Quick gift knits, part 5 – for young folks

Welcome to the final installment of the Knitfinder quick gifts pattern roundup, 2010 edition (you’ll find the 2009 lists here). This series is for people who love to give handknits, but aren’t organized enough to get them done early. You know who you are. Time is very short – just two weeks, but that’s time enough for one or two projects for dear ones. Today, patterns for the young and the young at heart.

There are only two rules: under 300 yards of yarn (or up to twice that for stranded colorwork, because after all you’re only knitting half the yardage); and available instantly online so you can cast on immediately. The yardage limit means a project can’t take too long, and increases the odds of your finding appropriate yarn in your stash. Some patterns are free; others cost a few dollars.

Teens and twenty-somethings should find these patterns appealing:
Westward hat or headband from Westknits features garter-stitch/slip-stitch colorwork and Latvian braids; the hat has a cabled crown. The headband would be great for snowboarders. Two colors; 85 yards Aran weight yarn for headband, 150 yards for hat. Mix ‘n match hats by Amy Anderson offer lots of options – 3 sizes for toddlers to adults, 2 colorwork patterns, earflaps or not, rolled or picot-edged brim.  200-220 yards DK weight. For those who like their hats slouchy – the bold Mondo Cable Cap  (Ravelry link) from Chic Knits in 190 yards of worsted or Aran yarn.
Some girly possibilities:
Blomst mittens have a mod-Scandinavian look. 250 yards total of DK yarn. There’s a matching hat as well. Fishnet anklets in spiraling lace mesh (free; Ravelry link) from the Purl Bee use just 185 yards of fingering-weight yarn. There’s a bit of a steampunk vibe to Ysolda Teague’s Lace-up Opera Gloves (free; Ravelry link). 140 yards worsted weight yarn (hers are in alpaca/silk) and 4-5 yards of satin ribbon.
For fans:
Twilight-inspired Team Swiss or Bite Me fingerless gloves are knitted in one color and embroidered with duplicate stitch.  Multiple sizes; 120-130 yards sport-weight yarn.  Simple ribbed Potter Mitts (free; Ravelry link) in Hogwarts house colors, fingering-weight yarn. We Call Him Spidey mittens (free; Ravelry link) are sized for toddlers; 150-200 yards fingering weight. There’s also the We Call Him Spidey hat (free).
For small ones:
Milo seamless top-down vest is written for DK yarn in 11 sizes from newborn to 6 years. 130-300 yards for sizes 0-3 years. Would be great in handspun; you could easily work it at a different gauge, using the numbers for whichever size will give you the right measurements. The Shrug Bug jacket is also top-down and seamless; one size for babies 6 months – one year, 60-80 yards super-bulky yarn. Laura Nelkin’s Leg Ups legwarmers (free; Ravelry link) are worked in bicolor brioche stitch. Five sizes for babies to adults in worsted-weight yarn. Teens might like these too.
Something to play with?
Elijah stuffed elephant by Ysolda Teague is seamless, with hardly any finishing. 218 yards DK yarn, 10” tall. Gnome Babies (free; Ravelry link) use about 25 yards of yarn and may be knitted at any gauge – great way to use up leftovers. The irresistible Estonian sheep puppets were originally published in Spin-Off magazine. Various colorwork patterns for the body; about 90 yards laceweight yarn in each of two colors – or could be knit with fingering-weight yarn.

The series – quick gifts 2010

1. Pretty knits
2. Manly knits
3. Simple  &  Retro knits
4. Useful knitted objects

Time to get cracking! For more ideas, last year’s lists and a fingerless-glove pattern roundup can be found here.

Quick gift knits, part 4 – Useful knits

Welcome to the Knitfinder quick gifts pattern roundup, 2010 edition (you’ll find the 2009 lists here). This series is for people who love to give handknits, but aren’t organized enough to get them done early. You know who you are. It’s getting late, but you’ve still got more than two weeks - it isn’t too late to knit a little something for a dear friend or relation or two. Today, a roundup of useful knitted objects.

There are only two rules: under 300 yards of yarn (or up to twice that for stranded colorwork, because after all you’re only knitting half the yardage); and available instantly online so you can cast on immediately. The yardage limit means a project can’t take too long, and increases the odds of your finding appropriate yarn in your stash. Some patterns are free; others cost a few dollars.

