Category Archives: Free Patterns

Holiday Decor to Knit & Crochet

Leave a reply

Isn’t it interesting that as the days get shorter we fell the need as human beings to bring divinity closer to us and into our homes. As I was reminded last night, there are a lot of cultures that celebrate holidays at this time of year … Divali just passed us, of course there is Christmas and Hannukah, the soltice (which is what it’s all about), Kwanza, and Dec 8th is Bodhi Day (the day celebrating the Bhuddha’s achieving enlightenment).

How do you like to decorate for the holidays? Which colours are you feeling the need to bring into your life right now? There are a lot of decoration projects & pattern ideas out there (see the links below) but I’ve rounded up a few for you that have caught my eye …

December Bow

I can totally see myself getting caught up in making these bows …. either a bunch for myself or give them as little gifts. They’re very charming, kind of semiotically neutral, and essentially a pretty basic knit. The December Bow is worked back and forth in one piece from tip to tip in garter stitch with i-cord edges. The work is folded into a bow and sewn together at the end following the diagram with instructions that can be found at the end of the pattern.

Materials

Yarn Alternatives

You’ll need 100m of each of the two yarns above, or 100m of a DK weight yarn like the following:

Snowman

Another winter creature, the snowperson is a delight for everyone’s eyes. To help your snowpeople stand tall, try putting some metal washers in their bottoms (you can get them at the hardware store) – it will improve their balance immensely.

Yarn Options

Double knitting weight yarn is perfect for this project – many people like the simple grace of a pure merino like Sandnes Garn Double Sunday for this type of project. If you want to keep things cheap ‘n cheerful go for Berroco Vintage Baby (it comes in 50g balls), or if you want a village of snowpeople you can also opt for Berroco Vintage DK in 100g skeins.

Materials

I prefer shorter double-pointed needles for little projects like this: either the 5″ DPNS from Clover, the 6″ DPNs from Knitters Pride, or the 8″ Flexi-Flips from Addi

Easy Granny Christmas Baubles

Aren’t granny squares (and circles) are best?! This is my idea of a great holiday ornament … use lots of colour or do any colour combination you want, or even monochrome – whatever floats your boat!

Yarn Options

Double knitting weight yarn is perfect for this project – many people like the nuanced Scandinavian colour palette of Sandnes Garn Double Sunday for this type of project. If you want to keep things cheap ‘n cheerful go for Berroco Vintage Baby (it comes in 50g balls), or can also opt for Berroco Vintage DK in 100g skeins. You can also use Sudz Crafting Cotton and a slightly larger 3.5mm crochet hook.

Materials

Birdie Decoration

Ok, it doesn’t look exactly like a dove, but peace is a seasonal themes and in my opinion birds never go out of style! This FREE pattern is a VERY simple crochet project (it’s just a circle) and comes with full tutorial instructions.

Yarn Options

Double knitting weight yarn is perfect for this project – many people like the nuanced Scandinavian colour palette of Sandnes Garn Double Sunday for this type of project. If you want to keep things cheap ‘n cheerful go for Berroco Vintage Baby (it comes in 50g balls), or can also opt for Berroco Vintage DK in 100g skeins. You can also use Sudz Crafting Cotton and a slightly larger 3.5mm crochet hook.

Materials

Sun Star & Flower Star Snowflake

Sun Star Snowflake and Flower Star Snowflake make the prettiest winter decorations, no matter which holiday you celebrate (or even if you don’t celebrate a holiday). Hang them on a tree, or in garlands across a mantle or just off a book-case. These little decorations also make delightful (and fast) little gifts.

Yarn Options

Any fingering weight yarn will do for these little gems: Berroco Vintage Sock is a popular, economical option, or you can opt for the amazing colour selection of Cascade Heritage (also still a very good price). If you want a multi-coloured yarn that knits in a long colourway and shifts try Schoppel Zauberball Cotton, or for a hand dyed yarn Artfil Belle.

