Surface Crochet Technique video tutorial and Tamar Hat

 Recently I shared two designs of mine - Tamar Poncho and Tamar scarf, knitted in colour block and decorated with surface crochet. Today, I'd like to share another design completed in this technique  - Tamar Hat. In addition, I made the video tutorial for this fancy method of decoration, which would help you to master this fancy technique and decorate any knitted garment or accessory. 

Let's start with the Tamar Hat

The Tamar Hat is a beautifully simple beanie, crafted with one main colour and accented by a single contrasting shade. While the design may be straightforward, the tartan effect adds a touch of sophistication, making it both stylish and unique.

I explored two delightful variations for this pattern: a light-coloured hat with dark stripes and a dark-coloured hat with light stripes. Both styles showcase the versatility of this design, letting the interplay of colours take center stage.

Knitting pattern for Tamar Hat is available from Ravelry 

The Magic of Surface Crochet

What makes those hats truly special is the surface crochet technique, which is used to create the illusion of woven tartan lines. This easy crochet method adds depth and structure without requiring complicated intarsia or stranded knitting. If you’ve never tried surface crochet before, don’t worry—the pattern includes a step-by-step photo tutorial to guide you through the process!

And the best news is I recorded a video tutorial for the Surface Crochet, which is available from my YouTube channel.  

Knitting pattern for Tamar Poncho is available from Ravelry. 

To see some behind the scene photos you can follow me on Instagram.

You are also welcome to join my Facebook knitting group to share your work and get some help with my patterns.

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Beginner friendly knitting pattern for socks - Flexy Fit Socks

 I am happy to share my very first knitted design for 2025 - Flexy Fit Socks. This versatile and comfortable pair is designed to cater to both beginners and seasoned knitters. Crafted with 4-pl/fingering weight yarn, these socks feature a combination of various ribbing stitches, ensuring a snug and flexible fit for all sizes.

Pattern Highlights:

Knitting pattern for Flexy Fit socks is written for both children and adults, making it a perfect project for family matching sets.

Clear and concise directions guide you through each step, ensuring a hassle-free knitting experience.

My first sample in beige is knitted in budget friendly yarn – Drops Flora. The yarn is warm and soft as well as keeps its shape well. Which makes it perfect for long lasting versatile socks.

Another sample is knitted in beautiful blue shade using hand dyed yarn from local dyer. 

For more inspiration please see some beautiful project from my test knitting team on Ravelry

Yarn Substitutes:

If you're looking for alternative yarns available on LoveCrafts, consider the following options:

1. Paintbox Yarns Socks: A durable blend of 75% wool and 25% polyamide, offering a generous 390 meters per 100g skein.

2. West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 Ply: Comprising 75% wool and 25% nylon, this yarn provides 400 meters per 100g skein, ensuring both comfort and longevity.

3. Stylecraft Head Over Heels Walking In Nature: A blend of 75% wool and 25% polyamide, offering 400 meters per 100g skein, perfect for creating cozy and durable socks.

Where to Find the Pattern:

The Flexy Fit Socks pattern is available for purchase on both Ravelry and LoveCrafts. Dive into this project and create a pair of socks that combine style, comfort, and a perfect fit for every member of the family.

Other socks designs:

If you like knitting socks you can check my other socks designs for inspiration and yarn ideas.

Talea socks - knitting pattern is on Lovecrafts

Arlet Socks - knitting pattern is on Lovecrafts

 

Trimetry socks - knitting pattern is on Lovecrafts

To see some behind the scene photos you can follow me on Instagram.

You are also welcome to join my Facebook knitting group to share your work and get some help with my patterns.

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Tamar Scarf – A Cozy and Colorful Knit with a Tartan Twist

 If you love the timeless look of tartan but prefer knitting over weaving, the Tamar Scarf is the perfect project for you! This beginner-friendly pattern uses five beautiful colors to create a striking plaid effect, all thanks to the surface crochet technique. Whether you're new to colorwork or looking for a fun way to use up some single skeins from your stash, this scarf offers a wonderful way to experiment with multiple shades while keeping the knitting process simple and enjoyable.

 A Blend of Colors and Texture

The Tamar Scarf is designed with three main colors—green, taupe, and yellow—combined with two contrast colors—white and brown—to create delicate narrow stripes. The rich tweed texture of the yarn adds depth and character to the design, giving it a rustic, cozy feel.

