I feel like I’ve been writing a lot lately about projects that are made to use up all your scraps, or that could be adapted to use scraps, because they call for mini skeins and the like. I have been saying this for years, but I really am trying to use as much of my stash as I can, for economic purposes as much as I just like the idea of using what I have. I like the creative challenge of making a project work with the yarn I already have on hand. If you happen to have a lot of odd balls in the sock/fingering weight category that at least somewhat coordinate in colors, the All Used Up Shawl mig ..read more

The thing about sock knitting is, if it grabs you, it’s probably going to really grab you. I don’t know a lot of knitters who are mild-mannered when it comes to sock knitting. They either never knit socks, they’ve knit one pair to say they’ve done it and never intend to do it again, or they’ve knit (or are on their way to knitting) lots of socks. You might guess I fall into that last category, though most of the socks I’ve knit are pretty plain, and I would like to up my sock knitting game with some fun new styles. Enter Knit a Box of Socks by Julie Ann Lebouthillier. This book includes the te ..read more

I know I’ve said this before, but baby blankets are my absolute favorite gifts to make for new little people. They always fit, and they’re always useful. They’re great TV knitting because they often include allover patterns that repeat. And you can do any kind of stitch, pattern, technique you like on a baby blanket, so they’re great projects to use to learn new skills. (Maybe steer clear of a lot of lace just because little fingers and toes can get caught in the holes.) If you’re looking for some new baby blanket options, check out this collection of easy baby blanket knitting patterns. When ..read more

There are so many great simple sweater knitting patterns out there, I feel like I say that patterns are great for beginners or for your first sweater all the time. Honestly, I love these super basic sweater patterns even though I’ve probably knit 20 or more adult sweaters in my career. Give me a simple stockinette stitch, top-down, circular knit sweater any day. It’s great for TV knitting once you have a grasp on the shaping or when that part is done, and it’s a perfect blank slate project to add colored stripes, textured stripes, use your odd balls, etc. The Studio Sweater from Ysolda Teague ..read more

If you’ve been knitting for a while (or a LONG while, like I have) you may understandably feel pretty confident in your skills. If you are like me, this might cause you to be a little cocky when it comes to trying new things, sure that not only will you get it on the first try, but it will also be easy for you. Sometimes this will work out fine, and sometimes karma will come back to get you. You can probably guess what kind of project I’m talking about right now. I offered to knit a special project for someone, using a stitch pattern I probably never would have chosen, and while it probably sh ..read more

In the past few years I’ve developed an appreciation for vests that I never had before. I had knit a few, and I liked them OK, but I guess I just didn’t fully embrace the layering possibilities that they can provide. You can wear a vest over a long sleeved or short sleeved shirt, over a dress, even on top of a shirt but under a sweater (or over a lighter weight sweater). Some vest can even double as tops on their own, like the Traveling Vines Vest from Amy Gunderson. This twisty project is worked in a DK weight yarn and is available in five sizes. The chest measurement ranges from 34 to 70.5 i ..read more

Lately I have been seeing a lot of interest in circular knitting machines and knitting patterns to use with the Addi and Sentro circular knitting machines. Whether you have one of these machines or are just thinking about getting one, I thought it might be useful to pull together some circular knitting machine FAQs. Please add your questions in the comments and I’ll keep building on the post as we go. What is a circular knitting machine? Circular knitting machines are circular, plastic machines with a set of pegs around the inside of the circle. The machine has a yarn feeder and tension guide ..read more

When it comes to knit garments, I think pants are probably the most overlooked project out there. Pants are a big project, much bigger than a sweater, and they will take a long time to knit. But knit pants are also super comfortable, and they can be made exactly to the fit you want. Add more ease in the legs, make them longer or shorter, whatever you want! I’ve knit a pair of leggings in sock yarn, and I love them, but the Sierra Pants by Safiyyah Talley have a looser fit in the leg that would also be nice for lounge pants. These are worked from the top down with a folded over elastic waistban ..read more

I don’t have a lot of experience with spinning yarn, and I don’t really think you could learn it from a book. There are so many variables and the learning curve is so much lower if someone who knows what they’re doing can watch you and guide you along the way (especially when it comes to spinning with a wheel). So I wouldn’t say that you can learn to spin form Pam Austin’s book Hand Spinning: Essential Technical and Creative Skills, but looking through and reading this book might inspire you to want to try. It covers the basics of learning to spin with a drop spindle (which you maybe could fig ..read more

If you’re feeling impatient for real flowers to bloom, you can always knit your own! This collection of flower knitting patterns will bring color into your home that never fades. They make great gifts or decorations for gift bags, too. This sweet little daisy from Linda Dawkins is easy to knit in DK weight yarn, and you could make them in lots of different colors to be different kinds of flowers if you want. The pattern is on Ravelry, and she also has an ebook of knit flowers if you’re looking for a bunch of different designs. Daffodils are so cheerful, and this pattern from Love Fibres on Ets ..read more