Materials

Marled Christmas Stocking

I think these stockings are super groovy! You can either make them marled by holding two strands together (try Berroco Vintage, Cascade 220 Superwash), or use a single strand of Berroco Vintage Chunky in a solid colour.

Yarn Options

Materials

Christmas Wreath, Holly & Mistletoe

There are a lot of wreath patterns out there, for all seasons and occasions, but I just kind of enjoyed this one because it’s so leafy – I love the idea of using different shades of greens and different textures of yarn to recreate a natural abundance.

Yarn Options

Materials

Little Tanenbaum

This must be one of the easiest patterns goings …. a simple tree ornament. This pattern is great for less experienced knitters … that pattern PDF even has links to video tutorials for the skills.

Materials

Crochet Christmas Tree

This adorable little tree is a simple crochet (only chain and single crochet are used), and it comes with a free video tutorial to walk you through it! Make one, make a forest, and decorate them with little beads for ornaments or leave them in their natural state.

Yarn Options

Materials

Never Not Gnoming

Gnomes can be knit mini (ornament) sized with fingering weight yarn, or start upsizing with a thicker yarn and make yours a super-gnome! Whatever you choose will be marvelous …. you’ll never stock gnoming! Go down approximately 1 mm from the recommended needle size to get a tight tension.

Materials

HALLOWEEN STORE HOURS

Leave a reply

We’re closing an hour early today for Halloween – our families need us … Happy Halloween!

Halloween Store Hours

Tuesday, Oct 31: 12 pm to 5 pm

Bat Mobile

I thought this was a cute last-minute FREE Pattern project for Halloween! It’s made with a DK weight warn and 4mm needles, but I think you can use any thickness of yarn, your bats will just come out bigger.

Materials

FINISHED PROJECT Biggie Braids Toque

Leave a reply

Biggie Braids

Biggie Braids is a simple cabled hat is a super thick yarn for a FAST and satisfying knit! It takes one skein of yarn, fat needles, and makes for a very satisfying little project. It also makes for an impressive looking holiday gift without a lot of labour.

We used one skein of Malabrigo RASTA, a pillowy-soft, hand-dyed merino wool, but you could also use the same amount of Cascade SPUNTANEOUS (also a super-soft merino wool but not hand-dyed), or LionBrand WOOL EASE THICK & QUICK (a machine washable blend of wool & synthetic).

Many thanks to Erica for taking this project from idea to realization!

Materials

If you don’t already own the right size needles, you can buy fixed circular needles or Interchangeable tips from Knitter’s Pride (be sure to get 3.5″ or 4″ tips – anything longer it too long to make a 16″ needle).

Other Yarn Options

You can also use any of these yarns:

See Finished Projects

PROJECT On the C Train (another take)

Leave a reply

On the C Train

I think On the C Train has become my default hat pattern for exploring yarn combinations! I’m sorry if you’re getting sick of it, it’s just easy and versatile and free and simple to adapt … and patterns that work make me happy!

This time round I was looking to combine a worsted weight yarn, the new Cascade 220 SUPERWASH HAND PAINTS, with a strand of kid-mohair, Drops KID-SILK. Combining the two creates a softer, fuzzier texture, and it can also create a depth of colour not otherwise available in the base yarn. In a hand-painted yarn like Cascade 220 SUPERWASH HAND PAINTS it also gives you an opportunity to shift the colours, make them darker or lighter, or bring out certain colours and make them POP! Keep reading below for more about combining, as well as the colours that play well together.

If you love the idea of combining but want a different project, see below for a few recommendations that will work with these yarns. Turmeric and Rooibos are made with a different yarn that’s been discontinued but are still my favourite visions of what can be done when you combine a hand-paint with a coloured kid-mohair.

Modifications

  • I had lots of yarn to work with, so I made the hat with a warm turned-up brim (just knit for an extra 2.5″ to 3″) , but you can make yours like the originl version if you like.
  • I knitted the brim with 4.5mm/US7 needles to make it a bit tighter and a bit warmer, and to keep it more elastic and resilient. You can skip this if you like, it isn’t necessary.
  • You can add a Pom-Pom or go without, it’s all about your own style!
  • To make a larger size cast on an extra 8 sts, to make a child size cast on 80 sts.

