Knitting

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Giveaway: Knit Yourself In X2

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knit yourself in hen knitting book review

Anne and Ellie are our winners!

The other day I shared a review of Knit Yourself In: Inventive Patterns to Tell Your Story in the Danish “Hen Knitting” Tradition by Cecilie Kaurin and Linn Bryhn Jacobsen. It’s a fun and colorful book full of somewhat improvisational patterns meant to use up stash and show your personality.

Today I’m giving away two copies so a couple of you can explore this fun knitting style. Check out the review for more information, but the book includes more than 20 patterns using lots of colorful little motifs, mostly from nature, on garments for kids, men and women.

There is one thing that annoyed me about this book — and I totally get that it’s part of the style, but it’s not at all my style — is that motifs are left unfinished if there’s not room for a whole one. So you could be decreasing for a neckline and end up with a headless giraffe at the center front of your garment.

So my question for those of you who want a chance to win this book is: would something like that drive you crazy? If you were making a pattern where the stitches didn’t correspond to the motifs, would you fix it, or would you knit it the more whimsical hen knitting way?

As always, leave a comment before the end of the day Sunday, February 1, if you’d like a chance to win, and there will be two winners this week.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing and good luck!

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. I’m like you. Motifs are left unfinished if there’s not room for a whole one drive me crazy.

  5. I’d find a motif that blended well with the pattern. A “headless” giraffe is not a pretty sight!

  11. Maybe it is because I sew, there are times when motifs don’t match, it would not bother me. It (headless giraffe), only adds to the uniqueness and individually of the work.

  12. I don’t think that would bother me. I don’t think that people looking at your garment would notice.

  13. Oooh. Would drive me crazy, but I’m very interested in this book since my dad was Danish and I’ve not learned a lot about the knitting traditions of the Danes.

  14. it depends on what I’m knitting and for whom- I do like to wing it, though. I’ve never heard of hen knitting, but it sounds fun- what a wonderful way to tell a story!

  15. I’m usually very precise, but Hen Kntting sounds like fun, and I’d probably let it go. My Mom was Danish, and taught me to knit; I’d love to win this book.

  18. No question, I would fix it. That headless giraffe would drive me crazy and haunt my dreams. I always make changes in what I knit, even when I don’t think I will.

  19. It would bother me, but I would leave it as an exercise in wabi sabi. But I’d try to choose a motif that wouldn’t matter as much as a giraffe. If I win the book, I’ll give it a try and let you know!

  27. It would definitely drive me crazy and I would have to fix it. I am a perfectionist and I cannot help it!

  30. A headless giraffe on my chest would bother me! Along with everyone pointing at my chest! I would have to move him up to my shoulder or put a different motif in to even up the number of stitches.

Have you read?

Summer Headband Knitting Patterns

Some knitters have trouble coming up with projects they can both knit and wear when it’s warm outside. Especially if you’re not ready for garments (thought tank tops and summer tops are great first garment projects!) it might seem like there’s nothing to do when it’s hot outside.

One way to remedy this situation is by knitting headbands. Headbands are great any time of year to keep hair out of your face and make you look a little more pulled together without any effort. Wider headbands double as ear warmers when it gets colder, but skinnier ones are great throughout the year.

A couple of great examples are from designer Elly Donner, who has a set of headband knitting patterns on Ravelry you can buy individually or as an ebook. Homebody, shown here, is worked in garter stitch (the ties are crocheted but you could also use I-cord), while Slipstream uses slipped stitches and garter ridges, and Sounds of Spring has little cables. The patterns use DK weight yarn and are a great way to use a little leftover yarn from another project.

I also recently came across the lovely Plush Braided Headband by Yevgeniya Li. A free pattern on Ravelry, this wider design is covered in lush cables for a sleek and fancy look. It uses worsted weight yarn and you can customize the length for a perfect fit.

Celeste Knitwear’s Spikelet is a simple twisted headband with columns of eyelet lace to keep it from being too heavy. It’s worked flat and sewn together to make the twist, and uses DK weight yarn. It has three sizes available.

This skinny lace headband from Lusi Knits is another cute choice. It calls for fine weight cotton yarn, but you could use heavier yarn if you have it on hand to make a wider headband (or use any fine yarn you have available). It uses ties to customize the fit.

And if you want to go super basic but still really cute, try the easy ring headband from Lulu Pattern. The sample is knit pretty wide, but you could make a narrower version if you want, and the little ring turns it from a plain loop into a bow with very little extra work. It calls for worsted weight yarn but you could also use whatever weight you like for this one to change up the look and size.