Category: Knitting
Leisure Arts Knitting Book Review
September 21, 2019
Recently I was contacted by Leisure Arts and asked to review some of their new knitting books. These books are new releases and available for purchase from Leisure Arts.
The first book is called Slow Fashion Made Fast by Alexandra Tavel. This book contains 12 different knitting projects all made with super bulky #6 weight yarn. There are a wide variety of projects in this book. All projects are rated easy so even beginner knitters should be able to complete these patterns. You will find a chunky basket, a cowl, scarves, a shrug, a poncho, a wall hanging, a blanket and a cute and easy to knit bag. I really liked the bag – called the Slouchy Tote – and have started knitting that pattern in the last week. I was happy to find some yarn in my stash that would work for this pattern – it is the Lion brand Wool Ease, Thick and Quick.
Below is a photo of the bag I have started. The whole thing is knit in the round so there is no seam. It is knit with big needles, size US 15, so it works up very quickly. If you click on the photo above, titled Slow Fashion Made Fast, it will take you to the Leisure Arts page and you can view a better photo of the finished bag.
The other book I was asked to review is called Casual Weekend Knits by Andi Javori. This book is filled with 25 various projects. There are various cowls, scarves, ponchos, hats and a couple of bags and some boot cuffs you can make from this book. If you click on the image below it will take you to a view of the book at Leisure Arts and more details of the projects that are in this book.
Most of the knitting projects in Casual Weekends Knits are knit with a #4 weight yarn. There are a few that call for bulky or super bulky but the majority of them are medium weight. There is a cute knit headband in the book seen in the below photo that I will probably start as my next project after finishing my slouchy bag.
I feel like both of these books are a great addition to any knitters library. They both offer a wide variety of projects that would be great to get started on for gifts for this holiday season.
Note: This post contains affiliate links. All reviews are my own opinion.
Knitting Book Review on Warm Up With Scarves and Cowls from Leisure Arts
May 3, 2018
I was recently given the opportunity to review the knitting book Warm Up With Scarves and Cowls from Leisure Arts publications. This book contains 9 fun and fairly easy knitting projects for scarves and cowls.
One of the scarves that caught my eye in this book was the Short Row Scarf – which is pictured on the left above. I recently bought some of the Jeans yarn from Lion brand yarn and decided it would be perfect for this project. Below is a photo of the scarf I have started with the Short Row Pattern.
![Short Row Scarf](http://<a target="_blank" href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1136694&u=832062&m=19565&urllink=&afftrack="><img src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/19565/L75676_1200x425.jpg" border="0" alt="knit scarves &amp; cowls" /></a>){kind=link}
The short row scarf is a great project for an intermediate knitter. It is worked in garter stitch – all knit. It is helpful for teaching you how to wrap and turn and do shaping which is useful in many other more advanced knitting projects. I would think even an advanced beginner could knit this scarf.
The other scarf that I really like in this book is the one pictured above. It is call the Triangle Scarf and is knit with 3 different yarns – 2 solid color yarns and one multi color. I may attempt this scarf as my next knitting project from this book.
![Triangle Scarf](http://<a target="_blank" href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1136693&u=832062&m=19565&urllink=&afftrack="><img src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/19565/L75676_600x400.jpg" border="0" alt="knit scarves &amp; cowls" /></a>){kind=link}
There are also a couple of pretty lace cowls in the book and another cowl called the Mosaic Cowl which is in the photo above. The book is titled Warm Up With Scarves and Cowls but there are several projects in it that are lightweight enough that you could knit them for spring or summer weather.
![Mosaic Cowl](http://<a target="_blank" href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1136695&u=832062&m=19565&urllink=&afftrack="><img src="https://static.shareasale.com/image/19565/L75676_300x250.jpg" border="0" alt="knit scarves &amp; cowls" /></a>){kind=link}
You can click on any of the highlighted text or the photos to take you to the Leisure Arts website to order this book. I think you will really like all the projects it has – there are beginner and intermediate knitting patterns in this book.
I hope you enjoyed reading and learning more about this book.
-Kimberlee
*This post contains affiliate links.
Weekend Knits Knitting Super Bundle
March 1, 2018
Cotton Knit Tunic
August 5, 2017
It is the beginning of August and very hot here in Texas. Since the weather is warmer I try and knit with lighter yarns that are made of cotton. Knitting with wool or chunky yarn is not very appealing to me when the temperatures get above 90 degrees.
I recently finished this design for a cotton knit tunic. It is knit with a yarn from Hobby Lobby called I Love This Cotton – perfect for lighter weight summer projects.
This cotton knit tunic features a drop stitch pattern in the lower half and a scoop neckline. It can be worn as a tank top or with a shirt underneath as a vest when the weather is cooler.
In the above photo you can see a close up of the scoop neckline design which features a garter stitch edging.
The Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton yarn works well for this knit tunic pattern. I think other 100% cotton yarns would also work well that are a medium weight. I will probably be knitting another one soon in a cotton and acrylic yarn blend that I have in my stash from Knit Picks yarn company.
The pattern for this knit sweater is available in my etsy shop or on craftsy.
