I designed these for my preschooler to wear on the playground. It seemed like all the mittens in stores were either thin acrylic that wouldn’t hold up to snow or so bulky it would be hard for a child to use their hands, so I wanted a flexible, machine-washable wool version that was somewhere in between. You can sew or safety-pin them to the chi...

These cute striped legwarmers are easy to knit and great for layering over leggings. They’re knit in the round in a broken rib pattern that up close resembles dancing flames; the pattern gives them a nice texture and adds to their elasticity, so they fit a range of sizes. I’ve designed these to fit ankle-to-knee, but you can easily add extra pa...

I designed this amigurumi cat as a fun way to use up some leftover yarn. It was inspired by my cat Teddy - “little round cat” being one of his many nicknames. All pieces are crocheted in the round except for the ears, and it’s stuffed firmly so that it sits up on its own. This kitty works up quickly and makes a nice gift for a cat lover.

This cropped raglan cardigan is a great piece for spring and fall, when it’s a little too cool for a tank top but not cold enough for a full sweater. The cotton-blend yarn is soft and lightweight and makes for a comfortable oversized cardigan that looks good worn open or closed. The sleeves are meant to be elbow-length and the body is meant to ...

This is a slightly smaller, crocheted version of my knitted blanket toy. A blanket toy like this one is quick to make and makes a great gift for a new baby. For this one, the blanket part is crocheted in the round, then the head and paws are crocheted on, stuffed and sewn closed. I chose a soft, medium-weight organic cotton yarn that’s perfect ...

In the summer, I’m always looking for light jackets or “cover-ups” to wear over a tank top - which is why I designed this lightweight cotton piece. The airy, web-like lace is one of my favorite crochet patterns, and I love the way it looks in self-striping yarn. I made this one to hang about knee-length, but you can adjust the pattern to whatev...

This is a crochet version of my bestselling knitting pattern. It’s made for a head size of about 20”-24”, which fits most adult men. Crocheted with wool in a neutral color, this pattern makes a perfect warm, no-frills winter hat. It’s also pretty easy and quick to make, with top-down construction and minimal shaping.

Knitting toys is a lot of fun. When someone I know has a baby, I’ll often make them a toy rather than baby clothes, since the child will enjoy it more. I designed this classic teddy bear to be seamless, so the only sewing you have to do is to attach the ears; the arms, legs and tail are knitted directly onto the body. The bear has a garter-stit...

I designed this cloche-style hat to display a pair of pretty buttons - in my case, I chose tagua nut buttons dyed in my favorite color (orange!). I used a soft Peruvian wool in two bright colors to complement the buttons, but this hat would look equally nice in a soft cotton or cotton blend for more year-round wear. The band is knit in garter s...

Cats have a real affinity for blankets. As soon as I laid this finished piece on the floor for a photo, our cat, Teddy, immediately wandered over and claimed it! Cat blankets make great gifts for cats and cat owners alike. Place one in your cat’s bed or on his or her favorite napping spot (the end of your bed, the arm of the sofa, etc.) for ext...

This cozy and pretty cape was inspired by two of my favorite textile traditions - Fair Isle knitting and Mayan weaving. After a trip to Guatemala, I was eager to bring more colorwork into my designs; I loved the bright, bold colors and patterns that adorned every marketplace. I based the diamond and stripe patterns on those found in traditional...

A blanket toy like this one is quick and easy to knit, and it makes a great gift for a new baby. This one is knit flat and entirely in garter stitch, with some basic shaping and sewing. I chose a soft, medium-weight organic cotton yarn that’s perfect for baby things. (Though the label says hand wash, I’ve found it does fine in the washer and dr...

Nothing says geek chic like a handknit tie! I was inspired to design this one by patterns I found in a vintage knitting book. This narrow wool-blend tie is knit in a linen stitch, which makes a handsome reversible fabric - it has a flat, woven-looking front and a textured back that resembles seed stitch. I designed this tie with pointed ends an...

This cotton-blend pullover is perfect for spring and fall layering. It’s comfy and oversized, with wide 3/4 sleeves, rolled edges, and a boat neck. A fairly easy project, this sweater is knit from four large rectangles and seamed. The allover lace pattern adds a nice texture and drape. It looks good over a tank top or long-sleeved shirt, and it...

Cats are meant to be spoiled, which is why I love making things for them. A soft, comfortable cotton blanket is a great present for both cat and cat owner. You can place it in your cat’s bed or on his or her favorite napping spot - it’ll also help keep cat hair off the furniture!

Timeless, comfortable, and functional, the pullover vest has been a men’s wardrobe staple for decades. When I designed this handmade version, I looked to men’s knits from the 1930s and ’40s for inspiration. I paired a simple shape with a textured stitch and mottled color to create a piece that’s classic in looks and works great in both casual a...

