New urban knits for fall 2016

New knitting patterns for fall 2016 abound in Kyle Kunnecke's new Urban Knit Collection, which includes timeless classic designs for cardigans, pullovers, and accessories for both men and women.

This 160-page hard paper knitting book was inspired by Kyle's observation that key motifs of construction, used in 20th century architecture can be applied just like the main elements used in building a knitting pattern. "Big city style meets classic design" for modern knitters.

Softest winter hat in all sizes free

photo courtesy PurlSoho

Here is the warmest, softest winter hat pattern in every size you will knit all season. Knitting a free hat pattern with Purl Soho's new 75/25 merino and cashmere, 219 yds per skein, how can you go wrong? Sizes range from baby to adult, knit on a US 7 (4.5cm) needle in brioche stitch, so has to be soft and fluffy. Hat pattern sizes: Baby to kid small, kid large, and adult medium and large.

Celtic cable teapot cosy pattern for cozy teatimes

There's nothing better than a hot cuppa' anytime. For first thing in the morning, at elevenses, and always at three in the afternoon, here's a classic teapot cosy pattern that will brighten every teatime, a St. Patrick's Day celebration with it's Celtic Irish cables knit all the way around, or knits up a great house gift for your favorite tea-lover.

Cozy up with your knitting, some scones or cakes, enjoy this free pattern from an ancient pamphlet handed down long ago without a cover.  The teapot cozy fits a 5-6 cup teapot and can be lined as well.

A new fish hat pattern for Phish fans

The famous fish hat knitting pattern has been rewritten by J.G. Miller and just posted as a free pattern download, July 2016. The original, an immediate success with Phish fans and avid fishermen alike, has some new techniques and a livelier finished look than the first dead fish hat pattern.

Miller has turned the tail around and used short rows for a vertical finish with fins that stand out, just like a swimming fish. Fans of the Burlington, Vermont-based music group, Phish, went crazy over the first "alive or dead fish hat" and I am sure they will be very pleased to know the fish hat pattern is this time "alive and well."

Crochet bridal shawl free pattern creates everlasting wedding memory

How extraordinary it would be to knit or crochet a bridal shawl for that special bride on her wedding day. This shawl pattern called "Spring Blooms" is crocheted and a free pattern is offered by Red Heart. It's just stunning on this happy bride, and would look equally beautiful in color for her bridesmaids at a chilly fall or spring wedding. A free pattern download is available. Follow the links below.

Weaving Wellness supports moms of sick children at Hasbro

Weaving Wellness has arrived in Newport, Rhode Island via a New Jersey resident and hardworking charity caregiver, MaryJanine L. "Stay Strong" totes are being put together for moms of sick children at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence. Knitters and crocheters are being asked to provide prayer shawls for those caregivers of Hasbro's patients. Please read on to find out how you can help RI's sick children and their moms in this charity knitting and crochet project.

Slouchy hat patterns, knit or crochet, free and easy

Slouchy hats are popular because they are easy to wear, very comfortable; make quick knitting and crochet projects with these free slouchy hat patterns. This hat pattern design is by Lea Kobasyashi, LuLu’s Handknits NYC, who has some sweet hand knit slouchy hats for sale on Etsy as well. Check out Lea's handiwork at the link below. For her free hat pattern, please read on. It's available in German and Italian as well as English.

Stunning shawl patterns for the ages

German knitter, Ute Nawratil, has recently designed two shawl patterns whose FO's are certain to be cherished as works of art. One, she says is quite easy, knit with flowers and the butterfly stitch; the other, a mass of colorful triangles, designed specifically for short gradient yarns like Schoppel-woole Zauberball sock yarn. She's used about three balls of yarn to create her "Linientreu," knitting from the top-down, using short rows, no sewing up needed.

Stunning, to say the least, the finished shawl pictured here is by Wollbine on Ravelry.

Baby knitting patterns to 5T with 3 skeins or less

3 Skeins or Less: Modern Baby Knits, is a new knitting pattern book you will turn to time and time again for charming baby patterns that won't break the bank to knit. With a generous size range up to 5T, there are twenty-three knitting patterns for boys and girls: sweaters, blanket patterns, toys, and hats. This brand new knitting magazine collection is so well laid out, with bright and shiny photos, stitch guides, easy to read and understand schematics and charts, clear enough even for the newest knitter. For mothers, it promises to be the one and only baby patterns book you will need until your child grows out of size 5T. For cherished baby gifts, there are so many wonderful choices as your girl or boy grows into toddler sizes.

