Tag Archives: Free Pattern

Still My Favorite

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Here’s a little history if you are new to my blog. A few years back I started writing patterns for the mittens and hats that I was designing. I put them out for free on this blog. All those free patterns are still here and people mostly find me on Ravelry. Those accessory patterns were never professionally edited or tested. They are almost all for “one size”. Most of them were written with only the imperial measurements leaving the metric system out all together. Don’t get me started on the punctuation errors – oh my god it’s bad.

Starting in 2025 I finally wrote a few patterns that were edited and tested. I charge money for those now and they are so much better than the free ones. I do plan go back and fix all my free patterns. There are about 60 of them so it will take a while. Working with a technical editor has taught me so much! I should be able to improve the free patterns and will chip away at them when I get a chance.

I’ve been knitting a long time and I personally prefer patterns that don’t have a lot of teaching elements. My free patterns represent this style of pattern writing. Mostly the pattern is some charts and some basic instructions and the knitter is expected to know what to do with it. For example, the free patterns say “close the top of the mitten with the kitchener stitch” and the for-sale patterns have half a page dedicated to the steps involved to do the kitchener stitch. Needless to say, the free patterns are about 2-3 pages and the for-sale patterns are 12-18 pages.

If someone wants to be a knitting pattern designer I don’t think they go about it like I did. There are some big problems about putting out so many unedited free pattern. Someone might write me off as a hack when they see my old patterns. Also, all those free patterns were used to train AI (thanks wordpress!) and have been hijacked by other websites so they make money off my work – ugh. Of course people steal patterns that are for sale, but I made it really easy for the theives.

On the bright side, I did get a small following of people who like my designs. I also got to knit A LOT. Now that I pay an editor, I will only put out 4 or 5 pattens a year. When I was putting out free patterns I sometime put out 3 or 4 in a month. That allowed me to experiment with designs and get a feel for what people like.

That leads me to the Favorite Mittens pattern. After I made these mittens I determined that they were my favorite so I named them as such. Get this—it’s one of my least liked pattern on Ravelry. A total of ZERO people have made them. It was first published in Feb 2025 and I just updated the pattern today! It still has not been tech edited, but I fixed the main problems. Now it is written for metric along with imperial measurements. I added the row count to the gauge–it use to just have stitches per inch. I added an abbreviation guide. It still doesn’t tell you how to do a kitchener stitch, it just says “work these (stitches) off with a kitchener stitch”.

Here’s the updated pattern if you are interested. Please do not post this PDF on the internet. If you want to share it, please link to this page.

Favorite Mittens, updated 2026Download

Latvian Braids Revisited – All Free Patterns

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For those who want to add a Latvian Braid to your own project here’s the basic instructions.

How to make a Latvian Braid

This Latvian Braid is worked in the round with an even number of stitches and two different colored strands of yarn.

A Latvian Braid is made by working these 3 rounds:

Round 1:  (k 1 Color A, k 1 Color B) repeat to end of round.

Round 2: Move both strands to the front of the work. (All stitches in rounds 2 and 3 are purled over the same color as the previous round.) Starting with Color A, pull the yarn up and purl. Now using Color B, bring it under the last stitch and purl. Now use Color A and bring it under the last stitch and purl. Alternate these two stitches for the round. Your yarn will twist up. Do not try to untwist because it will naturally do so on the next round. 

Round 3: Work the 1st stitch by pulling Color A  under the last stitch and purl. (This is the only one in this round that is pulled from under the other.) Then work the next stitch in Color B, pull the yarn OVER the last stitch and purl. The 3rd st is also worked by pulling OVER the last stitch and purl. Continue bringing each yarn over the last and purl to the end of the round. Your yarn will untwist as you do this row. Pull the yarns to the back at the end of the round. You will weave them in later.

If you want to follow a pattern that includes a Latvian Braid, here’s some of my patterns for you to try.