Size

  • One Size, comfortably fits a medium (22″) head.
  • To make a larger size cast on an extra 8 sts, to make a child size cast on 80 sts

Let’s Talk About Combining …

In the picture above the mini-sweater on the left was knitted with just Cascade 220 SUPERWASH HAND PAINTS and 4.5mm/US7 needles. The mini-sweater on the right was made holding one strand of Cascade 220 SUPERWASH HAND PAINTS with one strand of Drops KID-SILK and 5mm/US8 needles.

When you combine a regular yarn with a kid-mohair a few things happen …

  • The tension gets thicker, so you can go up a needle size (usually by 0.5mm for hats or mittens, or 1 mm or more for projects knitted at a regular tension like a sweater or a blanket, or more than 1mm for something looser like a shawl).
  • The colour shifts slightly. If the mohair is a lighter colour the project will look lighter, if it’s brighter it’ll brighten it up, and if it’s darker it’ll have a darker cast.
  • The texture changes and gets a bit softer, fuzzier, and takes on an aura.

For this project I used a neutral greyish-white which blended well with the background undyed colour of the base yarn and mellowed the overall colour out. If I’d wanted to bring out the orange speckles I could have used KID-SILK colour 32 Raspberry, or to make the teal more dominant I would use KID-SILK colour 24 Petrol. You can see my colour recommendations below and on our website for Cascade 220 SUPERWASH HAND PAINTS.

Materials

Other Projects

For some great patterns that you can used this yarn combination, check out the following:

Easy Garter Scarfy-Wrap Kit in Double Sunday

Leave a reply

Easy Garter Scarfy Wrap

The Easy Garter Scarfy Wrap is the brainchild of my friend Jo, and I’m very grateful that she came up with this simple solution because it’s GREAT! This wrap drapes like a big scarf, but is also equally wearable as a little wrap. The pattern is almost totally brainless; it’s a great second or third project for a beginner knitter, but it also works equally well for more experienced knitters hanging out on the patio with a beer or a cocktail.

You can choose one of our colour combinations, put together something from your own inspiration, or combine the two and use our palette as a jumping-off point and curate your own perfect colour experience. We’re happy to help you any way we can. We stock the yarn, Sandnes Garn Double Sunday, all year round. 

This kit can be used for any kind of scarf or wrap project. 4 balls of Sandnes Garn Double Sunday is enough for a conventional 6″ wide double-wrapped scarf (about 6 feet long (of 1.8m). For a standard triangular shawl (like Boneyard) you’ll need 5 skeins or more. 

Our Wrap is in the colour palette “Bright Lights” (many thanks and much gratitude goes to Adrienne for knitting the sample, also to Gru, who allowed me to take his photo).

Sandes Garn Double Sunday is a 100% merino, DK weight yarn (a mainstay of designer PetiteKnit). Double Sunday is an affordable merino from Norway that is NOT superwash, but can go in the machine on delicate (see below), or just do a simple no-rinse hand-wash in Eucalan or Soak wash.

SEE MORE PATTERN IDEAS FOR THIS YARN

Sandnes Garn’s supplier has guaranteed that the wool does not come from sheep that have been subjected to mulesing. For machine washing, the manufacturer recommends that all wool garments be washed separately on a wool program, to ensure the gentlest treatment. Due to the unique absorbency of the merino wool, it is important to centrifuge hand-knitted garments well before drying  them on a flat surface, preferably on top of a towel. They do not suggest using a laundry bag when washing hand-knitted wool garments, as this creates friction that can cause the garment to felt.

The base pattern calls for 250g (or about 500m) of DK weight yarn, but it’s easy to make your scarfy-wrap bigger … you just keep knitting and it’ll keep growing (where there was an opportunity I expanded the colour palettes offering to 6 and 7 ball colour combos). There’s enough yarn in the basic 5 colour combo for a nice sized scarf (at least 7 inches wide x 6 feet long). If you want to use our colour palettes as guidance and want to make a sizeable gradient wrap I suggest getting two kits.