Princess Grace top-down baby sweater knitting pattern

First published in 1956 by Woman's Day, the Princess Grace baby sweater has become quite the icon knitting pattern for newborn babies. It was the top-down baby jacket pattern Grace Kelly knit for her first born Princess Caroline.

The Princess Grace baby sweater is knit with fingering or sock yarn. KnitPicks offers a palette of 150 colors of 3-ply wool yarn, $3.59, 50 g, 231 yards per ball. Here is the

Princess Grace of Monaco baby sweater knitting pattern for Princess Caroline.

Click through for free baby pattern in its entirety.

Monster butt pants baby pattern

This amusing free pattern for Monster pants with mouth and teeth to cover diapers are knitted longies with face for toddler and baby pattern for girls and boys and such a great knitting project and gift for babies and toddlers. Perfect for either sex, depending on your choice of yarn colorways.

Hrönn Jónsdóttir fell in love with them when she saw these pants several years ago being knit by an Icelandic knitter at a knit-a-long in Iceland. She asked if there was a pattern, and the knitter who was knitting regular baby pants with mouth and teeth said she did not have one. So Hrönn created her own pattern, which she calls Das Monster Butt. Hrönn is a very talented and creative knitter born in Iceland and now living in Sola, Rogaland, Norway. These baby pants are very Scandinavian / European in design motif, as are all of Hrönn's knitting designs. Pattern follows.

Very easy baby blanket knitting pattern

Try this quick baby gift, an easy baby blanket knitting pattern with worsted weight yarn. It makes a super shower gift, won't cost you much, its a free pattern, and won't take long at all, knit on US size 10.5 (6.5mm) or 11 needles.

Yours truly wrote it several years ago, shower gifts for twins, easy as can be, knits up like a charm. Knit with two strands of yarn, you'll need about two to three skeins of each color, depending on the yardage of the particular yarn. Or knit it up in one solid color.

Knit and crochet dishcloth patterns are cool, quick, and easy

There's no better time than summer to knit or crochet a stash of giftable dishcloths. I sometimes tie them to wine bottles for hostess gifts or easily tuck them away in luggage for gifts while traveling. This apple dishcloth pattern makes a perfect teacher's gift at the holidays. It's a free pattern and the Lily Sugar 'n Cream yarn runs about $1.99 a skein.  Read on for more links.

Lace knitting patterns - small steps to reach great heights

Andrea Jurgrau's new lace knitting pattern book reaches new heights with basic small steps: knit, purl, and yarnovers. "New Heights in Lace Knitting" knitting magazine features a collection of 17 gorgeous knitting patterns inspired by the seven major summits of mountain climbing and easier treks to train for the big climbs. Beautifully photographed and strategically organized with techniques and bead placement instruction, please have a look at this extraordinary new knitting pattern book.

Quick knit Fair Isle pullover sized to 5XL

Easy and quick, Mary Jane Mucklestone's "Stopover" Fair Isle pullover sweater pattern is one several knitters are doubling up on, literally creating a Fair Isle "jumper stash."

Kathy Cadigan's Fair Isle stash

Plus-sized to 5XL, the knitting with Ístex Létt Lopi Aran weight yarn is done with a US 10.5 (6.5mm) needle, instead of the usual 7 (4.5mm) or 8 (5mm) needle. This quick knit adult jumper is meant to have a loose, but modern fit, with subtle waist shaping; it's bottom-up in-the-round knitting entirely. Mary Jane knit her first one in just four days at a stopover in Iceland.

Team logo charts for knitting hats and scarves

Knit your favorite fan a hat or scarf with ready-made NFL, MLB, NHL team logo charts and patterns. Download the color diagrams for knitting gifts for hockey, football, and other sports teams and then use a free hat pattern or scarf pattern. Hats and scarves knit flat work the best.

Quick knit heavier socks for boots and clogs

Socks knit on tiny needles are not always the rule. Heavier yarns and larger needles knit up great socks for boots and clogs and are great for wearing year round. There are easy sock patterns that have just enough definition to make your first socks or your umpteenth pair a real joy.