What knitting projects have you finished this summer?
-Kimberlee
Dashes Knit Sweater
May 12, 2017
The Dashes Knit Sweater is a knitting pattern I recently designed. This sweater features a textured stitch pattern, short sleeves and a scoop neckline.
The yarn used to knit this sweater is from the Plymouth yarn company. It is called Monte Donegal Hand Dyed yarn. The yarn is a blend of Alpaca, Merino Wool, Acrylic and Rayon. It is not super soft but it is comfortable against the skin and has a nice drape for a sweater. Other cotton or acrylic weight yarns would also work well for this sweater in my opinion – maybe even a Noro yarn.
The sweater is knit with a size US 7 knitting needle. I used circular knitting needles but straight could also be used – although once you get to the sleeve area you may want circular needles to accommodate the larger stitch count.
This sweater is knit in two pieces and then sewn together. If you are familiar with knit and purl stitches, casting on stitches in a project and seaming knit pieces together then you can complete this sweater.
The photo above is a close up view of the stitch pattern. It is easier to see what it looks like on this solid color yarn than the Monte Donegal yarn I knit the sweater with. The pattern is a four row repeat and very easy to follow.
To learn more about the pattern you can visit my Etsy shop. I will also have it available on Craftsy and Ravlery and here on my website.
I am currently designing another short sleeve sweater pattern in a cotton yarn that will be coming soon to my Etsy shop and website.
Have a great day!
-Kimberlee
Knitting Projects Using Chunky Yarns
February 24, 2017
The last couple of months I have created some new knitting projects using chunky yarns. One of the projects is a scarf and the other two are cowls.
The scarf in the photos above was knit with Lion brand yarn – Wool Ease Thick and Quick yarn. It took two skeins to complete this scarf. It works up really fast on large size US 13 knitting needles. I really like the stitch I used to design this scarf as it is reversible – meaning it looks the same on both sides.
The purple cowl above is another knitting project using chunky yarns that I have recently completed. The yarn used for this cowl was from Michael’s. It is their brand of yarn called Country Loom from Loops and Threads. This is a nice yarn for a reasonable price and it knits up quickly. I used a size US 15 to knit this cowl. The cowl is knit in the round using circular knitting needles so there is no seam. This knitting project also took 2 skeins of yarn.
My most recently finished knitting project using a chunky weight yarn is the cape – cowl in the photos above. This design is also knit using the Loops and Threads Country Loom yarn from Michael’s. It is knit using size US 15 and size US 13 circular knitting needles – it is knit in the round. This cowl – cape is knit using a different stitch than the purple cowl and it is slightly wider so it can also be worn as a cape to keep the shoulders and back warm. I love how it turned out with the big large wood flower button at the top.
All of the above designs can be found in my etsy and craftsy shops. I will also be putting them in my ravelry store and on the Love Knitting site. You can click on the highlighted text to take you to those links for my patterns.
What are some of the chunky weight yarns you like to knit or crochet with? Let me know in the comments.
Have a great day!
-Kimberlee
One Row Lace Knit Scarf Pattern
February 2, 2017
This one row lace knit scarf pattern is easy to knit and available free here on my blog. This knit scarf pattern is great for an advanced beginner wanting to learn to knit an easy lace project.
The yarn I used in the photo for this lace knit scarf pattern was Lana Grossa Opera – it is cotton polyamide viscose mix and it has pretty sequins throughout the yarn. Any type of yarn that has a glitter or sequin to it that recommends a size US 8 or 9 needle will work for this pattern. You will need about 200 yards for a scarf that will be approximately 40 inches long by 7 inches wide, unblocked. 
If you want your scarf to be longer you can just continue to follow the pattern but you will need extra yarn. I only had 2 skeins of the Opera. I kind of like a shorter scarf especially a lace knit scarf since I usually wear it more as a decorative accessory and not for warmth.
The skills required to complete this lace knit scarf pattern are:
- k2tog – knit 2 stitches together
- yo – yarn over
- p – purl
If you are familiar with those stitches then you will be able to complete this scarf pattern. You can click on the highlighted text to download the pattern:
Easy One Row Lace Knit Scarf Pattern
This scarf is a quick and easy lace knit scarf to complete – great if you need a last minute gift. This is also a nice project for someone who wants to try out some lace stitches. 
I hope you enjoy the pattern. For more of my patterns you can visit my etsy, craftsy or ravelry shops. I am always creating new things and adding new patterns to my shops.
Have a great day and Happy Knitting.
-Kimberlee
Knitted Cat Pillow
January 24, 2017
This knitted cat pillow is a project I recently finished. The pattern is from Knit Picks and is available on their site here: Mini Kitty Pouf Pillow, The pillow – pouf pattern can be purchased alone as a download or in a kit with the yarn needed to make the actual pillow.
I had a lot of fun knitting this little cat pillow. It is knit using large needles – size US 15 so it knits up very fast. I think it only took me a few days to complete it and this was just knitting an hour or so here and there each day.
The yarn recommended for this knitted cat pillow is from Knit Picks called Big Cozy. Click here: The Big Cozy Yarn to view the yarn.
