Category Archives: Free Pattern

Buffalo Plaid Christmas Stocking

08 Tuesday Dec 2020

Posted by in Free Pattern, Knitting, Thoughts

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When we were children
we were grateful
to those who filled our stockings
at Christmas time.
Why are we not grateful to God
for filling our stockings with legs?
[G.K. Chesterton]

Buffalo Check Stocking

Knitting

Last summer, I wrote a brief article for the Call of the Wool, the Dayton Knitting Guild newsletter. It was about the Christmas stocking tradition among the knitters in my family and included this new pattern as a ‘thank you’ for the encouragement and support I’ve received from the members of the guild. Here it is for you, my much appreciated blog readers, at no charge. Download a printable PDF by selecting this link.

Writing

While I knit, I listen to audio books. Some are checked out of our local library using the Libby app, and some are purchased. About a third of them are non-fiction history books—mostly about the American Civil War and World War One. Code Breakers are an interest of mine. I enjoy the books of specific historical writers such as David McCullough, Barbara Tuchman, Shelby Foote, and James McPherson.

I often listen again to a number of fiction books—especially if a favorite author is about to publish a new book in a series. I recently re-listened to Jacqueline Winspear’s Masie Dobbs series.

Other Joys

My furry buddy, Louie, and I walk every morning at six. Now that it is dark and chilly, I carry a flash light in my pocket. Lately, Christmas lights brighten our December walks and make it a happy exercise.

Another joy is having my grandson arrive every morning for school in my sunroom. He connects with his classes by WiFi on a laptop loaned to him by the school. I feed him breakfast, and serve him hot tea. PE has been reduced to exercises but I don’t think this will set him back. I wish I could have attended seventh grade in my grandma’s sunroom.

Other Free Christmas Patterns

Three Pines

26 Wednesday Jun 2019

Posted by in Free Pattern, Knitting

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Three Pines is a state of mind.
When we choose tolerance over hate,
kindness over cruelty,
goodness over bullying,
when we choose to be hopeful not cynical,
then we live in Three Pines.
[Louise Penny]

Louise Penny, a mystery writer from Québec, Canada, is one of my favorite authors. Three Pines is the imaginary village that is home to many of the characters in her enthralling stories.

As the unofficial Christmas stocking knitter in my extended family, an honor I inherited from my mama, I usually knit colorful designs. I’ve long dreamed of doing one in a cream color with the pattern in texture stitches instead of color. Here it is. This is my tribute to Louise Penny, her books, and her imaginary village.

The pattern [DOWNLOAD PDF HERE] includes written directions for shaping and charts for the texture design.

Gauge: 8 Rows/inch (2.5 cm) and 6 Stitches/inch (2.5 cm). The sock can be enlarged or reduces in size by selecting heavier or lighter weight yarn and needles.

Yarn: Aran or cream colored worsted weight such as Brown Sheep Nature Spun or Cascade 220, 100 grams.

Needles: Double-pointed sock set or short circular in a size to render the gauge—about US #4 (3.5 mm) or #5 (3.75 mm).

Select these links for further information about Louise Penny and her books.
Louise Penny Website 
Gamache Book Series 
Brome Lake Books 

Dew Catcher

09 Tuesday Aug 2016

Posted by in Free Pattern

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It is one of those summer days when everything perspires
including my brow and my glass of iced tea.
There’s even dew on the roses.

Dew Catcher

This is a fun porch-sitting project and a useful way to use up leftover sock yarn. Enjoy.

Abbreviation Key:

k: knit
kb: knit in back of stitch
sl: slip as to purl
ytf: yarn to front
ytb: yarn to back

Supplies:

U.S. Size 2 needle and sock-weight yarn.

Instructions:

Cast on 36 sts. (Using a waste-yarn cast on will make closing the seam easier when finished.)

