The Fearless Knitter by Jennifer E Seiffert

This Fearless Knitting Workbook, The Step-by-Step guide to Knitting Confidence by Jennifer E. Seiffert will truly make you a fearless knitter. She starts with the basics such as tools, gauge and how to get it, how to adjust when you don’t get it, where to sit, make sure there’s a cat nearby, you know, all the basics. Assessing mistakes, blocking, seams.. all the stuff a good knitter needs to know.

Next comes the knit and purl stitch and combining them. She talks you through a ribbed sampler and a checkerboard square, and bam! When your checkerboard square is finished do you realize what has happened? You’ve learned to read a chart! She sneaks that one in there pretty good! Raised stitches in a Maple Leaf and Oak Leaf Squares, and next thing you know, you have a couple of really pretty pillows. Shaping, increases and decreases, cables and crossed stitches, you’ll be an expert in no time.

And then, just when you think you can tackle anything, you get to make holes. Intentionally! Lace! You’ve just knitted lace and there’s no stopping you now. Learn how to knit in the round with either circs or dpns; (knitter speak for circular needles and double pointed needles). Put all of that together and tackle the projects at the end, which by now are easy for you.

This hardcover book, with a spiral binding to keep it open, for reference is indispensible for the newer knitter. Even the seasoned pro can learn a few tips (ask me how I know..). From Interweave Press, here: www.interweavestore.com

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

Comments

angelina says
April 18, 2010 at 1:54 am
hi jen,
there was no date so this may be a really old blog entry of yours? i feel your sockknitting pain as of this week. i have tried and tried and tried. i think, if anyone says they knit abunch of socks and love it, hold onto your wallet cause they are lying, LYING!
=)
xx
angelina

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