Pattern Scout
Small Projects, Big Feels
Hi. My name is Ashley and I live in Rut City: Population of 1.
Maybe the problem is that it’s summertime in Tennessee. I’ve started a handful of projects and finished none of them. Socks, wraps, cowls … a certain TEE. I get excited and then I lose interest with a violent and abrupt snap. What does a knitter do?
I’ve decided that finding a small and swift project might break my cycle of sadness. If I can see the light at the end of the tunnel from the beginning, surely I will push through and let that feeling of accomplishment wash all over me once again.
So let’s scout some small stuff!
Ritual Kerchief by Caitlin Hunter
I love this kerchief project—it’s chic and straightforward without losing visual interest. I always need some sort of detail to keep my brain busy, and these bobbles are the perfect interruption in this quick knit. The best part is it only uses one skein of yarn—you’re done before you know it! That’s the confidence boost I need.
Jules by Jen Geigley
Next up is Jules by Jen Geigley, a refreshing take on a scarf, complete with a keyhole to thread one end through. This detail combined with the eye-catching color combination of your choice is such a simple way to give your outfit a pop. Jen has a great eye for small details that speak volumes. Her designs are always modern and never boring.
Jules sounds like the perfect way to spend a weekend, with Unsolved Mysteries on repeat and matcha on endless refills.
Timbo Vest by Gabriella Calderini
My next pick is a garment, but never fear (she says to herself), the Timbo Vest was created to be a quickie. Between the call for bulky yarn and a beginner-friendly broken rib pattern, this is the perfect project for some almost-instant gratification that you can show off to your friends—or your dogs on the couch. The color blocking and shoulder detail are added bonuses and really make this vest feel exceptional in its expeditiousness.
Fat Fur Hat by Spektakelstrik (Mie Firring)
If you haven’t picked up on it yet, I have a thing for textured knits. I saw this beautiful hunk of chunk with its combed mohair and couldn’t move on without pledging my undying affection for it. The hat is described as a knitted tube with decreases at both ends. I don’t know what sounds more promising than knitting a tube and calling it a day. The ease of this project is ideal, but you’ll get something that looks like a million bucks in the end.
Sunday Socks by PetiteKnit
My final swiftie is Sunday Socks by PetiteKnit. I actually have already made a single sock from this pattern. I mismeasured or misunderstood at some point in transitioning from the sole to the toe and I ended up with a sock that looked a bit like its own muppet.
This admittedly derailed me and I have yet to go back to knit another, sans muppet vibe. My own mistake notwithstanding, I was impressed with how easily the sock knitted up using a worsted yarn (I used Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Worsted in Hampden). It took away the scary feeling of teeny tiny needles and teeny tiny yarns. I know when (not if!) I revisit the project, the heftier yarn will give me the sock courage I need.
Comment below and let me know your favorite confidence boosting projects!
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in between major projects or when travelling or attending appointments i knit hats for premature and new born babies. small and quick to knit and over a few months can accumulate to a decent donation to the Neonatal ICU/Maternity hospital of your choice.
this can be both mindless (very few brain cells needed as i tend to knit plain stocking stitch (stockinette) beanie style hats on dpns in good quality baby DK acrylic (Sirdar Snuggly in UK but i’m sure there is a good US equivalent) ) and mindful (it’s for someone else in need) .
p.s. i’m sure there was recent (ish) post by one of our two glorious leaders about how to get into the mindset to finish works in progress – it’s really hard to get one’s head in the right place to do so but really reaps rewards when one can. good luck!
As both a knitter and a NICU nurse, I can attest to the need and importance of hand knitted hats for our little patients. I would like to share two quick requests to the generous knitters who make these hats. First – soft acrylic yarn with lots of stretch is best. We can’t use Cotton, wool, and any yarn that is scratchy, hairy or bumpy/nubby on sensitive skin. Also, make the hats bigger than you think – newborn size is perfect! We often get hats so small we can’t use them (the very tiniest premature babes can’t wear anything but diapers). Many of our babies are at, or close to, full term and need larger hats. Plus, they will want to keep wearing them after they go home! It’s my belief that a little bit of healing love goes into each stitch – so thanks for all you do to help send our little “NICU nuggets” home to their loved ones❤️
I have some unfinished WIPs too. I mostly knit socks and toys for my friends and their children. Other things get put aside in the autumn for Christmas and in the summer for birthday presents. I’ll finish the shortie socks that I promised and a whale shark – very late birthday present. Then I might get the second sleeve and button bands of a cardigan done for me before Christmas looms!!
Quicker projects are nice but it would be even nicer if the quick project was something you could wear in the summer.
I’m just starting Tanis Lavallee’s Ostara tank at 22 sts per 4 inches using a linen/silk blend: a summer knit. Looks pretty quick, edgings are knitted as you go and body is in a broken rib (texture). It might be something that you would like?
