 |
| Designed by © Kimberly Nichols |
Safe at Home Blanket by Margaret Holzmann of KnitWit Designs is a wonderfully imaginative knitted throw made from rows of colorful little houses. With roofs, windows, doors and contrasting backgrounds, the finished blanket looks almost like a cheerful knitted neighborhood.
The design combines simple garter stitch with color changes and intarsia, making it an interesting choice for knitters who want to move beyond basic blankets while still working with familiar knit stitches.
It is also an excellent stash-inspired project. The designer encourages knitters to follow the suggested palette or create their own combination from coordinating leftover yarns.
Design © Margaret Holzmann / KnitWit Designs.
The feature that makes Safe at Home instantly recognizable is its collection of colorful houses. Instead of repeating one conventional all-over texture, the blanket turns individual areas of color into windows, doors, roofs and skies.
The house motif makes color selection part of the fun. You can create a coordinated palette or give every house its own personality by combining different colors from your yarn stash.
Because the basic fabric is garter stitch, much of the visual complexity comes from color placement and construction rather than from complicated textured stitch patterns.
The knitted version is worked in garter-stitch strips. The completed strips are then joined together to build the main blanket.
After the central blanket is assembled, stitches are picked up and knitted around the completed edges to form the border.
This modular approach can make a large blanket feel more manageable: instead of handling the entire finished width from the beginning, you build the design in sections and assemble them as the project develops.
One of the principal techniques used in Safe at Home is intarsia. This allows separate blocks of color to appear within the same row without carrying every yarn across the entire width of the work.
If intarsia is new to you, keeping the different yarn sources organized can make the process much easier. Small balls or bobbins can help prevent the working yarns from becoming tangled while you create the different parts of each house.
Remember to manage the yarn correctly where two colors meet so the sections remain connected rather than developing holes at the color changes.
The original pattern recommends approximately 270 yards of each of 12 colors, plus approximately 180 additional yards of the border color.
That makes Safe at Home particularly attractive for knitters with a substantial collection of compatible Aran-weight leftovers.
The original sample lists Malabrigo Yarn Worsted, but the important considerations when substituting yarn are achieving suitable gauge, creating a fabric you like and having enough yarn for the complete blanket.
With a multicolor project like this, good yarn management can save a great deal of frustration. Arrange your colors before beginning each section and keep them in a consistent order whenever possible.
It is also worth paying attention to your tension at intarsia joins. Loose joins can leave visible gaps, while pulling the yarn too tightly can distort the surrounding garter-stitch fabric.
Finally, weave in ends carefully and progressively rather than leaving every strand until the very end. A blanket involving many colors can produce a considerable number of yarn tails.
No. The exact Safe at Home blanket by Margaret Holzmann is currently a paid knitting pattern.
It may appear on older knitting websites or social posts alongside the word “free,” but we could not verify a current authorized free edition of this exact design. Amazing Knitting therefore does not label it as a free pattern or link to unofficial copies.
Pattern prices and availability can change, so check the designer's current page for the latest information.
View the Safe at Home Blanket at KnitWit Designs →
The designer's page provides information about the project and access to the current purchase options for the knitting pattern.
Safe at Home is more than a conventional striped throw. Each house gives you another small colorwork milestone, while the repeating construction helps the overall project develop into a striking geometric composition.
It's especially appealing if you enjoy choosing colors, using yarn from your stash and watching many smaller knitted elements gradually become one substantial finished blanket.
Amazing Knitting links readers to legitimate designer or publisher sources whenever possible. Pattern prices, download locations and availability can change after an article is published.
Read Our Pattern Availability Policy →
Amazing Knitting is an independent pattern discovery and project-guide site. The Safe at Home design and pattern remain the intellectual property of Margaret Holzmann / KnitWit Designs. This guide does not reproduce the designer's row-by-row pattern instructions.
Gingersnap Cardigan designed and photographed © Kristen Rettig.
Gingersnap by Kristen Rettig is a cheerful striped baby cardigan knitting pattern designed to turn small amounts of leftover worsted-weight yarn into an adorable handmade sweater.
With bold blocks of color, simple shaping and endless possibilities for combining yarn scraps, Gingersnap is the kind of baby cardigan that can look completely different every time you knit it.
The original pattern is written primarily for the one-year size and uses approximately 360–400 yards (329–366 m) of worsted-weight yarn.
Good news: the original Gingersnap Cardigan is still available as a free knitting pattern from designer Kristen Rettig through her Ravelry store. You will find the verified free pattern link near the end of this guide.
One of the best things about Gingersnap is that it was designed with leftover yarn in mind.
