Inspiration
Pattern Party: Head, Hands, and Home
Hello knitting fans and friends,
Welcome to day two of Pattern Party: Head, Hands, and Home.
Here’s our schedule for the rest of the week.
Wednesday: Cardigans and Cowls.
Thursday: Socks, Scarves, and Shawls.
And on Friday we will blushingly share the 2020 MDK Field Guide patterns that knitters kindly nominated.
If you’re just tuning in, we showcased Pullovers yesterday!
Our Mission
The goal of Pattern Party is to support and sustain knitwear designers who are supporting and sustaining knitters. You can help make that happen by queuing, favoriting, sharing, and knitting these designs, and especially by purchasing your favorites if you are able. It’s a great way to show the love.
Patterns are presented in alphabetical order by designer’s name.
Note on links. Links are in red/orange type. The name of the pattern links to Ravelry.com. The name of the designer links to their website or Instagram account.
Ui Mittens by Ainur Berkimbayeva
These boldly graphic, yet cozy Art Deco-inspired mitts are named for the Kazakh word for “house” and “home.”
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop: Mohonk or Felted Tweed
Rustic Cottage Cloths by Esther Braithwaite
You know we love a good dishcloth, so we were very pleased to see this set pop up repeatedly on nomination forms. Accent colors border each classic texture pattern for just the right amount of knitterly engagement and portability.
Yarn Idea from the Shop: Rowan Handknit Cotton DK
Amor Proprio Hat by Carolina Castillo
You’ll love yourself in—and enjoy knitting up—this cheerfully graphic hat.
Yarn Ideas from the Shop: Caravan with Dyed in the Wool
Vold by Jean-Philippe Cliche
Gentle slopes of intarsia in 1 x 1 rib look like great fun to knit and gorgeously graphic to wear.
Yarn Idea from the Shop: Hektos
Chimney by Hunter Hammersen
With characteristic charm and superb attention to construction and detail, Hunter Hammersen served up a pattern to delight us during our year at home. Her Belfry and Foghorn designs complete the scene.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop: Felted Tweed
Safe at Home Blanket by Margaret Holzmann
Intarsia, striping, and modular knitting techniques go into the construction of this scrappy, cheerful blanket.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop: Felted Tweed
Into the Trees by Kalurah Hudson
Lacy trees grow from the German twisted cast-on in this beautiful topper.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop: Léttlopi, Hektos, Windham, Merino Aran, or Superwash Worsted
Unbearable Hat by Les Garçons
The whole Unbearable series of designs delighted MDK readers, and we especially loved this beanie sized from child to adult with optional ears and pom poms.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop: Hektos or Léttlopi
Frog and Toad by Kristina Ingrid McGowan
The OG BFFs. Completely captivating and heartwarming.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop: Felted Tweed
Hexistars by Natalia Moreva
This cleverly constructed design combines modular and stranded knitting for a cap to keep your head . . . in the stars.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop: Mohonk Light with Zauberball Crazy
Pianta Hat by Lavanya Patricella
Stalks of wheat against a garter background ornament this slightly slouchy beanie.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop: Rustic Fingering
Snowflower (Snöblomma) by JennyPenny
Snowflake meets blossom in this classic mitten with a pop of color at the cuffs.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop: Mohonk Light or Felted Tweed
Ribbed Basket by Cindy Pilon
A sturdy, cheerful catch-all or project bag that’s perfect for scraps in yarns that felt well.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop: Léttlopi
AKA Mitts by Beatrice Mase
A handful of techniques add up to a truly stunning pair of mitts.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop: Felted Tweed or Rustic Fingering
The Streetstyler Hat by Sascha Knits
Kind of the Platonic ideal of a beanie.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop: Mohonk or Nua Sport
Ava Hat by shinysuperhero
We love geometric botanicals, and shinysuperhero nails it with this bright and bold design.
