I Knit and Crochet

I love to knit and crochet!

• Knit and crochet sweaters, scarfs, bags, mittens and hats including photos as well as sweater clasps, buttons and yarns - especially alpaca.
• Find free crochet patterns and free knitting patterns.
• Check out the upcoming wool and fiber events in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Knit In A Day Baby Booties & Hat

This pattern is from the "Knit In A Day for Baby" book "blue booties" pattern. The hat pattern has ears.

I used Red Heart Gumdrop yarn in Smoothie color.

You can knit these booties and the hat in a few hours. I added a crochet chain and wove it through the booties so you can tie them. You know babies can't keep anything on their little feet.

Baby Raglan Sweater button front

Free baby sweater pattern. Pattern features three stockinette rows with one purl row to give a striped effect. You can knit it entirely in stockinette stitch. I used Red Heart Gumdrop yarn in Smoothie color.

I used little white buttons with pink teddy bears.

Faux Patchwork Baby Blanket

Pattern features panels of stockinette, garter and seed stitches in a grid. The pattern is easy to follow. I used a 6x9 grid of knitted squares.

This pattern is in the Go Crafty! Knit Baby book. I used Red Heart Gumdrop yarn in Smoothie color.

Here's a closeup of the patchwork pattern of stockinette, garter and seed stitches.

Knitted Bolero Sweater with Bobbles (free pattern)

Free bolero knitting pattern from Lion Brand.

I knitted alternating bobbles to add texture.
A picot cast off is used around all of the edges.

The yarn is Rowan softknit cotton, color 570 cream.
This yarn is very soft and nice to work with.

Knitted Womens Pullover Mock Cable V-Neck Sweater

The knitting pattern is entitled "Flashy Lace Pullover - Mock Cable". The mock cable knitting pattern is a twelve-row pattern. The stitches shift in one direction over the first six rows, then shifted in the other direction over the next six rows. This creates a cable-like pattern that alternates. The yarn I used had a lot of texture so it's harder to see the pattern. Smoother yarn would show more of the cable pattern definition.

Here is a closeup of the mock cable knit pattern.

I made the sweater longer in the body than the pattern with slits in the side show below.

Knitted Spring Ribbed Womens Cardigan Sweater

I used grey alpaca yarn from Acapella Alpaca Farm in Hollis, NH. The top-down knitting pattern with raglan sleeve shoulders is entitled "Knitted Spring Ribbed Cardigan" by Hannah Fettig (Knitbot). You could easily modify the pattern to shorten the sleeves and/or make it a bolero style sweater.

Closeup of the knit 6, purl 3 knit pattern.

View from the back shows the stockinette stitch with the 6x3 pattern on the outside edges of the back.

Closer view of the back of the sweater.

Quick Crochet Shrug/Cowl

Pattern: Lion Brand free pattern "Snap It Shrug Cowl". I chose to crochet this in one continuous circle vs. the snapped seam in the pattern. 208 hdc chains is too big for me. I'm a size 8 and have broad shoulders, but 208 hdc is too big for me.  I will reduce it to 166 chains when I make the next one.

Yarn: Lion Brand "Strawberry Fields" is 53% wool and 47% acrylic. It's very soft with a beautiful blend of Fall colors. Four skeins. 50g / 147 yards each.

This can be worn as a shrug or a cowl.

Knitted Short Sleeve Shirt (top-down pattern)

Pattern: "Miley Tee" top-down knit pattern can be purchased at C2Knits.com. I modified the pattern not to increase as you knit your way down. I think it's more flattering to work straight down. Compare the photo here vs. the photo of the knitted short sleeve shirt on the C2Knits website.

Yarn: I used six skeins of  Schachenmayr Aventisto Cotton "Topary Mix", 50g, 93 yards each (560 yards total).

I love top-down patterns! When you're finished knitting, you're finished with the project. No seams to sew.

Knitting and Crochet Supplies Shop in Nashua, NH

If you knit or crochet and have lived in Nashua for any length of time, you probably know Covered Bridge Creations. Years ago, the store was in a different location on Amherst Street in Nashua, not far from where it is located today. The old store was at least four times the size it is today and filled with all kinds of wool, yarn and knitting and crochet supplies. The store is much smaller now with limited hours (not open on Sunday or Monday). Since the store is smaller, the yarn and wool selection is limited to very high quality fibers that you won't find in Michael's or A.C. Moore. I buy Alpaca yarn online from farms I know from the Wool and Fiber Show. If I need any other fine wool, fibers or yarn, I visit Covered Bridge Creations. Sometimes, it's just nice to touch the yarn before you buy it.

Vertical Rib V-Neck Womens Crochet Sweater #2

I modified the original crochet sweater pattern to accommodate the thinness of the alpaca yarn by alternating rows of single crochet and double crochet. The original pattern is rows of single crochet.

The sleeves and the body length of this pattern are too short for me. This time, I knitted the sleeve bands and the bottom body band with a knit 1 purl 1 pattern for the ribbed look.

This pattern is easy to follow and you can finish it quickly.

Pattern:  Fernanda Laukaitis "Vertical Rib Sweater"
Yarn: Alpaca Tweed, Chocolate Twist by "A Touch of Twist" in Pattersonville, NY
Approximately 1300 yards used for size Medium.

V-Neck close up