Book Review – Knitting The National Parks

March 28, 2023 by Shellie Wilson Leave a Comment

Knitting the National Parks: 63 Easy-to-Follow Designs for Beautiful Beanies Inspired by the US National Parks” is the perfect book for knitters who want to create unique beanies inspired by the breathtaking landscapes of the US National Parks. Written by Nancy Bates, a knitting designer and outdoor enthusiast, this book offers 63 original beanie patterns that capture the majesty of each national park.

From simple beanie constructions to more challenging stitch patterns, these designs are inspired by the natural beauty of the parks, including the brightly colored pebbles of Lake McDonald in Montana’s Glacier National Park to the regal granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome in California’s Yosemite Valley. Each pattern is accompanied by beautiful photographs of the finished beanie and the park’s landscapes that inspired it.

The book includes easy-to-follow instructions, clear charts, and easy-to-read keys that help knitters of all skill levels to knit a beanie in no time. Beanies range from simple beanie constructions to more challenging stitch patterns such as the two-color crossovers inspired by South Dakota’s Badlands or the multiple cable designs inspired by New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns.

In summary, “Knitting the National Parks: 63 Easy-to-Follow Designs for Beautiful Beanies Inspired by the US National Parks” is an excellent book for knitters who want to create unique beanies inspired by the natural beauty of the US National Parks, with easy-to-follow instructions and beautiful photographs accompanying each pattern. Show your love and appreciation of our national parks with these beautiful and practical beanie projects you can wear any time or any place.

Get the book here: “Knitting the National Parks

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A Brilliant Wrap for Minis or Yarn Leftovers

I love a good stash busting project, and that’s the first thing I thought of when I saw the Brilliant Brickwork Wrap by Amy Crumpton.

It’s actually designed to use mini skeins of fingering weight yarn, but I feel like you could use scrap yarns in harmonious colors to get the same kind of effect.

The pattern was written to use 24 colors of 10 gram skeins, as well as a 100 gram/400 yard skein of yarn. But there’s a design modifications section in the pattern that talks you through using 12 colors in 20 gram increments, 10 gram scrap balls or even three full skeins of yarn if you’ve got bigger amounts of pretties you want to use.

The wrap is worked in garter stitch and it’s sort of a log cabin style, where stitches are picked up from the edges of previous sections to build the next piece. It is worked in two sections that are joined in the middle with no seaming required. The pattern includes row by row written instructions and end of row stitch counts so you can keep your place easily.

The designer rates the skill level as for adventurous beginners and beyond. You’ll need to know how to knit, slip stitches and pick up stitches from a slipped stitch edge.

I do love the look that minis give you in this project because they are designed to work well together. (Check out more patterns great for mini skeins and advent calendar yarn.) But being me I’m always thinking about ways to use your yarn stash, and I think with proper planning this would be a great project for getting rid of some of those odd balls. You could also work the wrap in a different weight of yarn for a different look depending on what yarn you have that you need to use.

As written is measures about 14 by 60 inches, or 35.5 by 152.5 cm, but you can adjust the length without too much trouble.

Check it out and grab your copy from Ravelry.

[Photo: Amy Crumpton]

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