A Google Story about Knitting

I don’t know how long this video has been out there, but I just saw it so I wanted to share it with you.

Google has a series of videos showing how different people use Google+, and one of them features yarn store owner Christina Blount Presnell, who hosts knit night via Google Hangouts. She’s used the Internet and Google+ to help build her yarn business, Yarn Mountain in Harrisonburg, Va., as well as building a community of knitters far beyond those who are close enough to visit her shop.

Go check out the video and add her or the shop to your circles, if you want. (You can find me over there, too, but I’ll admit I update rarely. Maybe when the book is done!)

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

Chrisitna Blount Presnell says
October 6, 2012 at 6:17 am
Sarah, Thank you for posting this mini-documentary. It was a very fun project to make and an exciting opportunity to work with the Google Creative Lab. This film was shot in May 2012 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in and around the Yarn Mountain shop. The opening shot of yarn being spun was filmed at the Claudia Hand Painted Yarns studio, also located in Harrisonburg. The folks in the film are our actual customers, and they had a lot of fun being involved, too! Imagine my surprise when that phone call came, and the caller ID said “Google”. We were humbled that they asked us to be a part of this project and help bring the message of the capabilities of Google+ to other small business owners. We are very thrilled with the number of friends we’ve made around the world, yourself included. 🙂
Cheers!
Christina

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