A Sweater for Spring, or for Layering

Just the other day I said something about not wearing my short-sleeved sweaters and tops that much, but I am trying to learn to layer a little better so I still want to knit these sorts of garments.

The Julia Yoke Sweater by Kunbi Ayo-Okanlawon is a great project to knit to throw on top of a long-sleeved shirt when it’s cool or a sun dress when it’s warmer.

It’s a bulky, short-sleeved top with a circular yoke and a fun slip stitch pattern that makes the design look more complicated than it is.

The pattern is available in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 28.75 to 61 inches. You can purchase it on Kunbi’s website, or from Etsy

[Photo: Kunbi Ayo-Okanlawon.] Looking for sweater patterns? Check these books out.

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In the interest of full disclosure, I’ve never watched Gilmore Girls. I know I probably should, but I feel like I wasn’t quite the right age for it when it came out and I’ve never gone back to watch it. That said, fans of the show are sure to enjoy these knit homages to the beloved characters from Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls: The Official Knitting Book.

Edited by Tanis Gray, the book includes 29 projects for hats, cowls, scarves, socks, mitts, garments and home decor designed by a variety of stitchers.

Six of the projects are rated easy, 17 intermediate and six for advanced knitters.

The projects are sometimes literally inspired by the show, such as the tam Rory wore when she went golfing with her grandfather, while others incorporate icons, quotes (like “I smell snow”) and logos (Luke’s Diner) from the show.

There’s a hat made to look like newsprint as a nod to Rory’s journalistic aspirations, mitts and gloves for supporting the teams at Stars Hollow High, a beaded lace scarf inspired by Rory’s adventure with the Life and Death Brigade, and a cardigan designed to show Paris’s love of macaroni and cheese.

Some of the patterns are less obviously related to the show, like a cowl with falling leaves or an argyle vest.

Each pattern comes with a quote from the show and a little back story about the cast, different storylines or the inspiration behind the design. The book is scattered with photos from the show and other fun facts about its production.

In the back of the book you’ll find a glossary of techniques (words but no pictures), and the book has a ribbon bookmark to hold your place on the pattern you’re working on.

This book would be a fun gift for a knitter who is a Gilmore Girls fan, or use it to stitch something up for someone who watches this show as their comfort show almost 25 years later.

About the book: 200 pages, hardcover, 29 patterns. Published 2024 by Insight Editions, suggested retail price $34.99

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