Go back to school in style…

One of my favorite books of kid’s patterns is [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] by Anna Enge & Heidi Grønvold. This book is full of adorable, colorful knits for little boys and girls. These patterns are mostly sized for babies and toddlers, with some projects suitable for older kids, too.

If you like timeless classics, we have a handful of tried and true sweater patterns for kids. The Child's Sheep and Reindeer Sweaters - Yankee Knitter - Pattern download is a downloadable pattern that can be knit up in any of your favorite worsted weight yarns. I personally would recommend Cascade 220 Superwash Wool Yarn, as it’s the right gauge and easy to wash.

The English Rib Pullover for children and adults - Yankee Knitter - Pattern download is another pattern download that has been around for a long time. Knit this out of [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] for a classic Maine sweater.

I can’t forget the Easy Bulky Sweater - Yankee Knitter. Knit this out of Lopi Alafoss Icelandic Wool Yarn for a sturdy, warm piece that can stand up to some serious outdoor activities. This pattern uses bulky weight yarn, so you’ve got a lot of choices!

For effortlessly colorful fun, you can make the Children's V-Neck Down Pullover by Knitting Pure and Simple out of Malabrigo Rios Superwash Merino Wool Yarn. This yarn creates a machine washable, beautifully variegated, and amazingly soft sweater.

For all you Plymouth Encore Worsted Yarn fans out there (myself included), there is the versatile Child's Pullover. Choose your favorite color from the many available, and you’re ready to rock!

Another favorite book of mine is Animal Hats - frog hats, elephant hats, cat hats, and more by Vanessa Mooncie. With patterns for grown-ups and kids alike, everyone will get a kick out of these clever designs. Mostly knit out of bulky yarns, Lamb's Pride Bulky Yarn would be a perfect choice for most of the pieces in this book. With such a broad range of colors available, you could take your pick of animals; knit a chicken, penguin, pig, fox, mouse, dog, koala… the list goes on. Alternately, you could opt for Jo Sharp Silkroad Ultra Yarn for a much softer hat, or use [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] for a machine washable version.

Just for fun, I’d also like to mention the book 50 Yards of Fun - Knitting Toys from Scrap Yarn, by Rebecca Danger. I’m always looking for ways to use up my yarn scraps; these fun little toys are a wonderful option for using up every last yard.

Headed for dorm living?

Why not knit yourself (or your favorite college bound kid) something pretty and cozy? Or plan for a project to take with you to relax on a study break! You can never have too many blankets, and the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] is a great way to use simple knit and purl stitches to create a piece that looks fancy enough to impress your friends. Originally knit out of the delightfully soft and squishy Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed Yarn, you can also make this out of Plymouth Encore Worsted Yarn.

I couldn’t imagine a better gift for someone of high school age or older than Stitch 'n Bitch. I was 17 when this book came out, and it changed my entire outlook on knitting. I think I’ve made every project in here, and I very nearly have the entire book memorized. This wonderful resource includes loads of information for beginning knitters, with projects to take you every step of the way.

Our Carpet Clutch - Halcyon Classic Rug Wool is a fun way to play with pops of color – the smaller size uses just two skeins each of two different colors of Halcyon Yarn Rug Wool.

For chilly nights spent studying, adult feet of all sizes can get cozy with this [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] . This project uses Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair Yarn for soft, fuzzy warmth.

Speaking of soft fuzzy warmth, our Gimme Shelter - Hooded Scarf with Pockets is a super easy project that can be knit out of pretty much any bulky weight yarn.  The version shown was knit out of Victorian Boucle Mohair Yarn, but I’ve also seen this made out of Malabrigo Mecha Yarn, which was very cool. This piece is easy to make, and we even made a video to show you how to put it together!

While we’re on the subject of gift-giving, you have to check out these notion bags that can easily double as pencil cases (below).  These bags are lined, with a full length zipper at the top to keep things where they’re supposed to be.

In other crafts, we have some projects that would be great for decorating a dorm room.  Our Triple Play woven wall hanging kit (below) comes in three colors, with detailed instructions on how to make it.

Our Felted Ball Mobile kits (below) are another fun way to do up a room.  These kits include detailed instructions and everything you need to make your own colorful mobile!

The Sugar Skulls Needle Felting Kit is another fun, colorful, and quick to make wall hanging. This needle felting kit includes everything you need, even the needles, and will look great when Día de Muertos arrives in a few months!