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.
At this site, you enter some pieces of information (needle size, gauge, ankle circumference, type of heel desired) and get a step-by-step pattern for knitting socks.
Most sock knitters I know already have a regular/vanilla sock pattern they like to use, so maybe this is nothing new to most of you. I do like how you get a one-page pattern that’s easy to tote around. I think a printout would also be useful to file away if you’re made socks for a particular person, so you can have a record of what you did.
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.
The cake may be a lie, but this pattern is the real deal. I have no idea what I’d do with this when it’s finished, but I really, really, really want to knit a companion cube.
Show your favorite geek how much you care by knitting him or her a pair of mittens that say “I love you” in binary. And they have the Linux penguin, too!
And here’s a Drupal knitting chart for those who love open source efforts.
Turn old bedsheets into yarn. This tutorial has great pictures and clear instructions to make the whole process look easy-peasy.
Turn old newspapers into yarn. This method does require a spindle…
Recycle old sweaters (from your closet or thrift stores, for example) by taking them apart and using the yarn for something else. This site shows you how to take them apart, and this site has a PDF for a generic ball-band you can customize for your new(ly reclaimed) yarn.