Twist Collective Winter 2014

While I was away from my computer over Thanksgiving break the latest issue of Twist Collective went live, and if you haven’t seen it yet you’re going to want to head over there and look at the pretties.

Three knitting stories present more than 30 patterns full of woodsy warmth, shapes of gray and classic country styles. Articles include a drinking game for watching Elizabeth Zimmermann DVDs from Franklin Habit, a lesson on swatching brioche with Clara Parkes and a defense of mosaic knitting from Barbara Gregory. There’s also a profile of glass knitting artist Carol Milne by Lela Nargi and an update on raising goats from Amy King.

There are lots of great patterns here, but some of my favorites include Paramo by Wendy Neal, a pretty three-quarter sleeved pullover with triangular sections worked in a contrasting color; the delicate cable and lace V-neck Hyssop by Renee Callahan; Helene Rush’s Mad Dash, a jacket that uses multicolored brick stitch worked in different directions to set off the design; Radius by Julie Blauw, a close-fitting pullover with curvy, colored accents and a great little pocket; Kate Gilbert’s pretty two-color Masonry socks; Ashley Rao’s gorgeous two-color brioche cowl neck pullover, Epicenter; and the relatively simple but pretty cardigan Skyscraper by Nancy Vandivert.

Check out all the patterns on Ravelry. Individual patterns run $6 or $7 and you can buy them on Ravelry or direct from the Twist Collective site.

See anything you like? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo via Twist Collective.]

Looking for more Thanksgiving patterns check these out on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

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Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]

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