Kristen Rettig originally made her sweaters using scraps of Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted left over from other knitting projects.
That makes the cardigan especially appealing to knitters with small quantities of coordinating worsted-weight yarn waiting in their stash.
The written pattern is designed around three colors, but you do not have to limit yourself to three.
The designer encourages knitters to raid their yarn stash and experiment with three, four, five or even more colors.
This flexibility is part of the charm of Gingersnap. A carefully planned palette can create a polished color-block cardigan, while a collection of leftover yarns can produce a playful scrappy sweater.
There is no single correct color combination for this cardigan.
You can use three closely related shades for a subtle effect or combine strongly contrasting colors for a bolder sweater.
Another approach is to choose one neutral shade and pair it with two brighter colors.
Before casting on, place your yarns next to each other and experiment with their order. Changing which shade appears next to another can make a surprisingly large difference to the finished cardigan.
Gingersnap is designed for worsted-weight yarn.
Yarn options associated with the original pattern include:
You do not need to find the exact original yarn. A suitable worsted-weight substitute can work as long as you can obtain the appropriate gauge and create a fabric you like.
Because Gingersnap is intended for a young child, softness and washability are important considerations.
The designer specifically suggests using a soft, machine-washable yarn. This makes sense for a baby or toddler cardigan that may need frequent washing.
Check the care instructions on every yarn you plan to combine. Using several yarns with very different washing requirements can make caring for the finished cardigan unnecessarily complicated.
Gingersnap can be particularly useful when you have leftover worsted-weight yarn from larger projects.
Instead of buying several full skeins specifically for a small baby sweater, you may be able to combine suitable leftovers that already coordinate.
Make sure each yarn is similar enough in weight and behavior to produce consistent fabric throughout the cardigan.
Published pattern information lists approximately 360–400 yards (329–366 meters) in total.
Because the sweater is designed for multiple colors, the total yardage is divided among the shades used in the cardigan.
Your actual yarn usage can vary with gauge, yarn choice and any changes you make to the color arrangement.
The pattern lists two needle sizes:
Different needle sizes are useful for creating appropriate structure in areas such as borders and the main stockinette fabric.
As always, treat the listed needle sizes as a starting point and use the size that allows you to obtain the required gauge.
The published gauge is 19 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in stockinette stitch.
Gauge matters in a fitted garment, even a small baby cardigan.
If your stitches are significantly larger than the designer's gauge, the cardigan will also become larger. If your gauge is tighter, the finished sweater can become too small.
Swatching is especially helpful if you are combining several different leftover yarns.
Two yarns may both be labeled worsted weight but still behave differently when knitted.
A small swatch can help you check gauge, fabric softness, color combination and how well your selected yarns work together before you begin the cardigan.
The original free Gingersnap pattern is primarily sized for one year.
Kristen Rettig explains that she particularly likes this size because babies around that age are active, sitting up, moving around and able to show off a handmade sweater.
The pattern listing also includes a note related to making a smaller approximately six-month version.
It is important not to confuse the original free Gingersnap with Gingersnap for Bigger Kids.
The original pattern featured on this page is the free baby cardigan first published in 2015.
Kristen Rettig later developed a separate expanded pattern for bigger children with additional sizes.
That expanded version is a different pattern listing and should not be mistaken for the original free Gingersnap download linked below.
Gingersnap is a worked-flat and seamed cardigan.
This means the garment is not constructed entirely as one seamless piece in the round.
If you are new to garment knitting, this style of construction can be a useful introduction to creating individual sweater sections and assembling them into a finished cardigan.
Much of the visual impact comes from the color arrangement rather than complicated stitch patterns.
Smooth stockinette fabric provides a simple background that allows the different colored sections to stand out clearly.
This is particularly effective when using bright or strongly contrasting yarns.
Gingersnap can be an approachable project for a knitter who already understands the basic stitches and wants to try a small garment.
Compared with an adult sweater, a baby cardigan requires much less yarn and considerably less knitting.
However, you should be comfortable following garment shaping and finishing instructions rather than expecting the project to be as simple as a rectangular scarf or dishcloth.
Useful skills for this cardigan include:
Because color changes are such a visible part of Gingersnap, neat transitions help give the cardigan a polished appearance.
When beginning a new color, leave enough yarn tail to weave in securely later.
Avoid tying bulky knots in the knitted fabric unless the pattern specifically instructs you to do so.
A scrappy version using many colors can create more yarn ends than a simple three-color cardigan.
Consider weaving in some ends as the project progresses rather than leaving every tail until the very end.
