Hi friends! Is it just me or are you also astounded by the amazing variety of things that can be knitted? It’s partly why I decided I wanted to knit my own wedding dress, because of course you can knit a wedding dress. And it doesn’t have to look like a jumper. It was such an exciting realisation when I learned to knit that you could make summer clothes! Or knit with plastic bags!! And don’t get me started on some of the bizarre stuff people have designed in the “Mature Content” section on Ravelry. My goodness. Today’s post is NOT about mature content, but it is about something a little left-of-field that you can knit: educational toys and games for kids! I’ve found 7 patterns from around the web and in books that you’ll want to make if you’ve got kids in your life.
As those of you who visit regularly will know, I recently posted a pattern for a colour cube and matching balls toy for toddlers to learn their colours and practise matching. My 18 month old is keen on this toy, and it is a great thing to hand her on the changing table to keep her engaged and not too squirmy when you’re trying to change her.
I loved designing this toy, and I loved that it was so simple, made from simple spheres and garter stitch squares. It got me interested in what other knitted educational toys people have designed. Without further ado, here are some of my favourites.
1. Octopush by Woolly Thoughts – Available online
Aaaaaa! I was so excited to see that someone has made a knitting pattern for one of these octocubes! I know some of you might think I’ve been living under a rock, but the first time I ever saw one of these awesome cube puzzle things, I was 19 or 20, and volunteering for an organisation that helped new mums and babies. Someone had made a bag of toys for babies and in it was a sewn version of one of these octocube toys. And in all seriousness, I was mesmerised and just astonished at how simple yet ingenious this thing is. I was so amazed that the other volunteer that I was with at the time sourced a pattern from the donor to give to me.
The Octopush is a cube with one colour for each face. You open it up and each large face has a uniform pattern. You open it up again and the patterns change but still, a uniform pattern for each face. Amazing.
I’m a big nerd.
I’m not sorry.
Now you can make your own octocube, the Octopush, by either knitting or crocheting one. And the pattern’s available as a download! And wowie, the Ravelry page even has a gif or something similar of the cube actually working! I didn’t even know you could do that on Ravelry.
2. Dominoes in 100 Little Knitted Projects and Knitting Magazine 160, October 2016 – Available in print
Would you ever think of knitting this classic game? It looks so simple, too, that it would make a great first project for beginner knitters, and a good chance to practise embroidery.
This dominoes pattern is available in the book 100 Little Knitted Projects by Sarah Keen. I haven’t read the book, but it looks like it has some very cute stash-busting patterns, and it has mostly 5 star reviews on Amazon!
3. Bowling Ball and Pins in New Knits on the Block – available in print
When you find a book called New Knits on the Block: A Guide to Knitting What Kids Really Want by the one and only Vickie Howell, you’re going to expect some pretty cool stuff.
I can absolutely say that as a kid, I’d have found a set of knitted bowling pins and ball to be pretty neat. When I was a kid, my friend and I used to borrow witches’ hats and a soccer ball from the sports shed and kids would line up to play bowling with us. I’m pretty terrible at actual bowling, but a short-range version is the perfect fun challenge. This would help kids with their gross motor skills, and embroider some numbers on the pins and you’ve got a chance to make it an addition or subtraction game.
Again, I haven’t read this book (but it looks awesome!), but I am really fond of another pattern book called AwareKnits also by Vickie Howell, along with Adrienne Armstrong. In fact it’s one of my favourites, not just because it has a focus on environmentally friendly projects, but because the projects are genuinely useful and beautiful. I can only assume New Knits on the Block delivers just as much value.
4. Tangram Puzzle by Woolly Thoughts – Available online
Okay, I might be picking patterns that I want for me. Oh, and my toddler. But mostly me. But you’ll enjoy them too! The tangram is such a simple toy; a collection of shapes which, put together in a certain way, create a square, but can be used in all sorts of ways. Make pictures from the shapes, use them to teach geometry, challenge your kids to recreate your designs as quickly as they can.
Just seeing a tangram puzzle takes me back to early primary school. My teachers must have loved them because in my memory they’re a quintessential part of my early maths classes. I’ve been seeing them around lately as I browse educational games for my little girl, and I keep telling myself that I must get her one someday. Well, now that I’ve found this pattern, I can make her one!
This pattern includes two different methods to make the pattern, one that beginners can do, and one that’s more involved, so if you’re new to knitting, this might be a fun project to try out. And when you’re more experienced, you can make it again with the second method.
5. Mancala Mia by Wendy Wonnacott – Available for free online
Again, who would have thought to knit this? The creativity of knitters never ceases to amaze me.