Free crochet scarf pattern

courtesy Girlies-Crochet/ravelry.com

GirliesCrochet has posted a free crochet scarf pattern, called the "Glenda scarf," easy skill level, beautiful for gifts. The free pattern uses DK or light worsted yarn and a US G (6mm) hook.

Easy, trendy hat patterns to knit

Knitting a hat is usually a one skein project, one and maybe a little more for slouch hats, but always easily finished in a weekend. These hat patterns are a few of my favorites, most are free patterns, using different weights of yarn. 

Ribbed slouch hat pattern, courtesy Tania Brown/ravelry.com

Knit and crochet heirloom baby blanket patterns

Spring and babies have much in common. Carl Sandburg once said: "A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on." Just as springtime performs its renaissance play starring Mother Nature, it's a joyful time when knitters and crocheters start new projects for mothers and babies.


Kaye Smith has knitted two beautiful baby blankets, which will suit nicely for a christening, bris, or just everyday beauties. She has taken a classic feather and fan blanket pattern and made it even better with accented knitted garter stitch edging.

Quick and easy one skein crochet cowl pattern

The Malabrigo yarn used to crochet the new free pattern "One skein cowl" posted by Little Doolally makes this cowl pattern sing! The colorway is Milonga, worsted weight, hand dyed

courtesy AmyAstle/littledoolally.com

and incredibly soft merino wool. Each 100g skein contains 210 yards. Usually available at about $12.00 a hank, not a bad price for a single holiday gift to be treasured for years.

Charity knitting or crochet for dementia Alzheimer's patients

Dementia and Alzheimer's patients are frequently agitated with fidgety, restless hands. Twiddlemuffs, both to crochet or knit, have been used to minimize that agitation and also provide brain stimulation. You'll find the twiddlemuff pattern links below.

Shawl knitting patterns to wear as a triangle scarf or cowl

Who knits in the summertime aside from yours truly? Some knit socks, many knit shawls
with lightweight gauge yarns, easily transportable, and a perfect way to get ahead on your holiday gift list. There are tons of free shawl patterns and many interesting ones for purchase. Shawls are so versatile and can be worn as cowls and scarves as well.

Sophisticated lace, cable, and Aran lace knitting patterns

Refined Knits is a brand new knitting book by Jennifer Wood and Interweave Knits. It is beautifully written with lace, cable, and Aran knitting patterns in all gauges, types of yarns, from extra small to plus size patterns. There are eighteen patterns in all to be cherished by intermediate knitters and beyond.

Cotton swing sweater pattern for girls

Searching for just the right knitting pattern for

photo by BlueSkyAlpacas

our granddaughter's July birthday, found this sweet cotton

swing sweater pattern for girls, sizes baby thru 5th grade, 

that's 12 months to 10 years. Written by Erica Flory, 

it's a trapeze design with just enough

Faire Isle swing at the hem and cuffs.

Easy new baby blanket patterns - knit with three skeins or less

Tanis Gray's new Three Skeins or Less: Modern Baby Knits is a top new offering with tons of sweaters, three new baby blankets, hats, and more, baby to 5T sizes.

Twenty-three knitting patterns wonderfully photographed on glossy paper with stitch-pattern details and easy to understand charts and schematics, a heavyweight paperback in more ways than one. It's more than 125 pages and will be your go-to pattern book as your child grows, and perfect for cherished new baby gifts.

The perfect big sister ticks all the boxes

Always wished I had had a popular big sister....life could have been... This big sister is a knitting pattern for one very trendy, long open cardigan sweater with a cute little notched collar. It's another perfect companion, published this month, and very popular with almost 3,000 likes on Ravelry. If you prefer a belted cardi version, add some loops and a belt and voila! an equally stylish wrap sweater complete with pockets.

©von Hinterm Stein/ravelry.com

Knitting and crochet pattern books for free, online library

It took me a while to figure out openculture's new offering, because it is too good to believe. A crafter's dream come true, an online library of knitting and crochet pattern books, free patterns dating from the nineteenth century to almost present day, well 2015, free downloads with a click. Knitting and crochet magazines with titles like Jane Austen Knits, Vogue Knitting, Crochet Today, etc, etc.  Print out a single pattern or an entire magazine.

