knitting patterns

Dec 4
2016

“It Was All a Dream” Knitted Dress Collection

by Lauren

I am so excited to share that by brand new collection of knitted dresses, “It Was All a Dream” is finally here! This collection has been a year in the making, and I’m thrilled to now be able to share it with you.

“It Was All a Dream” is a collection of 7 stylish dress designs that will have you and everyone around you falling in love with knitted dresses. From warm cozy cables for the Fall and Winter to light and breezy laces for the Spring and Summer, you will never be without a knitted dress to wear for your next occasion with this collection.

“It Was All a Dream” features many fun and feminine knitted details to explore from beaded lace, to a convertible cowl, to elegant cables, to the addition of ribbon, ruffles, and bows to your knitting. 3 out of the 7 designs in the collection are versatile 2-piece sets that can be worn together as one amazingly awesome knitted ensemble, or as separates paired with other items in your wardrobe!

All of the dress designs in this collection are knit seamlessly in the round for ease of finishing, with detailed instructions on how to customize the length of the dresses and tops to suite your style perfectly.

The collection is available on Ravelry for $28 here, or as individual patterns for $8 each. Here are more details on the 7 designs included in the collection!:

“Sweater Weather” Raglan Cable Knit Dress

Get ready to get super cozy and cute this Fall and Winter with your new favorite cable knit dress, “Sweater Weather”! Not only is this dress stylish, it is the definition of comfy and totally fun to knit too. Featuring a top down raglan construction, there is zero seaming, and you can knit the dress and sleeves as long as you please! The intertwining cable pattern down the front offers a fun twist on a basic knit dress. Pair it with tights and boots, and it’s the ideal Winter ensemble! It will work for anywhere your day may take you, from the office, to a date, to a night out on the town with your girlfriends. This pattern also features an option to make this design a long tunic style sweater, perfect for pairing with skinny jeans or leggings. The Dress features Knit Picks “Preciosa” in Crest and the Tunic Knit Picks “Swish Worsted” in Marine Heather. Get the pattern and learn more here!

“Cowl Me Later” Textured Cowl Neck Dress

What do you get when you combine a cozy knit cowl, and your favorite sweater dress? This fabulous wooly wonder that is sure to impress! This classic cowl neck dress is a wardrobe staple, and while wearing this dress you will look nothing but graceful. While the drape of the cowl says elegance and class, the cut out in the back offers some sass! This incredibly versatile cowl can be folded to cover your arms and back in the cold, or to keep your ears warm by being worn as a hood! The flattering open back offers a sweet surprise that is sure to turn heads, while the dazzling diamond knit and purl patterns will get you knitting street cred. Knit with 100% Baby Alpaca that is incredibly soft, it’s so cozy and warm you will never want to take it off! Cowl me maybe? Cowl me yes! This design features Knit Picks “Andean Treasure” in Royal Heather. Get the pattern and learn more here!

“Take a Bow” Lace Dress and Top

Indulge in your love for lace and all things girly with this adorable chandelier lace dress! This is the perfect versatile dress – you can dress it up for a date with jewelry and heels, or wear it to the office with leggings and boots. This dress has positive ease for a totally roomy and comfortable fit, with an optional added knitted bow belt that will cinch in the dress to accentuate your waist and flatter your figure. While this dress is delicate and feminine, it is knit with DK weight yarn so it won’t take forever to knit! Knit in the round, this dress is also an entirely seamless knit, woohoo! You can easily customize the length of your dress to make it longer, or you can even make it shorter to knit it as an equally beautiful lace top! This design features Knit Picks “Gloss DK” in Blackberry. Get the pattern and learn more here.

“Crop it Like it’s Hot” Sweater and Skirt Set

Stylish, chic, and oh-so-cozy, you are sure to fall in love with this super cute cable knit cropped sweater top and pencil skirt set! (Whew! That was a mouthful!) This delectable design features 2 elegant cable panels that run up the front and back of your curves for a sexy and sassy look. Not only does this versatile set look amazing together, it would look just as awesome worn as separates paired with other items in your closet. The skirt is knit from the top down with a fold over waistband to encase elastic for a personalized fit, and the skirt length is completely up to you! The raglan top is also knit to fit so that you can show as much or as little midriff as you wish, and the sleeves are knit from the top down enabling you to give your top your favorite sleeve length. Are you ready to crop it like it’s hot? I hope so! Get the pattern and learn more here.

