December is Love and Knitting is Love Made Visible

“Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn’t hurt the untroubled spirit either.”

“Knit on with confidence and hope through all crises.”

Elizabeth Zimmerman, the beloved mother of ‘modern’ knitting, was a wise woman.  She understood that knitting is so much more than just following a pattern and creating something. The reasons we knit are many and varied.  

One example of why we knit is to show our love and caring.  Knitting satisfies a need in us to give, to do something tangible to help those we love who are in need.  When a dear one is sick, hurt, or is going through a challenging time we pick up our needles and some special yarn to create a hug for them, all the more precious because that person is thought of with love during the making of the project.

This type of project needs to be uncomplicated and fairly quick to finish.  It helps if it can be an ‘anytime, anywhere’ project so you can knit on it during any quiet moments in the course of your day. The yarn needs to be as lovely and soft as you can afford.  

We have chosen four patterns that fulfill these requirements.  Of course there are a multitude of others but when you’re in the position of needing a project right away it helps to have your choices narrowed for you!

Pembroke Scarf, designed by Elizabeth McCarten

This free pattern is an asymmetric scarf that uses one skein of fingering weight yarn.  It is a two row garter stitch pattern with only one purl stitch every other row for those of you who dislike purling!  This is most definitely an ‘anywhere, anytime’ project.

Inclination, designed by Scott Rohr

We do love this cowl!  We have made it with a multitude of yarns and it works out every time!  The pattern has directions for bulky and worsted weight yarns. One skein of a soft worsted will make a cozy, drapey cowl.  This is knit in the round with both knit and purl stitches.  

Sindi, designed by Sivia Harding

This sumptuous cowl is long enough to wrap around your neck twice.  It is made with one strand of Shibui Nest held with two strands of Silk Cloud on size 9 needles.  The mainly stockinette design, knit in the round, creates a gradient effect with clever use of three colors of Silk Cloud!  Sindi is a luxurious gift for a deserving recipient! The pattern is free with yarn purchase.

© Purl Soho

Nimbus Cowl, designed by Purl Soho

This is a brand new, free pattern from Purl Soho and it is stunning!  A fingering weight yarn is held with a strand of mohair throughout the main part of the cowl.  Then at the end the mohair is knit by itself to create a halo of softness around your neck! It’s easier than you think to knit mohair by itself, especially on a size 4 needle and the result is well worth it!  This cowl falls into soft folds around your neck, keeping any chills at bay.

We hope that any of these projects will help you cope with having a loved one you are worried about. 

“Sometimes your heart speaks best through your hands.”  The Knit Cafe