One skein Reyna - a shawl for all occasions

Reyna by MeenaWeena

The "Reyna" shawl knitting pattern was designed to finish with one skein of sock or fingering yarn, specifically a variegated yarn. But knit this large triangle in black or glitter yarn and voila! an evening shawl for the whole year through and a real option for Mother's Day gifts, birthdays, etc.

It's an easy, free pattern, one you'll want to download now; patterns don't always remain gratis, as the Holden Shawlette, which is now available for purchase but also includes three different sizes.

Please read on...

Pastille baby blanket pattern is late Easter gift

This baby blanket pattern uses an easy waffle stitch, which creates a lovely mosaic of Easter colors perfect for baby. Using two balls of the trim colorway and four single balls, each of a different colorway, "Pastille Baby" knits up soft and squishy at 25 by 29 inches. And the designer warns, this pattern stitch is "addictive" and has a knitting skill level of beginner to intermediate.

An elegant shawl pattern for free

"Abalone" is a brand new shawl pattern and beautiful for summer, posted for your knitting pleasure just recently. Knit with her own Nurturing Fibres lace weight yarn and designed by Carle' Dehning who spins, dyes, weaves, knits, and laughs! You can find her in her Ravelry group called "Nurturing Fibres," which is also the name of her web site where she offers her yarn. Abalone is a free pattern and so very beautiful. 

A wee Aran baby blanket pattern on this fine Irish day!

photo by tincanknits

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all. Stumbled across this lovely new baby blanket pattern from Tin Can Knits. It's knit with Aran yarn, but of course, on a US 8 /5mm needle with a gauge of 20 sts and 20 rows = 4 inches. After blocking, border is 3.5 inches deep. And you can also use as a wrap for chilly morning walks to the mailbox or on drafty nights whilst sitting knitting.

Fibers for Fido needs knitters and crocheters for animals of all shapes and sizes

Animal shelters and sanctuaries provide the basics for rescue dogs, cats, and their feathered friends in need of medical care, food, and water, but Fibers for Fido seeks knitters and crocheters, and corporate ready-made providers of sweaters, jackets, toys, and blankets, and nests, yes, nests for all rescued animals and birds.

Macie in DoggieVogue.com donated jacket

Fibers for Fido, created and managed by Pennsylvanian, Maggie Franz, is a charity project for animal shelters, asking for corporate donations and partnerships, and if you have time, knitted or crocheted goodies for all sorts of animals. Maggie seeks to source donations for the shelters while they "focus on providing the highest level of care."

Knitting's best new read for Mother's Day

If you are wondering "when is Mother's Day 2016?" And what to give to your mother, the knitter. Mother's Day gifts for knitters has to have Clara Parkes' new book, Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees the World, at the top of the proverbial gift list. And it just made the NYTimes best seller list to boot! 

"Yarn" the movie, watch the video

photo from "Yarn" the movie

In celebration of knitting and crochet as one of the "hottest movements in modern art," Yarn, the movie, follows the crochet yarn bombing founder and street artist, Olek, and other leading international artists whose primary medium is yarn.

"Starting in Iceland, this thought-provoking film takes us on a colorful and global journey, as we discover how yarn connects us all."

One knitter's 15 seconds of fame

This past weekend, my Oliver and Olivia baby sweater pattern was featured on Skacel Knitting's "Spotted on Ravelry" blog post. While small in impact for most, it was, indeed, a large leap in my half-century plus of knitting experience, and I am so very grateful to Skacel.

The prototype for the boxey baby cardigan pattern for boys and girls was knit with Skacel's yarn, new this year, HiKoo Llamor, 100% baby llama, which is beautifully soft for accessories and garments that lay next to the skin.

Read Skacel Knitting's post here and find out where you can purchase some HiKoo Llamor.

Cat bed knitting pattern benefits humane society

photo mercantile519

Charity knitting designer, Nicole Drouillard, is on a roll it seems, and has posted a new cat bed pattern with proceeds going to the Humane Society of South Central Michigan (HSSCM). You will remember her from knitnscribble's recent post "Canadian knitter surpasses goal for Flint Water Crisis." First water drop catnip toys for Flint, now a felted cat bed. Obviously a kitty cat lover, she tweeted yesterday about her latest campaign to raise money for the humane society.