I first played this game when I was a little kid, at my best friend’s house, on her computer. It was so much fun that a few years later in my tech class, I made one out of wood. A few years after that, I learned that my mum used to play this game as a kid in the Philippines! I don’t remember if she called it Mancala Mia but it was the same game.
There are lots of versions of the rules, but in general, players move around the set of pots, putting beads in the pots as they go, and whoever has the most beads in their bowl after all the pots are emptied is the winner.
This pattern is available from the ever-worthwhile online knitting magazine Knitty, from their Winter 2004 edition.
6. Rainbow by Frankie Brown – Available for free online
These nesting rainbows are all the rage. They have one at an early learning play centre which my daughter and I frequent, and it gets a lot of use! They are usually made of wood and they are so sweet, and teach kids about relative sized objects and of course colours. The wooden ones are, unfortunately, usually outside of my stingy prince point, so I was pretty excited to discover Frankie’s knitted version. I haven’t made one yet but I think I will.
This rainbow is made quite simply, knit in stocking stitch, then stretched over plastic canvas rectangles. It is quite ingenious really. Two strips of the same colour are knitted, one longer than the other. When they’re sewn together around the rectangles, they naturally curve, giving you a perfect arch!
I’ve made patterns of Frankie’s before, and I love how creative and original they are. This pattern is free to download, but please consider donating to the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, which you can do via this fundraising page.
So there you have it. 6 awesome educational toy projects for the little learners in your life. Many thanks to all those I contacted who gave permission for their photos to be used in this post.
Peace,
Kat
Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if you click on the affiliate link and purchase the item.
Yarn Along – May 2018
I have no idea how it is May already, but it’s time for another Yarn Along, where I join Ginny from Small Things and other knitters and crocheters, and share what we’re reading an creating this month. Join the Yarn Along by clicking below!
If you’re joining me for the first time, welcome! I’m Kat and I blog about knitting, and post my own patterns on my blog and on Ravelry . Check out some of my popular posts, like the Wiser Baby Sun Hat and the story about how I hand-knitted my own wedding dress (There are four posts about my wedding dress – the link is to the first one).
What I’m Reading
The Five Love Languages
For this month, I’m reading a long-overdue book aloud with my husband. The book is called The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts. If you haven’t heard of it, especially if you’re married, I’m surprised. It’s a bit of a classic among relationship books.
My husband’s sister got us this book the Christmas before we got married, so about two and a half years ago! She and her husband had read it together and said it was revolutionary in their already happy marriage. My husband and I read it to each other on and off, maybe a chapter here or there. But by the time we were about a third of the way through, we’d lost steam and forgot about it. Still, neither of us put it away because we still wanted to read it. Fast forward to now, and we’ve decided to have another go. The basic premise is that we all communicate using five different love languages (e.g. spending quality time, giving gifts). For each person, one language is stronger than others. As couples, it is important to know each other’s love language in order to make our spouse feel loved. We are a few chapters in and it is great to have the five love languages as a thinking point when trying to take care of our marriage. There is work involved in being married, even when it’s a happy one. Love is an action, not a feeling.
Finding Sanctuary
The other book I’m reading is called Finding Sanctuary: Monastic Steps for Everyday Life. It is actually the third time I’ve read this book. I first read it as part of a youth group with some friends and their church, three years ago. The author, Christopher Jamison, is a monk and was the Abbot of a Benedictine monastery when he wrote it. My husband and I had the honour of meeting Christopher Jamison in Poland at World Youth Day in 2016. We told him how valuable studying this book was for us.
It isn’t a Christian or religious book specifically, but of course that is the lens through which the author views the world. Its aim is explained in the title: It’s about how to find sanctuary, in your life, through things like silence and simplicity. As a young mum, I often feel run off my feet and lacking in any spiritual oomph. This book I have found is a good way to bring me back down to some serenity when things seem so hectic as my daughter enters her toddler years and I have yet more housework to do. So out it comes again, for a third read-through. Hopefully I can re-learn how to find some sanctuary!
What I’m Knitting
Very excitingly, my husband has two sisters who are expecting babies right now. One of the bubs is due in July, and the other is due in October. Knitting for babies is one of the highlights in my knitting life. As I wrote in my post about knitting for charity, sometimes I knit for babies I don’t even know because I want to make some baby stuff.
I’m working on an original design for the October baby: a pram blanket with a moss stitch border and a stitch pattern which I designed myself, involving bobbles and twisted stitches. As you can see, I’m still only up to the moss stitch edging, but it is really exciting to be making this and if I like the finished product enough, there will be a pattern coming your way!
Peace,
Kat
Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if you click on the affiliate link and purchase the item.
