Winter Knitty is Here!

I love diving into a new issue of Knitty, though it does make me wish I could take weeks off from my current knitting plans and cast on a few new projects.

If I were to do such a thing, the first project I’d pick from this issue, I think, would be the fascinating Wraptor socks by Jeny Staiman. These stunners are worked flat in a self-striping yarn with long repeats and are stitched from side to side — sort of — ending with a long grafted seam that runs around the foot. This pattern is so detailed it’s been released as a 15-page PDF rather than on the website directly.

Other lovelies include the Whiteleaf pullover from Wool + Bricks, which is a pretty circular yoked sweater with leaf motifs worked in handspun; fecknom’s funny but super-useful Contempt headband, which is double knit with options that say I hate winter in English and either German, Spanish or Russian (there’s an I love winter option in English only, too); and Franklin Habit’s stunning Princess Franklin Plaid Collar, adapted from an old pattern in beautiful current colors. There’s a lot of detail work here but certainly worth it.

Check out the rest of the patterns, and be sure to check out Donna Druchunas’ tips for designing a Norwegian ski sweater and Kristin Frasier’s video tutorial on cabling with and without a cable needle.

Anything in the new Knitty catch your eye? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo by Jeny Staiman via Knitty.]

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

Have you read?