Easy baby blankets to knit or crochet

New babies require their own special soft and cuddly blankets, sometimes lasting long into childhood as comforting, favorite soothers. Easy and welcomed gifts for showers, many can be crocheted or knitted on reasonably sized needles in just a few days. Here are a few free patterns to knit or crochet baby blankets, quick and easy.....there are also some easy baby sweater pattern links for quick baby gifts.

This "Sunny Baby Blanket"  designed by Lucie Sinkler is knit with just 800 yards of any washable weight worsted and gets softer with washing. Cascade 220 Superwash yarn is a great choice for this baby project with 200 yards per skein at about $9.50 per. You can also check out Plymouth Yarn's Encore for a plethora of colors in machine-washable worsted weight yarn at about $6.00 per 200 yard, 100g skein or organic cotton worsted, another wise choice. The Four Points Baby Blanket from Purl Soho is knit with a US 11 needle, easy and quick free baby blanket pattern.

Knit and crochet gifts for owl lovers

In celebration of John James Audubon's birthday, French-American ornithologist, lithographer, and painter, famous for his naturalist study Birds of America - free patterns to knit and crochet gifts for owl lovers. If you are not a knitter you'll find links for amazing giftables, especially baby products with owl themes at Dwell Studio.  Pattern links included in this article are:

• an owl hat with earflaps
• little "hootie" baby booties
• two gorgeous owlie sock patterns
• And a bonus little snuggly amigurumi owlet to knit or crochet for baby shower gifts
• plus owl mittens for children and adults

Quick and easy baby knit and crochet sweater patterns

Easy, peasy knitting baby sweater patterns are great to have at hand for the baby shower gift that can be made in just a few nights. Nothing makes more of a hit than something handmade.
Infant and toddler cardigans and jumpers take no time at all, and this little baby cardigan knitting pattern has always been a favorite. The "ribbed knit baby jacket" is knit in one piece on a 5mm or US size 8 needle and only has the one buttonhole.

Knit and crochet tote bag patterns for summer

Crochet or knit your own beach and market bags for summer. Washable and ample, this crocheted grocery tote will handle all your summer travel and shopping bag needs and can be crocheted with recycled cotton yarn. This durable tote bag is worked with two strands of yarn throughout on a size G hook or 4 mm and requires 22 balls of  handicrafter cotton yarn.

The finished size is 12 ins [30.5 cm] wide x 15 ins [38 cm] high x 12 ins [30.5 cm] deep. The free pattern is written in English and French, free from Bernat and available to print out at the link below.

What's really cool at Bernat's site is the Color Clicker. Click on the rainbow button and see how the different colorway selections of specific yarn will work with the project you have in mind. Here's the crocheted market bag in Bernat's forest green handicrafter cotton.

If you want to knit a strong market bag for your groceries that easily converts to a beach bag or purse, try this easy knit bag pattern featured as the 'grrlfriend bag'. There are several possible designs for the handles and you can see photos here.

This knit tote can be made with recycled worsted cotton yarn. The example at the right was knit with two colors of DK on the bottom and two strands of DK in a single color for the main body of the bag. Find many colors of recycled cotton yarn at sale prices here.

If you are not a member of Ravelry, then use this pdf download link for the knitting pattern "grrlfriend market bag." It's an easy lace pattern that lets the sand out and can be knit in any size you wish. It starts with a square bottom knit on size 4 dpns, then graduates to US size 7 (4mm), and eventually worked on a size 10.5 circular  needle (6 mm). It's a really fun pattern to knit and use for all your marketing, travel and beach trips throughout the summer.

Bernat free crochet market tote bag download.

Easy shawl pattern inspired by "Bones"

During the recent Great Rhody Yarn Crawl, I had a chance to meet Dr. Camille Saroyan of the "Bones" FOX television series up close and personal. Well, not exactly the person, but the free shawl knitting pattern and finished project, inspired by tv's "Bones" and the doctor, and it is glorious! Saroyan is a very popular free pattern on Ravelry, queued some 4900+ times, not new, but definitely worth a repeat. The pattern sports an easy lace leaf design at the edge, and like Dr. Saroyan, is a graceful, sophisticated addition to anyone's wardrobe, which can also be worn as a cowl. Available in several different languages, the pattern is a free download. Here, you see it in knitter knitkristy's photo.

Knit and crochet cowl patterns, new spring colors

Cowls are no longer just for wintertime, but make a graceful statement in spring as well. Knit or crocheted from cotton and/or silk, you can wear these glamorous accessories almost all year round. Purl Soho, a shop in New York knitnscribble has mentioned before, has offered a free herringbone cowl pattern, using a main color ecru cotton yarn mixed with different colors of brighter yarn, strategically placed, to create a lovely spring tube scarf, or use your favorite self-striping yarn. The pattern is an easy workup and posted at purlbee, Purl Soho's blog.

Free and easy shawl pattern

Yesterday, knitnscribble posted an article with two summer shawlette patterns found in my wanderings, both beautiful shawls, and perfect for summertime and warmer weather's cool nights. A friend on Facebook asked if there was an easier free pattern that still had a little ruffle flirty edge to it, which reminded me of  "Mara" by Madelinetosh. It's the first attempt knitnscribble made at knitting a shawlette, easy, great for beginners, knit on US size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle, and there's no endless counting starting out at the cast on.

Still this triangle scarf has a little pleated edge, which gives it lots of charm and flair without lace stitches. The shawl can be knit as a handkerchief scarf or larger for a full-sized shawl with a ruffle. This one uses 3 skeins of light worsted yarn or 675 yds. If you want it larger, then you'll need more yarn.