Michelle Miller’s Knitting Project Bag (Ravelry link) in a pretty eyelet rib is completely seamless and uses just 50 grams of sport-weight cotton (164 yards). Perfect for fellow knitters. I find pincushions irresistible – Hannah Breetz’s Sea Urchin (free) looks quite like the real thing. Knitted with 15-20 yards of bulky yarn (Cascade Ecological Wool) and slightly fulled. And for Kindle owners, the Bear Claw Kindle Cover (free) – a simple lace pattern, 75-125 yards of Aran-weight wool.

Felted Flower Bowls (free) from Meg Myers use just 65 yards of worsted-weight wool – a great stash-busting project. Julie Weisenberger’s Rag Doily Rug (free; Ravelry link) is knitted from one king-size sheet torn into strips (prep tutorial is here). For a bit of glitz, Rosemary Hill’s beaded wire Venezia napkin rings (free; Ravelry link) are just the thing – 24 yards of wire and 55 beads per ring. Jenny’s Tansu Table Runner (free) isn’t strictly useful, I guess, but would be lovely on a bedroom dresser or dining room sideboard.  165 yards of fingering-weight hemp in an easy seafoam lace stitch – would be nice in linen, too.

For the kitchen and dining room: Linoleum Dishcloth (free) from Mason-Dixon Knitting in a fabulous slip-stitch color pattern. I know, it’s a dishcloth. Would be great knitted in kitchen-towel size, too. About 75 yards worsted-weight cotton for the dishcloth. The Biscuit Blanket would be a great gift for someone who loves to bake – to keep fresh scones warm at the table. Slip-stitch texture patterning in worsted=weight cotton, about 200 yards required. Kristi Schueler’s kitschy Towel Trio, with three variations, has a great vintage look. Slip-stitch color or texture patterning, 160-225 yards worsted-weight cotton for each towel.

 

The series – quick gifts 2010

1. Pretty knits
2. Manly knits
3. Simple  &  Retro knits

One more list to come in the next few days – with a few playful and youthful patterns. For more ideas, last year’s lists and a fingerless-glove pattern roundup can be found here.

Quick gift knits, part 3

Welcome to the Knitfinder quick gifts pattern roundup, 2010 edition (you’ll find the 2009 lists here). This series is for people who love to give handknits, but aren’t organized enough to get them done early. You know who you are. It isn’t too late to knit a little something for a dear friend or relation or two.

There are only two rules: under 300 yards of yarn (or up to twice that for stranded colorwork, because after all you’re only knitting half the yardage); and available instantly online so you can cast on immediately. The yardage limit means a project can’t take too long, and increases the odds of your finding appropriate yarn in your stash. Some patterns are free; others cost a few dollars.

Simple knits

Sometimes stockinette or garter stitch is all you need – it’s enough to show off a luxurious fiber or beautiful color. Here are a few ultra-simple designs that do just that.

• Dolores Park Cowl (free) – stockinette stitch with rolled edges, narrows gently towards the top. 110 yards chunky/bulky yarn – designed for one skein of Malabrigo Chunky.
• Robin Hood Hat from Grace Akhrem has a wide, buttoned, sideways garter-stitch brim and stockinette crown.
• Kristina McGowan’s Hillcrest Cloche (Ravelry link), also written for Malabrigo Chunky, is knitted top-down from the crown with a single-crocheted brim. 208 yards required.

• Age of Brass and Steam kerchief/scarf/shawl (free) – top-down triangle in stockinette punctuated by eyelet rows; 230-240 yards DK weight yarn.
• Fletcher Mittens by Amy Swenson – garter-stitch chevron stripes in one color of a worsted or Aran-weight self-striping yarn. Simple knitting, complex effect. 200-220 yards.
• Laura Nelkin’s Flip-Top Mittens (Ravelry link) are written in 8 sizes for children and adults. Stockinette stitch with a loop at the tip of the hand so the mitten top can be buttoned to the cuff. Worsted weight or fingering weight yarn; 110-360 yards depending on size and weight. Larger sizes will take you over the 300-yard mark.
• Simple yoga socks (free) are just the thing for yoga class – and a great stashbuster. 140-170 yards fingering weight for a women’s medium; pattern includes instructions for custom sizing.