A work of art, pattern free for the asking

What do you do with all those leftover balls of sock yarn, or just as important, the gorgeous full skeins you might hoard? Hedgehog Fibres has provided the perfect answer for knitting up all that yarn stash with this free wrap pattern into a beautiful work of art! A perfect summer knitting project indeed.....

Knitting heavier socks for boots and clogs on larger needles

If you have never knit socks, or just don't want to deal with teeny tiny needles, a great option is knitting heavier socks on larger needles with this free sock pattern.  These socks are great for this time of the year, when wearing clogs or boots in spring rains. It is a favorite of mine and I'm using US 4 dpn's with this particular yarn; most 6-ply yarns can use up to a US 6 (4.25 mm) needle.

photo property of knitnscribble.com

Love this cowl pattern for spring! Great stitch pattern

photo by Laura Snyder/ravelry.com

I love this lightweight short cowl pattern for spring. It has an interesting knitting stitch pattern and is knit with a DK or worsted yarn, as long as you use the smallest suggested needle to get gauge. And it's a free pattern as well.

Canadian knitter surpasses goal for Flint Water Crisis

Canadian knitter Nicole Drouillard and her Water Drops for Flint, a fund-raising campaign for the Flint Water Crisis, first announced by Knitnscribble last week, has surpassed her goal again. She is donating the proceeds from her knitted water drop cat toys and the knitting pattern to those affected via the United Way of Genesee County, Michigan. Another charity knitting effort pays it forward.

How to tie a triangle scarf or shawl, rectangle or Pashmina

We've all seen those cute little videos with a single neckpiece about how to tie a scarf on Facebook. Trouble is, scarves come in all sorts of shapes. Whether rectangle, oblong pashminas, square silk Hermes scarves, or knit and crochet shawls and triangle scarves, this quick video from Eileen Fisher masters the art of how to tie a scarf and better yet, how to wear a scarf comfortably. Enjoy! You'll look Maaarvelous!

Easy baby hat and booties patterns plus a little imagination

Just received a reminder for a charity baby shower knit-a-long, what a great idea! A free knitting pattern for boy or girl baby bootees so cute and simple even for beginners is my goal. One knitter has paired a free bootee pattern with a baby beanie pattern and added her own sweet touches. Just goes to show what a little imagination can do. Easy baby shower gift!

Here's the baby bootie pattern all done up with the baby hat. This savvy knitter from Great Britain has only been knitting a year it seems.

photo by Ca55ieW

She's taken the free booties pattern and paired it with the beanie pattern and knit a lovely gift.

Canadian knits water drops for Flint water crisis

Knitter Nicole Drouillard of Windsor, Ontario, near Lake St. Clair, about an hour south of Flint, Michigan, is raising awareness for its water crisis. She knits water drop cat nip toys after designing a water drop knitting pattern with proceeds from both sales going to assist Flint residents through the United Fund of Genesee County, a charity on the frontlines of the Flint water crisis.

photo courtesy @Mercantile519

Free fingerless mitts pattern - another great reason to knit this spring

As the winter turns mightily to spring, an early one at that, hand warmers make great sense instead of gloves. This free pattern for fingerless mitts from Purl Soho will knit up nicely in one weekend. Knitting is done on US 2 (2.25mm) needles in the round, and there is a beautiful pictorial to teach you how to knit the fisherman's rib mitts on dpn's. If size 2 needles don't tickle your fancy, these free patterns on larger needles might do the trick.

photo by Purl Soho

Baby boy and baby girl cardigan pattern

I've been knitting this little baby sweater for years for my grandchildren and decided to write down the knitting pattern for this traditional, generously sized baby jacket in two sizes, 6 - 9 months and 12 months. It's Wattery Totteries' Oliver & Olivia Baby Cardigan. Three little pearl buttons and a collar, a boxey little cardi, what could be sweeter? A 5-page pdf pattern with photo tutorial, suitable for beginner knitters.

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

Find it at Loveknitting as well.

Wattery Totteries was very honored to have 'Oliver and Olivia'
 featured by Skacel Knitting.

I used Skacel's HiKoo Llamor, 100% baby llama, for this little sweater, and it feels like cashmere. "In Spanish amor means love" and is the perfect choice for this project. You'll need 3 to 4 skeins (300-400 yds) of DK yarn and US 4 and 5 needles. Instructions are provided for both baby boys and baby girls. See all knitnscribble patterns here.