Nancy Hand

Patterns available as Ravelry Downloads

Knitting: Scarf
The figures on this scarf are the Aztec twins Xochiquetzal (goddess of flowers, weavers, and embroiderers) and Xochipilli (god of dance, games, and music). These images are adapted from those in the Codex Fejérváry-Mayer.
Knitting: Cowl
The flower in this design is adapted from one on an old Japanese kimono.
Knitting: Scarf
This design couldn’t make up it’s mind as to what it wanted to be. It started as a doodle, became a quilt block, and is now a knit pattern. Then it was going to be a blanket but became a scarf instead.
Knitting: Cowl
There’s a hill just to the west of where I live. I enjoy watching the colors change as the sun sets behind it. Sometimes I stare too long and see after-images of the sun in strange places.
Knitting: Cowl
This is one of my madder ideas - a very long cowl, knit in the round, in double-knit. The pattern calls for two skeins (800 yards each) of lace-weight yarn in different colors, a 40” (100cm) 2.75mm (US 2) circular needle, and 64 stitch markers. The gauge is only a suggestion.
Knitting: Scarf
This scarf has an all-over zig-zag pattern worked in doubleknit. It can be a challenge. It’s difficult to tell “front” from “back” while you’re working it. Something to help identify the start of odd number rows can be helpful.
Knitting: Scarf
The designs on this scarf are adapted from gold objects made by the ancient Scythians. The designs include a lion, griffin, and triple horse head.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
This is a close-fitting cap with a star-like design.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
This is a close-fitting cap. The size will vary depending on your choice of yarn and needles. At 8 stitches per inch (2.5 cm) you will get a circumference of about 21 inches (53.3cm).
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
This is a close-fitting cap. The size will vary depending on your choice of yarn and needles. At 8 stitches per inch (2.5 cm) you will get a circumference of about 21 inches (53.3cm).
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
This is a close-fitting cap that can be sized up or down depending on your gauge. At 8 stitches per inch (2.54 cm) the hat will be about 22.5 inches (57 cm) around. At 9 sts per inch it will be 20 inches (50.8 cm) around.
Knitting: Drawstring Bag
This is a small drawstring bag suitable for dice, beads, or other small items. It has a flat bottom and eyelets for the drawstring. The bag is worked in the round on double-point needles from the bottom up.
Knitting: Scarf
This pattern uses one ball (1000m) of Scheepjes Whirl yarn, unless you get tired and decide to make it shorter. Each cable in the pattern contains a lace element so blocking is something of a requirement.
Knitting: Cowl
This started as a doodle that reminded me of water splashing on the ground. Then it started getting complicated…
Knitting: Cowl
This cowl is worked flat with a 4 stitch border on each side. It uses a provisional cast-on and is grafted (kitchener stitch) to form a cowl. The sample used an entire 400-yd skein of yarn. For a longer cowl, you either need a larger skein or a second skein.
Knitting: Cowl
The flower design was inspired by a fortnight lily, Dietes iriodes. The diagonal eyelet is from a Scottish shawl.
Knitting: Cowl
This is a heavily textured cowl with a combination of cables and nupps. With a six-row repeat, it’s easily memorized and offers a good game of “yarn-chicken”. 410 yards (375 m) of fingering weight yarn produced a cowl about 24 inches (61 cm) around, enough to easily pull over your head.
Knitting: Scarf
The dragon on this scarf is based on a Japanese design. The scarf is worked in double-knit so it is reversible.
Knitting: Cowl
This cable pattern reminds me of old diamond pane windows. There are small eyelet sections breaking up the cables.
Knitting: Cowl
This cowl uses cables and yarn-overs to create a lattice around rosettes. The gauge was slightly loose to compensate for the pull of the cables. While the sample used fingering-weight yarn, a heavier yarn could be substituted for a wider cowl.
Knitting: Scarf
This scarf is worked in double-knit with a small garter border so it’s fully reversible. The sample was made using about 385 yards (350 m) of Purl Soho’s Cattail Silk and about 120 yards (110m) of each of 3 shades of handspun silk in lace-weight. If doing this in two colors, 400 yards (366m) of each color would be the suggested minimum.
