Indie Design GAL 2017: Top 10 knits for your neck

One of the key features of the Indie Design GAL* is the knit and crochet along, which is broken up into 8 categories (head, hands, feet, baby, garments, shawls, neck and other).

Over the course of this week, I have been sharing my favourite patterns in each of the categories. So far I've covered hat patterns, knits for hands, socks, knits for babies and shawls. Today, as the sale portion of the GAL is coming to an end, I'm going to have a bumper crop of recommendations: the first was about garments, and this one, the second, will be about knits for your neck.

When I was browsing the GAL patterns, I wasn't conscious that I was looking for anything in particular, but my favourites list did seem to feature an awful lot of cowls! I'm really hoping that I have time to knit one during the GAL, but for now, here are my highlights.

1. Two dropped stitches by Marion Bulin
This is just stunning! I love the idea of knitting knitting.

Image copyright Marion Bulin

2. Celidh infinity scarf by Kelly G.
A beautiful design, perfectly executed.

Image copyright Kelly G.

3. Rain on Notre Dame by Sarah Schira
The styling of this cowl is perfect with the bright rainbow umbrella contrasting against the grey of the yarn.

Image copyright Sarah Schira

4. Charadriiformes by Sara Huntingdon Burch
I love everything about this: the motifs, the colours. Definitely one I want to knit.

Image copyright Sara Burch

5. Pravigan by Robynn Weldon
One for the brave: brioche in lace weight mohair. This was Robynn's first ever brioche project and includes a step-by-step guide for beginners.

Image copyright Robynn Weldon

6. Elephant cowl by Jenise Hope
Simply beautiful.

Image copyright Jenise Hope

7. Defrost by Sara Gresbach
I love the simplicity of this design.

Image copyright Sara Gresbach

8. Spotted cowl by Nicole Montgomery
This cowl is so much fun. It would be a great use of a yarn advent calendar too.

Image copyright Nicole Montgomery

9. Ascleit cowl by Emily K. Williams
This design is perfect for toning down a bright variegated yarn.

Image copyright Emily K. Williams

10. Color infusion by Meredith Shepherd
Everything Meredith Shepherd designs is beautiful, and this is no exception.

Image copyright Emily K. Williams

All the patterns featured in the post are included in the Indie GAL sale: use the code giftalong2017 to get 25% off. Code expires 11.59pm EST Tuesday 28th November 2017.** That's tonight! If you've missed the sale portion, have no fear, the knit and crochet-along portion of the KAL is continuing until the end of the year,* so you have plenty of time to join in (and remember that you can use any paid-for pattern by a participating designer - you could always have a look in your Ravelry library to see if you already own any patterns by a participating designer).

I've put together a bundle of my favourite GAL sale patterns. If you'd like to take a look, you can find it here.

Are you joining in the GAL? What are you planning on knitting?


*Ravelry link. You need to be logged into Ravelry for the link to work.



**I'm also taking part in the GAL as a designer. Why not take a look at my designs too?

Indie Design GAL 2017: Top 10 garments

One of the key features of the Indie Design GAL* is the knit and crochet along, which is broken up into 8 categories (head, hands, feet, baby, garments, shawls, neck and other).

Over the course of this week, I have been sharing my favourite patterns in each of the categories. So far I've covered hat patterns, knits for hands, socks, knits for babies and shawls. Today, as the sale portion of the GAL is coming to an end, I'm going to have a bumper crop of recommendations: the first is about garments, and the second will be about knits for your neck.

 1. Clarke Pullover by Jane Richmond
Perfectly casual, I think this might just be the perfect jumper.

Image copyright Jane Richmond

2. Frosted by Lisa K. Ross
The colourwork on this jumper is absolutely beautiful.

Image copyright Lisa K. Ross

3. Tucker Sweater by Amanda Scheuzger
I can't even begin to work out how these cables are created. An excellent focal point for the jumper.

Image copyright Amanda Scheuzger

4. Greystone by Sarah Cooke
I am always on the look out for the perfect cardigan and this ticks a lot of boxes - and it has pockets!

