hear about them!

[Photo via Made by ChrissieD.]

Next Pattern:

You probably know by now if you’re a regular reader (and if you’re not, welcome!) that I love a knitting pattern that’s a little silly or a little different from the usual. Classic patterns are great, too, but sometimes you just want to make something with a bit of whimsy. And when it’s super functional, too, that’s even better.

That’s the case with the Bananen-Socken pattern from Susanne Shahin. These banana socks are one of those patterns no one seems to be totally sure where it came from, and this free pattern on Ravelry explains how she makes them based on how she learned it.

It’s a sock that’s curved and when not on a foot it looks rather like a banana. There’s no heel, and you can use whatever number of stitches you need to make it fit your foot. If you’ve knit enough socks to know how many stitches you like you can just use that number, or the pattern notes include sizing charts to help. (It needs to be multiples of 2 for the ribbing.)

After working a traditional cuff, the body is made with ribbing on the back and welts (or what the pattern calls horizontal ribbing) on the front, which is what gives it the curved shape. There’s no heel, but there is toe shaping, but for the leg and the foot you just keep working the same pattern as long as you like.

I’m a little skeptical about how these socks will feel with ribbing on the bottom of the foot, but I’m definitely intrigued and will probably give them a try.

The pattern notes are available on Ravelry in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. If you head to the pattern page you can see a photo of what it looks like on a foot, and it just looks like a normal sock.

Have you ever knit banana socks or do you want to now? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: Susanne Shahin]

Next Pattern:

Comments

Have you read?