Knitting the Fandom

Knitting has brought me a lot of peace and relaxation over the past year, and even when I’ve been too sore with fibro to knit, I’ve enjoyed adding to my ever expanding pattern collection.

One of my favorite things is to combine interests, which for me, often means knitting and nerdery (or fandom patterns). In this post I’m going to share some of my favorite fandom related knitting patterns. Please share yours in the comments as well!

My favorite pattern-book purchase of this year is Star Wars: Knitting the Galaxy: The Official Star Wars Knitting Pattern Book by Tanis Gray ( A | BN ). This book works so well for me because it’s got patterns that scream “I am Star Wars!” and others that are so subtle, most people would never pick up on it.

For example, this Millennium Falcon cowl (which my husband has asked for for Christmas) is very obviously a Star Wars thing.

A black and white cowl with the millennium falcon in the pattern

This tie-fighter winter set is more subtle, though, and the pattern is definitely cute.

A woman wears a winter hat and fingerless mitts that have a pattern of tie fighters around the edges

In terms of bang for your buck, this book had the most patterns I would use out of any other I bought last year into this one.

I knit a lot of socks, and one of my favorite pattern books is Unobtainables: Fake Elements, Real Knits by Allison Sarnoff and Heatherly Walker ( A ). This book is heavy with sock patterns (although there are some other accessories) and each pattern is themed from a comic book, sci-fi or fantasy franchise.

These are the Red Rain socks I made for SB Sarah:

A pair of ultra marine blue socks with a subtle lace pattern

Also these Vibranium socks are the bees knees:

A pair of blue socks with the pattern for Captain America's shield in the heel

If superheroes are your thing, check out this Wonder Woman shawl by Carissa Knits. There is also a crochet version, although unfortunately both are only on Ravelry.

A red shawl with wonder woman's logo in the center

Speaking of crochet, a few years ago my aunt crocheted my husband the enormous scarf from Doctor Who. The story goes that production gave the woman assigned to knit his scarf a bunch of yarn, she thought she was supposed to use all of it, and made a truly long scarf.

My husband is 6’4″ though, so he loves this scarf to death. It’s long enough to wrap around himself a few times in the winter.

Tom Baker wears a very long striped scarf.

There are many versions of this pattern online (here’s one from the 80’s) and it’s a great beginner project because you’re either knitting every row or doing a single crochet stitch. Here’s a basic recipe. Just follow the pattern for the designated number of inches for each color, whether knitting or crocheting.

Another great, basic pattern is The Doctor’s Wife, a simple bottom up sweater.

A woman models a blue sweater with tardises around the cowl in white

And finally we have Outlander, a series that featured many gorgeous knits in its production. Might I shamelessly direct you to my free cowl pattern?

There’s also Outlander Knitting: The Official Book of 20 Knits Inspired by the Hit Series by Kate Atherley ( A | BN | K ). I found this book to more miss than hit with me, just in terms of the patterns I liked, but it does have Claire’s basic garter stitch shawl in it.

A knitting pattern for Claire's shawl next to a pic from the show

What about you? What are your favorite fandom related patterns?

 

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  1. Lynda the Guppy says:

    I know that Wonder Woman scarf/shawl. And let me just say while it was SUPER easy (only knitting with one color at a time)the “wee” scarf is well named. It is indeed VERY wee.

    But I bought more yarn to knit the full sized one.

    If anyone wants a link to either a picture on my IG or my Rav page, let me know.

  2. Kris says:

    I knitted a sock monkey blanket last winter. I had so much wool that I made it big enough to cover our king size bed. By the end of it, my shoulders and arms were a mess of sore muscles. Worth it though. We love it.

    https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sock-monkey-cabin-blanket

  3. Yota Armai says:

    I see a pattern like that tie fighter and it makes me want to knit. But then I knit and frog and knit and frog and I think I could be crocheting. It probably has something to do with starting on hard projects instead of building my skills on easier ones.
    These are lovely tho and I’m just going to keep trying

  4. Zuzus says:

    Why “unfortunately…only on Ravelry”? Is Ravelry up to shenanigans? I personally have found them to be an excellent resource with thousands of free patterns and an easy to use sort feature.

  5. How fun! I saw this Star Wars Mazes book the other day and thought it looked cool: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1797205943/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

  6. Queen_Victoria says:

    My favorite (unsurprisingly for anyone who knows me) is Harry Potter Knitting Magic, also by Tanis Gray. I took deathly hallows wash cloth patterns and stitched them together to make a large blanket for my sister. And as you said, knitting has given me a creative outlet for my anxiety. I hope that you get well soon and can get back to knitting!

