Friday, November 29, 2013

NKBN: The Sometimes Scarf

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.

Mia's "The Sometimes Scarf" pattern is a lesson in yarn selection.   From her Ravelry page "This scarf got its name because of its versatility. Depending on the yarn and hook used to construct the scarf it can take on an entirely different personality every time you make one."    I call this pattern AWESOME!!



Friday, November 15, 2013

NKBN: In the Deep Blue Sea: GIVEAWAY!

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.

Crystal's In the Deep Blue Sea hat pattern is great for the new and experienced colour work knitter alike, a quick stash buster and all around adorable!    What I like about it most is that is a perfect unisex pattern.   There are not too many hats that BOTH my son and daughter would happily wear exact replicas of, but this one hits the mark! (not an easy feat!!).   And now, with thanks to Crystal's generosity, you have a chance to win a copy of your own!  Just leave a comment with your email and/or rav ID by midnight EST on Tuesday, November 19th and I will announce the randomly selected winner on Wednesday.    Good luck everyone!

Congrats to 


Love the fishies! Knotanother1 on Ravelry

Crystal will be sending you the pattern via Ravelry!







Friday, November 1, 2013

NKBN: Cobo Alice

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.


For the most part, I see something I like and knit it up.  Lately I just pick up and knit - like this hat and fingerless mitts I whipped up last Friday night.    A haphazard design knit purely for the sake of aesthetics.  


(knit by me on the fly, no pattern, in Berroco Alpaca held double with some grey laceweight)

But sometimes a design has more of a story behind it.  Like Sara’s  Cobo Alice, which is enriched in history!  

From Sara's Ravelry page:

This is a knitted version of an island made ragdoll called Cobo Alice that was popular in Guernsey during the Victorian era. 
She was made by the Guille family who lived on the West coast of the island at Cobo, hence her name. The whole family including the children, were engaged in making these dolls, they became so popular. 
The original dolls had cloth bodies and clothing made from oddments of material in a variety of colours and a stockinette head. The doll was filled with sawdust and the head features painted on later, often rather crudely!
This knitted version is an attempt to capture as many of the doll’s original features as possible so that she will be instantly recognisable to the Islanders of Guernsey and beyond, but with a slight softening of her occasional startling features. 
She wears the traditional Guernsey women’s dress of the time, including the distinctive and elaborate sun bonnet (pronounced “bonnay”). 
The original dolls have mostly been lost, having been rotted away by the acidic sawdust filling. Cobo Alices occasionally come up for auction and command high prices.


I have been lucky enough to have been gifted a copy of this pattern by Sara and I was hoping to attach my version here on this post, but I am still waiting on my doll eye order to come in.     I can tell you it's a wonderfully written pattern and my daughter actually gasped out loud when she looked at all the pictures.  The details are absolutely precious.  I will be sure to show my finished product here soon!









Friday, October 25, 2013

NKBN: Aragog the Spider Fingerless Mitts

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.


I do love a good Halloween knit, but I suppose a goblin hat no matter how cute it is, has limited re-wearability.  Jenny's  Fingerless Mittens pattern of a spider is subtle enough that you can wear it out for trick or treating to add some festiveness and then easily used the rest of the fall for that punk chic look.


Friday, October 18, 2013

NKBN: Reflections Slouch Hat

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.

One day I will teach one of my lovely girlfriends how to knit.   I know they want to, I can just tell :-) And when I do I am going to make this their second project.   And we will all knit one in co-ordinating colours and choreograph a dance together.   Ok fine, maybe we'll just start with the knitting.

But seriously, J. Marie's FREE pattern offers with plenty of colour interest and a great opportunity to bump those basic skills up to the next level.





Friday, October 11, 2013

NKBN: Pebbles and Stones Hat

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.

I love the unconventional shape of Sandy's Pebbles and Stones hat.   It's a refreshing look among the swarms of beanies and toques.    The yarn selection is bang on as well.   And it's a FREE pattern!  Score!





Friday, October 4, 2013

NKBN: Flying Spaghetti Monster Beanie

A weekly feature on the blog, NOT Knit by Nat highlights great patterns by budding designers on Ravelry.

Last year you might remember I did a Halloween special (here, here, here, here and here) of great costume inspired creations on Ravelry.   I won't be doing a month long spotlight this year, but Rachael's hilarious beanie should be on your radar this year.    It would be the ultimate head gear to take your kiddies out into the streets!  Such a creative design Rachael!   Great job!