This pattern makes a cute toy kitty appropriate for babies and small children. The acrylic/wool blend yarn and polyester fiberfill are machine-washable, and I designed the toy to be worked in the round so that there are virtually no seams that could rip or come undone. The legs and body are worked in one piece, leaving holes so you can easily p...

This pattern makes a cute bunny toy appropriate for babies and small children. The acrylic/wool blend yarn and polyester fiberfill are machine-washable, and I designed the toy to be worked in the round so that there are virtually no seams that could rip or come undone. You crochet the limbs separately, stuffing and joining them as you go, to fo...

This is a warm and classic winter hat that works well for both men and women. The alternating ribs and small cables give the fabric an elastic quality, enabling the hat to fit a range of head sizes, and the long ribbed hem allows for a fold-up brim to keep the ears warm. The Peruvian wool I used to make this hat comes in a wide range of beautif...

Since I started designing and knitting for men, I’ve developed a love for the timeless simplicity and functionality of classic men’s clothing, especially early to mid-20th century men’s knitwear. So when I decided to knit a cabled sweater for myself, that’s where I went for inspiration. I added the Saxon braid cable, reminiscent of Celtic knot ...

Baby socks are quick, fun to knit, and make excellent gifts for new parents. These are pretty simple, knit toe-up with an hourglass heel on three double-pointed needles. For seamless toes, use the Turkish cast-on method or, if you prefer to work with a long circular needle rather than dpns (as I do), the magic loop cast-on. I designed these usi...

This lovely jacket is great for fall and winter layering. It features a close-fitting drop-shoulder design, an elongated stitch lace pattern, and simple A-line shaping with a button closure. It’s knit in flat pieces, with the garter stitch borders picked up and added before seaming.

Trigger mittens, or trigger finger mittens, have been used by the American military since at least the Civil War. A clever combination of the warmth of mittens with the flexibility of gloves, these mittens have a separate index finger to allow soldiers to easily operate machinery in cold temperatures. However, they’re great all-purpose mittens ...

With the Cleveland winter fast approaching, I wanted a new pattern that was quick, colorful and snow-friendly, so I modified my popular fingerless glove pattern to create these women’s mittens. I kept the design simple, letting the self-striping yarn do all the work. This yarn comes in over a dozen beautiful colorways ranging from brilliant to ...

This is a simple, fun sweater for cooler months. The shaping is minimal, with a shawl collar and raglan sleeves. The self-striping yarn from Ella Rae Amity Prints does all the colorwork for you, and since it comes in so many beautiful colorways, you might find, like me, that you can’t resist knitting more than one! I started out knitting a size...

Made from a light cotton yarn and perfect for warmer climates, this drop-shoulder jacket uses simple geometric shapes; the only shaping required is on the diagonal neckline on the front panels. The front and back pieces are worked separately, then joined at the shoulders. Sleeve stitches are picked up from the front and back edge of the body an...

For this baby cardigan, I used several of my favorite sweater design elements - bottom-up seamless construction, raglan shoulder shaping, and garter stitch borders. The body of the cardigan is worked back and forth on one circular needle and the sleeves are worked in the round, then the pieces are joined and worked together. The only “seams” ar...

I made this beautiful vest out of Darn Good Yarn’s Original recycled sari silk yarn. Made of leftover threads from sari mills, this yarn is a mix of lustrous, vibrant colors. I kept the design of the vest simple to allow the yarn’s sheen and texture to show. It’s knit entirely in garter stitch, so no purling!

I designed this to be a comfy basic cardigan with a loose fit, bloused sleeves, and raglan shoulders. The body and sleeves are stockinette stitch, and the edges are worked in knit one, purl one rib. It’s worked in the Elizabeth Zimmermann style – from the bottom up and almost completely seamless (the only “seams” are the underarm stitches, whic...

This is an easy pattern for a warm and pretty winter hat. The bulky weight yarn makes it a quick knit, and the variegated colorways play out in beautiful patterns. No two hats are exactly the same!

This cap went through several manifestations before it evolved into its current form; my goal was to create something I would want and need during my first winter in Cleveland, hence the name. It’s knit mostly in garter stitch using a bulky wool yarn, so it’s both very warm and quick to work up. Instead of a traditional knit-and-purl ribbing, t...

This lovely capelet is knit in a super-soft bamboo blend yarn. It’s knit mostly in stockinette stitch, with narrow garter stitch borders at the collar and hem and a variation of seed stitch on the front panels. It would be perfect to wear with a sleeveless top or dress; the yarn drapes beautifully, and the three even sets of decreases give the ...