 The scarf is knitted in Drops Soft Tweed (DK weight), a soft and affordable yarn with beautiful flecks that enhance the overall look. If you're looking for budget-friendly substitutes, here are some great alternatives:
•    From Lovecrafts: King Cole Big Value Tweed DK , Stylecraft Life DK

•    From KnitPicks: City Tweed DK, Wool of the Andes Tweed

The Magic of Surface Crochet

What makes this scarf truly special is the surface crochet technique, which is used to create the illusion of woven tartan lines. This easy crochet method adds depth and structure without requiring complicated intarsia or stranded knitting. If you’ve never tried surface crochet before, don’t worry—the pattern includes a step-by-step photo tutorial to guide you through the process!

A Flexible and Stash-Friendly Project

 One of the best things about the Tamar Scarf is its versatility. You can stick to the original five-color palette, add more shades for extra vibrancy, or simplify it with fewer colors. This pattern is also a fantastic way to use up leftover yarn from previous projects—perfect for those single skeins waiting for the right project!

Where to Get the Pattern

 The Tamar Scarf pattern is available on Ravelry and Lovecrafts, making it easy to download and start knitting right away.
If you’ve been wanting to try colorwork in an easy and approachable way, the Tamar Scarf is a wonderful project to explore. With its mix of simple knitting and creative finishing touches, it’s a satisfying knit that will keep you warm and stylish all season long.
Are you ready to cast on? Grab your yarn and let’s bring some tartan charm to your wardrobe!

If you love this technique and need more inspiration, please check my Tamar Poncho too!  

Knitting pattern for Tamar Poncho is available from Ravelry. 

To see some behind the scene photos you can follow me on Instagram.

You are also welcome to join my Facebook knitting group to share your work and get some help with my patterns.

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Twisted stitches and knitting pattern for Melton sweater

 Have you heard about twisted stitches? If not, there is a whole book with intricate beautiful stitches, called Twisted Stitch Sourcebook, written by Norah Gaughan. I bought this book a few year ago and already designed quite a few fancy designs with those stitches, including Trimetry socks, Trimetry Bucket Hat (read more about it here) and Trimetry vest (blog post here). Today I would like to share another design knitted with twisted stitches - Melton sweater.   

Twisted stitches is a great alternative to cable knitting. It is much easier, does not involve using a cable needle and it creates lovely geometric patterns. I highly recommend trying those stitches!

Now let’s talk about sweater.

Sweater Design

I knitted my sample in DK weight yarn in deep forest green colour, using 100% wool yarn. This comfy sweater is the perfect garment for any season! Moreover, the best thing – it is unisex design. One of my test knitters knitted this sweater for her husband and it looks fabulous! See the project here.

The beautiful intricate pattern gives the impression of cables without actually knitting them.

Design features include a boxy silhouette with plenty of positive ease, dropped shoulders, a nicely fitted round neck, and a slightly cropped length, which can easily be adjusted for a longer, classic look.

Yarn ideas

I recommend using any DK weight yarn in solid colour, as multi-coloured yarn or variegated yarn would not show the stitch out. Hovewer adding a contrast colour to sleeve cuffs, neck or bottom band might create beautiful effect. Here is the version of Melton sweater from my another test knitter Dieke (Ravelry ID: DiekeHarmsma) She created absolute master piece using bright orange yarn as a main and adding two shades of yellow to sleeves for extra wow effect! More photos and details are on her project page

Knitting pattern

The knitting pattern for the Melton sweater includes detailed charts for all sizes and row-by-row instructions. It is written for chest sizes ranging from 84 cm/33 inches to 172 cm /67¾ inches.

In my Instagram, I shared a quick tutorial for knitting of twisted stitches. So if you want to check it out, please follow the link: https://www.instagram.com/vitalinacraft/reel/C5ixBT9Im-j/

Knitting pattern for Melton sweater is available from Ravelry, Etsy and Lovecrafts

Happy knitting! Looking forward to seeing all your beautiful versions of Melton sweater soon! 

To see some behind the scene photos you can follow me on Instagram.

You are also welcome to join my Facebook knitting group to share your work and get some help with my patterns.

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