Take care not to pull woven ends so tightly that they distort the surrounding stockinette fabric.
Before beginning, decide whether you will follow the designer's three-color arrangement or create your own palette.
If you modify the color sequence, make a simple written plan so you do not have to decide what comes next every time you reach a new section.
A quick sketch or list of color order can be surprisingly helpful.
A handmade baby cardigan is likely to encounter spills, food and everyday wear.
For that reason, easy-care yarn can make the finished sweater much more practical for parents.
Kristen Rettig specifically designed Gingersnap with soft, machine-washable yarns in mind.
The designer also suggests cotton yarn as an option for knitters who want a lighter sweater for warmer weather.
Rowan Handknit Cotton and Rowan Softknit Cotton are among the yarns associated with the original pattern.
When substituting cotton for wool, remember that the fibers can behave differently, so checking gauge and fabric drape before starting is worthwhile.
Careful finishing can transform a collection of knitted pieces into a polished little cardigan.
Follow the pattern's assembly instructions, keep seams neat and avoid pulling them excessively tight.
Gentle blocking can help the pieces settle into shape and make the stockinette fabric look more even.
Always use a blocking method appropriate for the yarn fibers you chose.
Gingersnap is particularly well suited to gift knitting because every color combination can create a different personality.
Soft neutrals can make a classic cardigan, while bright contrasting shades create something playful and energetic.
You can even choose colors that match the recipient's wardrobe or use meaningful leftovers from other family knitting projects.
Gingersnap has been available since 2015 and has been knitted by a large number of Ravelry users.
Its lasting appeal is easy to understand: the sweater is small, colorful, practical and adaptable to the yarn already in your stash.
Most importantly, the original baby version remains available as a free pattern from the designer.
Gingersnap by Kristen Rettig is currently available as a free knitting pattern.
The designer provides the original baby-cardigan pattern through Kristen Rettig's Ravelry Store, where the current listing identifies it as a free Ravelry download.
This is the exact Gingersnap pattern featured on this Amazing Knitting page: the striped worsted-weight baby cardigan first published by Kristen Rettig in 2015.
Please note that the later Gingersnap for Bigger Kids is a separate expanded pattern. The link below is specifically for the original free baby version.
Pattern availability can change over time, so Amazing Knitting checks older links and gives priority to a legitimate free source whenever the exact pattern remains officially available at no cost.
Visit Kristen Rettig's current pattern page to see the full pattern information and download the original Gingersnap baby cardigan for free.
Get the Free Gingersnap Knitting Pattern →
Gingersnap is designed by Kristen Rettig. Amazing Knitting does not reproduce the designer's copyrighted row-by-row instructions. The original baby version is currently offered as a free download by the designer. Pattern availability may change, so please check the linked source for the latest information.
Read Our Pattern Availability Policy →
The Daybreak Tee. Photos © Destiny Meyer
The Daybreak Tee by Destiny Meyer of Knifty Knittings is a free slightly cropped tee knitting pattern designed with a relaxed, flattering fit and a beautiful lace detail across the upper front.
Worked in soft DK-weight cotton yarn, the tee is knitted mainly in the round from the bottom up before the front and back are separated and worked flat. The pattern includes six sizes from XS through 2X and a detailed step-by-step video tutorial.
Daybreak Tee is a great example of how a relatively simple knitted top can become much more interesting with one carefully placed decorative feature.
Most of the garment uses straightforward stockinette stitch, while the lace section across the upper front adds an airy detail that gives the tee its distinctive appearance.
Combined with short sleeves and cotton yarn, the design works especially well as a lightweight knitted top for warmer weather.
Destiny Meyer designed Daybreak with a slightly cropped silhouette and approximately 1–3 inches of positive ease.
Positive ease means the finished garment circumference is slightly larger than the wearer's actual bust measurement, creating a relaxed rather than skin-tight fit.
The pattern provides both recommended bust measurements and finished garment measurements, making it easier to choose the amount of ease you prefer.
The free pattern includes six sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X).
They are designed to fit bust measurements of approximately:
The corresponding finished garment circumferences are approximately 31, 35, 39, 43, 47 and 51 inches.
The Daybreak Tee begins at the lower edge and is knitted from the bottom up.
After the ribbed hem is complete, the main body is worked in stockinette stitch in the round. This creates the lower body without side seams.
When the work reaches the underarm area, the front and back stitches are separated and the two upper sections are worked flat.
One clever feature of Daybreak is that you do not knit two traditional sleeves separately and sew them into armholes.
Instead, additional stitches are cast on at each side when the front and back are separated.
These extra stitches become the short sleeves as the upper front and back are worked toward the shoulders.