You can find Lit Mitts here: https://fleecelovehappiness.home.blog/2025/03/08/lit-mitts/

You can find Glacia Mittens here: https://fleecelovehappiness.home.blog/2024/11/16/glacia-mittens/

You can find the Forecast Hat here: https://fleecelovehappiness.home.blog/2023/12/02/forecast-hat/

You can find the Bella Bella Mittens here: https://fleecelovehappiness.home.blog/2023/09/03/bella-bella-mittens/

If you really want to go crazy with these, try Latvian Braids All Day Hat. Found here: https://fleecelovehappiness.home.blog/2025/03/29/latvian-braids-all-day/

Happy knitting,

Traci

A Little Warmer

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Back in 2023 I wrote a knitting pattern called A Little Warmer Mitts and posted it to Ravelry. It holds the record for my least popular knitting pattern that I have published with a total of ZERO people knitting it. I thought I’d take it down so my “portfolio” of knitting patterns looked good. It turns out once you post on Ravelry it’s there forever. That was news to me!

My next idea was to knit a new pair with more interesting colors and post new photos. I chose these natural colors: dark dray, medium tan, tan, and cream.

This was also a chance for me to update the pattern. I’ve been writing patterns for a few years now and I’m getting more skilled at it as I go. I’m going to slowly go back through my old patters and update them. I’ve already updated Golden Hour Mittens and it feels better having something out there that I’m proud of. Here’s the new and improved free knitting pattern for A Little Warmer Mitts. Happy Knitting!

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

A Little Warmer Mitts, updatedDownload

Golden Hour Mittens

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I’ve been designing mittens and other items for a few years now. I’ve learned a lot during the process of posting over 50 pattern on Ravelry. I didn’t know once you post something it’s there forever!!! Well, I’m not exactly proud of a few designs I’ve posted. In fact, I would take them down if I could. I figured the next best thing would be to update the patterns. I’ve started with the eye-sore Golden Hour Mittens. I’ve changed the colors and made some adjustment to the colorwork charts so that there are no long stretches of one color. I’ve added a row of the contrasting color around the edges and redesigned the thumb so it’s easier to knit. The cuff now is a 2-color ribbing because it just looks better with the mitten design.

The original Ravelry post had only 1 photo! Oh my, what was I thinking? The updated version has more photos so you can see the front, back, and thumbs of the mittens.

Also, in the pattern I’ve tried to make the instructions more clear. Here’s the updated Golden Hour Mitten Pattern. It’s free. Please post on Ravelry if you make them. Enjoy!

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Golden Hour MittensDownload

Latvian Braids All Day

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Sitting on my desk is a big jar of left over yarn balls just waiting for me to think of something to do with them. I love Latvian braids so I thought I’d work out a hat that uses up these scraps.

I started by grouping the colors and thinking about how to make the braids look interesting.

With my first hat I used a light color for the base color (main color) and chose various greens and blues for the braids.

For this one I chose a base of dark gray with tans, browns, and grays for the braids—plus that one green ball.

This hat has a dark brown main color with tans, oranges and greens. However you configure your colors, I think it’s best to have high contrast with your Latvian braid colors.

I must say that these hats didn’t even put a dent into my scraps and I still have a big jar of little bits of yarn sitting on my desk. Now I’m thinking about weaving with them!

This isn’t my first attempt of trying to design something that would eat up my scraps. I did a stranded hat pattern called Using Up Scraps Hat that you can get for FREE on this blog.

Here is the Free Pattern for Latvian Braid All Day Hat.

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Latvian Braids All Day Hat,updated2026Download

Lit Mitts

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When I write a pattern I search the name I’ve chosen to see if anyone else has used it. I’d been calling these little mitts “Lit Mitts” since I started working on them. When I did a name check I came up with my own pattern Star Lit Mitts! Oh, right, I forgot about that! I decided to stick with “Lit Mitts” anyway.

I thought it would be fun to incorporate Latvian Braids—plus it’s a good use of colorful scrap yarns. I chose Hollyberry and Fuchsia for the accent braids but any bright colors for this trim would work.

Most of the mitten and mitts that I’ve designed lately have the same pattern on the palms and backs of hand. I like the idea that there is no left or right. Here’ the FREE pattern for Lit Mitts for you to enjoy.