Retro knits

Lots of great designs with a vintage vibe are to be found on Ravelry. First, a quartet of hats:

• Easy Virtue (free)  - Stockinette ear-covering cloche with turned-back brim, knitted from the crown down. Just over 100 yards bulky yarn. This hat would look great felted or slightly fulled, too.
• Vinegar Hill Hat by Rachel Maurer has a great retro-ski look, especially in the colors shown. Fingering weight yarn, 50 g each of three colors.
• Portsmouth Skating hat (free) – 40-50 yards of bulky or super bulky yarn. This 50s-looking headband in a pretty texture stitch ties under the chin. Fast, and perfect to keep head and ears warm, but leave a bun or ponytail unencumbered.
• Amelia Earhart Aviator Cap  (free) is knitted flat, shaped with miters, and seamed at the back. Handsome ridged texture stitch. Written for 220 yards worsted weight yarn, but be sure to check the Ravelry projects pages – many nice versions have been knitted with lighter-weight yarns at smaller gauges.

And for good measure:

• Fan Neckwarmer keyhole scarf – 210-250 yards DK yarn
• Mimosa Neckwarmer (free) – this oval cable-edged neckwarmer is accented with a few bobbles and pins closed. A vintage button or brooch would be great too. 220 yards bulky yarn.
• Lauren Bacall Gloves by Miriam Felton have fabulous chevron-pleated cuffs and a buttoned keyhole at the inner wrist. Written in two sizes, for a sportweight merino-cashmere-silk blend. 288-330 yards (larger size is a bit over our limit).
• Beaded Belle bag. This little wrist bag uses about 110 yards of worsted-weight cotton and 380 size 6 beads. Here’s a better photo:

The series – quick gifts 2010

1. Pretty knits
2. Manly knits

One or two more lists to come in the next few days – with useful, playful and youthful patterns. For more ideas, last year’s lists and a fingerless-glove pattern roundup can be found here.

Pattern roundup: quick gifts part two – manly knits

Welcome to the Knitfinder quick gifts pattern roundup, 2010 edition (you’ll find the 2009 lists here). This series is for people who love to give handknits, but aren’t organized enough to get them done early. You know who you are. It isn’t too late to knit a little something for a dear friend or relation or two.

There are only two rules: under 300 yards of yarn (or up to twice that for stranded colorwork, because after all you’re only knitting half the yardage); and available instantly online so you can cast on immediately. The yardage limit means a project can’t take too long, and increases the odds of your finding appropriate yarn in your stash. Some patterns are free; others cost a few dollars.

Today, a baker’s dozen of knits for men. Patterns conservative enough for guys, but interesting enough to make the knitting pleasurable.

For the head

• A Weekend in the Country by Mimi Hill – I love the tweedy rustic look of this stranded colorwork hat. The accent color vertical stripes are worked with separate lengths of yarn. 220-275 yards worsted weight.
• Flintshire – bold yet intricate cable patterning, 180 yards Aran weight yarn. From prolific designer Ashley Knowlton.
• Den Arend hat by Mary Joy Gumayagay. Knitted from the crown down in stockinette stitch with an interesting curvy cable panel and a garter-stitch brim. This hat looks like it belongs on the slopes at Gstaad. 145-150 yards DK weight yarn.
• Clara Parkes’ Hill Country Hat from The Knitter’s Book of Wool. This one is also knit from the crown down, in a knit-purl texture pattern with ribbed brim. Uses just 120 yards of chunky-weight yarn (free pattern).

For the neck

• Burberrish Cowl (free) by Marion Crick. Knitted flat so the cables run around the neck, ends joined with a three-needle bindoff – easily made narrower or wider. 240-280 yards Aran weight yarn.
• Purl Ridge Scarf from Westknits (free). Really a cowl knitted in the round in stockinette with purl ridges and garter-stitch edges – perfect for showing off a multicolored yarn. 56” circumference is long enough to wrap twice around the neck. 300 yards worsted weight.
• Thermis  – shown on a woman, but this fairly close-fitting neckwarmer would be great for men too. Waffly texture stitch with ribbed edges; worked in the round to the halfway point, then flat with a two-button opening. 210 yards worsted weight.
• This Way Up (free) is a 60” scarf with textured chevron stripes. 250 yards of bulky-weight yarn, or work it in DK weight doubled.

