Etienne's hat is a true "bro" toque

Just posted a new hat pattern, a toque I knit about three years ago and have been wearing night and day during this extremely cold weather. So decided to knit up a few more for my grandchildren during the past few days, and wrote the pattern. It's a real "bro" toque, worn year 'round in Canada. The pattern is unisex in style, fun to knit with a few interesting twists and has written directions for two sizes, fits 18-20 in, unstretched, and is very easy to adjust sizes up and down. Hey, what's up, dude?

National Sock Day could be for knitters

National Sock Day is a tongue in cheek celebration for pairs of socks which have surprisingly made it through many machine washings and dryer tumblings, and isn't a day really for sock hand knitters. But just last night, after finishing all the hats for this holiday, I picked up a half finished sock without knowing December 4th was #NationalSockDay and decided to rush through knitting the matching one in time for Christmas gifting to my daughter.

You think socks take forever? But I am here to say "not all socks are alike." There are many quick-knit sock patterns.

Memories of Center Street - a free pattern

While browsing this morning, I came across "Center Street," a free pattern from CJOriginals just posted this month. The oversized boatneck sweater is very similar to a very first knitting project I took on about six decades ago, believe it or not. The yarn was a brown worsted and the jumper pattern was worked in the round with raglan sleeves. But the best part of "Center Street" is the interesting detail worked with very simple stitches along the sweater bottom edge and on the back.

That's the "Spirit" a new hat pattern

When knitting a new original hat, the goal is that several
other knitters will like the way it looks and feels as much as I do. The hat pattern should be interesting to knit, not in the least bit boring. This time I wanted it to be a warm beanie, cozy around the ears, yet loose and comfortable around the crown. This hat pattern uniquely meets those requirements. So, I decided to write up this new pattern and called it "Spirit."

Norwegian knitting thimble - new blessing for Fair Isle patterns

photo by Craftsy.com

The Norwegian knitting thimble is a new blessing - a knitting guide for stranded knitting when making Fair Isle projects that use two colors of yarn. Watch a demonstration in the video below from YouTube.

Knitting a cowl pattern to suit your every whim

photo Gretchen Tracy

Adjusting a knitting pattern to suit your tastes and yarn at hand is simply done, especially with an easily adaptable pattern.
This free cowl pattern by Gretchen Tracy, uses a US 8 (6mm) circular needle, 2 skeins of DK yarn or about 218 yds (200 meters). Gretchen has used a silk yarn for knitting her Ridge and Furrow cowl prototype pictured here.

No fuss summer knitting - two free patterns

A free shawl pattern and a free scarf pattern, suitable for a man, both perfect for summer warm weather knitting, both interesting no-brainers.  No oxymorons here, it's true: interesting patterns you don't have to think about. So whilst sitting at the beach, talking to friends and family, you can still keep knitting without losing your place in the pattern.

Both of these projects are extremely portable and won't take up much room in your travel bag. Don't stop knitting and get ahead on your gift list!

Free knitting patterns spring forward from unlikely sources

Rowan photo

Spring and Easter knitting patterns may include bunnies, chicks, and eggs for baskets, cheerful shawls and baby sweaters, too. These free patterns should keep you knitting for a while longer this Spring.

Martin Storey is a "storied" designer and many of his knitting patterns are posted for free. They range from small toys, home decor, child to adult-sized sweaters and jumpers.

Try this clever Easter bunny pattern, fast and ever sweet - Rebecca Danger's "Bunny Nuggets."


Read on for the links.

It's a Magic Spring for Shawls!

On the Spice Market - Melanie Berg

Every season has its knitting pattern favorites. New patterns for shawls and baby sweaters are often posted and knitted in spring. And this year is no exception. Recently, I have been knitting a second "On the Spice Market" by Melanie Berg, which was all the rage last spring. I just finished her "Sunwalker" shawl pattern after many months of moving house, yarn stash and all. Katerina Bobkova's new "Magic Spring Shawl" is my next challenge, it's a free pattern, great for beginners and a terrific stash-buster.

Magic Spring Shawl pattern by Katerina Bobkova

Easy free sock pattern

Last week, in my pledge to use up the yarn stash, I started knitting more socks using a favorite sock pattern and US 4 (3.5mm) dpns or two circulars, whatever is your pleasure. I use the smaller stitch count of 64 sts. to knit these.

Brain hat patterns for Science March

Knitters and crocheters are getting ready for another march, and like the Women's March, there is a hat to knit or crochet. The Science March is to be held on Earth Day in Washington, DC, April 22, 2017.

The March for Science celebrates "science not silence" and will be duplicated in over 30 cities across the nation and around the world. A diverse gathering of scientists and science enthusiasts: students, teachers, families, and friends, all with a passion for discovery, opinion, and curiosity will march and then hold a teach-in on the National Mall. Studio Knits has prepared several videos with brain hat patterns for the base hat and i-cord brains tacked on the outside. And a brain hat to crochet as well.

Garter Rib baby blanket

Adam's Rib by Buffoo

Baby blankets make wonderful gifts. The "garter rib" baby blanket is a free pattern posted by Orange Flower Yarn. This one in the photo is called "Adam's Rib" and gorgeous, knit with five skeins of Sublime merino wool in DK weight on a US 6 (4mm) needle.

Looks like a simple pattern and television (football) worthy. So pick up some yarn for the Super Bowl this weekend. Knitnscribble has posted several easy blanket patterns to crochet or knit.

"Here kitty, kitty" - new pussy hat pattern

"Here kitty kitty" pussy hat pattern

Saturday's Women's March has been called the largest peaceful resistance demonstration of our lifetime. Indeed, women and men from around the world wore knit and crochet hats of all yarn colors and gauges, free patterns posted by the pussy hat project and even knitnscribble's own "Quick Pussy Hat" pattern.

Rumor has it that there will be another womens march in April 2017, so more yarn has been ordered and a new free pussy hat pattern, "Here kitty, kitty" has been written for this blog.
It can be worn with style and grace for, presumably, all four years! Women are in for the long haul in their fight for human rights, healthcare, social security, and equal pay for their sisters, daughters, and granddaughters. We can do this. There are more of us than them!!!

Quick pussy hat pattern - knitting for Women's March

Here is a quick free knitting pattern for the pink #pussyhat worn by many women marching at the Womens' March after the recent Washington inauguration. Pink yarn in my stash is ordinarily DK or sport weight for baby sweaters, so I used two balls of yarn to quickly knit this soft and squishy hat on a US 10.5 (6.5mm) needle for January 2017 #womensmarch #resist. You can also use chunky or bulky weight yarn to get the gauge. This quick little pussy hat has been knit numerous times and continues to be worn in peaceful protest demonstrations around the world.