  1. **Knit across. [odd numbers are right-side rows]
  2. K 8, ytf, sl 1, ytb, k26, ytf, sl 1.
  3. Kb, k34.
  4. Ytf, sl 1, ytb, k6, ytf, sl 1, ytb, k26, ytf, sl 1.
  5. Kb, k33.
  6. Ytf, sl 1, ytb, k5, ytf, sl 1, ytb, k26, ytf, sl 1.
  7. Kb, k32.
  8. Ytf, sl 1, ytb, k4, ytf, sl 1, ytb, k26, ytf, sl 1.
  9. Kb, k31.
  10. Ytf, sl 1, ytb, k3, ytf, sl 1, ytb, k26, ytf, sl 1.
  11. Kb, k30.
  12. Ytf, sl 1, ytb, k2, ytf, sl 1, ytb, k26, ytf, sl 1.
  13. Kb, k29.
  14. Ytf, sl 1, ytb, k1, ytf, sl 1, ytb, k26, ytf, sl 1.
  15. Kb, k28.
  16. Ytf, sl 2, ytb, k26, ytf, sl 1.**

Work from ** to ** a total of 8 times.

Join seam between first and last rows. If you used a waste-yarn cast on, remove the waste yarn while putting the live stitches on another needle. Join either using a three-needle bind off, or kitchner stitch.

(designed by Katherine Misegades, A Time to Knit Publications, LLC)

Lace Boot Cuffs

10 Wednesday Feb 2016

Posted by in Free Pattern, Knitting

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I once danced with a cowboy.
I fell in love with the sound of his boots
tapping out the rhythm of a Texas Two Step.
The cowboy rode into the sunset, but
I’ve owned a pair of cowboy boots ever since.

hand knit boot cuff

In my 2016 business plan, I listed “publishing a minimum of ten patterns” as one of my goals. I am offering this first pattern free especially for folks who aren’t familiar with my patterns. I feel like buying a PDF pattern online is similar to buying a pig in a poke (southern slang for buying something without seeing what it is actually like). These cuffs take less than a ball of yarn. The pattern is both charted and written out and, as you work on it, you will surely think of other ways it can be used: scarf, mitts, etc.

This pattern is given to you complements of
Katherine Misegades, A Time To Knit Publications, LLC.
You are welcome to reprint it and, if you wish,
use it as a resource for teaching a workshop.
Thank you Mary Shue for helping me proof this pattern.

Download Pattern Here

Argyle Christmas Stocking

21 Saturday Dec 2013

Posted by in Free Pattern, Knitting, Pattern, Ravelry, teaching classes, Thoughts

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The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
[C. C. Moore]

Argyle Christmas Stocking

If I could put a subtitle on this post, it would be, The Last of the Argyle. Thirty years ago, I knit an argyle vest for my husband. I found the technique so tedious and frustrating that, when I finished it, I swore I’d never knit another. I’ve known knitters, including my mother, who enjoy the technique immensely and who would be frustrated with the techniques I enjoy most. Such is the way with human beings.

Less than a decade ago, a group asked me to teach the intarsia knitting technique (as used in making argyle) so I designed another argyle vest. The request keeps cropping up so I keep knitting more argyle. I tell myself, it builds character.

Then came the ultimate request, a sock pattern that is argyle without a sewn seam. Here it is. Since I knew that I didn’t have the self discipline to knit a second sock, I made it into a Christmas stocking so I could say I was finished after only one. The accent lines are worked in duplicate stitch using metallic gold yarn. Although the pattern is worked to and fro, a wrap and turn avoids the need for a sewn seam.

Here is a Christmas gift for those of you who knit —  a free printable PDF pattern for knitting the sock. NOTE: This version of the pattern is a revision of the original. The heel instructions are altered. 

Winter Class: Argyle Vest

02 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by in Free Pattern, Knitting, Knitting Sites, Pattern, teaching classes, Thoughts

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Design is not just
what it looks like
and feels like.
Design is how it works.
[Steve Jobs]

autumn argyle supplies

Teaching classes is an asset for a knitting-pattern designer. At least it is for me. Not only do my students inspire me by their requests and enthusiasm, but they help me clarify the pattern details and how to word the instructions. I have been composing a basic vest pattern in multiple sizes and gauges for an argyle technique class. Here are details of the fun parts of the pattern and how the design works:

  • Each of the eight students selected yarn colors in DK or light worsted weight from their favorite brands (Cascade 220, Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Brown Sheep Nature Spun, Rowan Creative Focus). I customized color charts (shown above) for each student to use with her written pattern.
  • The lower edge is ribbing that is knit in the round so it lays nicely on the hips.
  • The body is knit in two parts (back which is plain and front which is argyle) but the seam starts above the ribbing. Two stitches are added at the beginning and end of each piece as a seam allowance to produce an easy to sew, tidy seam.
  • The armholes are finished with applied iCord and the V-neck is finished with ribbing and an invisible bind off.
  • Attention is paid to smoothness of the fabric. Yarn joins and wraps follow the suggestions in the book shown below.
  • The accent lines are worked in duplicate stitch.

argyle-workshop-swatchAn excellent source for refining intarsia technique is Intarsia—A Workshop for Hand & Machine Knitting from the studio of Sealed with a Kiss (Sherry and Keely Stuever). Select this LINK to download a sample swatch pattern for argyle intarsia.