New Pattern! Watch Wearer Fingerless Mittens
It’s Autumn here in Tasmania and the weather is steadily getting colder, though we do still have plenty of nice days. However, for most of you who read this blog, I know that you’re in the Spring time. I’m a little jealous! Like in Australia, I imagine many of you are getting cooler days mixed in with some lovely sunshine. Therefore, I have a new knitting pattern for you! Introducing the Watch-Wearer fingerless mittens. I designed these with brisk coolish days in mind, just like you get in the Spring and Autumn. They’re made from comfortable cotton-blend yarn which provides a little warmth but not too much. I designed them super short with a nice loose cuff, so you can check your watch easily while wearing them, hence the name. See them here.
Download The Pattern
The Watch-Wearer knitting pattern is available for purchase on Ravelry for $3.00 AUD. It is an instant download and you don’t have to have a Ravelry account to purchase. Download yourself the pattern today! If you’d like to see some of my most popular free patterns, take a look at my Garter Be Kidding Me headband, my French Rhubarb fingerless mittens, and the Wiser Baby Sun Hat. These are some of my most popular patterns.
As this is my first ever pattern for purchase, I would love to hear what you think of it if you do make a pair of mittens from this pattern! Send me a message via Ravelry and make a Ravelry project. I would really love to see some photos of mittens people have made using this pattern.
Peace,
Kat
Colour Cube + Balls Educational Toy – Free Tutorial
I’ve got another garter stitch only project for you this week! I’ve had so much fun compiling garter stitch patterns from around the web, and sharing with you my Garter Be Kidding Me bow headband, that I couldn’t wait to share another garter stitch pattern with you. This easy little cube toy would be a great present for a toddler, and is a brilliant way to use up your left over 8ply acrylic yarn.
Today’s project is a really simple coloured toy cube, with matching coloured balls. They can be used in all kinds of ways.
- Throw the cube and ask your child to find the ball that matches the colour it lands on
- Throw the cube and get your child to find something else in the room that matches the colour
- Make lots of cubes and use them as building blocks
- Add some numbers or dots to the cube with felt to turn it into a die, and knit enough balls to match the number on each cube face to turn it into a number-learning toy
For those of you who are new to knitting, you may be wondering what I’m talking about when I say garter stitch. Garter stitch is the stitch that you get when you just knit “plain”, that first stitch everyone learns when they first start to knit. It creates a bumpy, reversible fabric. So if you’re a beginner knitter and want to know what to do with those random squares you’ve made in your practise, look no further than this post, and the ones I linked above.
You will need to know basic increasing and decreasing to make the balls, as well as some seaming techniques. Below are some links to tutorials for the techniques you’ll need to make this cube.
- Long tail cast on
- Basic cast off (aka bind off)
- Basic increase (knit front and back, or kfb)
- Basic decrease (knit two together, or k2tog)
- Whip stitch
- Mattress stitch
- Weaving in ends
Like I mentioned in last week’s Yarn Along post, my husband and I are seriously considering home schooling our little girl Peanut (don’t worry, not her real name) and any future siblings she may have. I was already interested in the way kids learn, being a psychologist by training and all, but thinking about home schooling now has me personally invested in a little person’s education. It’s both absolutely fascinating and daunting at the same time.
Peanut is 17 months old now and learning like a sponge. She’s only been talking for six months but she’s already learning lots of letter sounds, even recognising the written letter T and making the sound for it! So I’ve been thinking about ways to support this interest in learning, and I came up with this little toy. She doesn’t know her colours yet, but maybe she’ll learn them with the help of this toy!
The balls are made using my Knitted Sphere Tutorial, which is one of my most popular patterns on Ravelry. The only modification is that I made these balls in garter stitch rather than stocking (stockinette) stitch. The tutorial is a super useful tool for when you need to make spheres of any size for all kinds of projects (like the tail of my handspun rabbit-fur rabbit). So even though I’ll post a full tutorial for these coloured spheres down below, check out the general Knitted Sphere Tutorial as well, just for your future reference.
Alternatively, you could use made or bought pom poms instead of the knitted balls, however I think the balls will be longer lasting than any pom pom.
Here’s the pattern!
Colour Cube + Balls Educational Toy
WARNING: This toy contains small parts which could pose a choking hazard. Always supervise your children when they are using this toy.
Yarn: 8ply acrylic yarn in six colours. I used Moda Vera Marvel. You will need approximately 25g of yarn for each colour. Hayfield Baby Bonus DK, King Cole Big Value DK, and Stylecraft Special are good substitutes.