Skill Level

Finished Dimensions (5 balls)

  • 13″ deep
  • 22.5″ wide at bottom
  • 66″ wide at top

Materials

PROJECT On the C Train

Leave a reply

On the C Train

On the C Train is a great hat project for any knitter. It’s knit with Sandnes Garn Double Sunday and Drops Brushed Alpaca & Silk held together, making it soft, warm, fluffy, but it also has the weight to hold up to cold weather.

We chose two colours that are close together but not exactly the same, which creates some depth of colour and vibrance in the finished piece. I’m including some colour combinations below.

Modifications

  • To make an adult size large (23″ to 24″ head circumference): 1. cast on 96 sts, 2. knit an extra inch before you begin the decreases (begin decreases at 9”); 3. begin the decrease section by working in 1×1 rib pattern for 21 sts, P3tog, then continue in the same logic.
  • If you want a folded brin knit for an extra 2.5″ to 3″ from cast-on edge

Size

  • One Size (fits medium-sized head: for a large see modifications above/in pattern)
  • 14.5” circumference (before blocking and unstretched), 10.25” height

Materials

FINISHED French Macaroon Baby Pullover

Leave a reply

French Macaroon

French Macaroon is an adorable and simple little pullover for babies & toddlers! I love it because it’s a great basic sweater for less experienced knitters. It’s knit in garter stitch, which is a great texture for coloured, self-striping and hand-painted yarns. We’ve used Schoppel Edition 3, a super soft and spongy, machine washable merino yarn that changes colour by itself. For a light, cotton version of this project try using Berroco Vivo. If coloured yarns aren’t your thing that’s ok too, the pattern is actually designed in solid colours (see below).

Tutorials

The pattern comes with a list of video tutorials to help you with any skills that might be new:

Sizes

  • Newborn, (3 months, 6-9 months, 12-18 months, 2-3 years, 4 years)

Materials

For a light, cotton version of this project try using Berroco Vivo: 1(1, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins.

Summer Yarn Options (cottons)

All-Season Yarn Options

Looking for a Matching Hat?

Looking for a matching hat for the new macaroon in your life? Try Tiny Tot or if you want something a bit more interesting to use up your coloured yarn (like Schoppel Edition 3 or Berroco Vivo) try Tensfield.

INSPIRING PROJECTS with Ruffles!

Leave a reply

Belleville

Adult ruffle socks? Yes, please! Designed with Berroco Vintage Sock, this pretty pair of sockies will become your new favourites. Berroco Vintage Sock is a soft, comfortable, resilient, machine-washable, fingering weight yarn that features a wide colour range and incredibly soft feel.

Size

  • Approximately (7, 8)“ / (18, 20.5) cm around foot (unstretched), (9, 10½)” / (23, 26.5) cm from toe to heel.

Materials

Other Yarn Options

Lambertville

Lambertville is a pair of dainty ruffle socks for kids. Keeping little feet warm and stylish, these socks are worked from the toe up.

Size

  • (2–4, 6–8, 10–12)
  • Shown in size 6–8
  • Approximately (7½, 8½, 9½)” / (19, 21.5, 24) cm from toe to heel, (4, 5, 6)” / (10, 12.5, 15) cm from heel to ruffle, (3¾, 4½, 5¼)” / (9.5, 11.5, 13.5) cm around (unstretched)

Materials

Other Yarn Options

Ruffle Socks

Maybe you like your ruffles small … no problem, we got ‘ya covered!

The Ruffle Socks are worked from the cuff to the toe. At the beginning of the cuff a ruffle is worked followed by a folded edge. The socks are worked in stockinette stitch. The heel is shaped with short rows.

