Tag: free

Free and Fast Knits for Christmas Gifts: Scarves in Worsted

This page contains a list of free knitting (and some crocheting) patterns for scarves and cowls that will knit up quickly in worsted or bulky yarn. *Please note these items were free when this page was created, and that could change.

Christmas Gift Knitting

If you are like me and the majority of the population, waiting until the last minute is typical. We have busy lives and at holiday time it’s worse. The months leading up to holiday season is the ideal time to begin knitting those Christmas gifts. We know it, and yet many of us procrastinate.

It’s okay to begin knitting late in the season, if you can find some fast knits, done with heavy weight yarn – worsted or bulky. Personally I am keeping a list of the best machine-washable yarn I can find. I have grown boys who will absolutely not hand wash anything.

Scarves, cowls and hats are about the quickest projects, in my opinion, and I’ve listed mostly scarves, a few cowls, and one necktie, on this page. A page about free hat patterns is coming!

Knitting Scarves for Guys (Unisex)

Guys can be the most difficult to buy for and that is why hand-knits could be the perfect gift. When I search around Ravelry for patterns, I see that a lot of people knit (and crochet) for husbands, boyfriends, sons and grandsons. My own grown sons, even the one here in Florida, seem to appreciate the hats I’ve knit them.

The links below go to their corresponding Ravelry page where the pattern can be downloaded. Most scarf patterns are unisex and color will differentiate male or female. Please note: Most of these items I have not knit myself. I can’t vouch for the pattern and these are ideas only, not suggestions.

The nice thing about knitting a scarf is that gauge doesn’t really matter. A scarf pattern is pretty easy to convert from fingering weight to worsted or bulky. Cast on fewer stitches if your yarn is heavier. Scarves can be knit to any length desired.

Scarves and Cowls For Women

knitting divider

Free Crochet Patterns

Although I mostly knit, I do occasionally crochet so thought I’d include a few patterns here for the crocheters. These links are for scarves and hats, which are the easiest and fastest projects in my opinion.

This is just a few patterns out there for free. If you have any favorites, please share in the comments.

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Five cozy scarf patterns to begin knitting this Fall. Keep for yourself or give to friends and family. The selection has small and long scarves, with many free patterns included.

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Writing a blog, sharing photos, and doing research and making links takes time. Lately I don’t think the time spent doing all that is worth enough to continue. I have stopped writing my gardening blog, and downgraded my seashells/ boating / camping blog. I’ve been spread too thin for too long. The past 18 years…

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Easy Knitting FREE Shawl Pattern For Gradient Yarns

Lots of knitters love to use gradient color yarns.  Often shawl patterns work best for this, and I have found a free, simple pattern to try.  It is called the Scrappy Bias Shawl and you can download it at Ravelry.  I am grateful to knitters who share their free patterns.  It’s the perfect way for beginners to get used to trying new things.

Some yarn shops will offer small skeins of colors that match or contrast which can be knit up in any order you choose to make your own gradient of color.  This requires adding new colors as you knit and can leave lots of tails to deal with.  The effect can be quite pretty, but with lots of weaving to come.

yarn tails
Changing colors makes many tails of yarn to weave in later

Speckled or variegated yarns can also be used to create a gradient effect, and I love the look.  I began the ‘Scrappy Bias Shawl’ using dark green fingering yarn, then dug out more skeins hoping to have the colors changes from dark to light along the way.  I am not finished, and will begin to revert back to darker colors to end with.

Create Your Own Design

What I love about this simple pattern is that once you know the basics of the shaping,  the colors can be anything at all!  It could be done in wide stripes, skinny stripes, a solid color, or add a simple pattern to some of the rows.

I decided to knit approximately 20 rows with one color, and then alternate two rows with my next color choice.  You can see that in my image below where I went from pink to yellow, then yellow to variegated white.  I did not buy any yarn, but used what I had in my stash already.  I believe the “scrappy” part of the title is meant for knitters to use up their scrap yarn on this project.

Mostly I am using Mad Tosh Merino Light and similar sock / fingering weight yarn.  It’s a simple garter stitch knit with increases at one side and a decrease at the other.  I wanted my colors to “blend” as I progressed.  Viewing the pattern page will also show how other knitters interpreted this pattern.

Gradient colors of garter stitch

Changing yarns:  All my new yarn was added on the same side of the project so each color row made one complete back and forth row. Then I would pick up the alternate color to knit. Once I was done with the previous color, I cut it and continued on with the new color.

For easy counting of stitches, I have added stitch markers at 20 stitch intervals.  Once you memorize the beginning and ending of rows, this pattern is super simple to knit while watching television.

new shawl
The shawl is finished… read more here.

Avoid All Those Tails by Using Gradient Yarn

After some searching online I found some lovely yarn at The Fibre Studio called 50 Shades of Gradient.  Check out “Nantahala” (one I must buy soon) and others that come in cake skeins which make wide color swaths that gradually change as you knit.  

My other WIP (work in progress) is the Bay’s Edge Shawl. And I just finished up a couple of hats and a thick scarf to give as Christmas gifts.