Knits Men Want

Knits Men Want: The 10 Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting for a Man~ Plus the Only 10 Patterns She'll Ever Need by Bruce Weinstein

This is a book filled with simple, classic patterns with instructions to adapt them to any yarn. I think many of the principals in the book would work for both men and women, make sure you think about what the recipient likes before you knit for them! There are great tips on fibers, color choices and other things that would help you make a garment that a man would want to wear. There are even tips on how to remove food stains from your knit garments!

The pattern templates include:

• Ski Sweater
• Basic pullover and vest
• Basic Cardigan Two Ways
• Raglan-Sleeved Henley
• Hooded Sweatshirt
• Baseball Jersey
• Fingerless Mitts
• Thick and Warm Socks
• Reversible Cable Scarf
• Watch Cap

The book comes with detailed instructions for each pattern and multiple schematics and photographs. There isn't a "How to Knit" section although there are explanations of advanced techniques

I often have trouble coming up with what to knit for the men in my life. I want a pattern that has some interest to it, but that they would still want to wear. The patterns in this book are not the most unique, but they are timeless classic pieces. Plus, with the different gauge information it makes this a fantastic reference book. I could see using the patterns in this book as a template to incorporate some different stitch patterns and colorwork someday.

Unfortunately what men DON'T want are the chapter titles to this book. When my husband flipped open to the chapter titled "Men are Babies" and "Men are Oblivious" he was displeased. I think that the message the messages that men want comfortable simple clothing is a good one, but this book was not written with the significant others of knitters in mind. (Of course, I don't think Keith realized that this book was written by a man, so maybe he would have taken less offense.)

Another Hitchhiker (and not the last!)

The Hitchhiker knitting pattern by Martina Behm is quickly becoming one of my favorite patterns.  It is just garter stitch, but the increases and jagged tooth edge and watching variegated yarns change colors and pool keep it so fascinating that I cast this pattern on again and again.  (Let's just say that 3 of my 12 shawls in 2012 are of this pattern.)

For this variation, I used 96 g of hand dyed KnitPicks Palette yarn and size 4 knitting needles.  I did NOT make the rounded point at the end, I just followed the standard pattern until I was ready to bind off (loosely) all the way. 

I dyed this 100g skein of KnitPicks bare fingering Peruvian highland wool with a Tulip Tie Dye Kit.  I made the color repeats really short, as you can see there are 5 repeats of a 5 color rainbow below.  

I handpainted the yarn following the same techniques I used for the cotton yarn in the following video tutorial. (In fact, I dyed these the same day!)

Semplice Fingerless Mitts

Knitting for men can be hard, but what man wouldn't like a soft pair of fingerless mitts in a deep mossy green color?  I selected the Semplice Fingerless Mitts by Stacey Winklepleck to knit for a family friend whose taste I'm not super familiar with.  The pattern is classic and simple, but I upped the elegance by using sport weight 100% baby alpaca Andean Treasure yarn (63 g).  I knit the large mitts on size 3 (3.25 mm) knitting needles.

 

I LOVE the twisted ribbing.  It gives a little refinement to an otherwise simple (but classic) pattern.

Notes from Construction of the Semplice Mitts:

• 9 rounds of twisted rib = 1"
• 25 rounds of stockinette for the mitt to measure just >4" 
• Increases for thumb - knit until 16 sts between markers, ending on Round 2.  
• After set aside thumb, 15 rounds (just shy of 2") of stockinette.  
• 9 rounds twisted rib
• Bind off in pattern
• Thumb: K4 rounds for the half inch.  3 rounds ribbing, bind off in pattern.  

Unlike other mittens I've made, the increases for the thumb happen along the start of the round (as opposed to the half way point of the round.)  I wonder what made the designer differ from convention.  I tried the mitt on Keith before binding off.  My hands are so small that it is hard for me to tell scale and proportion for a Man's hand!

I really like the twisted rib on these mitts. (I've said this already, but I really really like it!)    It is so simple but looks so much nicer when stretched than a standard rib.  I think I will use this more in the future!

Endpaper Mitts

Happy Chanukkah! My mom loves black and white, and requested a pair of cotton fingerless mittens that she could use in the summer.   She loved all of the fair isle work I've done, but wool just won't work for Florida.  I decided to make the medium sized Endpaper Mitts in Comfy Fingering from KnitPicks.  I used size 2 (3.0 mm) knitting needles, 27 g of Black and 14 g white yarn. 

Notes from working on the pattern

• I did a long tail cast-on to start the mitts.
• 13 rows of 1x1 ribbing at the cuff.
• I couldn't decided which way to make the colors on the chart... with my MC (black) being the black dots or the white dots. I ended up having the MC be the white squares and the CC being the black dots on the chart.
• I decided against doing a purled seam, instead doing a MC knitted seam. (I could leave the seam out, but the pattern won't line up anyway... so this will make things work nicer.)
  
