What’s Your Favorite Thing You’ve Ever Knit?

I’m not sure this is a question I could answer, but what’s your favorite thing you’ve ever knit?

One of my favorites is definitely the Color Belt Sweater (Ravelry link) from my Colorwork Knitting book, because I’d had that design in my head for years and it came out just the way I wanted. It always makes me smile when I wear it.

Or maybe it’s the first pair of toe-up socks I knit, which fit perfectly and made me think I should always knit socks toe up (I don’t, but I do love that style). Or it could be the hat I knit my daughter while she was in the NICU, or the Harry Potter robe I knit for her birthday one year, or the blanket that’s on her bed that she loves so much. Or any number of sweaters I’ve knit and loved to wear through the years. Or the giant wool blanket I snuggle under on the couch every winter.

Point is: don’t make me chooose!

The Guardian, for reasons I’m unsure of, recently asked some people about their favorite knitting projects, or the ones that bring them the most pride, and their answers are way better than mine. They’re all sweaters, which I love, and they have very different stories. There’s an amazing sweater with a colorwork parrot on it, a couple of sweaters the knitters designed themselves, and a sweater that inspired a matching garment for a dog.

These stories are worth your time because they’ll make you feel good about being a knitter. And if you’ve never knit a sweater before they just might inspire you to make that your next project.

I would love to know what your favorite project is, or what you’ve made that you’re most proud of. Or if you’re like me and can’t name just one! Let’s talk about it.

[Photo from Kirsty Nottle via The Guardian.]

One of my favorite things to make on a circular knitting machine is scarves, because they’re a great way to use leftover yarn and certainly faster than knitting by hand.

But if you pay attention to the colors you’re using and how you are using them, you can make fun knitting machine scarves that look like something different when you roll them up.

One of the first versions of this I saw was the sushi scarf, are there are a lot of variations on this one. For example this one from Flower and Anchor that uses five colors of yarn, or this one from Three Threads NE that uses four. These generally are made to look like California rolls, but you could change up the colors to make them different things if you like. Just make sure the outside of the “roll” is black or green to indicate the nori. I found another version on Pinterest if you’re looking for a free pattern, but there’s no image of it rolled up.

Another popular variation is making a scarf that rolls up to look like a mug with coffee, tea or another fun beverage inside. This collection of three mug scarf circular knitting machine patterns from Idaho Cottage Creation includes green tea, a pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream and a candy cane colored confection (which honestly reminds me of the Grinch since it has a green mug!). Again you can change the colors of the mug part and the drink part. The little handle looks like it’s crocheted on these, and it doubles as a loop you can thread the scarf end through when you wear it.

Again there’s a version of the green tea scarf on Pinterest with crocheted elements. I also found a latte done with a striped yarn and a red mug that’s pretty cute and gives you an idea what a different beverage would look like.

I also love this pumpkin pie scarf designed by Jodi Favish Saunier. It has a bit of crocheted edging to give it a fancy crust but you can omit that if you don’t crochet. These are all on Facebook but she also has a watermelon and lemonade pattern that are super cute.

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