Needles: 3.75mm (UK 9/ US 5) straight needles
Tension: 19sts = 10cm in garter stitch
Other supplies:
- Toy stuffing (Poly-Fil)
- An 8cm x 8cm (3″ x 3″) square of foam or sponge. See below how I made and cut mine from a car washing sponge.
Notions:
- Scissors
- Darning needle
- Gel pen
- Ruler
- Serrated knife (for cutting sponge to shape)
Make the Foam Cube
I wanted to make this toy as washable as possible, but also affordable. If you have access to clean mattress foam, I think that would be ideal. If, however, you can’t find that, just use a car washing sponge like I did! It may not be machine washable (I have yet to test it out) but you can be sure it can be hand washed with little fuss.
You will need a large car washing sponge to make one 8cm (3″) cube. You want the width and length of the sponge to be at least 8cm (3″) each, but the height can be shorter. The one I used measured L: 21cm x W: 8cm at the narrowest x H: 5cm (L: 8.5″ x W: 3″ x H: 2″) and worked well for this project, and actually came in a set of two. Here is another option for a similar sponge.
Measure out an 8cm x 8cm (3″ x 3″) square on one end of the sponge, as far over to the edge as you can. I found that a gel pen was the best pen for marking the lines.
Use a serrated knife (a bread knife, for example) to cut out the square, all the way down the sponge.
If the height of the sponge is less than 8cm (3″), you will need to measure and cut another 8cm (3″) square from the leftover sponge and combine it with the first square. You may need to trim one of the pieces down if it is too high. There is no need to glue the two pieces, just stack one on top of the other.
Pattern
Make Faces of Cube
Make six cubes alike, one in each colour.
Using long-tail cast-on, cast on 15 sts. Work in stocking stitch until the piece is square, then cast off.
Assemble the Cube
Sew each face together into a cube shape using whip stitch, remembering to sew the foam cube into the centre of the cube. Weave in and hide all ends inside the cube.
Make Balls
Make six balls alike, one (or more, if you prefer) in each colour.
Using long-tail cast-on, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: [kfb] to end. 6 sts.
Rows 2, 4, 6, and 8: K all sts.
Row 3: [k1, kfb] to end. 9 sts.
Row 5: [k2, kfb] to end. 12 sts.
Row 7: [k3, kfb] to end. 15 sts.
Row 9: [k4, kfb] to end. 18 sts.
Rown 10-12: K all sts.
Row 13: [k4, k2tog] to end. 15 sts.
Rows 14, 16, 18, and 20: K all sts.
Row 15: [k3, k2tog] to end. 12 sts.
Row 17: [k2, k2tog] to end. 9 sts.
Row 19: [k1, k2tog] to end. 6 sts.
Row 21: [k2tog] to end. 3 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a 30cm tail. Thread the tail through a darning needle and pass through the three live sts on the knitting needle. Remove sts from the knitting needle and pull the thread tightly. Using mattress stitch, sew together the edges of the piece until the hole is nearly closed. Then turn the piece inside out, hiding the cast on tail inside the ball. Stuff with toy stuffing and then close up the hole using mattress or whip stitch. Weave in end and conceal end inside the ball.
That’s all, guys. Enjoy this project, and I’d love to see your own versions of this project on Ravelry.
Peace,
Kat
Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if you click on the affiliate link and purchase the item.
Yarn Along – April 2018
Happy April, everybody! It’s time for one of my favourite kinds of blog post – Yarn Along! Join Ginny over at Small Things and all the other knitters and crocheters sharing their current craft projects AND what they’re reading. Add your Yarn Along by clicking the button below.
If you’re new to my blog, welcome! I’m Kat and I share knitting patterns and ideas. I’m married and have a nearly 17 month old daughter, and I like to share ideas that will be especially helpful for mums who knit and want to introduce the craft to their children.
What I’m Reading
Home is Where the School Is: The Logic of Homeschooling and the Emotional Labor of Mothering – By Jennifer Lois
When my little girl was a small baby, maybe a couple of months old, my husband was convinced of the benefits of home schooling after reading two pages from a book he was reading, which I’d bought him a couple of birthdays earlier. One discussion with him, and I too was convinced (at least for now – we have plenty of time to decide!).
The book which convinced him was not the one I’m currently reading. That book was called Beloved and Blessed by the Catholic writer Kimberly Hahn. She home schooled her six children in what sounds like an incredibly organised and intentional way. What’s more, I gather she brought all her children into the world via c-section! So in short, she’s an absolute superhero. PS, April is c-section awareness month. I hope all of your reading this who were born via c-section will thank your mums today. Thanks, Mum. And all the mums reading this who gave birth via c-section: thank you. It is no easy feat to care for a newborn after major abdominal surgery.
