As boring as it has sometimes been, my success in cranking out a knitted throw in the past month has been inspirational. I LOVE that I don’t have to think at all about fit issues on the blanket. No one is going to outgrow it or become too fat or thin to wear it. It will be ages before it goes out of style. It is a pretty neutral color and will provide its recipient with years of warmth and enjoyment. Why am I not making more home stuff?!
This question sent me on a new pattern hunt this week in search of other interesting projects that I could make for my home (or the homes of friends worthy of handmade gifts). Not surprisingly, I found many wonderful options, including the following that are available online free. Here are the five I was most excited about, but if you want to see the full list I bookmarked, go to my favorites tagged “home” in Ravelry here.
{source: www.pickles.no }
I just love this knitted pouf. It reminds me of a sea urchin. You may have spotted similar poufs in high-end design catalogs, where they seem to sell for a lot more than your materials will cost. The creators of the one pictured at www.pickles.no were nice enough to post free instructions for this cushion and a smaller version online so we can all possess these adorable, cozy items.
2. Celtic Pillow by Janine Bajus for Two Swans Yarns
{source: Two Swans Yarns}
Another free pattern. This one is for a fair isle pillow. If you are going to do all that colorwork, how great would it be not to have to worry about fit or style issues as you would for a garment? This seems like it would be a terrific way to try out stranded knitting without committing to scary steeks too.
3. Sunny Spread by Ellen Gormley for Crochet Today!/Red Heart
{source: Crochet Today!}
I was thisclose to making this throw for the wedding gift instead of the one I ended up going with. I was worried I would run out of time before I finished this (I am not the world’s best crocheter…). Still, I would love to make this. I think the pattern is so unusual and pretty. It is also a free downloadable pattern.
{source: knittingknonsense.com}
I’m not sure these little fishies can make doing the dishes fun, but hey, it’s worth a shot. I bet these would make great gifts, too.
{source: MK Carroll}
Blogger M. K. Carroll posted directions for this gorgeous cabled mug cozy on her blog and on Ravelry. A more detailed PDF version of the pattern is also able for download with most of the profits going toward charity Knitters Without Borders. I bet this would be a quick and satisfying knit. It would also be extremely handy to have since hot beverages cool quickly when your hands are busy knitting.
Though this is meant to be a list of five things, I can’t possibly wrap it up without two more quick mentions.
First, the Lifetime Achievement Award in this category of unique knits for the home goes to the ladies of Mason-Dixon Knitting, Ann Hahn Buechner and Kay Gardiner. If you aren’t already familiar with their work from their fantastic, long-running blog or their two wonderful books, you really should check out their work. They both have turned knitting for the home into an artform, continually cranking out patterns for items that are functional and practical yet at the same time stunning to look at and interesting to knit. Most of the patterns that caught my eye in this category seemed to be from the Mason-Dixon ladies. Hats off to them for sharing their ideas with us!
Second, a Local Interest Award goes to the Tarheel Dishcloth by Lindsey Ligett for Waterloo Wools. Who would have thought that a blue dishcloth with a UNC Tarheel logo on it could be so cute? If you have never been to the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill metro area, you may not entirely understand the concept of school spirit. Even public buses in Chapel Hill are often Carolina blue! Doing the dishes with a handknit Tarheel cloth seems perfectly natural to me. Thanks Lindsey for this great pattern.
Happy weekend everyone!
Five for Friday is a regular feature that highlights short lists of patterns or other links that I like within a certain topic. If you have ideas for topics you would like to see featured, please don’t hesitate to post a comment or email me at wooldurham@gmail.com.