“Sheer Elegance” Beaded Lace Dress

With a picot lace hem, a sprinkling of beads, fine eyelet details, and sparkly cap sleeves, this romantic knitted dress is nothing but sheer elegance. Knit with a sensuously soft kid mohair and silk blend yarn, it is light as can be, with a delightful fuzzy texture that will have you feeling feminine and free. The dazzling beaded details offer a hint of flair, making this dress the perfect pick for your next special occasion or affair! This design is also sure to suit your unique style with its reversibility – wear it with a high neck and sexy scooped out back (my favorite way), or more traditionally! Either way you will look sexy yet sweet, and will be sure to enchant whomever you meet! Get the pattern and learn more here.

“Twirl Of Your Dreams” Crop Top and Skirt Set

With daisies, ruffles, a ribbon bow and without seams, this knitted ensemble will give you the twirl of your dreams. This 2-piece set is not only super flirty and fun, you can wear it as separates or rock it as one! With the daisy lace top featuring frills on the sleeves, you are guaranteed a good time twirling around in the leaves. The skater skirt features a perfectly matching picot lace hem, that will show everyone around you that your knitting skills are the creme de la creme! Perfect for a festival, the beach, brunch, or anywhere there is sun, a day prancing around in this outfit will be sure to be won. This design features Knit Picks “CotLin” in Swan. Get the pattern and learn more here!

“Better Lace Than Never” Crop Top and Skirt Set

Indulge in the decadence of knitting a beautiful and unique diamond lace pattern in luxurious fingering weight yarn with this stunningly gorgeous 2-piece set. The skirt is high waisted and fitted down to the knee for a look that is both sassy and classy. The coordinating crop top features a sexy and trendy cold shoulder detail, and criss-crossed straps at the neckline for an edgy look. A delicate picot hem finishes the sleeves and the waistband for the perfect feminine touch. Wear these pieces as one outfit or as separates, they will look equally as lovely paired with a shirt or jeans. And while the intricacy of this fine knitting pattern will be an investment well worth your time, you know what they say, better lace than never! Get the pattern and learn more here.

I hope you enjoy the new collection! It is available on Ravelry for $28 here, or as individual patterns for $8 each here. I can’t wait to see what you make!

Happy Knitting!

♥Lauren

Dec 11
2014

Knitted Wall Art

by Lauren

So a couple months ago, I posted this picture on my Facebook Fan Page and Instagram, and I couldn’t believe how many of you loved the idea of knitted wall decor!

I got really excited about this concept, and in flooded a million ideas of cute knitted things you could frame and put on your wall. Whether you want a little wooly decor in your home, or you need a quick knitted present to gift to a loved one, Knitted Wall Art is guaranteed to please 🙂

I ended up creating more than 20 Knitted Wall Art designs, including colorwork, cables, textures, and more. Some designs even have added knitted elements to give them a 3-dimensional look!

I made a video for you explaining how Knitted Wall Art works, including what to look for in a frame.

Here are 5 reasons that Knitted Wall Art is super awesome and why I’m so obsessed!:

1) Knitted Wall Art is an inexpensive project! The frames used are from IKEA (the Virserum frame) and only $1.99 – $2.99 each. The wool used is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport which is only $2.69/ball. You won’t need more than 1 ball of each color used for any set, so you can definitely make a set of 3 knitted wall art designs for under $20 (and have some yarn left over)!

2) Knitted Wall Art is a quick knit! Each framed knitted piece will only take a few hours to make – the 4×6″ size will take about 2-3 hours, while the 5×7″ size will take about 3-4 hours. You can definitely make a whole set in a weekend!

3) Knitted Wall Art is interchangeable! Each design is actually a frame cozy that wraps around the back piece of your frame. This makes it super easy to get on and off your frame and have the ability to switch it out with other designs in a jiffy. It looks nice and neat in the back too!