The one pictured at right is 46 in. across in width. This is a free pattern from Madelinetosh, a wonderful source of hand-dyed yarns you will love, very soft and just the fiber you want near your skin. You can download and print out this easy shawl pattern "Mara" here.
You'll find an unending selection of summer blend yarns at WEBS Yarn Store online, shipping internationally, too.

Read about the two summer shawl free knitting patterns mentioned above here.
Additional free patterns for knitting and crochet shawls visit here.

2nd photo from Madelinetosh, 1st is knit_n_scribble's own.

Knitting and crochet patterns for sun hats

Get ready for the beach and carriage walks on sunny days. Li'l Sun Hats to knit and wear all summer long by Knitting at Knoon Designs, Chris de Longpre, are available as an 8-page pdf download from Patternfish. Scroll down farther and you'll find crochet sun hat patterns, too.

Knitted completely in the round, washable, and foldable, these little hats fit 18" to 20" toddler heads. After knitting, the hats can be blocked over a mixing bowl and shaped to fit. The knitting designer suggests using a little starch and water solution to make the fabric stain resistant.  

"Much of the success of your project will depend on blocking. All the hats can be blocked over an inverted kitchen mixing or storage bowl of the right general size and shape. (I use a small, stainless steel mixing bowl that measures 20" circumference at its top.) Use a spray bottle to thoroughly wet the hat and form it with your hands. Do not be afraid to pull it into shape. Allow fabric to dry completely. Tip: For a crisp, slightly soil-resistant finish, mix one part liquid starch to three parts water in the spray bottle and use this solution for blocking. (Be sure to rinse the spray bottle well before next use!)" Purchase and download the sun hats pattern here. 

For a free baby and toddler sun hat knitting pattern

try this one at threelittlefrogs.blogspot 
Sizes are newborn, small, medium, and large.

Find a free crochet hat pattern for toddlers at Garn Studio.

Several sizes available are for infant through 3-4 years. At the link, scroll down the page for the free crochet sun hat pattern.

Or knit this adorable sun hat and sweater combination set, free from Red Heart.

Easy sock pattern - summer Hedgerow

Socks are always a solution to keep knitting in warmer months. Small and portable solutions for travel and beach visits, knitting socks is the perfect warm weather project. Jane Cochran has provided a free download for an easy sock pattern called "Hedgerow" on Ravelry and at KnittersReview.

Obviously, Jane lives in a town, similar to knitnscribble's, "...where privet hedges define nearly every road and property. They rise like soft green walls that hug the contours of roadsides, lawns, and fields. There’s almost nothing as lovely as the view down a shady privet-lined street on a soft summer afternoon."

There's almost nary a street in Newport, Rhode Island without a privet hedge.

Sock Monkey hat pattern with earflaps

Get my easy sock monkey hat knitting pattern, complete with earflaps, pom-pom, ears and stuffed mouth at Wattery Totteries on Etsy. Hat finished size easily fits big kids and adults with knitted interlining for warmth. Four-page pdf pattern has more photos and knitting instructions.

The small version of the Sock Monkey Hat with lined earflaps knitting pattern is now available, too, in a 7-page pdf. with detailed instructions and many photos. Extra warm and cozy and fits babies and small children.  It's the Cheeky Sock Monkey Hat pattern small size!

Knitter offers free cowl pattern for Japanese relief

Knittimo on Ravelry has responded to the urgent need for Japanese relief charity fund donations by posting a free infinity cowl knitting pattern download. Her "Jeweled Cowl" is a marvel, beautifully knitted and beaded, using the crochet hook method. 

Sachiko Uemura is Japanese, from Tokyo, now living in Portland, Oregon, and asks that you make a donation to your choice of charity in return for the free cowl pattern. Here are Sachiko's suggestions for donating:  Japanese Red Cross Society, American Red Cross , Mercy Corps. 

The cowl is knitted with a US size 8 needle, using one skein of Malabrigo lace yarn. Finished size is 14 in wide by 44 in long, knit entirely in the round. The gauge is approx. 4.5 sts / 7.5 rows = 1” in stockinette.

Crochet and knit stay on baby booties

Baby socks and booties come in all sorts of designs and shapes, from Mary Janes for little girls to Converse All Stars for modern infant boys and girls. One of the most important aspects of baby bootees design is that they stay on constantly kicking little feet. Here are some easy stay on knit and crochet baby booties free patterns found recently. 

 Baby Mocs at Purl Bee, the folksy online blog of Purl Soho, a knitting and craft shop in New York City I'm dying to visit. These bootees are knit with sport weight alpaca, that's 6 sts = 1 in on US size 2 and 4 needles. For a bootie larger than this 3.5 inch finished size, use a size 5 or 6 needle and a yarn with a gauge of 5 sts = 1 inch. Two pairs of booties can be made from one skein of yarn and bits and pieces from your stash used for the different color Native American design. Download this free baby booties pattern. Read on for even more baby bootee patterns.

Moving right along - seven shawls and then some

Today, I wanted to tell you about Rosemary Hill's new ebook, "7 Small Shawls to Knit," seven beautiful shawl designs she posted as one offering in March of this year. You will remember Rosemary as Romi of designsbyromi. She's also a talented jewelry designer and pairs her lovely shawl pins with her knitting designs. Each one is simply ravishing, but the shawl that caught my eye this morning is "Taygete" with open lace work border and picot edging.