If you haven't flipped through a copy of Heidi Boyd's debut knitting book, Soft + Simple Knits for Little Ones, you really should—especially if you do any knitting at all for babies and/or kids. It's such a great value—there are 50 patterns in this book! And there's a wonderful illustrated techniques section that will really help you out, especially if you're a newer knitter. You'll be amazed at the versatility and wide appeal of Heidi's designs. There is truly something here for everyone.
Today's free pattern from the book is actually a two-for-one deal! You can make a bulky hand-dyed backpack for a little one and a matching mom tote for a special mother. Bulky yarn knits up so quickly. It's instant gratification.
Happy knitting! Make sure to post if you make this bag. And check out Heidi's MyCraftivity blog for lots of crafting insights and stories about life in Maine.
And seriously, pick up a copy of the book. I'm thinking of knitting this dress for my best friend's baby-to-be:
This week's free project is from Claire Crompton's The Knitter's Bible. Learn how to embellish your knitting projects with flower and leaf motifs. Try knitting flowers in a drapey silk yarn and then tack them all across a pillow. Or knit up a flower and a leaf in a heavier-duty wool yarn, full them and sew them onto a bag to create a sturdy and pretty embellishment. The options are endless!
The Knitter's Bible is full of all the information you need to know to knit anything. It includes all the basic techniques, a stitch glossary and projects that show you how to put your newly learned techniques to good use.
If you heart craft, you'll love this week's free project: the Heart Pin from Closely Knit, by Hannah Fettig. It's so quick and so cute—the perfect gift. I made one for myself for Valentine's Day and one for my mom for Mother's Day (although I'm a bit late giving it to her...I plan to give it to her when I see her this weekend). This is a fun and addictive knitting project—betcha can't make just one.
Here's my cute hot pink Valentine's heart!
Here's another heart by one of the F+W lunchtime knitting group crew. Cute!
Check out an assortment of heart pins here, at Hannah's blog.
If you like this project, check out the whole book&mda**** filled with tons of great gifty projects! And they're rated by the time it takes to complete them and organized by gift recipient. Happy gift knitting!
This weeks project, from the book DomiKNITrix, is all about the bad boys in your life. Author Jennifer Stafford writes, "I have a theory that jughead is the archetype upon which Shaggy from Scooby-Doo was based, along with every slacker character who has come after who eats too much but never gains an ounce. This hat would be just as at home on a Bowery Boy as on Bart Simpson. There's just something about this hat that makes your boy look, well...bad."
Fittingly enough, I'll be driving off to Austin, Texas next week for my first really actual roadtrip. In honor of this momentous occasion, I bring you the Austin Armwarmers from YarnPlay, by Lisa Shobhana Mason.
Did you know the Craft Mafia started in Austin? In fact, it was started in part by one of our authors, Jennifer Perkins, aka The Naughty Secretary. Her fun jewelry book, The Naughty Secretary Club, will be out in July--it's got great jewelry projects PLUS hilarious secretary-themed sidebars.
Enjoy! As always, please post pictures of your Armwarmers if you make some. I've always wanted to try this pattern, but haven't yet! Looking forward to seeing your craftiness.
