Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Wool People Winter 2015

by

Wool People Winter 2015 is full of warmth and texture.The latest collection from Brooklyn Tweed was recently released, and if you’re into knitting cozy sweaters and other projects full of texture, you need to check it out.

Norah Gaughan fans will also want to pay the lookbook a visit, because she’s now a member of the in-house design team and this time around offers three gorgeous, classic Gaughan designs.

Some of my favorites include Julie Hoover’s Sanford, a vest worked with a textured chevron pattern; the super-long and cozy Emerson cardigan by Véronik Avery, which I can tell you I would absolutely live in during the winter; Hoover’s Keaton (it’s there on the cover), a woven stitch turtleneck that would be perfection with a wool skirt; Jared Flood’s dramatic Carpeaux jacket, worked with deep collars in ribbing and cables; and Michelle Wang’s Shui-mo, a drapey ombre cardigan worked side to side.

If you’re a fan of art you’ll also want to check this one out, as it details a trip the staff took to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where they snapped pictures to serve as inspiration for knits. I want to do this at my local museum!

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

[Photo via Brooklyn Tweed.]

Comments

  1. There’s a lot of beautiful designs in this pattern book. I especially like the Marshall sweater/jacket by Norah Gaughan. I can’t believe that it is knit in fingering weight! It looks so much heavier. Thanks for sharing the link to this lookbook!!

Have you read?

Free Knitted Crown Pattern for Kids and Adults: A Sweet Handmade Dress-Up Idea

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.