Who Says Knit and Purl Can’t Be Stunning?

The headline is pretty much the post on this one, but let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?

When you first learn to knit you usually will learn how to knit and purl and then you learn to combine them in stockinette stitch, and then patterns with knit and purl in the same row, like ribbing.

And from there of course you can move on to more complex things like cables and lace, but essentially you’ve learned what you need to know to make all sorts of fun stitch patterns by working knits and purls.

Lest you think knitting and purling alone is boring, allow me to direct your attention to the Gable Wrap from Purl Soho.

This lovely pattern by Gianna Mueller is worked from one short side in alternating parallelograms of knit and purl stitches, which has a really pretty effect when worn.

The pattern includes options for making a scarf or a shawl, depending on how much you want to commit to this project. I feel like it would be a pretty meditative knit, but it’s not fast, as it calls for fingering weight yarn.

The yarn called for in the pattern is a cotton and linen blend, but you can use whatever fingering weight yarn you like. This blue is gorgeous, though! I think this project would be great in wool or a wool blend to make it more of a winter wearable (though it’s so big it would probably be plenty warm regardless of the kind of fiber you use to make it).

The pattern includes written row by row instructions as well as charts, so it’s a great way to practice chart reading if that’s a new skill for you.

The Gable Wrap pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

This free knitting pattern falls in the category of cute but maybe not essential, as well as a nice way to use some yarn left over from another project.

The Briggs St. Fruit Hammock from Mycah Knits is beginner friendly because it’s a big rectangle worked in stockinette stitch on larger needles than the yarn would usually call for (size 11 US/8 mm for DK weight/weight 3 yarn) to provide more air flow around the fruit.

The idea behind a fruit hammock like this is both that it saves you counter space since it’s meant to be mounted under a cabinet and that air flow around the fruit helps prevent moisture from getting trapped below the fruit, which should keep it fresh longer. They’re also just cute and keep your fruits or veg accessible so hopefully you will eat more of them.

This pattern also includes I-cord handles, which is how you hang the hammock, and you’ll need to be able to pick up stitches for them, but that’s the only beyond beginner skill required in this project.

It only uses about 25 grams of yarn, so this is a perfect project for using a little something left over from another project. It would also be cute with stripes, so you can use odd balls from several projects. Or make the I-cord with a contrasting color to add a bit more fun if you like.

The designer does recommend using acrylic yarn for this project because it shouldn’t stretch out of shape with use and is easy to wash should your aspirations for eating fruit outstrip your reality. But they also provide tips for testing the stretch in a yarn you want to use and adjusting the pattern to account for that.

I don’t have a space in my place for this but it is super cute and a fun way to add knitting to the home, which I’m always a fan of.

You can grab the free pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: Mycah Knits]

Have you read?