4) Knitted Wall Art can be made seamless! In each pattern there is a full page photo tutorial on how to seam your cozy as you so, so you won’t have to do any seaming at the end. Woohoo!

5) You can design your own Knitted Wall Art! In each and every pattern, there is a blank template at the end where you can design your own colorwork chart, cable chart, or knit purl pattern. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

All of the Knitted Wall Art patterns can be found in my Ravelry shop for $6 each, or you can get the full collection of all 7 sets which has more than 20 Knitted Wall Art designs for only $18 here!

Hope you enjoy making knitted wall art, I can’t wait to see what you make!

Jan 22
2013

New Girly Knits Valentine’s Day Knitting Pattern Collection “Follow Your Heart”

by Lauren

follow-your-heart-cover I am so super excited to share my brand new collection of knitting patterns with you, “Follow Your Heart”! It is a collection of 7 lovely knitting patterns inspired by Valentine’s Day and all of the fun girly goodies that come along with it! The collection includes gloves with flirty valentine’s messages, a skirt and legwarmer set featuring a heart cable pattern, playful and romantic reversible eye masks, a cupcake inspired hat and mitten set, and more! Check out the video of me below doing a show and tell of the collection, and telling a little more about each piece! A fun thing I also did with the collection was to include girls sizes in the patterns, yay!.

In the video, I also share a fun Valentine’s Day promotion!:

You can get the full collection of all 7 patterns for only $24 through Ravelry here! You can also purchase the patterns individually for $6-$7 each through Ravelry.
When you purchase the collection you also get a free bonus pattern, “Trifecta“! If you’re on Ravelry, just make sure to add the pattern to your cart and it will be free at checkout.
Receive a very special Girly Knits Valentine from me when you purchase the “Follow Your Heart” collection by February 5th! Just make sure to e-mail me your mailing address after purchasing the collection. (Note: This date has passed but I do have some Valentine’s left over – if you send me your address I will still send you one until they run out 😉 )

Here are all of the patterns in the collection and their descriptions below:

“Heart Me Forever”

If you were looking for a skirt that you will heart forever that will heart you back, you are in luck! “Heart Me Forever” is the most lovable skirt you will meet – with a super sweet heart stitch pattern, elegant mirrored cables, charming bobbles, and a playful bow drawstring with pom-poms, you will believe in love at first sight! This skirt will love you back with its flattering fitted shape and cozy warmth that only hand knit pieces provide. Knit with the ever hearted Knit Picks Swish Worsted and in the round as one piece for ease of finishing and ability to try on as you go, there truly is nothing not to love. I hope you love knitting “Heart Me Forever” as much as I loved designing it!

“Heart Warmers”

Keep your legs and wrists warm this Winter with the warmest type of cables, hearts! Hehe so that may not be technically true, but hearts make everything extra warm and fuzzy feeling, right?! This stylish set of legwarmers and mini mitts are knit in the round for ease of finishing and custom fit! They also feature a heart cable pattern that alternates between open and filled in hearts for a super fun and fashionable knitting experience and look! Whether you are making these for yourself or a very special recipient, the love and warmth will surely be felt. Enjoy!

“Be My Valentine”

Give “talk to the hand” a whole new meaning when you stylishly wear and flash these fun and flirty fingerless gloves! With phrases such as “Be Mine”, “Kiss Me”, and “I Heart You”, you will be sure to surprise and delight the recipient of your message. These valentine’s day themed gloves feature many different style options to suite your fingerless needs, including an oh-so-cute removable mitten hat! The pattern contains a heart and lip color chart to sass up your mittens, and interchangeable word charts to make your message your own. Choose your preferred worsted weight yarn in your favorite color combo and you are good to go! Have fun!

“Eye Candy”

Treat your eyes to something sweet with these colorful knitted eyemasks! Whether you’re sleeping next to the one you love or enjoying your sweet dreams solo, this mask is sure to express your desires! The reversible eyemask is 2-sided to for double the fun, and includes 10 interchangeable charts for you to choose from! It also includes 2 blank charts so you can design a custom message and motif of your own! The mask knits up with less than your average ball ‘o yarn, making it a great stash buster, and a bite size project to practice your awesome colorwork skills. Sweet, colorful, and bite size, this mask really is just like candy! Yum! Enjoy!

