Book Review – 20 to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit

“20 to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit (Twenty to Make)” by Sachiyo Ishii is a must-have guide for knitters who love Christmas! The book contains 20 patterns for gorgeous, quick, and easy tiny Christmas toys that are perfect for knitters of all abilities. The projects are accompanied by clear, easy-to-follow patterns and fun photography, making it easy for knitters to follow along and create their own Christmas toys.

The book starts with a useful page of basic techniques, including making up, stuffing, and simple, decorative surface stitching. This is perfect for those who are new to knitting or need a refresher on the basics. The projects in the book range from a polar bear, angel, penguin, and robin to a Christmas pudding, bauble, snowman, and Santa with his sack, and many more cute and quirky Christmas ideas, all bursting with character.

All the projects are beautifully made, exquisitely designed, and very easy to make. They make perfect gifts and will delight young and old alike. Whether you’re knitting for your own family or as a gift for someone else, these tiny Christmas toys will be cherished for years to come.

“20 to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit (Twenty to Make)“ is a great guide for knitters who want to make their own Christmas decorations and gifts. The patterns are easy to follow and the finished products are adorable and charming. This book is perfect for knitters of all levels and will provide hours of crafting fun during the holiday season.

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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