  
• I only did 2 repeats of chart A to make the cuff of the mitts a little shorter.
• After the colorwork, I did 4 rounds of 1x1 ribbing and then bound off in pattern. I did not go down to a smaller needle size because I want to make sure that they fit the recipient. If I were to make these again, I would use smaller needles for the ribbing.
• Thumbs - I attached the yarn at the inside of the thumb, so that I could have the loose end to reinforce this join. I picked up the stitches at the end of the round. Next Round - *K1, P1* 9x, SSK, P1, S1 (K2tog with the first stitch of the next round.) Knit ribbing for 3 more rounds then bind off in pattern.
• For this project, I left both thumbs until the end. I'm not sure why I decided to do it, but it means that I just have little finishing details left!

This was my first time using the comfy cotton line from KnitPicks. The yarn is very soft, and drapes like a dream. It doesn't hold for ribbing very well, there isn't a lot of tension in the cuff and around the fingers. This could be a good thing for the intended recipient, but is something to keep in mind when using this yarn in the future. I think that I would like to use it for a shawl because of its softness and drape. The yarn is certainly called comfy for a reason!

Sweet Shawlettes

Sweet Shawlettes: 25 Irresistible Patterns for Knitting Cowls, Capelets, and More by Jean Moss

This year I have become obsessed with knitting shawlettes, espeically since I joined the 12 in 2012 club in Ravelry. When I discovered this book, I got really excited. I wonder if there will be anything I need to add to my queue!

The patterns are divided into four sections:

• Country
• Madame Alfred Shawlette - Contains some colorwork at the edge
• Kardamili Shawlette - Triangular, textured pattern with a contrasting crochet edge
• Garland Necklet - This one is a bit odd, looks like a braided rope with some flower applique. I can see a purpose, but I wouldn't call it a shawl!
• Green at Heart Collar - A cabled cowl secured with button closures.
• Evergreen Scarf - A choker* (as displayed on the model) with a bib like cascade of leaves.
• Frost Chocker - A loose stranded Selbu style colorwork choker secured with buttons.
• Couture
• Drift Cowl - A great chunky buttoned cabled cowl. Th huge buttons really make the garment shine.
• Penumbra Cowl - Illusion knit (zig zag) in black and white, this cowl is striking.
• Enigma Shawl - A two piece layered shawl - one with a collar and the other without.
• Harlequin Cape - The entrelac shawlette shown on the cover photo.
• Twine Cowl - This is super fun, three colors of chunky yarn are knit in different patterns and then are twisted together to form a rope like cowl.
• Empty Circle Joined Hat and Scarf - As the title suggests, this is a joined hat and scarf with large circular holes around the brim of the hat and some on the scarf.  These holes look really cool, but may make this otherwise super warm looking garment less friendly to the extreme cold.
• Folk
• Miss Garricks Cowl - Stranded colorwork
• Arabesque Scarf - A stunning mobius scarf. The feather and fan lace is knit out from the center in one piece taking advantage of the single edge to a mobius strip. I am not entirely sure how the instructions work by just reading it, so it may require some additional thought when on the needle.
• Bess Ruff - Fitted to the neck with vertical stripes and tiny buttons.
• Celidh Shawlette - There is stunning colorwork in this plaid shawl/poncho
• Purple Patch Shrug - For me, this shawlette doesn't compare to the elegance of many of the other patterns in this book. The pastel garter stitch squares look more like a baby blanket.
• Polperro Cape - This makes up for the previous design! The cape has a buckle closure and is knit in a brilliant deep blue. The cabled pattern is fantastic!
• Vintage
• Kitty Caplet - A leopard print cape with button closure. I like how the ones selected in the photo look almost like claws.
• Grace Cowl - A fitted cowl that flares out at one end.
• Bronte Fichu - A romantic classic triangular shawl. The schematic explains how it is knit so if you have never started at the center back before it will help make sense.
• Mantilla Shawlette - This is by far my favorite project in the book. There is a class beauty to the model when the orange shawl is paired with a green dress with orange and purple flowers on it. I also have not seen many patterns like it.
• Vamp Boa - A fun, multilayered ruffled scarf
• Treasure Jabot - As the title suggests, this is a Jabot with cascading ruffles.
• Fizz Caplet - A subtle beaded capelet.

I would pay attention to to the fiber content used in each of the patterns. In many cases, the fibers chosen are as important as the design itself. The Mantilla Shawlette may look fantastic in other yarn choices, but I think that a lot of the appeal comes from the haze of mohair.

One of the most brilliant aspects of this book are the modeled photos. The shawlettes are incorporated into outfits in ways that really let them shine. The pairings of yarn color to fabrics is incredible. The downside is that there are not pictures of the completed shawls on their own so it is hard to get a sense of their shape. (For example the Empty Circle Joined Hat and Scarf is a little hard to visualize, even with the given schematic.)  Nevertheless, I expect that this will be a book I will come back to in 2013.  

