Bake Knit Sew showcases a year of creativity in baking, knitting, and sewing. Each month, an original baking recipe is partnered with a knitting pattern or sewing project, made with the seasonally-inspired ingredients and materials. These twelve baking recipes, seven knitting patterns, and five sewing projects are yours to make your own. Written by Evin O’Keeffe, author of the popular blog EvinOK.

This book explores sources for wool in Ireland which embrace the slow revolution with ethically-treated sheep, fair-trade wool, and local milling. A step away from the mass-produced acrylics and imported wool blends from other continents to focus once again on knitting with local wool. There are a variety of breeds of sheep being raised in Ireland and Great Britain, each breed with its own special characteristics. Each of these varieties of wool brings a new level of uniqueness to a knitter’s work. It is time to allow conscientious small-batch artisan producers to guide us to the very best of what these islands have to offer. If we’re so focused on having our eggs be fair-trade and local, why not our knitting wool?

Ultraviolet Knits: Twelve knitting patterns featuring UV-reactive hand-dyed wool yarn

This top-down triangle shawl uses three colorways of DK yarn (100g each) to create a fun striping design, both in color and texture. It is approachable for an enthusiastic beginner or an experienced knitter.

Bottom-up crescent-shaped shawlette with two lace designs, knit in a mini skein fade set (120g total). This pattern is inspired by the ironwork openings and lattice textures of a school gate.

The Midnight Waffles pattern looks complex, but is a simple combination of slipped, knit, and purl stitches. The cowl design features a provisional cast on that is later joined with the bind-off edge for a continuous pattern and double the insulation. The resulting cowl works equally well as a headband/earwarmer.

There is something so satisfying about quick knits that are also soft and cosy. Using two colors of DK yarn, these mitts are knit flat, top down, and seamed up the side, leaving an opening for the thumb. Just weave in the ends and start keeping your hands warm! Like the other two mitt patterns in this collection, the result fits either the righ...

Rigel is the brightest star in the constellation of Orion. The star looks blue-white to the naked eye. These mitts are knit in the round then knit flat for the thumb hole then knit in the round again, creating a fun color shift. This also results in each mitt working for either hand and being wearable upside down equally well. The stitch patter...

Rigel is the brightest star in the constellation of Orion. The star looks blue-white to the naked eye. Knit from the top down, this cowl is soft and a fun way to use special buttons. The stitch pattern is my Colorway Accented Stockinette. Similar to the approach used for the Rigel Mitts, this pattern spotlights small bursts of color, making it ...

The warm illumination of a porch light shares its beam to cast shadows and play with light in the night. Insects flock to its mesmerizing glow. This fun, sideways asymmetrical triangle shawl grows as you knit it. You can keep going as long as you like - or your skeins allow - making this a flexible pattern.

Inspired by lighthouses perched on the coastline, I named this hat pattern for the French word for lighthouse. With slipped stitches and textures to emulate the beacon of light. The hat pattern has three sizes and can be topped off with a pompom.

Our hands have to deal with all the elements and with work, from washing dishes to weeding the garden, but they take on an almost magical softness when we cup them to briefly hold a caught firefly. When I saw La Bien Aimee’s Pop Grunge colorway, it reminded me of those childhood moments of running around the garden at twilight amidst the twinkl...

Elara is the eighth-largest moon of Jupiter. This design reflects the moon’s shape through purl stitches, eyelets, and bobbles. This shawl has a triangle shape, but feels elegant with the alternating textures and bobbles. This is a nice size for warmth while eyelets still showing off the outfit beneath, making this a choice project for a specia...

This pattern helps all the beautiful mini skeins you’ve collected shine. This shawl is knit on the bias with easy-to-memorize stitches, making for an approachable wrap. The stitch pattern emulates the constellation after which the pattern is named with subtle W-shaped eyelets.

This single-skein bottom-up triangle shawl is knit flat. The nature of the construction also means it is flexible regarding yarn quantity and sizing - just use more yarn for a larger shawl. Named for one of the largest stars visible to the naked eye, Betelgeuse is the ninth-brightest star in the night sky and second-brightest in the constellati...

Inspired by Altair, the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila and the twelfth-brightest star in the night sky. Altair rotates rapidly, with the velocity at its equator resulting in a non-spherical shape. That shape is emulated in this seamless cowl design. It looks more complex than it is, making this a great project for anyone who can ...

This shawl can be made in two sizes, both of which are knit using three full skeins and three mini skeins. Each is knit with a background created by the two darker neutral skeins, so the UV-reactive yarn colors pop all the more -- like a pink sunset against a dark creeping ceiling of stars. The construction is very straightforward and much like...

Airy and cosy are two things that rarely go together, but are the perfect combination for a hand knit baby blanket. The design of the Ballyhoura Baby Blanket is inspired by the sun-drenched Ballyhoura Hills as the day goes on and the long shadows shift. Knit flat with a simple combination of stitch variations, you can create a vibrant and cheer...