So many good ideas here. The closely-related color blocking of the vest – such subtlety and sophistication – I have two such balls waiting for a scarf (maybe the keyhole one); the Ritual Kerchief which I would love to wear but will never knit; or that hat (actually any hat, ribbing preferred); and I didn’t know it but I am sitting on a pile of orangey Sirdar Snuggly meant for a baby vest but enough to set aside for a Halloween season pair of hospital-destined preemie caps.
Thank you for these ideas–I especially love the Timbo vest! My go-to project for a quick pick-me-up is the Sophie Scarf . . . I’ve made several and they never disappoint! In fact, I’m making one now 🙂
I am 83 and small projects are my favorites now and include items for Christmas at Sea for mariners out of Newark, NJ who will not be home for Christmas. Also took on Knitted Knockers years ago and enjoy their ease and send them to the center in Washington state where volunteers fill them and send them to anyone who asks for free. I generally include some $$ for their postage as those receiving them do not have to pay. Kids hats for our local hospital at Christmas is a great way to make a huge donation.
Ashley, you refer to DK weight yarn for the Sunday Socks, but the pattern calls for worsted. Were there any issues with gauge or needle size or was it just a choice to use DK? Did you change the needle size or any other detail? Thank you.
Oh no! That is my mistake. I did use the worsted weight of NFC’s Hampden. I will edit the post to be correct. Thanks for asking!
I designed a quick knit this spring, for all the same reasons. Winter blah, too many sweaters on my needles, and just overall disinterest had me in limbo. “Dress Circle,” a tiny fluff of neck decoration, completed over a weekend, cured me, and shook me into action again! Might I suggest you give it a try?
You naturally make your audience chuckle in recognition and enjoy your enthusiasm! It has to be the heat and politics that create the doldrums this summer! Thanks for these wonderful small project ideas! The vest is super cool! So glad Geigley is still designing. She has a great design aesthetic!
Keep writing and entertaining the troops with your sense of humor! We need it!
I beat the heat by making cotton dishcloths. Great gifts and an infinite number of pattern possibilities. The best thing is that I can finish quickly!
My motivation for finishing projects is the inordinate amount of time it takes me to go back to the pattern, try to figure out where I was, look up AGAIN how to do the one unique stitch, and analyze my notes about measurement and stitch count changes. All of those push me to suck it up and finish (most of the time 🙂
My craft room is happier and so I am not having to look at those unfinished projects to see which I have the energy to tackle next (before getting tempted those other beautiful yarns I’ve collected staring down on me from their homes on the shelves.)
Rut city population is growing…so many of us in there!
I hit send too soon! I make mittens from leftover bits of yarn to donate to local programs. Unlike a hat, you have to make two, but I do two at a time on two sets of needles. A cuff, then the second cuff, etc. That way the stripes sort of match!
I’m happiest with just one main project in the works, plus socks in my purse for waiting rooms, etc. But right now, I’m working on a dress that requires 4,500 yds of sock weight yarn. What am I, crazy? I should be doing Christmas knitting, or a sweater for Rhinebeck. However, I think my trip to Rhinebeck has been canceled. I may just soldier on.
During the hot and humidity Illinois summers I knit hats, mittens, and scarves for a woman and children in crisis center. All are short and quick projects, and easy to take when traveling. I use differing patterns to keep my brain working and use colors (bright, neon) I would never think to knit. Am getting in the mood to begin a larger item, but not until September.
Great post! It touched all the bases from great patterns to giggles to nods of understanding. Knit on—and thanks!
STimbo Vest about launch via RAVELRY ‘cuz what you said . . . and it’s FREE!!
Timbo Vest
I have made a muppet mouth out of a sock myself. It was early in my sock-knitting career, and I somehow lost track of which double-pointed needle (dpn) was which. You know, when the pattern says something like “decrease on needles 1 and 3”.
Hi Ashley! Great ideas! I actually made the Timbo Best and love it! Quick and easy! I have been having a bit of malaise with my knitting too. 1 sock, half made top and oh I have a TEE story too – I threw mine out because I couldn’t frog it. Thanks for ideas! Keep them coming!
After steadfastly resisting the Emotional Support Chicken, I responded to a plea on Facebook and made three Emotional Support Chickies.
Definitely the instant gratification I needed while grappling with an intarsia shawl that I am secretly test knitting (intriguing, huh? )
I already wrote but just reading all the comments has somehow – considering None applies to my situation – has given me the oomph I need to cope with the SECOND mistake-ridden ribbed hat iteration of a pattern that I Really Love but can’t seem to get off the ground. 2×2 rib – how hard can it be?? Like slogging through a Louisiana swamp apparently, for me, but every knitters’ two cents has provided me with the gusto to carry on. Three cheers for the Comments section!