For the hands

• Douglas Mittens – stylized fir trees in stranded colorwork. 250 yards worsted weight yarn. The optional laceweight alpaca lining will take you over the 300-yard mark, but it sure would make these cozy.
• Ringwood Gloves by Rebecca Blair from the current issue of Knitty (free). Textured broken-rib stitch for the hands, seed-stitch buttoned cuffs. Check the Ravelry page for comments – these apparently are very stretchy and a smaller size than you think may be big enough. 225-300 yards worsted weight yarn.
• Night River Mittens by Ashley Knowlton combine simple cables with stranded colorwork. 218 – just over 300 yards Aran weight (written for Lite Lopi).
• Cruiser Mittens by Cailyn Meyer (free). Simple bold chevron cables, ribbed cuff. 130-170 yards worsted weight (three sizes).

Check my September fingerless-glove pattern roundup for more ideas – they’re another great possibility.

For the feet

Socks for men are pretty much out for procrastinating knitters – 300 yards isn’t enough. But these Aran bed socks would come in under 300, even sized up for big feet. How about a 50/50 wool/alpaca yarn? Perfect for curling up on the couch. Pattern calls for 220 yards worsted-weight yarn for women’s large; or could be knitted in Aran weight at slightly larger gauge to increase the circumference a bit for a man’s feet.


The series – quick gifts 2010
1. Pretty knits
Come back over the coming week for a couple more lists featuring youthful, simple, and useful patterns plus a few surprises.

Pattern roundup: quick gifts part one – pretty knits

Welcome to the Knitfinder quick gifts pattern roundup, 2010 edition (you’ll find the 2009 lists here). This series is for people who love to give handknits, but aren’t organized enough to get them done early. You know who you are. It isn’t too late to knit a little something for a dear friend or relation or two.

We begin with pretty things – perfect for your mother, sister, girlfriend, daughter or granddaughter, or favorite niece. Plenty of lace here. Tune in over the next week for a couple more installments, with ideas for men and home, hip and retro designs, and some other surprises.

The rules
There are only two rules: under 300 yards of yarn (or up to twice that for stranded colorwork, because after all you’re only knitting half the yardage); and available instantly online so you can cast on immediately. The yardage limit means a project can’t take too long, and increases the odds of your finding appropriate yarn in your stash. Some patterns are free; others cost a few dollars.

[Note: you won’t find fingerless gloves in these lists. They’re perfect for quick knitting, but I just did a fingerless-glove pattern roundup in September – click here to browse the lists.]

Pretty knits – for the hands

• Sweet Robin Wrist-ees from Tiny Owl knits. A bit fiddly, but oh so adorable – intarsia colorwork bird and nest adorn simple stockinette wristwarmers in Shetland jumperweight yarn.
• Anna’s Mittens from SpillyJane. Worsted-weight yarn, delicate knit-purl and twisted-stitch texture patterning, plus a simple floral colorwork band around the cuff. 260 yards.
• Pitsilised gloves Free pattern from Monica Kullerand. Estonian lace-patterned back and cuff, stockinette palm and fingers. Three sizes; 275-300 yards baby/light fingering weight (heavy laceweight would work well too).
• Sundagsvotter or Sunday mittens. Traditional Norwegian dress-up mittens with lacy back – textured feather and fan lace plus a central cable. Stockinette palm; free pattern. 50-60 grams light fingering- fingering weight.

For the neck and shoulders

• Nancy Marchant’s Leafy Lacey Brioche Keyhole Scarf. Lacy two-color brioche stitch in tone-on-tone alpaca laceweight (Ravelry pattern page lists the wrong yarn). Uses 20g or less of each color. Also lovely in laceweight mohair.
• Miriam Felton’s Windward Cowl may be knit in any yarn weight; 180-280 yards required for the DK version. Intricate lacy twisted-stitch texture patterning.
• Wavy Feathers Wimple (free) features an undulating lace pattern. 220 yards fingering weight.
• Sarah Punderson’s Sea Lace necklace was on my list last year too – but it’s here again because I’ve knit one since then. 20-30 yards of silk/stainless steel or wool/stainless steel yarn, a few beads, and a couple of hours’ knitting time equal a spectacular result. Here’s my version:
  
   
  Instead of knitting the pattern long enough to go all the way around the neck, I did just a 6” length, and attached it to a tarnished-silver chain. The recipient sent me a thank-you note saying it was one of the best presents she’d ever been given.  A free matching earring pattern was published in Knitty.
  
  Shawls under 300 yards? Yes indeed - and small shawls not only warm the shoulders, they make great scarves, worn scrunched around the neck.