I just used some yarn I had in my stash since I am trying to use things up lately and not buy more. I used some chunky baby yarn for the cream part and for the gray I used some Alpaca Grande yarn. I think any super bulky or chunky yarn that recommends a size US 15 or even a 13 needle would work for this pattern, in my opinion.
You will also need some fiber fill to stuff the pillow and a small amount of black chunky yarn to embroider the face of the cat. The pillow is knit in the round with circular needles so there is only a minimal amount of sewing, or seaming, to do to create this cat pillow.
Our cat is not too impressed with the new cat pillow I created. My kids think it scares him but I took this photo of him with my phone to prove to them that he will sit by it. The pillow is not really for him it is just a decorative accent. It could also be knitted as a gift for a small child.
For now my knitted cat pillow hangs out in front of our fireplace near my yoga meditation cushion. The meditation cushion is a crochet pattern I designed myself and is available in my etsy shop or on ravelry.
I plan to make another one of these fun knitted cat pillows after I finished a couple of other projects I am currently working on. What are you currently knitting or crocheting?
-Kimberlee
*Post contains affiliate links
Free Rib Knit Hat Pattern
January 10, 2017
This free knitting pattern is for a rib knit hat I recently designed for my son. He was going on a skiing trip back in December and needed a warm hat. I had some WoolSpun yarn from Lion brand yarn in my stash and decided it would be perfect for a ribbed beanie style hat for him. He had requested black and this yarn had black in it.
The hat is knit in the round using size US 10.5 circular knitting needles that are 16 inches long in length. Double point needles can also be used if you prefer them for knitting hats. The pattern can be knitted in a size small, medium or large.
The yarn I used for the hat above was the Lion brand Woolspun. You only need 1 skein of it to complete this rib knit hat pattern. The yarn is 80 % acrylic and 20 % wool. My son said it kept his head warm on his skiing trip last month. He has also been wearing it lately as we have had some rather cold weather the past week in Texas.
The hat in the above photo was knit with Nashua Paradise yarn. This is some yarn I bought years ago and had in my stash. I only had 1 skein and figured it would be good for a hat since there was only 87 yards on the skein. It took the whole skein to make this one hat. The yarn is a boucle type of yarn that is very soft. It recommended a size 8 to 10 needle but it worked out with the 10 1/2 size needle just fine in my opinion.
Click here: Free Rib Knit Hat Pattern to download the pattern. It is an easy knit hat pattern and can be completed in a day.
I hope you enjoy the free rib knit hat pattern. To see other patterns I have designed please visit my etsy shop. I also have patterns on craftsy and ravelry.
Have a great day!
-Kimberlee
Save 15% off entire order at LeisureArts.com. Use promo code ART15.
Chenille Knit Blanket
April 10, 2016
I finally finished the chenille knit blanket that I started back before Christmas. I now know why I don’t knit that many blankets or afghans – they take a lot of time to complete and after a while I get bored with the same project and the same yarn. That is probably why I had to quit working on this blanket for a while and do a few other projects in between. Well, anyhow, it is done, actually it has been finished for a few weeks and my husband (and cat) have been enjoying it.
This blanket is super easy to knit. I had this chenille yarn, from Lion brand yarn, for quite a while in my stash and decided it would be a nice warm blanket for our living room. The needle size I used for this yarn was a size US 11 circular with a very long 47 inch cable. The pattern for this blanket is a 4 row repeat and is below:
Cast on 72 stitches (multiple of 4)
Row 1: (Right Side) *K2, p2; repeat from * across
Row 2: *K2, p2; repeat from * across
Row 3: P2, k2; repeat from * across
Row 4: P2, k2; repeat from * across
Repeat the above 4 rows a total of 104 times or until desired length.
My finished blanket was approximately 42 inches wide and 65 inches long. A nice size for a couch afghan. I could have probably made it longer as I had another skein of yarn but the chenille yarn was getting super heavy to work with.
This stitch pattern is reversible, meaning it looks the same on both sides, which I think is nice for a blanket. I also knit a swatch with the pattern in acrylic #4 weight yarn holding 2 yarns together and thought that would also make a nice heavy blanket. 
The above swatch is knit with 2 skeins of Hobby Lobby I Love this Yarn held together and using the 4 row pattern above and size US 11 needles. This swatch ended up being a little smaller in size than my chenille swatch. It was 4 inches wide by 4 inches long on 12 stitches over 16 rows in pattern. The chenille swatch was 6 inches wide by 5 inches long on 12 stitches over 20 rows in pattern. So, if you were to knit the pattern in 2 yarns of acrylic yarn you would probably want to increase your stitch count to at least 112 stitches so that the blanket will be wide enough. Just remember your stitch count needs to be a multiple of 4 whatever you increase it to.
Overall I am pleased with our new blanket. I also like the fact that it looks nice with the Vibrant V Stitch pillow I crocheted back in the fall. Of course photos are not complete without my black cat getting in the background.
I have also been knitting some dishcloths, which are good and easy spring projects and some sweaters. What have you been working on lately? Let me know by leaving a comment.
Have a great day!
-Kimberlee