lacy baby blanket and Fair Isle booties

lacy baby blanket and Fair Isle booties

NECK SCARF

NECK SCARF
ROWAN COLOURSCAPES YARN BY DESIGNER KAFFE FASSETT

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Free is Good!


I don’t know about you, but my Christmas knitting is (almost) done. Whoo hoo! Our knitting group was supposed to start Christmas knitting in July-it was on the list of things to knit ….needless to say life got in the way again and here it is November and I’m putting the finishing touches on a pair of fingerless gloves. (Ravelry: free pattern: Toasty) As fingerless gloves go, this is one of my favorite patterns to knit, and it’s free. I knit a pair in soft gray baby alpaca-lovely-my daughter had to have those-so I knit a second pair for myself. I just finished another gray pair (it’s not a theme, I swear!) using Norwegian yarn: Triplex Kamgarn made by Sandnes Kamgarn Spinneri-they are not as soft as the alpaca gloves but worked up just as nice. Mom mentioned my sister would REALLY like a pair of fingerless gloves… so I am knitting her a pair in dark gray (lol) using some more Norwegian yarn-these will be knit using Peer Gynt 100% wool by Sandnes Uldvarefabrik in Norway. She lives in snow country so they will be toasty warm. (pun intended)

Let's talk free stuff:
With the internet and the wide variety of yarn manufacturers and distributors-there’s a bevy of FREE knitting (and crochet) patterns available at the click or two of your mouse. Even knitting magazines refer to web sites with free pattern offerings. Check out your favorite yarns or designers for their web sites and blogs. Here’s just a few of my favorites:

• www.ravelry.com

• www.vogueknitting.com

• www.berroco.com

• www.garnstudio.com

• www.cascadeyarns.com

• www.patonsyarns.com

• www.knitrowan.com

• www.plymouthyarn.com

• www.lionbrand.com

• www.yarn.com

Mostly I use Ravelry because they compile multitudes of patterns from a wide variety of manufacturers and designers-both free and pay patterns. You’ll have to assign at least a password with your email to log on to the sites to access the free patterns-so make it easy on yourself when deciding on a password.

And as always-free is good!

Until next time-Happy Knitting!