But anyway, I’ve been flipping through Home is Where the School Is for a couple of weeks now. I actually went looking for a book which might give me some ideas about how to go about home schooling, but instead this book is a look inside the lives and motivations of real parents who home school, by a sociologist. I must say, although it wasn’t what I set out to read, it is fascinating. The author covers issues like how mothers find and define “me-time”, why they want to home school, and how they deal with nay-sayers. These are useful things for me to read as a parent considering home schooling, but as someone trained as a psychologist, it is interesting to see how people make this decision and then cope with their choice to educate their children at home and the heavy demands that decision causes.
What I’m Knitting
Unnamed cloche/beanie – by me!
It feels like I’ve been making this little cloche for my daughter forever! It is nearly finished though, and I think it will be really sweet. I hope to share the pattern with you all once it is finished. So far it doesn’t have a name (it is in my notebook as “Minty Cloche Hat” – but I can do better than that!). Please let me know in the comments below if you have any suggestions for what I could call it.
Thanks for reading! Anyone who is new here, feel free to look around, and see my newest posts about knitting for charity, my Garter Be Kidding Me free headband pattern, and five projects you can make from garter stitch squares.
Peace,
Kat
Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if you click on the affiliate link and purchase the item.
How and Why You Can Knit for Charity
Happy Easter everyone! I’ve been busy during Lent (the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday – 6 and a half weeks) working on some charity knitting. It’s only a small pile, but it’s something, and I’m hoping to add to it. Knitting for charity is something I’ve been doing since my early days of knitting, and it’s great for so many reasons – both for the knitter and for others. I want to talk about why. Keep reading for some great resources to find out how you can start knitting for charity today.
What I’ve been making
I made six things – one for each week of Lent – for a local pregnancy support charity in my state. One of the beanies was AWOL when I took the above photo but there’s a photo of it below. All the patterns I used were free, or made up by me on the fly.
I made three beanies, none of which were made with a pattern. I made them by eyeballing what looked like a good size, and with a basic knowledge of how to shape a hat, this is pretty easy to do. Let me know in the comments below if you’d like to see some posts about hat shaping and designing your own hats!
There was also this super quick baby vest, made using the Wee Speedy pattern by Taiga Hilliard Designs. It’s a free pattern and one I’ve made several times for charity pieces. The Wee Speedy pattern is for 0-3 month olds and the Wee Speedy 2 is for a 6 month old baby.
The last two pieces I made were these two pairs of booties, made using this pattern by Sascha. Again, I’ve used this pattern for lots of charity pieces, but also for babies I’ve known and loved, including my own little girl. They’re so quick to knit that you can make a pairin a sitting. What’s more, you won’t get bored knitting two alike!
I love knitting for charity, and to be honest I wish I did more of it. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love knitting for charity too, if you don’t do it already!
Some great reasons to knit for charity
You are helping people (and/or animals)!
The number one reason to knit for charity! You really are helping people when you knit for charities. Hand-knitted items made in quality natural fibres are excellent for new babies. Animals in shelters are always in need of new blankets. Every now and then you’ll see a specific appeal for knitted items, like hospitals who are running short of preemie clothes. I’ve even seen drives for people to knit jumpers for penguins!
Here are some places to get started if you’re looking for a charity to knit for:
If you’re in Australia (like me)…
- Knitting-and has a list of a few charities that accept knitted items.
- 5000 poppies – make poppies for remembrance day displays.
- Knit4Charities
- kogo – make winter woollies for people in need
If you’re in the USA (like most of my readers)…
- Knit Aid USA – knit items for refugees
If you’re in the UK…
Worldwide…
- KAS (knit a square) – knit items for people in need, with a particular focus on helping children
Warm fuzzies
Okay, this is an obvious one. Knitting for charity makes you feel good. In my teens and early twenties, I was one of these proactive young people who was in all the social justice groups and volunteering for all the charities. Silly me thought I’d be one of those people whose idealistic phase would never end. But alas, life gets in the way and I find myself now often sitting there thinking “I could do more”. Anyone else feel the same way? I try to do my bit for others, but there is always more to be done, and that is no easy feat when you are the primary caregiver for a toddler. Thankfully, there is charity knitting. You can do it from your own home. You can knit at any hour of the day. You can knit in your pyjamas. And you’re still helping people or animals!
Stash busting
Knitting little things for charity is a GREAT way to use up your leftover yarn, I have found. Instead of floundering in your stash cupboard getting tangled up, waiting to be thrown away, your scrap yarn can go to good use.