Pick-a-Stitch Software Review

I was recently given the opportunity to review the Pick-a-Stitch Knitting Software over at FaveCrafts.com. Pick-a-Stitch is a knitting stitch dictionary ("stitctionary") that comes with over 130 different knitting stitches for $17.95.  There are options to add monthly subscriptions or a la carte extra patterns so you database can keep growing. 

What did I think?  Read the review and watch the video below to find out!

Star Wars and Lego Knitting Patterns

With the holiday season approaching, I have found myself spending a lot of time researching  Star Wars Lego sets.. For some reason searching for these different lego sets inspired me to look at knitting patterns for both Star Wars themes and for Legos themselves. (There are currently no Lego Star Wars knitting patterns, but I suppose you could do some clever work with the below patterns to make a combo project!) 

There are many more Star Wars themed knitting patterns than there are Lego themed knitting patterns.  Therefore, in the lists below you will find both free and for purchase lego knitting patterns and only free Star Wars knitting patterns.  Maybe you can find a way to combine the two! 


Lego Knitting Patterns (Free)

•  Lego Brick Doorstop - Using a real brick, some bottle caps, yarn and your knitting needles, you can create a doorstop in the shape of the most common 2x4 lego brick. 
• Lego Man Mittens - Have you ever wished that your hands were circular that could only fit certain types of objects?  Well now you can have those little yellow lego minifigure hands you've always dreamed of.  The best part about this pattern?  You can make them for the whole family as the pattern is sized from babies to adults. 
• Lego Person Newborn Baby Hat - Brilliant!  This is a hat like the classic yellow lego minifigure head!  This hat does have a few crochet embellishments (bump at top of head, eyes, mouth.) 

Lego Knitting Patterns (For Purchase) All prices valid as of Dec 2012.

•  Some Assembly Required - $6.00 Knit up a lego minifigure that has removable legs and head, just like the little plastic figures you played with. 
• FREE Fancy Outfit Expansion to Some Assembly Required - Now add some fancy clothes (available through free ravelry download.)  
•  Build-a-Scarf - $6.00 A textured scarf where the stripes represent a horrizontal column of lego bricks. 

Star Wars Knitting Patterns (Free)

• Star Wars Charts - Storm Trooper, Star Wars Logo, Tie Fighter, R2D2, ATAT... Many iconic images are located here for inclusion in the project of your choice. 
• Star Wars Craft Charts - Many MANY charts of your favorite characters. (Intarsia)
• PennyIA Inartsia Star War Charts -  Even MORE star wars knitting charts
• Star Wars Hat - The Star Wars logo across the brim of the hat.  (simple skullcap)  (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
• Death Star - A ~14” replica of the death star! (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
• R2 D2 Beanie Hat - R2's head Pattern and chart are linked to in the middle of the first post.
• R2-D2 Beanie - R2's head complete with little protruding bits (I'm not sure what the terms are for R2's parts)
• R2D2 Hat - A hat with little charted R2D2's around the brim. 
• R2D2 Knit Hat Pattern - R2's head as a beanie.
• R2D2 Beanie - Another beanie with little charted R2's around the brim.  (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
• Lifesize R2D2 Cozy - I am not sure exactly what is on the interior of this R2 unit... but this is certainly a full size knit R2D2.  The pattern is more of a schematic, and you can find more information here. 
• Storm Trooper Beanie - charted storm trooper heads around the brim.  (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
• Storm Trooper Hat - Another hat with charted storm troopers around the brim. 
•  Fettish - A stuffed Boba Fett Helmet plushie.  (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
•  Felted Light Saber - Full size!  You may want to get some kind of dowel for the interior so it doesn't become too floppy.   (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
• Felted Light Saber; Baby Size -  Was the previous light saber too daunting?  Make a smaller one! 
•  You Seek Yoda Hat - A beanie with long flappy yoda ears.  (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
•  Yoda Baby Bottle Cozy - The Yoda shaped pattern that inspired many of the plushies/cozies that follow.  (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
• Yoda iPod Cozy - based on the previous bottle cozy (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
• Yodagurumi - a Yoda plushie based on the previous bottle cozy.  (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
•  Yoda Hat - I love how there are ridges like the wrinkles on Yoda's forehead. 
• Felted Baby Yoda Hat - Absolutely adorable.  Ties under the neck (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
• Baby Yoda Sweater - A Wrap sweater that is perfect for a yoda costume.   (Pattern is available for free Ravelry.com download.  You may need to create a free account for access.)
• Knitted Yoda Doll Pattern - complete with mini light saber!  
• Star Wars At-AT Chart 
• Felted Princess Leia Hat Pattern - Double Buns as in Episode 4.  For English, scroll down to the bottom of the page. 
  
• Wookie Slippers - Fuzzy slippers! (also available as a PDF)
  
• Star Wars Golf Club Covers - I had trouble finding all of the charts, but here are some of the detailed ones that she highlighted:  Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Storm Trooper.  Update - C3PO and Chewy! 

I'm sure there could be other Lego and Star Wars themed knitting patterns out there, but these are the ones that I found from this initial search.  Will you knit any of them?