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.