Knitting: Bag - Other
The original of this was made as a gift for a friend. It used lace-weight silks left over from another project. With a longer tie-cord it might be used as a wrist bag.
Knitting: Cowl
The lion’s paw design comes from North African carpet designs and the Möbius is a mathematical figure.
Knitting: Cowl
The color pattern for this cowl is adapted from the “bouquet” design used in Persian rugs. The cowl has a narrow garter stitch border to provide finish to the edges.
Knitting: Scarf
This scarf was designed as a scalene triangle so, while there are decreases on one edge, there are increases on the other edge. The design features a large cable and texture poinsettia flower on a stockinette background with seed stitch borders. The cast on edge is the shortest side, about 27” (68 cm) so plan your needle length accordingly.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
This pattern has two twist-stitch and lace panels on a knit background. The pattern was adapted from a Celtic panel that reminds me of hearts or perhaps a maze.
Knitting: Cowl
The color pattern for this cowl is adapted from the “roses in boats” design used in Persian rugs. The cowl has a small border knit in to provide finish to the edges.
Knitting: Animal Toy
This is a toy dinosaur worked in the round on double point needles. The eyes and mouth are embroidered using scrap yarn.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
This is an adult-sized hat with 2 squirrels and 2 sets of acorns worked as cables. The sample hats were knit with Cascade Yarns Cherub DK (white) and Hayfield Kimono (orange).
Knitting: Cloche Hat
This hat has a continuous cable pattern around the sides that ends with a star pattern on the crown. The hat is worked using circular and double-point needles.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
This is a simple lace hat with a rose design around the head and another flower design on the crown. The cap is worked in the round so there are no seams. There is a little “extra” fabric in the crown that lets you fold the hat easily. The sample measures about 18” (46cm) around and easily fits a 22” (56cm) head.
Knitting: Sleeveless Top
Both the front and back of this simple shell are textured. It has a scoop neck and high armholes but no other shaping. The sample has a back-neck length of approximately 27” (68.6 cm) and 35” (88.9 cm) chest and used 2.5 skeins of Euroflax.
Knitting: Baby Blanket
This is a small, square blanket with a stylized floral design. In the suggested yarn it makes a blanket suitable for a baby or a lap rug.
Knitting: Shawl / Wrap
This is not for the timid.
Knitting: Scarf
This is a narrow scarf worked with an illusion pattern of a feather or leaf. The design is worked twice, once from bottom to top, then from top to bottom to create a mirror image. Additional length could be added by increasing the number of rows between the repeats.
Knitting: Shrug / Bolero
This is a long-sleeved, fitted, short sweater. Features include lace panels on the front, back, and sleeves against a stockinette background. It is finished with a knit band up the front and around the neck. Neckline decreases are done in a lace panel, which can be challenging. There are no buttons or other closures.
Knitting: Throw
This is an almost-square throw worked in intarsia. It includes two textured patterns, a twist (mock cable) stitch, and a “stranded stitch”. Some of the color areas are quite small & could be done in duplicate stitch. If you stay with intarsia, you will be managing approximately 40 threads across the middle of the blanket.
Knitting: Baby Blanket
This blanket features a cable design, bracketed by a textured border, worked at an angle. The body of the blanket is stockinette with a narrow textured border. The design can be worked in a single color or using intarsia for the cable band.
Knitting: Earflap Hat
This is a snug-fitting hat with ear flaps. The flaps are knit using a simple slip-stitch pattern that creates a double-thick fabric.
Knitting: Scarf
The scarf begins with a set of large blocks which are broken into progressively smaller blocks. The blocks then increase in size again. Because of the way the blocks change size there are places where half a block is worked at a time or you change direction part way across the scarf. Some familiarity with the entrelac technique is advised. A ga...
