Love vintage patterns? Think they don’t make them like they used to? If you want to peruse (and possibly make) some patterns from decades past, you must check out the antique pattern library.
Tons of old patterns have been put into PDF format for you to download — knitting, crochet, tatting, embroidery and more. I have yet to take advantage of any of these (I already have a backlog of projects I want to do!) but one day, I’m going to make time to go through this extensive list and choose at least a handful of vintage projects.
This is perfect for …read more

Here’s a nifty little pattern I recently completed, a bit different than the average square dishcloth (although I did quite a few of those, too). It’s the lace star cloth pattern (link to it; it’s FREE), done in basic Sugar n’ Cream cotton.
You start with a circular cast-on…while you don’t have to, this one is so neat. Once you get going on the pattern, you pull the loose end to tighten up the center and it works beautifully. A regular cast on (one you might use to begin a straight edge) can leave you with a gaping hole that’s impossible to pull closed.
I …read more

If you design projects and following charts is a big part of a particular pattern, using graph paper is important. Now you can always go to an office supply store and get what they have…or you can print your own, created to the exact specifications you need.
ABCs of Knitting provides a free graph paper designer that allows you to input the number of stitches and rows you need. You print it out in a PDF format and voila — easy charts that make your pattern look professional and easy to follow!

I know we have a way to go before February 14, but if you want to make something for your sweetie, you have to plan ahead. Here are some links to FREE patterns, all of them with a heart motif of one kind or another:
Wee hearts
Valentine cloth
Seven of hearts socks
Hearts dishcloth
Hot pad
Chain of hearts bookmark
Lattice hearts dishcloth
Enjoy!

One thing that rings true for many of us crafty people is that we’re giving. Maybe it’s because there’s no way we can use all of the things we make, so we’re happy to gift others!
If you want to gift something and feel good about it, too, consider charities. There are many different charities that need handcrafted items. I usually choose a charity at the beginning of the year and make items throughout. I try and switch it up each year so that I can help different ones.
Baby items are always a hit because they’re small and you can whip …read more

If you’re not yet a member at Knitting Daily, you should definitely consider it. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a knitter because they also feature crochet and crochet patterns. And you don’t have to pay a dime…just register with your e-mail address.
This is a free download offered at Knitting Daily TV. It’s called Maggie’s Wrap and isn’t it cute?
Of course, its lacy prettiness isn’t going to keep you warm. This is more of a garment made to be noticed. The cropped design should work up pretty quickly and you can add your own unique flair by choosing the …read more

There are quite a few stitch dictionaries available. Some hold hundreds of different stitch patterns in them for you to try. These are useful if you’re looking to incorporate an original design or add a unique border or hem to a project.
You can always invest in a stitch dictionary in book form, but you may find yourself needing two, three or more. That’s fine if you want to add to your knitting library, but this can get expensive.
You can also find free knitting stitch patterns on the Web. What I like about this particular site is that, as far as I can tell, …read more