This keeps the construction relatively simple and minimizes the amount of finishing required at the end.
The decorative lace appears on the upper front of the tee.
The pattern uses yarn overs and decreases to create two openwork sections around the center of the front.
Because the lower body and back remain relatively simple, the lace becomes a clear focal point without making the entire garment an intricate lace project.
Although Daybreak combines knitting in the round with flat knitting, the finished garment requires relatively little sewing.
The shoulders are joined using a three-needle bind-off, and the remaining finishing includes small seams underneath the short sleeves.
If garment seaming is something you usually try to avoid, this construction provides a useful compromise between completely seamless knitting and a traditionally pieced sweater.
Destiny Meyer designed the tee using LB Collection Cotton Jeans, a DK-weight 100% cotton yarn.
The original yarn contains approximately 218 yards (200 m) per 100 g skein.
The designer used the Grey Fade colorway for the original sample and describes the yarn as soft and drapey, two useful characteristics for a knitted summer top.
The official pattern gives the following approximate yardage:
With the original Cotton Jeans yarn, the pattern calls for 3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4) skeins.
If the original yarn is unavailable, look for a DK-weight yarn with good drape that can produce the required gauge.
Cotton or a cotton blend can be a natural choice for a warm-weather version, but the most important factors are gauge, fabric feel and drape.
Remember to compare total yardage rather than simply buying the same number of skeins, because skein sizes vary considerably between yarn brands.
The pattern uses a US 6 (4 mm) circular needle for the ribbing and a US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needle for the main fabric.
The official blocked gauge is: 18 stitches and 25 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using the larger needles.
The designer specifically recommends taking time to check gauge because it directly affects the finished fit.
Before casting on, compare your actual bust measurement with both the recommended body measurements and the finished garment circumference.
The original design is intended to have approximately 1–3 inches of positive ease, but the amount you prefer can depend on how fitted or relaxed you want your tee to look.
A washed and blocked gauge swatch is particularly useful with cotton, because the behavior of the finished fabric matters just as much as the stitch count on the needles.
The body is largely worked in stockinette before the front and back are divided, which gives you a natural opportunity to consider the overall length.
The pattern itself gives target measurements for each size, but you can work toward your preferred underarm length if you want the tee a little longer or shorter.
If you add length, remember that you will need additional yarn beyond the published yardage.
Useful techniques for this project include:
Destiny Meyer describes Daybreak as a good project for an adventurous beginner.
The main body is straightforward, while the upper portion introduces several useful garment-making skills such as separating the front and back, adding sleeve stitches, working simple lace and joining shoulders.
You don't need to rely on the written instructions alone: the designer also provides a detailed video tutorial demonstrating the construction.
One of the strongest features of this free pattern is the accompanying approximately 45-minute video tutorial.
Destiny walks through the project step by step, making the tutorial particularly useful if this is one of your first knitted garments.
The video is linked from the original free pattern page, so you can use the written pattern and visual tutorial together.
Daybreak combines several appealing features in one approachable garment: DK cotton yarn, a slightly cropped silhouette, short sleeves, minimal seaming and just enough lace to make the upper front stand out.
It also offers a useful progression for knitters moving from scarves and shawls into garment knitting. The stockinette body provides plenty of straightforward knitting before you reach the more interesting construction and lace details at the top.
With six sizes from XS to 2X and a full video tutorial, the free version provides considerably more support than many simple summer top patterns.
The complete Daybreak Tee by Destiny Meyer is currently available free on the designer's official Knifty Knittings website, including the written instructions and step-by-step video tutorial.
Get the Free Daybreak Tee Knitting Pattern →
Pattern availability was checked when this article was updated. Availability and pattern details on external websites may change over time.
 |
| Photos above © Espace Tricot |
 |
| The photo above G-knits |
Bonjour Hi Cowl. Photos © Espace Tricot
Bonjour Hi by Melissa Clulow of Espace Tricot is a stylish knitted cowl and shoulder warmer featuring a cozy funnel neck and a generously shaped yoke that sits comfortably over the shoulders.
The design is worked seamlessly from the top down using a fingering-weight yarn held together with laceweight mohair. The result is a lightweight but wonderfully warm accessory that falls somewhere between a traditional cowl and a small capelet.
Bonjour Hi is more substantial than a standard close-fitting cowl. Its tall funnel neck keeps the neck warm, while the lower portion expands generously across the shoulders.
This creates the cozy effect of a miniature capelet without requiring you to knit an entire poncho or sweater.
It can be worn over a shirt, sweater or coat as an extra layer when you want warmth around both the neck and upper body.