Free Knitting Pattern: Basic Hat

17 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by in Free Pattern, Knitting

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If a woman rebels against high-heeled shoes,
she should take care to do it in a very smart hat
[George Bernard Shaw]

Our autumn is so sparkling and fresh that I can’t imagine needing a hat, but I know the cold winds will come so I thought I would offer a simple hat pattern. Two of my favorite people agreed to model the two variations. Josh, on the left is wearing the regular watch cap. Rachel is wearing a cloche version. Both take about 220 yards of yarn, are knitted in short-row wedges and joined with a 3-needle bind off. The cloche is joined unevenly allowing a step cuff to be pinned up with a broach.

Select this LINK to download this free printable PDF pattern.

Simple Sock

10 Friday Aug 2007

Posted by in Free Pattern, Knitting, Knitting Sites

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Turn your wounds into wisdom.
[Oprah Winfrey]

It happened yesterday on her way to the yarn shop—my friend took a misstep and fractured a bone in her foot. Not knowing it was fractured, she went on to the shop where she was cared for with an ice pack while she received a knitting lesson and the concern of new friends. Later, after she returned home from an urgent care center, she emailed me that one silver lining to her injury is that she now has a good excuse to sit and knit.

In case you need a dose of caregiving along with new yarn, here’s a LINK to the website of the shop she visited — Yarntiques in Johnson City, TN.

Meanwhile, instead of sending her a get-well card, I’m posting this LINK to another free PDF pattern that other folks might like too (even if you don’t have a good excuse to just sit and knit). I designed this to use when I teach sock workshop classes. It includes the basics of sock knitting and the non-stop heel in a quick-to-knit project. To make it even simpler, you can choose to knit stockinette instead of the k3, p1 ribbing. This will fit a small child.

Free Knitting Patterns

01 Wednesday Aug 2007

Posted by in Free Pattern, Knitting

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A hug is a great gift – one size fits all, and it’s easy to exchange.
[Author Unknown]

Since I can’t give you a hug, I’ll offer you knitting patterns. I’ve added a category link to the left column (scroll down) for free patterns. That will bring up posts that include a free pattern. There is also a free sock pattern in the Sock Workshop (links in left column as well), and on my website:

Pine Tree Sock

29 Sunday Jul 2007

Posted by in Free Pattern, Knitting

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We can learn a lot from trees:
they’re always grounded but never stop reaching heavenward.
[Everett Mámor]

Pint Tree SockBefore I moved into this house that has been my home for twenty years, someone fixed a planting bed around the front to give the facade curb appeal. On the west corner, they planted a small blue spruce. It was about 5 feet tall and very pretty. It grew. It is still very pretty but now stands considerably taller than my two-story house, fills the 15 feet between the house and the sidewalk, and hugs one corner. It is the right tree planted in the wrong place. I know that I should have a tree service come remove it, but I don’t have the heart to do that. It shelters my office from the northwest wind in the winter and is a privacy shield in front of my windows when I work at night. I’ll wait until the city or one of the utilities demand that I remove it. Meanwhile, it inspired me to include it in my knitting patterns.

This sock was knit using a DK weight or light worsted weight microfiber. I did that out of curiosity. It turned out soft, can be machine washed and dried, is really inexpensive, and wears like iron. I prefer woolen socks, but wear these a lot. Some day, I’ll knit it in wool.

Because of the yarn weight, it is knit on only 52 stitches. A little cable decorates the cuff ribbing and the sides of the socks. The trees are worked in knit and purl stitches. The gusset for the heel is created by working increases before the heel is turned. The heel turn is worked using short rows back and forth. I use variations of this style of heel on most of the socks that I knit.

You are welcome to download a printable PDF file of the pattern at this LINK at no charge.