Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Try a Fun Technique to Make These Helix Mitts

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try these fun helix mitts worked in a spiral that's joined as you go.I love it when readers share their projects with me (you can do it by clicking “suggest a DIY” at the top of the page) because it’s just fun to see what everyone is up to and to get to share those techniques with all of you.

I’m really intrigued by the Helix Mitts from Knitting and So On. They start with just two stitches, and thanks to increases, short rows and clever connecting, the mitts are made like a spiral that wraps around the arm and hand with a thumb hole.

They’re just really clever, and pretty in the self-striping yarn used in the sample. I just may have to give this one a try!

[Photo via Knitting and So On.]

Comments

  1. Thanks! I think I need to try this one, too. “Knitting and So On” has several interesting patterns, and I’ll be spending some time on her Patterns page. It looks like she’s a fan of Frankie Brown’s patterns, as am I.

Have you read?

Knit a Classic Aran Cardigan with this Free Knitting Pattern

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time. 

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring. 

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. 

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row. 

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves. 

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body. 

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy. 

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn. 

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]