Book Review: InstaKnits by Melissa Leapman

While none of us a knitting exclusively for the ‘gram, it’s always nice to make photo-worthy projects that we’ll love to knit and wear (and share on social media). And if they don’t take a ton of time, so much the better!

Melissa Leapman’s InstaKnits includes 24 projects for quick-to-knit accessories and tops, arranged by how much time they will take you to knit.

From a simple striped hat that will take less than two hours to knit in front of a movie to a tweedy, hooded jacket that will get you through a few seasons of your latest binge-worthy show, the book also includes scarves, shawls, summer tops, cowls and more.

Some of my favorites include Just Swirling Around, a super bulky hat with a spiral eyelet pattern (2 hours); Sona, a fun cowl worked in a two-color cable pattern (10 hours); Rosina, a simple tank top with a little waist shaping and a rolled neckline (14-22 hours, depending on the size); Flora, a fun mesh-stitch lace shawl with a lace edging on one side (16 hours); and the aforementioned bulky jacket, Outono, which the book predicts will take 30 to 62 hours, depending on the size. (I am not seeing the book on Ravelry but you can see several of the projects on the cover.)

I’m naturally skeptical of patterns that suggest how long they should take to knit because some of us knit faster than others, but it is nice to have a guideline and know these patterns are faster and those will take longer (if, say, you’re looking for a gift to knit for a party next weekend).

There’s a nice variety in the patterns in terms of type of project and techniques. You’ll find lace, cables, stripes and mosaic projects here. A section at the back of the book covers the basics of how to knit, increase, decrease, make cables and bobbles and other skills.

If you’re looking for a some nice basic and fun patterns that you can make while chilling in front of the TV, as gifts or for a little self-care for yourself, InstaKnits has a lot of great options.

About the book: 160 pages, paperback, 24 patterns. Published July 2022 by Stackpole Books. Suggested retail $26.95. Buy on Amazon.

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Before there were true crime podcasts, there was Unsolved Mysteries. The show’s original run, from 1987 to 2002, introduced generations to the documentary style true crime format, complete with dramatic re-enactments. The show touched on all sorts of unexplained events, from theories about alien abduction and ghosts to more mundane missing persons cases.

It’s kind of a cult classic that’s been rebooted and re-invigorated several times, though the original is of course the best.

If you’re nostalgic for the olden days of crime television, you can knit yourself an Unsolved Mysteries sweater with the classic logo from the series on it.

Designed by Cecilia Calles, this boxy, cropped sweater uses stranded colorwork knit flat to make the logo. The body is worked from the top down flat, beginning with the back panel. The front is then picked up from the shoulders and worked flat with the logo added. Pieces are joined at the side seams so you can work the collar and the sleeves in the round, and tubular bind offs add a polished look.

The design is available in one size, but it would be pretty easy to modify to make a sweater to fit you. Or just add the chart to a plain sweater pattern that you like and that fits you for a bit of vintage true crime flair.

This version is worked in fingering weight yarn and uses four colors. It is rated for intermediate to advanced knitters because of the colorwork and bind off techniques. But I think it would be a lot of fun to knit and your true crime watching/listening buddies are sure to love it! (I would totally wear this for viewings of Only Murders in the Building, if I wasn’t wearing a Mabel Sweater, anyway!)

You can find the pattern at Cecilia’s Etsy shop, Weirding Module.

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