• Snowberry Brambles Capelet by Tori Gurbisz. Young women would love this, I think – a panel of lace with garter-stitch edging and collar. Tucks in the collar shape it to fit the shoulders; buttons at the neck. 300 yards of chunky or bulky yarn is enough for a 21” cross-shoulder measurement.
• Tiziana Sammuri’s Fiore di Mare Shawlette features a beautiful Herbert Niebling floral lace pattern. Interesting, unusual construction; written for laceweight or fingering weight in three different sizes. 275 yards of light fingering weight is enough for the smallest size.
• Rose Beck’s Flourish is a top-down triangular shawl in worsted-weight yarn. Heavier yarn and a geometric lace pattern give a bold effect. Written for 3 sizes; 210 yards for the smallest, 320 for the medium.
• The garter-stitch Victorian Shoulderette by Sivia Harding is a miniature Faroese-shaped shawl with a pretty lace band and wavy edging. 250 yards of fingering weight.

For the head

• Michele Wang’s intricate Cables & Lace Beret uses 300 yards of sport or fingering-weight yarn (written for The Fibre Company’s Road to China Light).
• Dyah Dyanita’s tams feature stranded colorwork patterning inspired by Indonesian batik textiles; this one, the Tumpal beret, is free. Fingering gauge, about 200 yards of each color.
• Molly from Alana Dakos is a softly-gathered stockinette beret with swirling crown decreases and a delicate lace brim. Five sizes for babies to adults; 145-245 yards fingering-weight yarn.
• And if your recipient likes her hats close-fitting, Laura Todd’s Lana Seda hat might fill the bill – lacy mesh with a leaf lace panel and garter-stitch brim. Under 150 yards of DK weight yarn (written for Malabrigo Silky Merino).

And finally – for the feet

• Leaf Lace Toe-Up Socks (free pattern) – 200 yards sport weight. These would make great bed socks – how about carrying a strand of mohair with a strand of laceweight yarn?
• OK, Stephanie van der Linden’s Florenz anklets might take a hair over 300 yards total. Knitted top down, with pretty slip-stitch colorwork and a short-row heel. Free.

Come back later this week for more installments – with suggestions for men, young folks, home, and more.

Quick gift patterns: final miscellany

To wrap up our quick gifts series, here are eleven more patterns for you that I couldn't resist, but don't seem to fit anywhere else. Putting this series together has reminded me how much fun it is to knit small projects - playing with different yarns and techniques, and finishing something in a day or two, is just the thing for a short attention span, or a break from a big shawl or sweater project. So, off I go in search of oddballs, beads and other bits and pieces to cast on for one or two of these.

Read the intro to this series here, and don't miss the other lists (links at bottom of this page).

1. Pence jug from Knitty (free pattern). Franklin Habit's re-creation of Miss Lambert's Victorian design: a tiny pitcher in sock yarn remnants, designed to hold coins. So pretty, I'd just drop a few pennies in it and leave it where I could see it every day.
   
   
   
2. Exploring Stripes beaded bag by Holly Webb (free pattern). Available on Ravelry; originally published in Interweave Knits Winter 2001/02. Round-bottomed beaded drawstring bag uses one skein of Koigu or other fingering-weight yarn (175 yards). I knitted a green version of this bag with copper beads years ago--it's lovely.
   
   
   
3. Mrs. Beeton wristwarmers by Brenda Dayne, from Knitty (free pattern). Luxe, feminine wristwarmers in scraps of DK merino/cashmere and Kidsilk Spray or Kidsilk Haze. Simple ribbing with frills and a few beads.
   
   
   
4.  Thrummed fleece muff from Lionhairs (free pattern, available on Ravelry). Live where it's cold? This simple stockinette muff with i-cord strap is just the thing. Uses 120 yards of bulky wool yarn plus an ounce of roving. Here's a beautiful colorful version knitted in two and a half hours.
   
   
   
5. Dumpling bag by Sharon Dreifuss, from Interweave Knits. One-day knit: round felted bag embellished with needlefelting. Uses 272 yards Aran-weight wool, but worked with the yarn doubled. This would be a great bag to hang by your wheel for spinning accessories. Take a look at this bag trio.
   
   
   
6. Sea lace necklace by Sarah Punderson (available on Ravelry). Unique, delicate necklace knitted in Habu silk/stainless steel or Lion Brand wool/stainless. Uses 20-30 yards of yarn and a few beads.
   
