Tag 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)

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. 

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.