This double-sided cable scarf has one cable down the middle–a great project for anyone approaching cable knitting for the first time and with trepidation.
If knitting lots and lots (and lots) of I-cord won’t drive you mad, this I-cord scarf may be just the ticket for you.
The Coal Springs scarf is knit in the round (in a tube) and, according to the author, offers a great introduction to two-color knitting. I think it looks pretty spiffy.
This waving chevrons scarf was originally knit in three colors of worsted, but I wonder how it would look in a variegated yarn.
For the little ones, here’s a kid-sized snake-themed keyhole scarf that looks awfully fun.
If you’re more of a cowl person, check out this pattern, which offers basic instructions for knitting a simple cowl in pretty much any weight of yarn.
And if you’re a cowl person who doesn’t want to drop $750 on a Burberry design, check out this DIY version. I’m not the biggest fans of cowls, but this one may make it onto my to-knit list.
I know we’re at the height of summer right now, but winter (and the main gift-giving season of the year) will be upon us before you know it. So if you’re hoping to wear–or give–new handknitted handwear this winter, you may want to get started on it soon!
Looking for a challenge? Look no further: these Sanquhar gloves look mind-bogglingly difficult. But wow, the results sure are stunning.
Did you see the movie Coraline, based on the very excellent book by the same name by Neil Gaiman? Someone’s figured out a pattern for Coraline’s gloves. It’s wonderful when geekery and knitting overlap, isn’t it?
If you like unfettered fingers, try some fingerless mittens. Here’s a pattern for some nice and simple ones.
These rainbow-colored fingerless mitts were designed for homespun, but the author says that Noro would be a good substitute (and I bet they would look great in that yarn!).
I like these XO cable fingerless mitts, too; I’d love to try them as full-on mittens.
And here’s a fingerless mitten pattern sized for a man’s hands.
These daisy-stitch fingerless mitts are awfully cute. That daisy stitch, though–how in the world did someone first figure out to do that?
And if you like unfettered fingers but want to make sure your forearms (and maybe elbows, too!) are nice and toasty, check out these extra-long fingerless gloves.
Let’s take as our starting point some classically styled booties.
Then let’s move on to knee-high booties, for those babies who always manage to disengage themselves from their footwear.
These socks help babies express their inner Wicked Witches of the East.
Or maybe their inner monsters?
If you’re a sock knitter, you may especially enjoy these baby booties made with leftover sock yarn. Best of all, there’s no seaming whatsoever!
The person who wrote that pattern then upped the cuteness ante with these munchkin slippers, also made with leftover sock yarn and sized for newborn feet. Again, no seaming!
These are made from worsted-weight yarn,
Prefer your baby booties to come in mindless-knitting versions? Check out these slippers, formed from simple squares.
I love the look of this felted bucket bag.
The Kelly bag looks much more like a regular purse than most felted bags do.
The Giles bag is nonfelted and has a huge cable on the front and a cabled strap. One thing I always wonder about nonfelted knit bags is whether they stretch or sag when you put stuff in them. Anyone know? And if you put anything pointy in there (say, a pen), does it poke out?
I really like this market bag (which, unlike most so-called market bags, doesn’t have lots of holes all over it). But six skeins of Euroflax? Holy cow, that’s one expensive piece of knitting. I’d never spend this much on yarn for a bag, but if someone gave me the yarn I’d happily use it to knit up this spiffy project.
Here’s a market bag that looks more like what I’m accustomed to seeing in this category. It has lots of holes. (But they look small enough to constrain more groceries, I think.) It also has a beautiful handle.
I dare one of you to knit this. Then put it on your cat. And then photograph your cat.
The last two steps will probably require you to execute the “run like hell” maneuver immediately afterwards.
Putting new sheets on your bed? Turn the old ones into this cabled rug (or bath mat).
Use the same pattern with different yarn weights and needles sizes to make a set of felted nesting bowls.
I know there are several patterns out there for knit Swiffer covers, but this is one of my favorites. I love the buttons!
This Bender dishcloth will really come in handy for cleaning up the mess after he kills all the humans.
This knit ottoman requires a lot of knitting. But it does look pretty darn cool! If you’re not ready for that kind of commitment, there is a smaller version, too.
These Penta coasters are a great way to use up small amounts of wool yarn in your stash. Plus they protect your furniture from water! That’s a win-win situation if ever I saw one.
Now that I’m learning how to sew, maybe I will knit this cute little pincushion.
Finally, here’s a bath mitt that has a two-color texture pattern that isn’t the ball-band washcloth pattern.
This sock pattern is touted as something “for men,” but really, anyone could wear diamonds in their shoes.
Here are some knitted slippers made with sock yarn, knitted slippers made with chunky yarn, a whole family’s worth of knitted-and-fulled slippers, and cute duck slippers for wee toes.
