Weekend Knitting: 50 Unique Projects and Ideas

AN STC CRAFT BESTSELLER

Knitting is more popular today than it has been in decades. The latest generation of knitters thrives on quick projects that are creative and relaxing and balance out their fast-paced lives. Knitting has become a lifestyle choice—a low-tech antidote in a high-tech culture.

For Weekend Knitting, bestselling author Melanie Falick brings together a treasure trove of unique and innovative projects, many of which can be completed in a single weekend. She rounds out the collection of projects with quotes about knitting, creativity, and balanced living from such diverse sources as Virginia Woolf, Pablo Picasso, and Saint Francis of Assisi, plus special features on fun and stress-reducing activities like watching a knitting-themed film festival, reading books with knitting characters, giving a soothing hand massage, and making decadent, French-style hot chocolate from scratch.

Contributed by an international team of top designers, including Debbie Bliss, Jo Sharp, Deborah Newton, Kristin Nicholas, Pam Allen, and Nicky Epstein, the projects in Weekend Knitting range from soft chenille washcloths, whimsical egg cozies, colorful backgammon and checkerboards, and lace chair seats to cozy socks and mittens, fluffy mohair shawls, sophisticated hemp baby sweaters, curly-toed booties, a felted farmer’s market bag, and a luxurious cashmere pullover. All of the instructions are written in a clear, detailed format that assures satisfying results for the beginner to advanced knitter.

Weekend Knitting is beautifully and simply photographed by Ericka McConnell to evoke the perfect weekend most knitters long for—a calm pause for lovely scenery, fresh air, good friends, delicious food, and plenty of free time for knitting.

Published in 2009 by

Stewart, Tabori & Chang

An imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

Originally published in hardcover in 2003

by Stewart, Tabori & Chang

Text copyright © 2003 Melanie Falick

Photographs copyright © 2003 Ericka McConnell

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Falick, Melanie

Weekend knitting: 50 unique projects and ideas / Melanie Falick;

photographs by Ericka McConnell

p. cm.

ISBN: 978-1-58479-769-2

1. Knitting-Patterns. l. Title

TT820.F17 2003

746.43’20432-dc21

2003054388

DESIGNED BY SUSI OBERHELMAN

The text of this book was composed in Bauer Bodoni and Avenir

115 West 18th Street

New York, NY 10011

www.hnabooks.com

For Ben

contents

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

Home and Hearth

CHAPTER 2

Body and Soul

CHAPTER 3

The Charm of Children

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

CONTRIBUTORS

SOURCES AND CREDITS

INDEX

introduction

I often tell new knitters that knitting is nothing more than two stitches—knit and purl—and one is just the reverse of the other, so you could even say it is just one stitch. This statement usually makes them feel confident that they can learn. But the truth is that knitting can be so much more. Knitting, if you choose, can be at the heart of a fulfilling and creative way of living.

When you make time to knit, you make time for your own creativity, sitting still, and letting your mind wander. You experience the joy—and pride—of making something with your hands, feeling soft fibers, and watching beautiful colors run through your fingers. You meet new friends, many of whom see you through your knitting projects as well as life’s ups and downs.

Although many of us squeeze in knitting time during the week, it is usually on the weekend that we can embrace our love for knitting most fully. If we’re lucky, we can devote whole days to it. And if we choose small projects—or knit very quickly—we can finish a project in a single weekend. While instant gratification isn’t always required, it is, at times, a satisfying counterpoint to much of what goes on in our typically busy lives. What fun it is to cast on for a scarf on Saturday morning and wrap it around our necks by Sunday night! Or to cast on for a bonnet while visiting friends who’ve just had a new baby—and then present them with the bonnet before the end of the stay.

While I was writing this book, I stopped and knitted my four-year-old son a pair of mittens. He requested that I make them and, in truth, I was reluctant at first because I was so busy. But once I started I realized that knitting was exactly what I needed. As I relaxed into the rhythm of the stitches, my mind stopped racing. As I focused on a single task, out of nowhere I seemed to come up with new ways of looking at other challenges. When the mittens were done after knitting for two short evenings, I felt a sense of completion. And, of course, each time I saw my son wearing his mittens, I knew it was my stitches and the love I knitted into them that were keeping his hands warm.

You can complete most of the projects in this book in a few weekends or less. Some may take a bit longer but were included because they fit into my idea of an idyllic weekend, one filled with fresh air, beautiful scenery, good friends, delicious food, laughter, and time to knit. While it’s sometimes hard to pull together all of these elements at one time, it is often possible to achieve a few at once and to appreciate them when they happen. Weekend Knitting isn’t just about Saturday and Sunday, just like knitting isn’t just about two stitches. Both are a state of mind, a way to live.

reverse-bloom flower washcloths

CINDY TAYLOR

I knitted my first washcloth when a pattern for a round one sparked my interest. I didn’t really think about using the washcloth. I just wanted to make something round, a shape I’d never tried to knit. Since then I have become a knitted-washcloth convert. At the end of a hectic day, I lather it up with soap, wash my face, and feel, at least for a moment, that I am doing something special for myself. It’s amazing how something so seemingly inconsequential can actually have a profound effect (it nearly always compels me to take a deep, relaxing breath).