The cowl begins at the neck and is worked from the top down in the round.
After establishing the funnel neck, increases are distributed through the yoke so that the fabric gradually expands toward the shoulders.
Because the entire accessory is worked as one piece, there are no seams to sew when the knitting is complete.
The shaping is similar in concept to the upper portion of a top-down circular-yoke sweater.
Instead of continuing into a full sweater body and sleeves, the design ends after it has expanded sufficiently to cover the shoulders.
This makes Bonjour Hi an interesting smaller project for knitters who want to experience circular-yoke shaping without committing to an entire garment.
The pattern includes four sizes with finished bottom circumferences of:
These measurements refer to the wide lower edge that sits around the shoulders rather than the circumference of the neck.
One of the defining features of Bonjour Hi is its yarn combination.
A fingering or light-fingering yarn is held together with a strand of laceweight mohair-silk yarn throughout the project.
The two strands behave as a single yarn while knitting, combining the structure and color of the fingering yarn with the soft halo of mohair.
The original version was made using:
More recent Espace Tricot versions also reference combinations such as Espace Tricot Grace with Bon Tricot Bliss Mohair.
The important principle is the same: the two strands are held together throughout.
You do not need to use the exact original yarns, but try to preserve the relationship between the two strands.
A smooth fingering-weight wool or wool blend paired with a laceweight mohair-silk yarn can produce a fabric similar in character to the original.
This construction also creates many opportunities for color play. Two closely related colors can create subtle depth, while contrasting strands can produce a more visible marled effect.
The specified blocked gauge is:
19 stitches × 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
in stockinette with both yarns held together
Because mohair can change significantly after washing and blocking, measuring a blocked swatch is particularly useful for this project.
The pattern lists:
Circular needles are used because the cowl is knitted in the round.
As always, use the needle size that allows you to achieve the required gauge rather than relying only on the suggested size.
Bonjour Hi begins with a tall ribbed funnel neck.
Unlike a loose traditional cowl that may fall away from the neck, the funnel shape is intended to provide a closer, warmer layer around the neckline.
The ribbing also gives the neck enough elasticity to remain comfortable while retaining its shape.
Below the neck, increases are added across the yoke to create the shoulder-warming shape.
These increases are what transform the project from a simple tube into the distinctive flared silhouette shown in the finished design.
As the circumference grows, the fabric settles naturally over the shoulders.
The designer notes that the length of Bonjour Hi can be customized.
This gives you some flexibility if you prefer more or less coverage over the shoulders.
Remember that adding extra length will increase the amount of yarn required, particularly because two strands are being used together throughout.
Useful techniques for this project include:
The construction is relatively approachable because the accessory is seamless and does not require sleeves, heel turns, complicated seaming or intricate cable work.
A knitter who is already comfortable knitting and purling in the round can use the project to practice top-down shaping and working with two yarns held together.
Mohair can be less forgiving when stitches need to be undone, so newer knitters may want to work carefully and check their progress regularly.
Pairing fine wool with mohair allows Bonjour Hi to provide warmth without the heavy feel of a bulky cowl.
The funnel neck protects the neck while the wide lower section adds an extra layer across the shoulders, making the design especially useful during transitional weather or under a winter coat.
Bonjour Hi is categorized as a unisex adult accessory.
Yarn and color choices can dramatically change its character, from a soft luxurious accessory in delicate neutrals to a more rustic or understated winter layer.
Espace Tricot describes Bonjour Hi as the little sister to its Getting Warmer cowl.
Both designs explore the idea of extending a cowl over the shoulders, but Bonjour Hi uses finer yarns and a mohair combination for a lighter, softer fabric.
Bonjour Hi offers more coverage than an ordinary cowl while remaining far quicker and simpler than knitting a full sweater.
Its combination of a funnel neck, circular-yoke shaping and fingering-plus-mohair fabric creates a polished accessory from relatively straightforward knitting techniques.
With four finished circumferences and an adjustable length, there is also useful flexibility for choosing how generously the finished cowl sits over the shoulders.
Bonjour Hi by Melissa Clulow / Espace Tricot is currently listed as part of the 10 Circular Yokes from Espace Tricot pattern collection.
View the Bonjour Hi Knitting Pattern →
This design was previously distributed as a free pattern, but its current availability has changed. Pattern availability and pricing on external websites may change over time.
 |
| Photos above © DROPS Design |
 |
| Photos above © Cloud House Studio |
 |
| Photos above © Cloud House Studio |
 |
| Photos above © DROPS Design |
 |
| Photos above © oduvan & © mettetufta |