Think booties and baby hats. Don’t go past a simple blanket made of knitted squares from all your leftover yarn. Take a look at my blog post about things you can make from your garter stitch squares for some insanely simple but practical things you can make from small amounts of yarn.
Practising your skills
When I first started knitting, I made a lot of stuff for charity. That’s because I knew knitting took a lot of patience, so I started off doing small projects and working my way up to big ones as my patience improved. Baby clothes were ideal for this. I found patterns I wanted to do, which used a skill I wanted to learn. Once the project was complete, I got the benefit of having learned a new skill, and the charity received an item that could be passed on to someone in need. Win-win!
Where to find patterns
Ravelry, of course! There are many, many, MANY patterns, free and paid, on Ravelry at your disposal. Other great sources for charity knitting patterns are charity shops. There is usually a box of knitting patterns next to the yarn. Don’t be shy about buying yarn from charity shops, either! Often they still have the ball bands on them so you can see what fibre you’re using.
Many hospitals will have knitting patterns on their websites, too, so check your local maternity hospital’s website. Miracle Babies has some cute knitting and sewing patterns available on their website. Knitting For the NICU has this great article about how to knit for NICUs, with some links to patterns as well.
Knit Aid, which I mentioned above, also has patterns on their website.
So what are you waiting for? Start today! The free bootie pattern I used over Lent only takes an hour or so to make a pair. Start a pile of charity projects and get searching for a charity you want to support!
Peace,
Kat
Garter Be Kidding Me Bow Headband – Free Pattern
I hope you all enjoyed last week’s post, on five things you can make out of your garter stitch squares. Researching for that post was so much fun and I loved seeing the creative things people make from just a square of plain knitting. I wanted to add another idea to the list: this adorable headband! Isn’t it cute? I’m going to give you a little tutorial on how to make one for yourself. If you find yourself asking “what’s a garter stitch square?”, take a look at last week’s post so you know what I’m talking about.
Let’s call it the Garter Be Kidding Me Bow Headband. Please forgive me for the terrible pun. I couldn’t help myself. This would be an ideal project for any new knitter, and I’m especially thinking about young knitters who might want to make something special for themselves and their friends. And even better, it is a SUPER quick knit.
I’ve been seeing big hair bows around the place a lot lately. I’m usually someone who balks at any big trend with distrust (it took me years to warm to skinny jeans), but who doesn’t love a cute bow? And they’re so easy to make! Let’s get started.
Below is a tutorial for a basic headband, but you can get really creative with these bows. Here are some ideas:
- Instead of a attaching the bow to a headband, attach it to a hair elastic
- Experiment with contrasting colours and differently-dyed yarn (think self-striping or speckled yarn)
- Add embellishments like buttons or beads to the centre of the bow
Garter Be Kidding Me Bow Headband
Download a PDF of these instructions here: Garter Be Kidding Me Bow Headband
Yarn: DK/8ply weight yarn (I used a 100% acrylic yarn). Use a smooth yarn, not a fancy, fringed, or loopy yarn.
Needles: 4mm straight needles
Tension: 22 sts x 30 rows = 10cm2 in stocking stitch (but tension is not crucial for this project)
Notions: Craft scissors, tapestry needle, tape measure.
Bow
Cast on 22 sts. Work in garter stitch (knit every stitch) until the piece is square. Cast off and weave in ends.
Fold the square into five pieces, like a paper fan, as shown below. I find it easier to fold the square in half and pinch the centre, then make two equal-sized folds on either side of the centre fold.
Taking a new piece of yarn, wrap it around the centre of the folded square about 20 times. Tie both ends of the yarn together at the back of the bow with a double knot. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail on one end. Hide the other end inside the yarn wrapped around the bow.
Headband
First, measure the head circumference of the person the headband is intended for. Measure around the head where the headband is going to sit. If you cannot measure the wearer’s head, look at this sizing guide over at Woolly Wormhead.
Cast on 10 sts. Work in garter stitch until the piece measures about 3″ (7-8cm) shorter than the head circumference you are knitting for (garter stitch is stretchy!). Cast off, leaving a long tail.
Sew both ends of the piece together using mattress stitch.
Attach bow to Headband
Sew bow to headband using the long tail from the wrapped yarn. Weave in ends.
It really is as simple as that! I hope you enjoy it, and make one for yourself or someone special in your life.
Peace,
Kat
5 Things to Make from Your Garter Stitch Squares
Ah, the humble garter stitch square. Maybe you, or a little knitting protégé, have just learned to knit. Maybe you have a collection of garter stitch tension swatches you’re puzzling about what to do with. Well, puzzle no more! I’ve found five different projects from around the web that you can make from garter stitch squares. All patterns linked are free, too!