The flower shape of the cushy cotton chenille washcloths shown here is achieved in what you could call a reverse-bloom style: First you knit the five petals (blooms) in garter stitch, then you attach them to each other by knitting them together in the round; to finish, you work in Stockinette stitch, with gradual decreases, to the center.

This project can be worked entirely on double-pointed needles, but you can see the flower come to life nicely, and you can leave the petals on the circular needle as you complete them, if you begin with the circular needle and change to double-pointed needles when necessary.

Finished Measurements

10½" diameter, measured at widest point.

Yarn

Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille (100% cotton; 98 yards / 50 grams): 1 skein for each cloth. Shown in #6320 green, #2054 pink, and #2230 orange.

Needles

16" circular (circ) needle size US 6 (4 mm).

One set double-pointed needles (dpn) size US 6 (4 mm), longer than 8" recommended.

Change needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions

Stitch marker, yarn needle, stitch holders or waste yarn (optional).

Gauge

16 sts and 26 rounds = 4" in Stockinette stitch (St st).

PETALS (make 5)

Using either circ or dpn, CO 11 sts.

ROW 1: Knit across all sts. For Rows 2–20, slip the last st of every row as if to purl with yarn in front, to create a smooth edge for the petal.

ROW 2: Insert the tip of the right-hand needle between the first 2 sts on the left-hand needle, draw up a loop, and place it on the left-hand needle—1st increased. Knit across all sts, slipping the last st of the row as given above.

ROWS 3, 4, AND 5: Repeat Row 2—15 sts after completing Row 5.

ROWS 6 AND 7: Knit across all sts, slipping last st as before.

ROWS 8 AND 9: Repeat Row 2—17 sts after completing Row 9.

ROWS 10 AND 11: Knit across all sts, slipping last st as before.

ROWS 12 AND 13: Repeat Row 2—19 sts after completing Row 13.

ROWS 14 AND 15: Knit across all sts, slipping last st as before.

ROWS 16 AND 17: Repeat Row 2—21 sts after completing Row 17.

ROWS 18, 19, AND 20: Knit across all sts, slipping last st as before.

ROW 21: Knit across all sts.

Break yarn, leaving an 8" tail. Make 4 more petals for a total of 5 petals. If using a circ needle, you can leave the petals on the cable part of the needle as you work the others. If using dpns, place petals on stitch holders or waste yarn.

FLOWER CENTER

Place all petals on circ needle or dpns with the yarn tail hanging at the same side of each petal. Join for working in the rnd (round), and place marker to indicate the beginning of rnd—105 sts. If beginning on circ needle, change to dpns when there are too few sts to continue using the circ.

RNDS 1, 2, AND 3: Knit all sts.

RND 4: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * around to last st, end k1—79 sts.

RNDS 5 AND 6: Knit all sts.

RND 7: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k3—60 sts.

RND 8 AND 9: Knit all sts.

RND 10: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end—45 sts.

RNDS 11 AND 12: Knit all sts.

RND 13: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * to last st, end k1—34 sts.

RNDS 14 AND 15: Knit all sts.

RND 16: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to last st, end k1—23 sts.

RND 17: Knit all sts.

RND 18: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * to last 2 sts, end k2tog—15 sts.

RND 19: Knit all sts.

RND 20: K2tog around to last st, end k1—8 sts.

RND 21: BO all sts.

Weave in ends securely, weaving each end back on itself to ensure that it does not work loose. To block, saturate with water, pat gently into shape, and allow to air-dry.

Let me warn you that a genuine interest in knitting can keep you fascinated, eagerly pursuing it, and never satisfied, through a lifetime.

From Woman’s Day Book of American Needlework, ROSE WILDER LANE, 1963

Taking a Bath

A nice way to complete a relaxing weekend of knitting—or to begin one if it has been a stressful week—is to take a peaceful soak in the tub. With a little forethought and minimal effort, the bath can be made especially comforting. From the following list or your own imagination, pick and choose a few special touches that will help you make the experience serene.

• Clean the bathroom, especially the tub.

• If necessary, turn up the heat in the bathroom a few minutes before you start running the water.

• Light some candles and place them in areas of the bathroom where they are steady and will not fall.

• Place fresh flowers in a vase in a safe spot where you will be able to see them while you are in the tub.

• Choose a large, very soft bath towel to wrap yourself in after the bath, plus a smaller, equally soft towel for drying yourself off. Place the towels within arm’s reach of the tub. If you are not planning a long bath, before you enter the bath, place the towels in the dryer to warm up for a few minutes.