“Sweeter Than a Cupcake”

What is sweeter than a cupcake? You are of course, especially when you’re adorned in this cute and cozy hat and mitten set! The matching hat and mittens are knit up with your 3 favorite colors of cupcake, and topped off with delicious colorful sprinkles and a pom-pom! All pieces are knit in the round, and have a hint of Fair Isle for just a sweet little taste of colorwork. The mittens feature a detachable top for your fingerless needs, which looks just as cute on or off your fingers! While this pattern may cause cupcake cravings, I promise your sweet tooth will be satisfied when you complete this set! Enjoy!

“Care to Cuddle?”

For times when life is too much and you are feeling in despair, what could cheer you up more than a cuddle from a cute fuzzy koala bear? You needn’t go down under to experience his charms, you can make him up in your favorite worsted weight yarns! With his big fuzzy ears, and large button eyes, he knows just what to do to make your spirits rise. He will keep your ears warm, your wrists and fingers too, as all he wants to do is cuddle with you! “Care to Cuddle” can be other fuzzy things, as an Owl he will enlighten you with the wisdom he brings! Just remember as you come out of despair, “Care to Cuddle” wants to be shared! Enjoy!

“Your Time You Shine”

It is your time to shine girl when you make and rock this super stylish hat and glove set! Featuring a charming eyelet and garter stitch stripe pattern, and the option of adorning yourself in a big flower or bow, you are sure to shine! The bow set is made with Patons Lace Sequin with 2 strands held together for extra sequin sparkle, with the addition of bling at the center of the bows! The flower set uses Lion Brand’s Amazing for a fabulously chic color changing effect. Fear not the flowers, they are actually knitted using dpns! Whether you want to go glam or bohemian chic, this pattern is sure to suite your unique style! Enjoy!

Special Vday Promotion!

I hope you enjoy the patterns as much as I loved making them! You can find all of these patterns on Ravelry, where they are $6-$7, or you can buy the entire collection for only $24 on Ravelry! For a limited time I will also be giving you “Trifecta” as a free bonus pattern when you purchase the “Follow Your Heart” Collection – simply add the pattern to your cart on Ravelry and it will be free at checkout.

“Trifecta” (Bonus Pattern!)

Staying warm in the Winter can be a challenge with all of the knitted accessories you need to keep track of. Between a hat, scarf, and 2 gloves, something is bound to get lost in the mix. As the knitter of said items, this causes quite the dilemma! In comes Trifecta, a fun and fashionable accessory with all 3 of your favorite wooly Winter wonders combined! Trifecta will warm up your head, neck, and hands all at once, with an added bonus of making you look extra cute and cozy in the process! Knit with two strands of yarn held together in a stylish moss stitch and cable pattern, Trifecta knits up into an extra chunky fabric that is guaranteed to keep you extra warm. Trifecta will be your new favorite one stop cold-weather accessory, there’s no way you’ll leave this hand-knit beauty behind!

Purchase the “Follow Your Heart” Collection by February 5th and I will personally send you a Valentine!

be my valentine fingerless gloves knitting pattern i heart you 5 Another fun thing I wanted to do was to send you a Girly Knits Valentine! Just email me your address to girlyknits@gmail.com after purchasing the collection, and you will receive a fun valentine from me in the mail! Yay!

Thanks for checking out the new collection! I hope you enjoy it! Happy Valentine’s Day!

♥Lauren

May 1
2012

Interview with Jess, Awesome Knitter of the Month!

by Lauren

I had so much fun with last month’s interview with Carrie, that going forward I am planning on doing an interview with an awesome knitter every month! This month’s interviewee is Jess, an incredibly talented and fashionable knitter, who I discovered when she purchased my “Meow” eyemask pattern! You can tell that she has a lot of fun with her knitting which I love; all of her projects are super playful with a sense of humor inserted into them! I hope you enjoy learning more about Jess and her love for knitting, and are inspired by her projects!

All of the images of Jess’s hand knit items below link to her project page on Ravelry, where you can find the pattern she used and knit it up too! Enjoy!