  7. Lesley says:

    I picked up my phone and read this article because I just dropped a size 2 dpn between the slats of my parents deck and it’s gone forever. And I’m so annoyed right now.

    But in answer to your question I just saw some sock yarn that knits up doctor who scarf.

  8. LG says:

    Joan of Dark has two excellent books of fandom-related patterns.

  9. Carol S. says:

    I have always liked this free Knitty pattern for Dr. Who fans: https://knitty.com/ISSUEss12/PATTbigger.php

    Knits for Nerds is also fun — made with cooperation from folks like Neil Gaiman and Rene Auberjunois.
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MS0OUA/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

  10. JoanneBB says:

    I am 2/3 through knitting that millennium falcon cowl and have basically stalled out. It’s not hard to knit, but the last chart is tedious. I want to finish before winter!! I have really improved how I catch floats though, so I guess that’s something.

  11. Lisa D says:

    Have you seen Tom Daley of UK and his knitting? Here’s a link to his Olympic sweater.
    https://www.tiktok.com/@tomdaley/video/6992744638121528582?is_from_webapp=v1&q=Tom%20Daley&t=1628445954205

  12. @Lynda the Guppy: I’m struggling to find any larger version of the Wonder Woman shawl – the only one I can spot on Ravelry is the “wee” one. Is there an alternate pattern I’m missing? Or did you make up a larger version of the pattern for yourself?

  13. But wait – I finally figured out that I was misreading the pattern! Sorry about that. I get it now! 🙂

  14. Lynda the Guppy says:

    @Stephanie

    Glad you found what you needed! It’s a super simple pattern.

    @Carol S

    Someone on Ravelry knit that Doctor Who Shaw, but did the border to look like The Doctor Who scarf! It’s amazing.

  15. Allison R-B says:

    @zuzus, Ravelry lost a LOT of goodwill over their response to users with concerns about disability access when they redesigned the website. It was painful to watch.
    As far as I know, Ravelry hasn’t stepped up to address their ableism publicly since then.
    Many designers provide alternatives ways to purchase or download their patterns, for folks who can’t or prefer not to use Ravelry. That isn’t always feasible for smaller designers.

  16. Lesley says:

    A second comment, as I was so upset about dropping the DPN I forgot what I was originally going to say:

    Years ago I knitted the cardigan that Ron Weasley wears in this first Deathly Hallows movie. Here’s the ravely link:
    https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hallows-cardigan

  17. Arijo says:

    I’m new to knitting (working on my very first project, the easy JW Anderson cardigan whose pattern I stumbled upon through SBTB Wednesday links) so I don’t have any fandom related contribution to make. BUT I’m all here to note down your rec’s! Thank you! That Star Wars book is in my cart and that Wonder Woman shawl link is now in my favorite – I even think I already have the yarn for it!

  18. Joyce says:

    One of my favourite sock patterns is my friend Glenna C’s Viper Pilots (from Battlestar Galactica)
    https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/viper-pilots
    Also, her Neptune High socks are fun
    https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/neptune-high
    She also has some Buffy and Firefly inspired patterns. A lot of these were done for our indie dyer friend’s Geek Club.
    I’m not sure if she still includes patterns with her Geek Club yarns, but Indigodragonfly has a lot of fandom related yarn colours (not patterns, but very geeky)
    https://indigodragonfly.ca/collections/dyed-to-order

  19. marjorie says:

    oh my god, LOVE the Tardis sweater! I don’t even go here!

  20. Katie says:

    Thank you so so so much for not using ravelry links. I get headaches/migraines from the site
    I’m a designer, and I’m currently toying with the idea of a collection of patterns inspired by A court of thrones and roses.

  21. Zuzus says:

    @Allison R-B Thank you. I appreciate your taking the time to explain.

  22. Amanda B says:

    This post is so timely for me! After unsuccessfully attempting to learn to knit during the quarantimes (and successfully frustrating the hell out of myself), I was able to sign up for an in-person knitting class. Adding the Star Wars book to my wishlist!

  23. Karin says:

    I’m slowly gearing up to make the sweater worn by Tobias Menzies as James Fitzjames in The Terror. I’ve just done a tiny sampler version based on the pattern in Beth Brown-Reinsel’s Knitting Ganseys, and once I finish my current big project (a basic raglan sweater), that’s up next.

  24. Jessi Gage says:

    I LOVE the Wonder Woman shawl pattern. I’ve done the crochet version several times. I love doing it in a solid color and using a textured stitch to set the W apart.

    I love your taste in patterns, Elyse!

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