Free Pattern Friday - Braided Twosome - Hat and Bag

Braided Twosome by January & Wood 1954

However good our intentions may be to knit or crochet all of our gifts this Christmas season, if you have not yet taken the time to learn this skill, you may be in for some frustration. Though I find both skills relaxing and fairly easy, it was not always this way. My first attempts were nothing short of disastrous. This handbag and matching hat is a quick and easy no skill pattern. Instructions are for braiding but imagine the hat and bag made from spool knitting (as described in this earlier post) or even a simple crocheted chain with chunky yarn. The possibilities are endless.

A Few Styling Options

Courtesy of KinseySue Vintage Patterns on Goodsmiths. 

Download Pattern HERE.

Free Pattern - Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Chemo Hat Pattern

Poul Friis Nybo Portrait of a Young Woman Knitting

Janet Szabo, is a knitter and editor of several knitting books available from her publishing company Big Sky Knitting. Szabo, a breast cancer survivor, designed this knitted chemo-toque pattern (©1998) to share. It is reprinted here for you to knit and share as well. Your donation to your local Breast Cancer Awareness chapter would be appreciated. Find more of Janet's knitting patterns on Ravelry.

Download pattern HERE.

Free Pattern Everyday - Learning to Knit with a Loom

Spool Knitting Tutorial

When I was a little girl I was presented with a square wooden block with a hole in the center and four nails driven in around the opening. It was not a thread spool but a blue wooden component of a child's stacking game. This object was my first introduction to knitting. There were no "needles" with yarn cast on. Instead it was a mini knitting-in-the-round machine for creating lengths of round knit cord. Today you can buy looms similar to this 19th century prototype. But if you want the real deal, download this tutorial with instructions to make the cord and tassels for drapery tie backs, or any application you can contrive. And don't despair if you have no wooden thread spool. Any plastic or compressed styrofoam spool can be adapted by drilling four small holes into the top of the spool,  and heating the pointed end of a small nail under a flame and insert into the drilled holes. Voila! A 21st Century version of a 19th Century spool knitter. Download HERE.

Free Pattern Everyday - Knitted Bobtail Hat and Bag Pattern

1950's Easy Knitted Bobtail Hat and Matching Bag from Patons & Baldwin Toronto

Tassel and fringe trim this duo of quick and easy knit hat with contrast crown and matching bag with contrast fringe and handle. The choice of yarn for this classic style knit hat and bag will be the element that sets this set apart. Pima cotton with multi-colored slub or handspun Merino will yield very different but equally interesting results. Play. Download this knitting pattern HERE. Prints on 8.5" x 11" paper.

Thanks to Janie of RedCurlzs Vintage Patterns

Free Pattern Everyday - Dickie Bird Knit Mitts for Kids

1960's Dickie Bird Knit Mitts for Kids from Mary Maxim

More Mary Maxim Fun Mitts to knit for kids. Today we have the Dickie Bird Knit Mitts Pattern. Another quick to knit pattern for mitts that double as puppets. These patterns state that they are suitable for kids up to 12 years old but I bet they would be an awesome gift for any kid age 2 to 72 too! How fun. Download this fun and easy pattern HERE. Prints on 8.5" x 11" paper. 

Courtesy of RedCurlzs Vintage Patterns

Free Patterns Every Day - Crocodilly Mitts to Knit for Kids

1960's Fun Mitts to Knit from Mary Maxim

Fun knit mitts for kids. Say that fast three times. That's how fast these fun Crockodilly mitts knit up. And what a fun winter accessory. Add button or googly eyes and you have crocks that throw snow balls and an Everglades puppet show as a bonus. Make a pair for all of the kids on your Holiday gift list. Download this quick to knit pattern HERE. Prints on 8.5" x 11" paper. Look for another fun knit mitts pattern for kids in tomorrow's post.

Courtesy of RedCurlzs Vintage Patterns

Free Pattern Friday - Bobo the Clown ..... He's Back!

Bobo the Clown

He's Back. He's been traveling the country. Maybe his name should be Hobo the Clown? Download this fun doll pattern to knit here.
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