   
   
7. Oddment hedghog from Little Cotton Rabbits. The cutest stuffed toy ever. Pattern available on Etsy or Ravelry. Uses 15 yards DK yarn for the body, and scraps for the rest.
   
   
   
8. Tricornu pincushion by Jody Pirrello from Knotions (free pattern). Pretty stuffed pincushion with a knitted counterpane square for the top and a fabric bottom. Tutorial for the sewn part is here. Uses 50 yards of kitchen cotton.
   
   
   
9. Emerald beaded bracelet  by Heather Murray (free pattern). One ball of no. 8 pearl cotton and 15 grams of seed beads make a lovely vintage-looking bracelet you can knit in an evening or two.
   
   
   
10. Fairy star chair mat from Tiny Owl Knits (free pattern). What a good idea - uses 100 yards of super-bulky wool (written for Debbie Bliss Como). Knitted like a pair of circular dishcloths, crocheted together for a double-thickness pad.
    
    
    
11. And one more for good measure - Lacyflakes snowflakes from Heartstrings Fiber Arts. Inventive and truly beautiful - a storm of these silk snowflakes would be fantastic hung in a window or on a tree.
    
    
 

Monday: patterns with color
Tuesday: lacy patterns
Wednesday: patterns with texture
Thursday: plain & simple patterns

Quick gift patterns - plain & simple

Today: ten eleven fabulous plain and simple patterns. Check back tomorrow for a few final ideas. Read the intro to the series here.

All these patterns use less than 300 yarns of yarn; most of them much less. That means you should be able to get them knitted in a week without too much trouble. All are easily available, either instantly online or in magazines currently on the newsstands. Many are free; others cost a few dollars. Some are widely known, others are unsung gems or rediscovered from past years. Enjoy!

1. Quincy hat by Jared Flood. This jaunty hat is garter-stitch with a twist - literally. You knit a flat strip of garter stitch, give it a twist and join the ends, then pick up crown stitches and knit them in the round.  174 yards bulky-weight yarn.
   
   
   
2. Storm Cloud shawlette by Hanna Breetz (free pattern).  Simple but lovely semicircular garter-stitch shoulder shawl with optional ruffle. Worked at an open gauge for sheerness. 150-210 yards fingering weight yarn, but can be worked in any weight. (This would be a great pattern to show off handspun.)
   
   
   
3. 75-yard Malabrigo fingerless mitts for men, from Life in Cleveland (free pattern). Completely plain mitts with ribbed edges - but in a luxurious yarn, what could be better? 75 yards worsted-weight wool.
   
   
   
4. Tea Mitten by Elizabeth Kleven (free pattern). Ribbed tea cozy fits your pot like - well, a glove. Uses less than 100 yards DK wool (and another great use for handspun.
   
   
   
5. Magic slippers for babies from SockPixie (free pattern). Cute garter-stitch slippers use a walnut-sized ball of sock yarn leftovers for a newborn size; can easily be made bigger. I like this version, with pompoms.
   
   
   
6. Robin's Egg Blue hat by Rachel Iufer (free pattern). Chic close-fitting stockinette hat with wide seed-stitch brim and buttoned tab. Less than 120 yards chunky-weight wool.
   
   
   
7. Snug baby hoodie by Hinke (free pattern, available on Ravelry). Almost-seamless sideways garter-stitch hoodie jacket for newborns - 6 months, in Cascade Ecological Wool. Uses 219-273 yards.
   
   
   
8. Susie's Reading Mitts from Dancing Ewe Yarns (free pattern). Fingerless mitts for women in stockinette with eyelet and purl-ridge accents, picot edges. 200 yards worsted-weight yarn.
   
   
   
9. Urchin beret by Ysolda Teague from Knitty (free pattern). Garter-stitch beret worked sideways on two needles with short-row shaping. 77-110 yards bulky wool. This version added a few stitches to make a nice slouchy hat.
   
   
   
10. Huckleberry Ascot by Kat Coyle, from Interweave Knits. Short garter-stitch scarf worked sideways. Short rows widen the ruffled ends. 220 yards DK yarn (written for alpaca).
    