Backing up…What IS a garter stitch square, exactly?
If you’re yet unsure of what I’m talking about, let me tell you. Garter stitch is a knitting stitch made simply by knitting every stitch on every row if you’re knitting back-and-forth.
So often when people learn to knit, they end up with squares and rectangles of this rather dull stitch, with no idea what to do with them. I think this is especially frustrating for kids who are learning to knit because they want to make a THING, not learn a skill.
But there really is a lot you can do with a square of garter stitch, if you get creative! Let’s have a look at some great ideas.
NB: These ideas would all work for a square of another solid stitch like stocking (stockinette) stitch or moss stitch.
1. The square bunny
I’ve seen this pattern by Anette at Lebenslustiger.com all over the internet for years. In fact I made a square bunny using this pattern about five years ago (my bunny is pictured below), out of the hair of my real pet rabbit which I spun. Read here about the bunny I made, and also check out the sphere formula I used to make the bunny’s tail.
This is an ingenious pattern, really. Simply with a square of garter stitch and some creative stitching, you can gather up the square to make a big round head, plump body, and pointing up ears. Adorable!
When my little one is old enough to knit I think this will be one of the first projects I suggest to her.
2. The chicken (or other kind of bird)
Like the bunny, these chickens are just cleverly folded and stitched squares of garter stitch. On its own, I think this project would make a pretty good generic bird, maybe as a Christmas ornament or room décor for a child’s room. With a few added embellishments like some red yarn to make a comb, it can become a rooster or a hen.
I found two very similar patterns to make a chicken from a garter stitch square. Click over to see the Ravelry Download by Kristen Wiszynski, or check out The Handmade Homemaker for her version of the garter stitch chicken.
3. The cushion
How cute is this Squidgy Squares cushion from Ellen over at Stitch Geek?! I love it. This cushion uses four small squares and one big one to make a patchwork cushion. It also includes a super simple trim, perfect for helping a little knitting student practise casting on and off.
If Ellen’s pattern seems too complicated for you or someone you’re teaching, you could always make a cute cushion out of eight equally-sized squares, or of just two large squares.
Even easier, just sew two small squares together for some chic doll house décor
4. The potholder/dishcloth
What a brilliant idea for a gift, which a new young knitter can proudly tell the recipient, “I made it myself!” Make a large square in a bright colour, or follow Arcelia Rodriquez’s pattern for a four-square potholder. The pattern also comes with a patter for a garter stitch scrubber. Add a simple loop to a corner and you have an ever practical and sweet kitchen item.
A dishcloth or potholder is a good chance to practise some new edging techniques – think picots, crochet, or a simple blanket stitch.
5. The blanket
Of course, how can you go past a simple garter stitch blanket?
Click on over to Ravelry to see Kate McLaughlin’s pattern for a garter blanket recipe, or take a look at the Bright Garter Patches Throw Pattern by Lion Brand Yarns.
A garter square blanket is a much bigger project for sure, but also a great collaborative one.
There was a rather feared and respected French teacher at my high school (to whom I partly owe my love of the French language – I’m listening to a French rap song she introduced me to as I write this post! Bonsoir Madame si vous lisez ce blog!). When one of my friends was in her homeroom, this teacher taught everyone in the class to knit. My friend, along with his classmates, would arrive to class every morning with their knitting. They would work on garter squares to be sent to a charity which sewed them into blankets for the homeless.
Last year, my sister-in-law and I made a collection of items to give to a baby charity in our area. They sent us a lovely thank you letter back. The piece which was mentioned with specific thanks was the garter stitch blanket. I had made it and used it as a teaching tool for a friend, who contributed some squares. My husband even made a square when he suggested he knit with me as a way of spending time together (having you as a knitting buddy is always appreciated, Sweetie). So, humble as a garter stitch blanket may seem, they are much appreciated. I must say, too, that there is a sweet innocence about something in pure garter stitch.
Thanks for taking a look at some ideas for what to make from your garter stitch squares. I’ve been thinking of some other additions to this collection, and I’ll post another idea for you next week!
Huge thanks to Ellen, Arcelia, Carrie, Kate, Kristen, and Anette for permission to feature their wonderful projects and include their photos in this post.
I’d love to see what you’ve made from your squares of garter stitch, or what you’re planning to make next.
Peace,
Kat
Yarn Along March 2018
It’s Yarn Along Time again! The day, once a month, when I join Ginny at Small Things, and other knitters and crocheters online, to share what we’ve been creating and reading. Click the pic below to see Ginny’s current project and to add your own Yarn Along contribution.
