Book Review: Coffeehouse Knits

There’s something about the vibe of a good coffeehouse: relaxing, creative, warm and welcoming. It’s a place where you want to hang out, pull out your knitting and stay a while with a tasty beverage close at hand.

Coffeehouse Knits by Kerry Bogert celebrates the spirit of the coffeehouse and the rituals of knitting with 20 inspired patterns form a variety of designers.

Essays on the knitting community and the magic of knitting together (even if you’re an introvert) may inspire you to make some of these projects in public.

There are sweaters, cowls, shawls and socks, a hat and mittens, all with a relaxed and cozy style.

A couple of my favorites are the Chai Latte Cowl by Lori Wagner, with a simple Broken Rib pattern and a faux cable to make the knitting a little more interesting; Meghan Babin’s Dirty Chai Pullover, featuring swirls of traveling stitches and a cozy turtleneck; and the Morning Brew Sweater from Kiri Fitzgerald, with its great lace V-neck detail. Check out all the patterns on Ravelry.

This book is a great choice for intermediate knitters who like patterns with nice details but that aren’t super complicated and are just loungy enough to keep you super comfy whatever your day brings you.

About the book: 144 pages, hardcover, 20 patterns. Published by Interweave Books, suggested retail $26.99.

A long time ago, when I was writing the knitting website for About.com, someone asked me about all the different ways to knit thumbs on mittens, if someone asked me that question now, though, I could direct them to The Mitten Handbook by Mary Scott Huff. This book contains everything you need to know to knit your own mittens to any size, any gauge, using a variety of edging, cuff, thumb and top treatments.

Looking for more knitting patterns for Mittens? Check these out on Etsy.

While no one would likely use a knit backpack for school, knitting a backpack is a fun way to show off your knitting skills and carry around your project or everyday essentials instead of using a purse. Check out these cute backpack knitting patterns and stitch one up for your next project.

I couldn’t resist sharing this adorable bunny backpack (you can also make it without the ears) that is made on a circular knitting machine. This pattern is from Orange Olive Road and you can use a 46 or 48 needle machine for the bag but will also need a 22 needle machine if you opt for the bunny version.

If you prefer knitting by hand, check out the bucket bag pattern from WoolFans Knitting. This one calls for super bulky yarn in two or three colors (you could make it all in one color, too, if you’d rather) and it looks like the base is knit flat and then the sides are worked in the round.

You know I love a stashbuster, and that’s what you get with the Whidbey Bag from Wool and Pine Designs. This one calls for DK weight yarn for the body of the bag, which is actually worked in a single color from the top down. The colorful bits are woven in after the knitting is done, allowing you to use up all sorts of odd balls quickly.

Adding hardware to a knit bag makes it look that much more interesting, and the combination of leather accents and a sari silk yarn makes Le Backpack from Vanrey Knits a lot of fun. This pattern is on Ravelry and uses a super bulky yarn and seed stitch for a ton of texture.

Mama in a Stitch has a great free pattern for a little backpack with a flap closure. This one is worked in worsted weight cotton yarn with two strands held together for extra stability. It starts with a flat base with the body worked in the round and a knit flap and I-cord straps.

Have you read?