Patterns for Your Knitting Adventures
Crocheting a yoda style hat while watch Star Trek is a bit mind bending! I made a basic beanie, then made ears starting at the tip and increasing every row. Next time I will go down a hook size to help the ears be more stiff so they stay up better, and if this was for a costume, would use wire in the ears.
The yarn is vintage wool that I thrifted, a basic worsted weight 100% wool. It is nice and warm for hats, but definetly not as soft as merino.
As part of the Indie designer Gift-A-Long, I am interviewing Indie designers about their favorite knitting and crochet projects, yarns, and gift knitting.
Jessica K. Larson of GooseBear Knits (omarsyarn on Ravelry)
If you could only knit/crochet one item type of item, what would it be?
Shawls! Whenever I travel (fairly frequently), it’s time to start a enw shawl. I pick the yarn that’s speaking to me the loudest and the handiest size needle. Shawls make great portable projects. I enjoy playing with various shapes and construction methods.
Fan favorites include In Flight and Lakewood.
What is your favorite workhorse yarn?
My favorite workhorse yarn would be pretty much anything Malabrigo! I chose Rios for my baby blanket pattern Gathering Family because it’s superwash. It got even softer after going through the wash! For shawls, Malabrigo Sock is my favorite. There’s a special squish quality about it that I can’t resist.
Which of your patterns make for really great gift knitting?
Anoka (scarf) and Drexmore (hat) are both unisex patterns. Anoka uses a 1 row repeat that is easy to memorize, so you just cast on and go. Don’t be scared off by Drexmore’s stranded colorwork hat. The carries are short. Great for using up left over half skeins of yarn. Plus, who doesn’t have fun picking out two contrasting colors for this type of project?
As part of the Indie designer Gift-A-Long, I am interviewing Indie designers about their favorite knitting and crochet projects, yarns, and gift knitting.
Lindsay Lewchuk of Eco Chic Knits (EcoChicKnits on Ravelry)
If you could only knit/crochet one item type of item, what would it be?
Cowls – I love the design process and I find that cowls provide that perfect match between knit time and design time. Even though I enjoy knitting garments and shawls, I find I fill a notebook with more designs than I can publish in the month it takes me to finish knitting the one design I started out to knit. Moving into my publishing future, I will be expanding beyond cowls. However, I will always return to cowls in the end. I even find them a great place to test knit complex design patterns that I want to apply to larger garments, so you may see a few cross overs in the future too.
What is your favorite workhorse yarn?
Just 2? That’s really tough. I have about 5 I cycle through.
I absolutely love Americo Originals natural fiber based yarns (pretty much all of them)- all of their yarns are also socially responsible. Unfortunately it is currently only available in Canada and by mail order, so I’m looking for a US based new workhorse yarn. The Lake Breeze Tank is in this yarn.
For a US workhorse, Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cottons are a favorite. I love the vibrant colors and soft textures. The Southern Christmas Cowl is in this yarn.
Which of your patterns make for really great gift knitting?
As posted above Southern Christmas Cowl makes for a great gift knitting- it combines beads, cables, and 1 skein of organic cotton yarn. The skinny cotton is perfect for southern climes where you want style without bulk. The undyed yarn and gold glass bead accents add festivity to the design. The large falling snowflakes motif makes you feel the season in theory while the cowl protects you from actually feeling the cold nip of the season.
The City Girl Collection (City Girl Cowl and Northern City Girl Cowl) is another great gift knitting set. The beaded tendrils are very addictive. Most people who make one have ended up making multiples. Change the yarn and bead colors and you have a gift as unique as the person receiving it. These pleasurable knits are just 1 skein each and come with four you tube video tutorials for anyone new to tendrils and making your own buttons from left over yarn.
A hat to use up a small ball of some leftover cream yarn. A foldover hem for warmth, cross pattern to add some interest, and dots to stretch the cream yarn. I used a rapid decrease for the top for a nice slouchy look.
As part of the Indie designer Gift-A-Long, I am interviewing Indie designers about their favorite knitting and crochet projects, yarns, and gift knitting.
Sharon Boswell of Sygneture Designs (SharonB on Ravelry)
If you could only knit/crochet one item type of item, what would it be?
Cowls, I just love them in both knit and crochet and whole heap of yarns. So far I only have my Salvation Jane for sale but there are two crocheted Moebius ones in the works as well as another knitted one.
What is your favorite workhorse yarn?
Malabrigo Rios, I love the softness and the superwash. My first pattern, the Brumby Jill ponytail hat, can be made with less than one skein.
Which of your patterns make for really great gift knitting?
Salvation Jane, as mentioned above is a great 1 skein gift, easy to knit, and appreciated by young and old. Made one recently for my Mother-in-Law as she liked my samples so much.
Jelly Beanie, colourful fun especially for kids, or the Affogato hat for something more classic, both are terrific stashbusters, giving the chance to use up those little leftovers and experiment with colour combinations.
As part of the Indie designer Gift-A-Long, I am interviewing Indie designers about their favorite knitting and crochet projects, yarns, and gift knitting.
Sarah Ronchetti of sezza knits (Sezza on Ravelry)
If you could only knit/crochet one item type of item, what would it be?
Socks! I’ve only recently become addicted to designing sock patterns, but I feel like I could go on forever! Two favorites: Scott Base and Waihi.
What is your favorite workhorse yarn?
Vintage Purl Sock – My absolute go-to sock yarn.
Which of your patterns make for really great gift knitting?
My Feathered Mitts are a great gift, they use such a small amount of yarn, and you can even use scraps to contrast if you wish.
The Picton Hat is another wonderful gift, with sizes from baby through to Large adult, its written for 3 different yarn weights which means you probably have something stashed that will be perfect.