    
    
11. And one more for good measure: Ribby Slipper Socks from Interweave Knits (free pattern). Ribbed alpaca slippers with folded cuffs - feet in bulky weight, cuffs in worsted weight. 145-190 yards, sizes for children and adults. Knit them in a day!
    
    

Monday: patterns with color 
Tuesday: lacy patterns
Wednesday: patterns with texture
Friday: miscellaneous gems

Quick gift patterns: texture

Today: ten twelve fabulous patterns featuring texture. Check back tomorrow for my top ten plain & simple patterns, and Friday for a few final ideas. Read the intro to the series here.

All these patterns use less than 300 yarns of yarn; most of them much less. That means you should be able to get them knitted in a week without too much trouble. All are easily available, either instantly online or in magazines currently on the newsstands. Many are free; others cost a few dollars. Some are widely known, others are unsung gems or rediscovered from past years. Enjoy!


TODAY'S TOP TEN: TEXTURE

1. Larus & Ardea fingerless mitts from Knitty (free pattern). Been wanting to try twined knitting? Be brave and knit these handsome mitts in one skein of Cascade 220 and a bit of contrast color yarn for the braided edges; two versions, one for men and one for women.
   
   
   
2. Miller's hat from Through the Loops. This great hat has a wide herringbone-stitch brim band shaped to cover the ears and a not-too-tight boldly-cabled crown. 220 yards of worsted-weight wool plus a bit for contrast trim.
   
   
   
3. Wave cowl  by Rebecca Hatcher from Knotions (free pattern). Simple but interesting pattern uses short rows to create undulating purl ridges on a stockinette ground. Less than 220 yards worsted or Aran weight. I'm tempted to try this in some Muench Touch Me I have in stash and full it a bit. Nice in yarn with long color changes, because of the short rows. Can't make the Ravelry project button work, but here's the link (56 projects).
   
   
4. Ripple beret by Wendy Bernard. Ruched beret alternates concentric rings of stockinette and garter stitch. Garter-stitch brim. Less than 220 yards worsted weight wool (there's also a fingering-weight version using about 300 yards).
   
   
   
5. Bella's mittens by Marielle Henault. As worn in Twilight: wonderful bulky-weight mittens with almost elbow-length ribbed gauntlets and a bold cable down the back. 220 yards bulky wool (Cascade 109).
   
   
   
6. Bodhi mittens or fingerless mitts from RiverPoet Designs (available on Ravelry). Unusual feminine cable patterning on back of hand, seed stitch cuff, and optional beaded accents. Three sizes, 100-200 yards worsted weight wool.
   
   
   
7. Trilobite hat from Knitty (free pattern). I love the patterning on this snug-fitting hat - four panels use cables, bobbles, and garter-stitch texture to suggest trilobite fossils. 184 yards worsted weight wool.
   
   
   
8. Helix gloves by Kira Dulaney. OK, very simple texture. Stockinette fingerless gloves with long cuffs and an elegant spiralling line wrapping around the wrist and hand, created by a decrease ridge and adjacent yarnover. 160-180 yards DK-weight yarn; two sizes.
   
   
   
9. Winding River cowl by Kathleen Cubley from Interweave Knits (free pattern). Loose moebius cabled cowl knitted lengthwise. As written, pattern calls for 325 yards DK yarn, but this version used just 220 yards of bulky alpaca. Or, use whatever you have - provisionally cast on 8" worth of stitches, work 25" in whatever cable pattern you like that looks good on both sides, give the scarf a twist before joining the ends with a three-needle bindoff.
   
   
   
10. Heritage baby booties from Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2009 (on newsstands now). Absolutely gorgeous cabled booties with garter-stitch soles, knitted flat. Complex but worth it. Less than 230 yards fingering-weight wool.
    
    
    
11. And one more for good measure - Chevalier socks or mittens by Mari Muinonen (free patterns). Worsted-weight socks or mittens share the same beautiful cable patterning. 250-300 yards yarn for the socks, less than 220 yards for the mittens (pattern is written for sportweight yarn used double).
    
    
    
12. Added 12/10/09: Give a Hoot mittens from Kelbourne Woolens (free pattern). Little cabled owls with button eyes are turning up everywhere - here they are on a pair of simple mittens in worsted-weight wool (200 yards). Or, you could use lighter-weight wool at a smaller gauge for a child.
    
    
    

Monday: patterns with color 
Tuesday: lacy patterns
Thursday: plain & simple patterns
Friday: miscellaneous gems