I’ve been knitting for over 25 years, and I still find the simplest stitches that I’ve never seen before. I came across the hurdle stitch on Pinterest (seriously, what on earth did we do before Pinterest??) and had to try it. It’s incredibly easy, alternating knit rows, purl rows, and p1, k1 rows. And the […]
patterns
Newborn King Hat
This is my husband’s favorite gift hat that I’ve made this year. It’s simple but the ribs still give it a little interest. And the simple stitch pattern lets the colors in the yarn take the stage. This was the first time I’ve found this color of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, and I really love […]
In Excelsis Deo Hat
This is my second finished gift hat, and I totally love it. I saw a similar stitch pattern on a washcloth on Pinterest, and I just had to use it. Theirs used slip stitches, but I kept mine to basic knit and purl. It’s really simple, but it’s so cozy and textured. It has a […]
Herald Angels Hat
How early do you get started making Christmas gifts? Are you one of those super plan-ahead people like my friend, who started back in February? Or do you wait until November? August or September tend to be my ideal time—when school is starting and fall is arriving and winter’s approach is inevitable, that’s when it […]
Easy Color Block Brioche Scarf
I won’t deny, brioche looks complicated. That’s why I chose a scarf as my first project—it’s straight, there’s no shaping, nothing complicated to mess around with, I could just learn the stitches and practice, practice, practice. I love the colors of the Caron Cakes, and how they change, making color blocks without me having to […]
Charity Block #9: Granite Stitch
I’ve liked the look of the granite stitch ever since I first saw it on Pinterest, but I like it even more now. I knit this block as another swatch to see if it would work for a future design. It won’t work for the one I had in mind, but I love how simple […]
Charity Block #8: Ravenclaw Stripes
I finally got around to the last of the Hogwarts house blocks: Ravenclaw! (I’m a Ravenclaw, and my favorite color is blue, so I was looking forward to this one.) I wanted to do broad rugby-type stripes, but with a 9-inch long block, there’s not a lot of room to work with, so the stripes […]
All-Season Blanket Shrug
I hate bandwagons. If something is trending, I stay away. I don’t consider myself a non-conformist, necessarily, I just avoid doing things simply because they’re popular. (I suppose that’s a very non-conformist thing to say, though, isn’t it?) This applies to my knitting too. I was knitting long before it became a cool thing to […]
Charity Block #7: Knotted Openwork
One of the reasons I like knitting blocks for Warm Up America is that about halfway through my big projects I get bored or frustrated and need a break, and these blocks are just the right size to knit quickly before going back to it. Another reason, though, is that sometimes I want to try […]
Munchkin’s Toddler Socks
Last year I knit a pair of winter socks for Munchkin’s tiny little baby feet. This year my toddler-Munchkin is running around with much bigger feet. He doesn’t need thick socks to keep his feet warm in the baby swing so much, but he does need them to help him keep his winter boots on. […]