New Pattern: Nested Knots Hat

The new holiday edition of Interweave Knits is landing in stores (and also available online), so I can finally share a project that I had to keep under wraps until now: the Nested Knots Hat.

This hat knits up quickly—always a good thing for last-minute holiday knitting, right? Worked in the round from the bottom up in Aran-weight yarn (cushy Quince & Co. Osprey), it features traveling stitches, bobbles, and a plush pom pom. There are three sizes, so you can make it for kids as well as adults.

Interweave Knits Holiday 2016 has something for everyone—kids' knits, accessories, socks and stockings, blankets, and some stunning heirloom lace designs (for those lace projects, it's really great the magazine comes out this early!). There's also a tutorial by Knitscene editor Hannah Baker on how to make pom poms using any household item.

Last year, I was finishing up gifts at the very last minute, which was a little stressful and also hard on my hands. I definitely want to start earlier this year. What about you? Have you begun thinking about your holiday knitting? Or maybe even started? 

Photos courtesy F&W Media/Interweave Knits/Harper Point Photography

Indie Design Gift-A-Long

Who: Knitters and crocheters around the world

What: Indie Design Gift-A-Long & Sale

Where: Ravelry

When: November 13 (starting at 8 pm EST) through December 31

Why: Make holiday gifts, have fun, join KAL/CALs, win prizes, and save!

Thursday's the day: The Indie Design Gift-A-Long starts at 8 pm EST. This event was such a success on Ravelry last year that designers decided to do it again. During November and December, knitters and crocheters can join KAL/CALs to make holiday gifts, participate in games, and win prizes. Every designer has contributed at least five coupon codes for free patterns. Do the math—that's a lot of free patterns! There are also hundreds of physical prizes—yarn, stitch markers, gift certificates, and other goodies.

And if you'd like to save on patterns, you certainly can! Each designer is offering 4–20 patterns at a discount of 25 percent. From November 13 at 8 pm EST to midnight November 21, use the coupon code giftalong2014 to receive the discount.

For the KAL/CALs, you can make any for-sale (not free) patterns by a participating designer, not just those that are discounted. Check out the details here.

This year, 293 designers are participating, with a total of 3,822 patterns discounted. See all the designers here; see my own Gift-A-Long patterns here. I've chosen nine lace projects that would make nice gifts (or a treat for yourself, after the holidays).

In the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group, we'll cheer each other on as we work our way through our holiday gift lists. Hope you can join us—and good luck with your holiday knitting!