Yarn Idea from the MDK Shop: Mohonk Light
Magnolia Little by Camilla Vad
A welcome new addition to the Magnolia lineup of designs.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop: Felted Tweed, Nua Sport, Mohonk, or Caravan
Dryocampa by Karie Westermann
A punch of color in classic cables and lace motifs by a designer whose designs always make us smile.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop: Felted Tweed, Nua Sport, Mohonk, or Caravan
Hermes by Woolly Wormhead
Stranding and stripes create a labyrinth motif across this visual stunner in the designer’s Imperceptions series.
Yarn Ideas from the MDK Shop: Felted Tweed, Nua Sport, Mohonk, or Caravan
OK. I didn’t want to like them, and I was just going to scroll by, but those are the cutest frogs I ever did see! With their cute little outfits, droll expressions, and upright postures, they are whimsy personified! I am so impressed that this was accomplished in the medium of knitting.
Thanks for this special little treat to start my day!
Unfortunately, they’re too pricey for me. The kit is $100, which does not include the $15 pattern. (I’m confused by the pricing of this kit – 2 skeins of DK yarn, $30 each, 4 skeins of Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift, retails for $6.95 each)
I am totally making them with scraps of Felted Tweed. Too cute.
Their feet totally got me
OMG… big Frog and Toad fan. These are just so adorable. Must knit!!
Yep. The feet tipped me right over the edge.
Same here!
As a former children’s librarian I have to provide a link to lead people to Arnold Lobel’s original Frog and Toad! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog_and_Toad
Umaro! How did I never see that?! And those AKA mitts! My Ravelry cart has been filled and emptied, and I haven’t even had breakfast yet….
How is Umaro on this list if the pattern was designed in 2010? It is great (I’ve knit it!) but it is not new.
Hi Amelia! Thanks for noticing this–the pub date totally slipped past us. We’re sorry it doesn’t meet our eligibility guidelines. It’s a gorgeous design, for sure.
I am so curious. Where is the umaro? I have not seen one lovely selection named Umaro. So many lovely knits — which one to choose?
I was just coming here to say that! It’s a beautiful pattern and already in my faves, but it’s over 10 years old.
I agree that Umaro is not a new pattern. It’s fabulous and I have knit it in a variety of sizes, but it’s far from new.
I love Umaro. I have been knitting it since it cam out. It has actually formed part of my Zoom background during the whole pandemic.
There are some really beautiful and unique hats and gloves on this list, and if I can get over my hatred of intarsia, I really really want to make the Safe at Home Blanket!
I made/modified a Safe at Home Blanket for my newest grandson — a labor of love! But I used only a few house repeats (so only a little intarsia) + some MDK Log Cabin goodness to make a pillow for my daughter & her gf for Christmas. I want to make similar pillows for my other two daughters, too. (I am knitorious on Ravelry if you want to take a look at mods.)
Knitorious! I miss your blog!
That is a fantastic idea, and I just checked out your blanket. It’s beautiful, and it looks so much more doable for me! I saved it in my faves. And I’m from Kenosha, so hi from WI! (GlitterQueen on rav)
I love the rustic dishcloths, but I noticed they are a free pattern. Weren’t these were supposed to be paid patterns only?
Yes, I liked them but awondered about that. I thought free patterns were not eligible.
These are lovely choices but I have to say I miss the interactive part that used to be part of your old March Mayhem. Voting on each round got me to engage with the content in a different way that was a lot of fun.
Ps, I’m super happy for Margaret Holzmann! My husband used to work with her in her previous career.
So many great patterns! I did buy Safe at Home when it first came out, fully intending to knit it while quarantined at home, but never got around to it. It really captures d’esprit de 2020, in a positive rather than negative way.
I did knit a TON of other things though, so I won’t beat myself up. There are just too many beautiful patterns out there. And thanks to MDK my queue keeps growing!
I LOVE the new format! It’s so much easier to see all the terrific designs. It eliminates the heartbreak of having to choose between some really stellar patterns. Thank you for continuing to bring us the best from the knitting world!
Completely agree! So much simpler to scroll through – slowly , while deeply regretting that there are only so many knitting hours in a day…
I have a question about the sweater The Jay. Has anyone made it and if so any words of wisdom for someone who is about to attempt color work?
Frog and Toad! I cannot believe the cuteness!