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Lit Mitts, updated 2026Download

Flower Field Legwarmers

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Flower Field Legwarmers were fun to design and knit but it took forever to get the pattern in order. The problem was the photographs. I’ve given up and have decided to present it all as I have it now— even with my not-so-great photos. I do not like modeling. I don’t mind putting on some mittens and taking a few photos but modleing legs is another thing all together.

I took photos with 3 different kinds of shoes/boots to show how one could wear these. Wearing them with my rubber boots if my favorite for sure.

Here I am with my slippers and sleeping shirt! Woah… lots of leg showing.

Enough about modeling! Let me tell you something about the actual leg warmers. I designed them with a 7-stitch stripe up the back, kind of the way socks are designed. There’s lots of color changes in this pattern and I’m hoping people will use those 7 stitches to weave in the color changes as they go. Sometime people post photos on social media of their stranded color work with dozens of tails that need to be woven in. At that point it’s too late for anyone to suggest to weave in as you go. But let me say now, before you begin this project—weave in your color changes as you go! I designed this pattern specifically so you can do that on the back of the legwarmer.

Here’s the free pattern for Flower Field Legwarmers. Enjoy!

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Flower Field LegwarmersDownload

Favorite Mittens

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I spend a lot of time thinking about color. I shuffle my yarns around to see what looks good together. Then I get on my computer and work it out in a grid pattern. I use Stitchmastery software which gets the job done but I can’t say I love it. It’s doesn’t save my colors which is unfortunate. I mostly use Knit Picks Palette line and my old on-line program had those colors all imported. Sadly I can not use an on-line product like Stitchfiddle due to the time I spend in places without internet. So Stichmastery it is.

Here’s a photo that includes my first attempt at this mitten. I got pretty far before deciding to chuck it. Regarding the half-finished mitten on the left: I love these colors together, but I didn’t like the lack of contrast with the blue and dark brown. With the second attempt I made the flower section very high contrast with light and dark gray (basically black and white).

I think Favorite Mittens would look good with lots of different color combinations. You could use the colors I’ve worked out or pick some of your own.

The updated pattern can be found here: https://fleecelovehappiness.home.blog/2026/07/30/still-my-favorite/

Boreas Mittens

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Man Mittens! This time David was my model and I was the photographer. I designed these mitten and made them for someone as a gift last month. Now I’m just getting around to writing the pattern.

Boreas Mittens are knitted by following several charts. First you knit the cuff, working through the ribbing section. Then you follow 2 more charts for the mitten body and the thumb gusset. After you finish the mitten body you work the thumb in pattern.

This is a FREE PATTERN. Enjoy!

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Boreas MittensDownload

Indiola, Oregon

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In July this year we were traveling in Oregon and I took my husband to Indiola. This is a place up the road from Mapleton on Lake Creek. We were just passer-byes being that I don’t know anyone who lives there anymore. It is were my grandmother lived and it is were my mother grew up. I spent many of my childhood days playing in the river there and running wild. Since I was knitting these mittens on that trip I named them “Indiola Mittens”. My mother passed away this fall so I’m a little sad posting this tribute to her childhood home. The actual house she lived in is gone now, but the air smelled the same and the river still runs.

Near the river is a plaque dedicating the boat landing to my grandparents. May their spirit live on and on!

Now, on to the knitting. The color of the year for me was Coriander Heather (a Knit Picks color that’s basically oatmeal). Here’s just a sample of the knitting I did this year and it’s clear I had a theme going on.

Here we have Floretta Mittens, Indiola Mittens, Blyn Hat, and a baby sweater (no pattern). I simply could not stop knitting flowers!

The other thing I was obsessed with this year is what I call “fancy thumbs”. I love designing mittens with complicated thumbs. Yes, it’s a bit fussy to knit in the round with 20 stitches but I just love how it turns out.

Here’s the Free Knitting Pattern for Indiola Mittens. If you make them I’d love to see a photo. Please post on Ravelry or send me a message. Happy New Year!

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

Indiola MittensDownload