Jess lives in a studio apartment in Brooklyn with her cat and tons of yarn. When she isn’t knitting, she is practicing at and managing a yoga studio in Manhattan. She hopes to someday combine the two and be able to yoga and knit at the same time. You can follow her knitting adventures at http://kittenstrength.blogspot.com/

When did you learn to knit and who taught you?

I learned to knit from my best friend’s mom when I was 18. I think she knit our whole lives, but really started getting into it when we were in high school. I remember she loved to knit just for decoration, she had this huge wicker basket by the front door that she filled with mohair mittens, it was the cutest thing.

I really wanted to learn, even though I thought it looked so hard and my best friend refused to join me because she’s allergic to wool.

At first it was really hard to catch on, every time I made the smallest mistake I would have to wait until the next time I saw my friend’s mom to fix it for me. That’s so funny to look back on now because I mess up constantly and can pretty much get myself out of any knitting jam 🙂

After I learned, I put it down for a little while until I went to college. I picked it back up in college because it was a really relaxing/familiar thing to do…also, one of my roommates was Pam Allen’s daughter (the former editor in chief of Interweave) so it was also something I could bond over with my roommates. 🙂

Who is your favorite person to knit for?

I love knitting for all my friends and family, but i really REALLY love knitting for their kids and babies. The finished products are always so sweet and they are really fast projects 🙂

What are your 3 favorite knitting projects that you’ve made so far?

It was hard to pick just 3! I loved looking back at the things I made, and the story behind them…but I would say my favorites are a fish bathmat I made, thigh high legwarmers and a where the wild things are sweater & crown.

The bathmat and thigh highs were total labors of love, they took forever and were made with leftover yarn. 🙂

The sweater i really love because its one of the first things I made that I can really put into my everyday wardrobe. I’m always surprised when I can actually make a piece of clothing that I can wear in public! 🙂

What is your favorite yarn?

I don’t know if I could pick a specific brand, but the type of yarn I always gravitate towards is a nice rustic, wool, worsted weight yarn.

Featured right is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted Yarn.

What is your favorite stitch?

Stockinette! Classic. 🙂

What is your favorite knitting book?

Not sure these count as books, but every single Rowan magazine is my favorite. Everything is styled so beautifully!

If you could design the “perfect” sweater, what design elements would it have?

I think my perfect sweater would be something heavy (worsted or bulky) probably a cardigan that I can double as a coat that I could wear all the time. I don’t mind knitting in pieces (I kind of like seaming, I know crazy).

Probably something classic stockinette, nothing too fancy like cables…a good everyday sweater.

What environment do you like to knit it?

I love knitting everywhere and I do pretty much knit any chance I get. Living in New York City I take the subway a lot and that is probably where my knitting comes most in handy. It’s nice to have something to kind of block out the craziness of the city (and the other people on the train) 😉

Recently I started knitting while walking down the street, I’m not sure I’ll keep this up though because people really look at me funny.

What do your friends and family think about your knitting habit?

They have gotten used to the fact that I knit all the time, they have actually mentioned that it’s weird to see me without my knitting! Haha.

But I think they all love it, because they are always asking for handknit things 🙂

Looks like Jess’s cat loves her knitting habit too!

What do you feel is the most awesome part about knitting?

It’s hard to pick the most awesome part, there are so many things I love about knitting.

But I would have to say the thing I love most about knitting is that it is something I have more or less mastered on my own. It’s also one of the few things that I can say I feel really confident about and I know I am good at. I love that I can do it anywhere and everywhere (and have!) Making something beautiful from a few sticks and string will never cease to amaze me.

Check out even more of Jess’s fabulous hand knit projects here. Thanks Jess! -Lauren

Mar 25
2012

Interview with Carrie, an Awesome Knitter!

by Lauren

As a knitwear designer, I think a lot about the girl who will be knitting my patterns. In the beginning this girl was imaginary to me because I didn’t actually know anyone like her! I saw her as a hip knitter, who would seek out the coolest most fashionable patterns, and make them seamlessly work into her stylish wardrobe. Her knitted projects would be super fun and well thought out with yarn choices and details to make them her own awesome unique style. She would also be a happy girl with a big smile on her face because, of course, she found knitting and loves it so much!