Also, I’m aware that it’s been a while since I last posted. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and studying, trying to decide the direction I want this blog to go. So stay tuned, but at this stage I feel like the place where my passion lies, where I’m finding the most fulfillment (blog-wise), and where you’ve been giving the most positive feedback, is in the patterns I’ve been designing. I love designing patterns, so I want this to be a bigger focus on Knitkatpaddywhack. But now, onto my Yarn Along for the month!
What I’m reading
Ummm, what am I not reading? I’ve got four books on the go at the moment. Let’s look at them all one by one.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
I need this book. Is this a modern nonfiction classic, or just another self-help book? It has a lot of hype, certainly, but I believe it’s for good reason. Nothing highlights more your room for improvement in caring for yourself than having to look after someone else! I clean the house four times more than I used to in order for it to be half as clean. I’m only up to reading about the first habit (be proactive), so I don’t have a good opinion on just how good it is, but so far I like the concept of developing habits to achieve your goals, rather than trying neat techniques that are meant to solve your problems quickly. It’s kind of like how crash diets aren’t effective in the long run, but changing your lifestyle is the key to a healthier life.
The Bible
Haha, have you heard of this one? It’s Lent, and I’m Catholic, and as part of my Lenten commitments, I’m reading a couple of pages of the Gospels per night. So far I’ve read Mark, and have nearly finished Matthew. I’m reading the New Jerusalem Bible, and our copy was a wedding present from some dear friends who work for an Anglican church. This copy previously belonged to a Greek Orthodox priest who is an absolutely delightful character – he likes to tell me “stop being so wonderful!” What a boost to your ego. So this Bible is quite an ecumenical copy.
In the Beginning by Joseph Ratzinger (aka Pope Benedict XVI)
This book is an easy-to-read theological book which I’m reading partly out of interest but partly because it is dry enough that it can put me to sleep! I won’t go into too much detail, but basically, this describes a Catholic understanding of Genesis (a key point of which is that it’s not a science textbook) and delves deeper into it the way an extremely well-read theologian can.
2 Samuel by Robert Barron
Homework, for the theology study group my husband runs. Check it out if you’re interested (and look at Robert Barron’s YouTube channel for some awesome videos).
What I’m knitting
I hear you guys: “Kat, that looks like a tension swatch…that’s not a project”. Well, yeah…Sometimes you have to spend a while knitting boring squares so you’re ready to work on something exciting.
I’ve finished designing the pattern I was working on last month and have moved onto a new one, a mint-coloured cotton baby hat, which I can’t wait to share with you when it’s done.
That’s all from me today!
Peace,
Kat
Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if you click on the affiliate link and purchase the item.
Yarn Along February 2018
It’s Yarn Along time again! I’m really excited to share my February Yarn Along with you today, because I’ve been doing some designing of late. This is an initiative started by Ginny at Small Things, where internet people share what they’re knitting/crocheting and reading for the month. If you’d like to add your own, click on the pic below:
My Current Read
Actually I just finished this book this afternoon! Thanks to a cranky teething baby who fell asleep on me so I had some time on my hands. The book is called The Timekeeper by one of my favourite authors, Emily Rodda, not to be confused with The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom (which I haven’t read but I did love reading Tuesdays with Morrie). The Timekeeper is a kids’ book, which is often my preference for fiction (although I do enjoy a good crime novel too), and the sequel to the book Finders Keepers. The Timekeeper follows the story of Patrick, who, after discovering and befriending citizens of a parallel universe when he was recruited for a TV show on the other side (in Finders Keepers), is charged with saving both universes before a rift between the universes brings them both close to catastrophe. If you’d like to check the book out, you can see it on Book Depository by clicking here.
What I’m Knitting
This is the bit that I’m really excited about. I bought some new yarn recently and I’ve been experimenting with some stitch patterns. I’ve been inspired by a pattern from the Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary by Wendy Bernard, but as you can see in the photo above I’ve been changing things up and making it my own as the swatch grows. I’m planning some new fingerless mittens because I loved designing and making the French Rhubarb mittens so much. Some variant of the pattern above will feature on the cuffs. I love these colours together and I love the feel of the yarn. I’ve also been doing a tension swatch to figure out the best needle size to use, and after that’s done I’m about ready to start pattern writing and knitting a prototype! It’s so much fun to design something new. If you haven’t done it before, I’d encourage you to find a cool stitch pattern, get your needles, and experiment with modifying it to add your own touch.
What are you knitting and reading at the moment? I’d love to know in the comments, and check out Ginny’s blog and add your own Yarn Along to the list too!
Peace,
Kat
Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if you click on the affiliate link and purchase the item.