Seeing the Light
Two free patterns to put a spring in your step
The first hopes of spring crept in the other day, while enjoying a teatime sarnie by the window. I was suddenly struck by the fact it was light enough for me to look through to the other side. For the past few months, I’ve been greeted (and repeatedly jump-scared) by my own reflection against the dark at the same time of day.
The sun was still in the sky! Well, perhaps that’s a bit of a stretch, but there was still sky to be seen, and I’d call that progress enough. As much as I hoped I’d transform into one, I don’t think I’ll ever be the kind of person who thrills at the prospect of spring cleaning, but as the days brighten, I can appreciate the concept.
I find myself that bit more motivated. The blanket of familiar comforts that felt so welcoming through the winter is now starting to weigh down, ready to be whipped off and bundled back into a cupboard. Fresh things have become enticing again, and with it all comes the urge to try or do something new.
If you’ve been feeling similar, I’ve got two free patterns this week that let you try out some interesting techniques on a scale small enough to keep things quick and light. Low commitment knits for those just dipping their toe back in after hibernation!
Dip It by Isabell Kraemer
These wrist warmers are a lovely way to practice knitting two colour dip stitch - only one colour is worked at a time in a round, so there’s no potential headaches with yarn management to contend with. There’s only one contrast colour round per pattern repeat, too, making it easier to keep track and fall into a rhythm.
The pattern as-knit will make warmers with a circumference and height of 8”/20cm x 8”/20cm, but the beauty of such a simple shape means they can be scaled up or down as you please! The stitch pattern is worked in multiples of four, so all it takes is to either increase or reduce the number of stitches you cast on by a multiple of four, and you’re all set.
I think these would be a real treat knit in our soft, glossy spun mohair, Yeavering Bell. For an extra hardworking pair that’ll really make the texture of the dip stitch stand out, you could try our lambswool, Cheviot Marsh. Or, why not mix and match?
For your main colour, you’ll need one 100g skein of Yeavering Bell 4 ply or Cheviot Marsh 4 ply. For the contrast colour, you’ll need one Yeavering Bell 4 ply mini skein or one Cheviot Marsh 4 ply mini skein.
Simple Garter Stitch Slippers by Hanna Leväniemi
A pair of snug, ankle-height slipper socks, knit in squishy garter stitch for that extra bit of padding. They’ll knit up much quicker than your standard pair of socks, making them the perfect project to blow away the cobwebs without eating into your motivation! These are also a great project for those who aren’t drawn to small-circumference knitting but would still like to treat their feet, as they’re worked flat.
The sizing is adjustable; you can measure to the wearer’s foot as you go, stopping at the length that suits best. Following the pattern as-written will make slippers to fit an EU41/UK7.5.
A single chain of crochet is used to create a raised seam along the top of the foot and around the ankle (amply explained in pictures, so you don’t need to know how to crochet to achieve it!). None of the finishing is done on live edges, so if you’d rather not pick up a hook and prefer to seam up by sewing, instead, I’m sure you could achieve a similar result.
Cheviot Marsh would make a wonderfully warm, hardwearing pair of slippers. One 100g skein of Cheviot Marsh Aran will make a pair.
Or, you could use Yeavering Bell for an extra soft alternative. I’d suggest holding together two strands of Yeavering Bell 4 ply, as it will full just that bit more than a single strand of the aran in this yarn, making it closer to the fabric density in the sample photos. Again, only one 100g skein would be needed, so if you wind into cakes, you could pull from both the middle and the outside. If you wind into balls or just prefer to draw separately, wind into two separate, roughly equal balls/cakes.
You don’t need to use a contrast colour for the top seam and cuff, but if you’d like to, one Cheviot Marsh Aran mini skein held single, or one Yeavering Bell 4 ply mini skein held double would cover your needs.
Note: If adding quite a bit of length, for example for a larger mens’ size, there’s a slight chance you may need to break into another main colour skein. If you think that might be the case, there’s always the option of a contrast toe/heel in the same colour as the seam/edging, much like the lovely red toes in the pictures above! Depending on how big you want the contrast zones to be, you may need to pick up a second mini skein.
A warm welcome awaits at Whistlebare Fold from 8.45am - 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am - 5pm on Sundays. Online orders remain open as ever.
If you’d like to visit, you can find us at: 17A Bridge St, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1ES
As always, thank you for your company this week. And, of course - if you’ve been inspired, we’d love to see your wonderful creations!
Wishing you all the happiest of knitting,
Claire
Dip It (pattern & sample photos) © Isabell Kraemer // Simple Garter Stitch Slippers (pattern & sample photos) © Hanna Leväniemi