A Shawl to Wear While You’re Reading and Knitting

I know there are a lot of knitters who have to really concentrate on what they are doing and can’t do anything else while they are knitting. In time you can probably graduate to watching TV while knitting, but I’m surprised by how many people are impressed that I can read while knitting and do it often.

(I mean, I can’t read and crochet at the same time yet, so I get it. It takes practice to know where you are without looking and to trust your hands without your eyes there to help. I’m working on it.)

Whether you knit the Book Club Shawl while you’re reading or just to wear while you’re reading and/or knitting in the future, it’s still a fun knit and a cozy shawl for whatever you’re up to.

Designed by Gavriella Treminio, it’s a triangular shawl worked from one corner of the wingspan to the other. It features an I-cord edging and uses simple cables and slipped stitches to make textured horizontal stripes across the body.

The shawl is worked in worsted weight yarn, and while it’s lovely in a neutral that helps the stitching to pop, I think it would be fun in jewel tone yarn as well.

There are options in the pattern to make a shawlette and a bigger shawl. The smaller version has a 53 inch or 132.6 cm wingspan, while the larger version is 78 inches/198 cm across.

The little one is shown here and it looks like a perfect size to throw in your (book) bag to keep it handy to toss around your shoulders when you need an extra bit of warmth. Which is always a good idea, even if you’re not a big reader.

Get more information about the pattern and buy your copy on Ravelry.

[Photo: Gavriella Treminio]

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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.

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