These Tatami Socks (from Judy Sumner’s Knitted Socks East and West) can be found on the Storque (Etsy’s handmade blog), where you can either download a PDF (look for the link in the introductory paragraphs) or follow the instructions right on the page. Most sock patterns strike me as too “fussy,” but I do like these and may give them a try soon.
These yoga socks are intended to warm your feet while leaving your toes and heels free for gripping. I wonder if the knitted surface would raise your toes from the mat just enough for them to lose their gripability. I also wonder how slippery these socks themselves would be–or if they’d be a good solution for people who get sweaty (and slippery) feet during their practice.
I know that legwarmers aren’t technically footwear, but legs are attached to feet, so I figure that’s close enough. These legwarmers have a lovely cable detail (from a scarf that’s been on my to-knit list forever…). And here are some super stretchy legwarmers knit out of worsted weight yarn (which means that if you want to knit some as a holiday gift, if you get cracking right now you might actually get them done on time).
And finally, just in time for the holiday season, elf shoes. The pattern sizes range from infant to adult, so you’ll definitely find one to suit your needs. Why should all the cute knitted shoes be for kids only? Adults need some elf-shoe goodness, too!
(Every time I come across a cute pattern for felted slippers, I think, “They look fun, but they’d be too slippery on my wood floors.” Suede soles are one solution, but they are outrageously expensive. Here’s a far cheaper solution: use silicone caulk on the soles.)
Teeny tiny knitted animals. These are freakin’ cute.
More tiny knitted toys. The author says these are small enough to fit inside a plastic egg (so if you’re starting to plan ahead for next Easter…) She also has a pattern for tiny knit goldfish.
If you’re knitting or crocheting dolls and want to attach yarn hair to them, take a look at this tutorial. I wish I had known about this when I knit the doll Sylvia christened “Sesame” (and still plays with to this day), whose hairline starts right at the top of her head.
Here’s a pattern for a simple doll made of yarn and felt.
Want to stay away from dolls altogether? Try this knitted ball, a Grumpasaurus, or a Kiwi bird.
Looking for a stuffed animal that you’re sure the recipient doesn’t already have? This felted star-nosed mole will surely fit the bill.
Do you think this elephant would be afraid of this mouse? I bet they’d be best buds.
If you want your knitted toys to keep to a marine theme, try a Linux penguin, a frog, or Jacques Crusteau the lobster.
With a name like “monster chunks,” this pattern is hard to resist. (Don’t miss the link on the same page to “bunny nuggets,” too.)
I am very much not a fan of Harry Potter myself, but those of you who are may want to whip up a golden snitch or two.
And if you want the perfect gift for the dentist in your life, take a look at this molar.
Now that you’ve knit Elizabeth Zimmerman’s famous February baby sweater and the more recent February lady, complete your collection with this February baby-sweater-style beret.
There are lots of other free great beret patterns out there. Take a look at the Grace Lace Beret and this fairisle beret.
Mad for short rows? Then here’s a hat for you.
A few other hats of interest: a button-tab hat, the Love Nugget hat (you know you want to click on the link just to see what it is),
If you’re knitting for small heads, check these out: a watermelon hat; a slouchy toddler hat, using sock yarn (the pattern is in adult sizes, too); a clochette baby hat that looks a bit like a flower/fruit cap; a hat with adorable blue bunnies around it; and a tassled beanie.
Honestly, this bike helmet ear warmer looks pretty dorky. But I bet it does a good job keeping ears warm. And when it gets really, really cold outside, most people don’t care whether or not their bundling up makes them look dorky–they just want to stay warm.
The name of this pattern (and the blog on which it resides) alone makes me want to knit it. I give you the Brainmonster Hat!
I figure I’d better post this list before it gets any longer. It’s amazing how many free knitting patterns out there don’t fit into “conventional” categories.
Knitted mushrooms! My daughter is currently in the middle of a serious fairy phase, so I think some of these are on my horizon. Maybe those fairies could use some knitted daffodils, too.
Knit your own party bunting. This looks so charming . . . and so time consuming. I think I’ll stick with a sewn version.
Knit tie. If you’re looking for a stereotypical Father’s Day gift and can knit really fast, this may be the project for you.
Knit heart pin. If your ambitions are more along the lines of “tie pin” rather than “full-on tie,” this may be up your alley. (Another option: get started on your Valentine’s Day gifts now!)
When you’re ready for new linens and need to figure out what to do with your old ones, consider turning them into yarn.
I’m intrigued enough by Knitminder that when I do get an iPhone, it’ll probably be one of the apps I load on there (right after Peggle). Some of the functions look like they duplicate what Ravelry has, but the counters and the project notes (with photos that you take with your phone, I’m guessing) look like they might be handy.
Think your knitting is getting stale? Shake things up with these conceptual knitting patterns.
Halloween will be here before you know it, so you’d better starting thinking about your costume now. Whatever you have in mind, be sure to include a knitted mustache. A knit/felt bangle bracelet would be a nice addition, too.