So when I met Carrie through Ravelry, I instantly knew that that was her! She has an amazing collection of FO’s, which are too awesome to not be shown off as much as possible. I asked her if she would do an interview for my blog to share her love for knitting with the rest of you, and hopefully inspire you too!

All of the images of Carries hand knit items below link to her project page on Ravelry, where you can find the pattern she used and knit it up too! Enjoy!

“I’m an optimistically cheerful gal that is excited about life! I appreciate a kind person and try to laugh as often as possible. Knitting is my favorite hobby! I love being able to create things with my hands and get inspired by fellow knitters. Here’s to sunny days and happy knitting ya’ll!” -Carrie

When did you learn to knit and who taught you?

I learned to knit in 2005 and taught myself. I found resources online that helped walk me through the how-to’s and haven’t stopped since! My grandmother Carlson and Aunts Polly, Norma, Clara and Marilyn all knit and have won numerous awards at the New Mexico State Fair for their knitted ponchos and blankets. I feel lucky to be connected to such accomplished knitters and have inspiration from my family.

Who is your favorite person to knit for?

Myself! I love knitting things for my family and friends and often do. I just happen to really enjoy knitting for myself since it is easy to tailor projects to my shape like a sweater or shorties. I really like knitting monsters and stuffed animals for my niece and nephew. They are usually pretty amazed that I was able to create something so cute.

What are your 3 favorite knitting patterns that you’ve made so far?

1) Abyssal : Wonderful pattern to follow and the lace repeat is easy enough to remember. It is a versatile shawl depending on what needle size you use. I used a larger needle to get a looser, open more drapey finished project.

2) Ruffle Shorties : Love this pattern! Soft, comfy shorties to look cute in around the house. The possibility for color combinations is exciting!

3) Sophia : Newly knitted and loving it. It is a great piece with an easy lace pattern. I am really liking the color!

What is your favorite yarn?

My favorite yarn right now is the Rowan Purelife Revive (photo credit: http://yarnsbydesignpa.com) The colors are so interesting and it comes from recycled fibers which is pretty awesome! It is versatile because of the fiber content and has a really nice drape. I also like to go to thrift stores on the weekends and hunt for sweaters to rip apart and re-purpose into new knitting projects. I have been known to let out a scream when I find that perfect sweater to reuse.

What is your favorite stitch?

My favorite stitch is good old stockinette stitch. Sorry nothing fancy here. I love the simplicity of a stockinette stitch sweater and yet, the versatility of having this as a foundation stitch for your knitting. Once you get this stitch down, you can make just about anything.

What is your favorite knitting book?

I really love Rebecca Danger’s book “The Big Book of Knitted Monsters“. If you ever need to smile, just pick it up and start flipping the pages. Not only are the projects a blast to knit and easy to follow but the stories for each monster are just precious.

If you could design the “perfect” sweater, what design elements would it have?

Oh such a good question! My perfect sweater would be easy, chic and comfortable. I love soft loose sweaters that you just want to live in but also love the look of a nicely tailored one. It would be a balance of both, clean, tailored lines with a bit of soft looseness for comfort.

Here are some of Carrie’s other awesome hand knit sweaters!:

What environment do you like to knit it?

I like to knit while watching TV but I pretty much knit anytime I can! There is not a day that goes by that I don’t touch a knitting needle at some point. Knitting while you watch TV is a great way to stay productive and catch up with your favorite shows.

In case you are wondering who that cute little owl is, you can get the pattern for him for free here! He’s in my queue too 🙂

What do your friends/family think about your knitting habit?

My family and friends are very supportive of my knitting habit. I think they love it since they are often the recipients of my little knitted gifts. Who could complain about that?!

How could you not encourage someone who makes adorable hats like this? LOVE it!

What do you feel is the most awesome part about knitting?

The most awesome thing about knitting is how you can touch someones heart by giving them a gift you made. A sweet pair of socks, a great hat, a warm little scarf, all made by you, and given to someone with love.

Check out even more of Carrie’s fabulous hand knit projects here. Thanks Carrie! -Lauren