There is nothing quite like the texture and warmth of handknits when there is a chill in the air. The Barra Marled Hat offers an approachable pattern light on challenge, but heavy on beauty. The marled effect is created by pairing washable solid-colored DK and a colorful sock yarn to be knit as one. Doubled yarns result in a beautiful marled lo...

These cosy​ Farran Baby Booties​ are knit with garter stitch on the soles for extra cushiness. Knitting a taller ankle section gives ample overlap with trousers or leggings for warmth. These booties are perfect for pre-walkers. The name is inspired by the nature walks my family takes in Farran Wood.

This Field & Sky Pullover sweater is knit flat then adorned with your favorite farm animal buttons. The two-color design allows you to personalise your creation without the effort of intarsia or stranded colorwork. I chose cow, chicken, rabbit, and carrot buttons, but you could select buttons depicting tractors, birds, pigs, or just about w...

Tools: 5mm or 8 US DPNs or 16-inch (40.64cm) circular needles.

These hard-working boot cuffs are designed to fold over the top of boots so they can be at the ready by the door. The ribbing is on the inside and blocks chilly drafts. Coirceog is the Irish word for “hive” and “cone.”

This tiny pixie hat is aimed towards early or premature infants (up to 6lbs/2.75kg) It is unisex in design. This is a simple hat that looks beautiful in a patterned or plain yarn.

From October to March, I live in my boots. They protect me from the chill of the wind and transition from jeans to dresses with ease. But I longed for a little insulation to keep wind, rain, or sea spray from sneaking into the boot tops so I whipped up these quick knit boot toppers. They work equally well over fine leather boots or practical ra...

Cowls are the perfect extra layer of warmth that are durable, fairly snag-resistant, and fashionable. The stitch design for this cowl came from my desire for a pattern that works well with a varied colorway or a solid yarn. The chevron design emulates the pointed end of Cupid’s arrow.

Lacy shawls enthral and intimidate me, so I developed this design from my longing to create one that is an ideal first lace knitting project. It reminds me of the end of Spring when the Cherry Blossom trees shed their petals, like nature’s confetti. Which is especially fitting since the Dragonfly Fibres colorway is Springtime In Washington. Aft...

As a child, I discovered my dresser had become home to a colony of bees. I hated to disrupt them so I just didn’t open that drawer. Eventually, my parents learned of my winged roommates and insisted we move the occupied drawer outside so the bees could find a new home. My love of bees remained -- because not one stung me, I thought we were frie...

Years ago, I was in need of a simple hat pattern that was loose enough to not crush my hair or even to make way for a ponytail. After a few attempts, my Keating Hat was created. It is a fairly quick knit in the round and, with two size options, quite a thoughtful gift. Using a colorful yarn brightens any day, even the cold and grey days of Janu...

Handspun wool yarn is like a raw gemstone tumbled and refined to shine and sparkle. Anything created with something so beautiful needs to be simple enough to let the yarn be the hero. I designed this headband with that in mind. Sara of Smudge Yarns dyed and spun this from the wool of local Irish sheep.

On chilly days when I don’t feel like ironing, there is nothing better than a handknit sweater- vest. It helps what would otherwise be an ordinary pairing of tee shirt and jeans become a forcefield against brutal weather and a fashion statement in your favorite color. For this, I chose the natural Irish Aran wool that kept its sheep warm until ...

A simple stockinette cowl with added visual interest and texture from slipped yarn overs. Worked with super bulky yarn on large needles, this is a quick knit and a perfect last-minute gift.

The simple pattern showcases the colors of this particular yarn, but also would work well with other thick-and-thin bulky weight yarns or handspun yarns.

The stranded colorwork heart design is done with three colours. A strand of hearts facing up and down make this cowl right side up in any direction. The pattern is designed to be ideal for last-minute gifts. It takes a few hours to knit the entire cowl and three full skeins of the yarn (in three different colours) will be enough for you to knit...

This pattern is my own design for a very quick knit cowl in a child’s size. The stranded colorwork heart design is done with three colours. A strand of hearts facing up and down make this cowl right side up in any direction. This design grew out my desire to have something to keep my own son’s neck, ears and chin warm. There always seems to be ...

This tea cosy is stretchy and fits different shaped teapots. Like the jeans in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It’s a relatively quick knit in the round.

My tried and true formula for an easy hand knit baby blanket has helped me create and give lasting baby gifts for friends. Each blanket project is knit with different washable yarns, making the result completely unique. Garter stitch provides a warm light layer for baby.

This cowl is a transitional piece to balance the bit of evening chill in the air. It stays in place, adds a bit of color to any outfit, and can carry you through winter into spring. I named my creation the Taffy Twist Cowl because once it was knitted up, it reminded me of a caramel apple coated in sprinkles and crushed rainbow lollypop shards w...

This is a simple baby blanket that uses the existing self-striping pattern in one yarn to inspire a textural feature. Moss stitch edging then stockinette, but a surprise purling when the bold colour arrives. A second coordinating yarn paired with the self-striping one creates nice depth and warmth. Go up a needle size if you are a tight knitter...