oktober zest

Posted on Posted in patterns

soon it’ll be time to get serious about that holiday gift list you’ve been editing in your head all year and if you’re like me, you may find yourself wondering what to knit for the guys in your life this . . .

you want something hard-wearing and rugged to withstand daily wear by your average guy, but you don’t want to skimp on that soft cuddly feel they all love so much. favorites are born of attention to that detail . . .

a good warm hat that’s easy on the ears is a thing to behold—make someone happy with one of those and soon the whole world will have heard about it.

and then there are those fingerless mitts—the uninitiated will swear they won’t wear them, but get one of these guys into a pair and suddenly they are whistling a completely different tune.

most guys love a good, cushy textured fabric—this winter set has plenty of that and then some. cables, waffle ribs, and twisted knits—it’s texture heaven; even your galumph of a brother will notice and appreciate  it (in a good way, too!).

shown above, the large hat and tall scarf in briar rose fourth of july, a wonderfully cushy, 4-ply  sport/DK yarn. shown below left, the small size hat and mitts, also in fourth of july.

make a two or three piece set or knit just one great piece if you like—this pattern covers all options.

check out the oktober zest project page in ravelry to view wonderful examples knit by our 2011 club members, making it easy to imagine how your own oktober zest set will look in another colorway or yarn base.

to purchase pattern or view complete pattern information, please click here to visit the knitspot pattern shop. or purchase the pattern in our ravelry pattern shop.

oktober zest is also included in the FIFC 2011 eBook, as part of the 2011 club collection—eight terrific accessory patterns with a total of ten pieces. each pattern is multi-sized and suitable for gifting; many will have universal appeal for women, men, and children alike. purchase the eBook collection from the knitspot club website or in our ravelry pattern shop.

the club colorway—octoberfest—is signature briar rose all the way, the kind of colors that chris likes best. i love the way these autumn hues swirl around the hat like a leaf storm. no worries here that the color will overtake the texture—these motifs are strong enough to stand up to a fun, vibrant mix such as this one.

thanks to our friends kian and mark, our photo shoot at the pumpkin farm was a lot of fun, despite the unseasonable heat, haha. kian was an especially good sport about wearing handknits in such weather!

of course, all the guys love david and will do almost anything to cooperate with him (how could they not); he’s terrific behind the camera.

7 thoughts on “oktober zest

  1. It was exactly this beautiful, cushy, sproingy, perfectly dyed, soothing to knit yarn that was the catalyst for me to attend Yarn in the Barn. The pattern has also become a favorite. This may be my favorite of the 2011 FIFC kits! (I don’t know for sure yet, I have two more to complete…..life gets in the way.)

  2. I loved knitting the mitt’s last fall! I’ll be starting the hat soon as a Christmas gift. It’s a great take a long project and so easy to knit!

  3. Great to see what you guys are up to over the ‘pond’. Just started following your blog from England.

  4. Love it! May have to make it for my husband for Christmas- in a totally boring color since the man only likes tan black and grey! At least the pattern will look wonderful!

  5. I gave this set to my brother last year and he’s already casually asked me if there’ll be a new pair of mitts for him this year! I better get crackin’!

  6. This just might be the perfect idea for my Uncle who has been asking for a hat for at least two years. I love the design.

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