Image copyright Sarah Cooke

5. Celista by Megan Nodecker
I adore this. Bold and graphic and unusual.

Image copyright pipandpin2017

6. Summer Festival by Georgie Nicolson
Another fantastic cardigan, especially in this bright yellow.

Image copyright tikki

7. Soulful Sweater by Anna Johanna
Such beautiful lace detailing on the yoke.

Image copyright Anna Johanna

8. Strawberry jam by Victoria Groger
One for the kids (sized 2-12), I think the cables on the front of this jumper would be great fun to knit.

Image copyright Victoria Groger

9. Anemone by Svetlana Volkova
The anemone pattern on the front of this sweater is very striking.

Image copyright tweedysheep

10. Snow is Falling by Melissa Kemmerer
Because I am a sucker for a winter-themed pattern, and this one comes in an excellent range of sizes (30-55 in chest).

Image copyright Melissa Kemmerer

All the patterns featured in the post are included in the Indie GAL sale: use the code giftalong2017 to get 25% off. Code expires 11.59pm EST Tuesday 28th November 2017. That's tonight! If you've missed the sale portion, have no fear, the knit and crochet-along portion of the KAL is continuing until the end of the year,* so you have plenty of time to join in (and remember that you can use any paid-for pattern by a participating designer - you could always have a look in your Ravelry library to see if you already own any patterns by a participating designer).

I've put together a bundle of my favourite GAL sale patterns. If you'd like to take a look, you can find it here.

Are you joining in the GAL? What are you planning on knitting?

*Ravelry link. You need to be logged into Ravelry for the link to work.

Indie Design GAL 2017: Top 10 shawls

One of the key features of the Indie Design GAL* is the knit and crochet along, which is broken up into 8 categories (head, hands, feet, baby, garments, shawls, neck and other).

Over the course of this week, I'm going to share my favourite patterns in each of the categories. So far I've covered hat patterns, knits for hands, socks and knits for babies. Today I'm highlighting some of my favourite shawl designs.

I really struggled to choose between all the shawls, there were so many beautiful ones. Here are 10 of my favourites, though you will notice a common theme of stripes!

1. Red Katana by Svetlana Volkova
I like this one so much I have cast one on for the KAL portion of the GAL.

Image copyright Svetlana Volkova

2. Mini Mazy by Rachel Henry
This shawl would be perfect for using up mini skeins.

Image copyright Rachel Henry

3. Sizzle Pop by Lesley Anne Robinson
Maybe it's finally time for me to have a go at brioche!

Image copyright Lesley Anne Robinson

4. Summer Walk by Susanne Sommer

Image copyright Susanne Sommer

5. Honey Trail by Bekah Knits

Image copyright Bekah Knits

6. Artemis Shawl by Madeleine Windsor
Another shawl that's perfect for using up leftovers from other projects.

Image copyright Madeleine Windsor

7. Making Advances by Jennifer Dassau

Image copyright Jennifer Dassau

8. Summa Stripes Shawl by Meiju K-P

Image copyright Meiju K-P/Tanu Kallio

9. Lambton Panes by Kate Bostwick

Image copyright Kate Bostwick

10. Shipshape Shawl and Shawlette by Danielle Chalson
I am fascinated by how this one is constructed.

Image copyright makewise

All the patterns featured in the post are included in the Indie GAL sale: use the code giftalong2017 to get 25% off. Code expires 11.59pm EST Tuesday 28th November 2017.

I've put together a bundle of my favourite GAL sale patterns. If you'd like to take a look, you can find it here.

Are you joining in the GAL? What are you planning on knitting?

*Ravelry link. You need to be logged into Ravelry for the link to work.

Indie Design GAL 2017: 5 knits for babies

One of the key features of the Indie Design GAL* is the knit and crochet along, which is broken up into 8 categories (head, hands, feet, baby, garments, shawls, neck and other).

Over the course of this week, I'm going to share my favourite patterns in each of the categories. So far I've covered hat patterns, knits for hands, and socks. Today it's knits for babies.

For the other categories I've covered so far, I have featured my ten favourites. Apparently when I was looking through the patterns for the sale I didn't pick out many baby patterns (my kids must be getting big!), so I've gone with my top five instead.


1. Sheepish Little Sweater by Melissa Kremmerer
Such a cute little jumper, and it comes in bigger sizes too, if matchy-matchy is your thing.

