It’s time for the winter edition of Stuff You Should be Knitting. Here in Wisconsin it’s miserably cold (like -25 with the wind chill), so I’m all about warm, bulky projects. The best part? All these patterns are free!
Let’s start off with the Pussy Hat–a pattern that’s gone viral among the knitting community.
The Pussy Hat is a pink, cat-eared hat that many women participating in the Women’s March on Washington DC will be wearing. You can make a hat for yourself to show support or send one to a marcher to keep her warm. Patterns for knitting, crocheting and sewing can be found here. This hat is knit flat and seamed so it’s a great pattern for a beginning knitter.
Krysten Ritter, aka Jessica Jones, a knitter herself, recently posted a pic of herself wearing her super bulky Pussy Hat on her Instagram. Fans of knitting, cute dogs, and general awesomeness should totally follow Ritter.
Now that your ears are toasty, lets move on to keeping your neck warm. Check out this gorgeous bulky, cabled cowl from Purl Soho. I’ve recently started knitting a lot of patterns that involve cables. It makes for interesting knitting, and I love the textures it produces.
Fans of Doctor Who will recognize this ridiculously long scarf from Season 12.
The story of the scarf goes like this: the costume designer from the show picked up a bunch of yarn and took it to Begonia Pope, asking her to knit a scarf for the character. Pope misunderstood the instructions, thinking he wanted her to use all the yarn, so she did. Hence the giant scarf was born.
Knitters and crocheters love to reproduce cool stuff they see on TV so it’s no surprise that patterns for this scarf are out there. My aunt crocheted one for my husband, and he adores it. He’s 6′ 4″ and it he can wrap it around his neck a few times for extra warmth while still having lots of length.
Multiple versions of the scarf can be found here for knitters, including yarn suggestions. For those of you who are happy hookers, the crochet pattern is here.
There are tons of amazing crochet patterns out there for hats, but this one from Purl Soho is one of my favorites. I love whimsical winter hats–and this Tunisian Crochet Pointy Pom Pom hat makes me think of a yard gnome. Did anyone else watch an animated show about gnomes as a kid? And the gnome was a doctor?
Anyway, back to the hat. You’ll need to know Tunisian crochet to work this project, but if you’re unfamiliar, there are lots of good video tutorials out there–or you could ask for help on Ravelry!
Not planning on leaving the house? That’s cool, too. I totally approve of that plan.
From home-based warmth we have the Ultimate Palette Blanket from Knit Picks. Palette is one of my favorite yarns–is economical and comes in a million colors. This blanket lets you play with color while making something to snuggle up in. There is a pattern for this blanket in both knit and crochet, too!
I’m going to be spending my week working on Pussy Hats for myself and my friends.
What are you making right now? Any patterns you’re loving lately?
@maureen, I’m so glad to hear you find some success with bigger yarn and needles! One of the other options (although it sounds like you don’t need it now!) is to try switching from continental to English (or the other way) – basically, trying to knit with the yarn in your other hand. I teach middle schoolers how to knit and some of them totally can’t understand it one way and then just fly with the other. Plus, once you know both you can knit both ways with two colors! wheeeee!
I’m taking a break from my socks from Knitty. I made the one and it caused me some distress. I’m a seasoned sock knitter, but that means that all the socks I make fit my feet perfectly. The skew sock…doesn’t. Which stinks. So I’m mid-pair and have paused to make the shawl (along with thousands of other folks). Plus I’ve got some lovely dishtowels on the needles (the ) that are my go-to meeting knitting.
Well, obviously I don’t have the hang of the HTML down yet. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@Elyse I bet you’re thinking of David the gnome, originally aired in the late ’80s and entirely awesome.
@Liz Wow! What a great beginning video you linked to in post # 20! It is the best, most patient explanation of casting on, knitting, purling and finishing (including weaving in!) that I’ve ever seen.
Woolandthegang is really doing beginning knitters a favor by slowing down and showing all the steps and pointing out how to position your yarn and how to hold the needles. Little things like pushing up the yarn and stabilizing it with your finger as you maneuver can be hard for beginners. I’m not surprised that Maureen was able to learn to knit AND LIKE IT in just 24 hours. Great post!
Cleaning out my closet yesterday and OF COURSE found a big old bag of purdy yarn. I’m tempted by that pussycat hat and the fact its supposed to rain FOUR INCHES in the next week. And I kinda got busy and….forgot…. to get the roof repaired and I quit counting at 15 buckets for all the leaks. sigh.xxoo:-(cf
People Learning To Knit, may I suggest the long tail cast on? It’s simple. (Knitting isn’t supposed to be complicated until you’re ready for more challenges.)
People Learning To Knit, may I suggest making knitting so much simpler for yourselves by holding the yarn over your left index finger instead of making complicated unnecessary motions with your right hand to get the yarn over your needle? Here’s a beginner tutorial for knit stich. SO MUCH SIMPLER!
*stitch
I fell down the rabbit hole of knitting tutorial videos… I used to think knitting was simple. (The basics, anyway.) I guess not, as long as there are people around to complicate the simple? I can’t tell you how often I found myself growling at my screen (it got to where I wanted to throw things!) “not like that, you’re doing it wrong!” “that’s unnecessarily complicated!” “there’s a more ergonomic way to do that!” (For a lazy shiftless dilettante handcrafter, I’m surprisingly judgmental. Oy.)
Anyway, I think I’ll take this tutorial rage and channel it into a few rows on the socks I’m making. o_O
I have ten unfinished sweaters. TEN. So I am working on finishing those.
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