Size

  • EU shoe sizes: 35/36 (37/38) 39/40 (41/42) 43/44
  • US women’s shoe sizes: 5-6 (6½-7½) 8-9 (9½-10½) 11-12

Yarn Options

Other Materials

Ruffled Socks Junior

Maybe you like your ruffles small … no problem, we got ‘ya covered! The Ruffle Socks Junior are worked from the cuff to the toe. At the beginning of the cuff a ruffle is worked followed by a folded edge. The socks are worked in stockinette stitch. The heel is shaped with short rows.

Size

  • EU shoe sizes: 20-21 (22-23) 24-25 (26-27) 28-29 (30-31) 32-33 (34-35)
  • US children’s shoe sizes: 4½-5½ (6-7½) 8-9 (9½-10½) 11-11½ (12-13½) adult 1-2 (adult 2½-3½)

Yarn Options

Other Materials

Nuvem

Nuvem is one of my favourite ruffled wrap patterns I’ve made it a few times in different yarns and it’s always made me happy!

Notes

You’ll need to start your project on two sets of 32″ to 40″ needles and then when your project gets large enough you can move to one really long needle. See all our past project notes and hacks HERE.

Fingering Yarn Options

Thicker Yarn Options

This pattern is designed for a thinner yarn, but you can get away with using something thicker like we have!

Other Materials

  • Two sets of 3.5mm/US4 – 32″ circular needles (start with two sets of 32″ to 40″ needles and then when your project gets large enough you can move to one really long 60″ needle)
  • Stitch Markers (locking or fixed, but not split-ring markers)
  • Pattern

NEW PATTERN Great Lakes Throw

Leave a reply

Great Lakes Throw

The Great Lakes Throw is a super simple blanket anyone can whip up QUICK! It’s made with super bulky weight  Cascade Cotton Puff and knits on 15mm/US19 needles for maximum satisfaction. The yarn is a soft, machine-washable cotton tube with a springy polyfil core (like the stuff in pillows and stuffed animals), giving it body and ease of use (it’s also allergy friendly and vegan).

The pattern is a simple, elegant, reversible rib, suitable for all knitters from beginners on up. Sizes range from a baby blanket to king-sized bed. Each ball of Cascade Cotton Puff is 200g/7.05oz, so while this technically isn’t a ‘weighted blanket’, it has some weight to it! Our sample is the Medium Throw 45″ x 60″ and is knit in colour 04.

Size

  • Baby (Medium Throw,  Large Throw,  Twin Bed,  Double Bed,  Queen Bed,  King Bed)
  • Inches:  35 x 42 (45 x 60,  55 x 70,  65 x 90) {85 x 90,  95 x 100,  105 x 100} inches
  • Centimetres:  87.5 x 105 (112.5 x 105,  137.5 x 175,  162.5 x 225) {212.5 x 225,  237.5 x 250,  262.5 x 250) cm
  • Our sample is the Medium Throw 45″ x 60″ and is knit in colour 04

Gauge

8 sts & 12 rows = 5”/12.5cm

Materials

EASTER STORE HOURS

Leave a reply

Easter Store Hours

Friday, April 7: CLOSED

Saturday, April 8: 12 pm to 6 pm

Sunday, April 9: CLOSED

Monday, April 10: 12 pm to 6 pm

Poule de Printemps

How adorable are these little chickens?! These hens knit up quickly with about 25m of worsted weight yarn (or two strands of a DK or Sport weight held together – about 50m) and are perfect for creating a cute and festive atmosphere. And when they hide a chocolate egg, it’s even more fun! Or use one to keep your soft-boiled eggies warm? Or just keep them around the house and invite them for a coffee clutch …

Yarn Options

I like the idea of rustic, tweedy-looking chickens using Drops Soft Tweed hold 2 strands together with 5mm/US8 needles).

  • 25m of Worsted weight yarn
  • Drops Soft Tweed (hold 2 strands together with 5mm/US8 needles): colours 06, 04, 05, 01 (1 ball will make at least 2 chickens)
  • Berroco Vintage: 1 skein should make about 8 chickens …. an entire clutch!

Materials