Image copyright Melissa Kremmerer

2. Midnight Owls by Claire Slade
I love colourwork, but only in small doses, so a stranded baby hat is perfect.

Image copyright Claire Slade

3. Unicorn Hoodie by Emily Ringleman
Because for a brief period, your baby won't object to being dressed as a unicorn!

Image copyright Emily Ringleman

4. Little Flurry Sweater by Melissa Kremmerer
Another gorgeous colourwork design that also comes in larger sizes.

Imae copyright Melissa Kremmerer

5. Snowflakes in the Air by Cynthia Spencer
Perfect for a first Christmas.

Image copyright Really Clear Designs

All the patterns featured in the post are included in the Indie GAL sale: use the code giftalong2017 to get 25% off. Code expires 11.59pm EST Tuesday 28th November 2017.

I've put together a bundle of my favourite GAL sale patterns. If you'd like to take a look, you can find it here.

Are you joining in the GAL? What are you planning on knitting?

*Ravelry link. You need to be logged into Ravelry for the link to work.

Indie Design GAL 2017: Top 10 socks

One of the key features of the Indie Design GAL* is the knit and crochet along, which is broken up into 8 categories (head, hands, feet, baby, garments, shawls, neck and other).

Over the course of this week, I'm going to share my favourite patterns in each of the categories. On Wednesday I shared my favourite hat patterns, yesterday I shared knits for hands, and today it's socks.

1. Vanilla is the New Black by Anneh Fletcher

Image copyright Anneh

2. Somewhere by Lisa K. Ross

Image copyright Lisa K. Ross

3. Time Stream Socks by Rachel Gibbs

Image copyright Rachel Gibbs

4. Tiptoe Through the Daisies by Arella Seaton

Image copyright Arella Seaton

5. Flurry Socks by Melissa Kemmerer

Image copyright Arella Seaton

6. Year of Plenty by Debbie Sullivan

Image copyright Sweet Paprika Designs

7. World's End by Lisa K. Ross

Image copyright Lisa K. Ross

8. Diagon Alley by Dana Gervais

Image copyright Dana Gervais

9. Scamper by Maggie Menzel

Image copyright hydra-star

10. Ffwd... Rwd by Fiona Hamilton-MacLaren

Image copyright F. Hamilton-MacLaren

All the patterns featured in the post are included in the Indie GAL sale: use the code giftalong2017 to get 25% off. Code expires 11.59pm EST Tuesday 28th November 2017.

I've put together a bundle of my favourite GAL sale patterns. If you'd like to take a look, you can find it here.

Are you joining in the GAL? What are you planning on knitting?

*Ravelry link. You need to be logged into Ravelry for the link to work.

Indie Design GAL 2017: Top 10 knits for hands

One of the key features of the Indie Design GAL* is the knit and crochet along, which is broken up into 8 categories (head, hands, feet, baby, garments, shawls, neck and other).

Over the course of this week, I'm going to share my favourite patterns in each of the categories. Yesterday I shared my favourite hat patterns, today it's knits for hands.

1. My Rainbow Heart by Stephanie Lotven

Image copyright Stephanie Lotven

2. Sun Dial by Becky Herrick

Image copyright BeckyinVT

3. Tolkowsky Mitts by Maddie Harvey

Image copyright Maddie Harvey

4. Mirri Mitts by Ambah O'Brien

Image copyright Ambah O'Brien

5. Farmhouse Mitts by Sarah Cooke

Image copyright Sarah Cooke

6. Songbird Mittens by Erica Heusser

Image copyright Erica Heusser

7. Twisty Passages by Helen Gipson

Image copyright Helen Gipson

8. Whither Mitts by Lori Law

Image copyright Oceanwind Knits

9. Punkrocker Mitts by The Restless Knitter

Image copyright Nichole Lubcke

10. Telephone Poles by Sarah Schira

Image copyright Sarah Schira

All the patterns featured in the post are included in the Indie GAL sale: use the code giftalong2017 to get 25% off. Code expires 11.59pm EST Tuesday 28th November 2017.

I've put together a bundle of my favourite GAL sale patterns. If you'd like to take a look, you can find it here.

Are you joining in the GAL? What are you planning on knitting?

*Ravelry link. You need to be logged into Ravelry for the link to work.