Knitting: Baby Blanket
This blanket can be worked flat as individual panels or as a single piece with one seam, or, if you’re using a single color yarn, it can be worked in the round. If you work this in one piece you will need needles long enough to carry about 900 stitches. You will also need a cable or double-pointed needle of about the same gauge as the other nee...
Knitting: Baby Blanket
This is a small blanket that could easily be expanded to something larger. It uses 2 different cables to add variety to the stripes.
Knitting: Baby Blanket
This was designed as a baby blanket with cables worked in Intarsia. It could be expanded to a larger blanket by changing yarns or increasing the number of cables and pattern repeats. The cable is slightly irregular.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
This hat is worked in the round using double-point and circular needles. Changing the weight of the yarn or size of the needle will allow some flexibility in fitting different size heads. Adding additional rounds of entrelac will increase the length of the “slouch” but won’t add much (if any) to circumference.
Knitting: Chart
This is only a chart. It was originally embroidered as a seat cushion. The chart is large - about 225 stitches by 236 rows. You will need to estimate your own yardage based on the yarns and needles you choose. If done at 6 stitches per inch, the figure will be about 37 inches across and 30 inches tall.
Knitting: Baby Blanket
The entire body of this blanket is textured, including the Intarsia colorwork. At points in the pattern you will be working with up to 15 threads. The texturing allows the blanket to lay flat without blocking.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
This pattern is similar to the Cabled Hat but has a slightly different cable pattern. It uses slightly less than a full skein of worsted weight yarn.
Knitting: Baby Blanket
This pattern includes the pictured design plus a variation of the design. Because the entire center of the blanket is worked in cable it draws in to form a fabric that feels thick.
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
At the specified gauge this makes a cap about 19 inches around. The side - from hem to first decrease - is about 4” (on me this comes over the top of the ear).
Knitting: Throw
This makes a smallish, square blanket of about 28” x 29”. For a larger blanket consider larger needles or heavier weight yarn.
Knitting: Scarf
This stitch pattern is a re-creation of that from an afghan I made in 1969 or 1970. I lost the original pattern years ago. And, after years of use, the original blanket was already faded and worn when it was accidentally put in the washing machine and dryer (and felted).
Knitting: Scarf
This scarf is designed to go with my Cabled Hat pattern (also free) as it uses the same cable pattern.
Knitting: Baby Blanket
This was designed as a baby blanket / stitch sampler. With the suggested yarn and gauge it makes a square of about 24 inches. The design is worked in Intarsia, so there are up to 11 strands being worked in a single row. If worked as a stitch sampler in a single color, it would take 4-5 balls of yarn as you only need about a quarter of a ball fo...
Knitting: Beanie, Toque
This is worked in the round. You can use circular needles for most of the length but will need to use double-points to close the top.
Knitting: Mid-calf Socks
The leg is about 5” long to the top of the heel flap. The charted pattern continues to the toe decreases, for a foot of about 8” (medium women’s).
Knitting: Throw
The cables in this are worked in intarsia so it’s reversible. This means you will be working 17 strands of yarn on each row. The sample required 7 balls (208 yds/190 m each) of the background color and about 130 yds/119 m each of blue, yellow, green, and brown for the cables.
Knitting: Pullover
The sweater pictured was knit using a fingering weight of Softball Cotton. The sweater is a loose fitting, drop-shoulder garment.
Knitting: Chart
I originally charted this design for use as a rug in a doll house. I never got around to doing the rug, but did a pillow (pictured) instead.
Knitting: Chart
This is a charted graph. It could be used for knitting, crochet, or other needlework.
Knitting: Sports Equipment
This bag allows the mat to be rolled up and put in via a mat-width opening instead of being dropped in from one end. The button is mostly decorative as the mat stays in the bag without fastening.
Knitting: Animal Toy
A fingering yarn will produce a moose about 20” from top of antlers to bottom of feet. A sport weight yarn will make a moose about 23” tall. And a worsted yarn will give you about 26” of moose to play with.
Knitting: Baby Blanket
This is not designed for a specific yarn. Any yarn can be used. Required needles are, a 24” circular and 1 set of double-points sized to the yarn.