Knit a Knight! Transform a Cozy Cowl into a Fun Costume Helmet

I love it when knitters are inspired by each other’s projects. It’s always great to me to see other people use my knitting patterns, but especially so when they do things with them that I’d never thought of.

I imagine that must be the way Jennifer Weissman feels when she sees this project from Laura Turnbull.

Laura took Jennifer’s Architexture Cowl and added a sort of hood so that it looks like a helmet for a suit of armor (albeit a cozy suit of armor!).

To look at Jennifer’s project first. The Architexture Cowl (which you can buy on Ravelry) is a worsted weight (she says you could also use bulky to make it bigger) kind of bandana cowl, where there’s a point at the center front but the back is just straight rounds. It’s worked from the bottom up and includes easy textured stitches and lots of ribbing at the top to make a cozy cowl.

The pattern includes written instructions and charts if you want to use them.

Laura chopped off some of the ribbing at the top and changed it to close fitting hood (or helm, as they call it) that includes shaping for the head and the face. I love the little triangle on the forehead that mimics the shape of the bandana part of the cowl. And this new section uses the same stitch patterns as the original, so you’re not doing anything new there.

The addition to the original pattern is a free download on Ravelry, but you’ll need to buy a copy of the original pattern, too, in order to make the project.

This piece just looks so cool and would be great for a role playing or con situation, or even just to wear to keep your head and neck warm when it’s cold outside. You do you.

[Photo: Larua Turnbull]

7 Knitting Patterns For Your Pet

Knitting Patterns – Knit Costumes for Halloween

It’s a common complaint among women and femme dressing folk that our clothes do not include enough (and enough useful) pockets. And even if your clothes do have good pockets, there’s always a chance that you’d rather have another pocket to put some essentials in rather than having to carry a whole bag.

But because we are knitters, we can take this problem into our own needles and knit ourselves some auxiliary pockets.

Beatrice Mase did just that, with a kind of fancy toolbelt pocket accessory that they call VELVET Pockets.

The stitch pattern has a plush, sort of velvet effect, thus the name, but it’s worked with regular fingering/sock weight yarn. (The sample uses wool, but you could experiment with other fibers, too.) It calls for 776 yards of 710 meters, which you might just have in your sock yarn stash.

The pattern includes several pockets of different sizes, with the main body of the pocket worked flat in one piece and the exterior pockets sewn on at the end. You also have the option of adding screw rivets and a coordinating clasp that make it look even more toolbelt chic.

The design is worked with a loop of knit fabric at the top so it can slide onto a belt. The pattern includes explanatory diagrams, photo and video tutorials and is adjustable to fit different sizes of belts.

It’s almost enough to make me want to start wearing belts again, even though I haven’t for years. Because who wouldn’t want a few extra little pockets to hold things when you don’t have enough to really justify carrying a bag around?

The pattern is available in English and French on Ravelry and you can also buy a kit complete with the yarn, rivets and clasp (the pattern is not included in the kit) direct on Etsy.

[Photo: Beatrice Mase]

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