• Place your most comfortable bathrobe and slippers or cozy socks in the bathroom.

• Turn off the ringer on the telephone.

• Play music that suits your mood. Choose music that will last at least as long as the bath. Check that the volume is at the level you like (without the noisy water running) before you get in the tub.

• Arrange a bath pillow in a comfortable spot in the tub.

• Place a sturdy chair or small bench within arm’s reach of the tub. Place any small items you will need during the bath on the chair or bench. Consider a book, a journal and pen, a small knitting project, a beverage, and any special bath products you want to use.

• If desired, add bubble bath, bath salts, bath oils, flower petals, or other favorite bath products to the water.

• If other people are at home, ask not to be disturbed.

• Once you get in the tub, close your eyes and take some deep breaths to relax and clear your mind.

turtleneck egg cozies

KRISTIN NICHOLAS

Kristin Nicholas became interested in designing knitted soft-boiled egg sweaters—or cozies—after seeing one in World of Interiors, a toney British home-decorating magazine. Opposite is a Stockinette-stitch cozy. On page 17 are three other styles: garter stitch, seed stitch, and ribbed. If you find the idea of a sweater for your eggs too far-fetched, then make these as Christmas tree decorations or doll clothes, but before you nix the egg sweater idea completely, imagine sitting around the breakfast table with weekend guests and serving these up. They’re sure to elicit, at the very least, a bit of interesting conversation or a lot of hearty laughter.

Finished Measurements

Approximately 7 chest circumference and 3½ from bottom edge to shoulder.

Yarn

Harrisville Designs Highland 2-ply Worsted (100% wool; 200 yards / 100 grams): 1 skein will make approximately 6 solid-color cozies. Shown in #66 melon (orange), #38 teak (brown), #35 chianti (magenta), #8 hemlock (dark green), #7 tundra (light green), #14 woodsmoke (light teal)

Needles

One set straight needles size US 5 (3.75 mm).

One set double-pointed needles (dpn) size US 5 (3.75 mm) for neckband.

Change needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge, although exact gauge is not essential for this project.

Notions

Stitch markers, stitch holders, yarn needle.

Gauge

16 sts and 27 rows = 4" in Stockinette stitch (St st).

Basic Stockinette Cozy

Review notes on page 16 before beginning to knit. Shown in orange with light green and magenta flower, and light green with orange and magenta flower.

BACK AND FRONT

CO 15 sts and work in St st (see Notes) for 3½. On the next row, work neck opening as follows: Work 5 sts, sl (slip) next 5 sts to holder, using the backward loop method (see Notes) CO 5 sts for back of neck, work last 5 sts. Work even in St st until piece measures 7 from the beginning. BO all sts.

SLEEVES

Measure up 2 from bottom of sweater at both sides of front and back and place markers. Join yarn, and with RS facing, pick up and knit 12 sts between a pair of markers for sleeve. Work in St st for 3 rows, ending with a WS row. Decrease 1 st at each side of next row—10 sts. Work 3 rows even. Decrease 1 st at each side of next row—8 sts. Work even until sleeve measures 3½ from pickup row. BO all sts. Repeat for other sleeve.

NECKBAND

Join yarn at side of neck opening, ready to work the sts on the front holder. Using dpn, knit across 5 sts from holder, pick up and knit 1 st at side of neck opening, pick up and knit 5 sts across back of neck, pick up and knit 1 st at side of neck opening—12 sts. Join for working in the rnd (round) and place marker to indicate the beginning of rnd. Work in either k1, p1 rib (as shown on orange sweater) or St st in Rounds (see Notes, as shown on light green sweater) for 7 rnds. Purl one rnd. BO all sts as if to purl on next rnd.

FINISHING

Sew sleeve and side seams, reversing seam at lower end of sleeve for 1" for cuff. Fold up lower end of each sleeve for cuffs. If desired, embroider the front of cozy with a lazy daisy flower with French knot center (see diagrams in Notes). Weave in ends.

Striped Garter-Stitch Cozy

Worked in light (L) and dark (D) stripes, with contrasting (C) neckband; shown in light teal and brown stripes with magenta.

BACK AND FRONT

With L, CO 13 sts. Knit 1 row. Change to D. *Knit 2 rows D, knit 2 rows L; repeat from * until seven 2-row stripes of D have been completed. On the next row, work neck opening as follows: With L, k4, sl (slip) next 5 sts to holder, using the backward loop method (see Notes) CO 5 sts for back of neck, k4. Next row: Knit with L. Continue stripe pattern and work even until seven 2-row stripes of D have been completed after the neck opening. Change to L and knit 1 row. With L, BO as if to knit on the next row.

SLEEVES

Measure up 8 stripes from bottom of sweater at both sides of front and back and place markers. Using L, with RS facing, pick up and knit 13 sts