Knitting

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Book Review: Loopy Mango Knitting

by 4 Comments

Loopy Mango has been know for years as a maker of really big yarn and the patterns to match. Owner Oejong Kim has just had published a book of patterns using the company’s yarn that it purports can all be knit in a day.

Even if they’re not quite that fast (especially if you’re a new knitter, you’re not going to knit a blanket in a day, no matter how big the yarn is), these projects have simple shapes and stitch patterns that will be quick to knit on the big yarn and needles the projects call for.

The book includes basic knitting instruction — it’s easy to learn on big yarn and needles because you can see what you’re doing — as well as patterns rated by skill level (absolute beginner, beginner and intermediate).

There are 34 patterns, including scarves, sweaters, blankets, hats and more. The projects aren’t listed under the book on Ravelry because some of them are sold in kits but you can check out my flip through of the book on my Instagram page.

Some of my faves are the Mohair Headband, Her Fringe Shawl (a big Garter Stitch triangle with fringe), the Fisherman Rib cowl, a couple of patterns using a fun aster flower stitch, and the Meri-Mohair Sweater, which combines a funny, thinner mohair with a big bulky yarn in a fun textured stripe sweater.

It should be noted that the sweaters are only in one or two sizes, and they are intended to be oversized, so if you have a larger frame or don’t like the oversized look these projects won’t appeal to you.

Still, there’s lots of cute, easy projects here for people who do like the oversized style, and this book might be just the thing if you’re looking for some great gift knitting ideas.

About the book: 192 pages, hardcover, 34 patterns. Published by Abrams, September, 2019. Publisher’s website

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Comments

  1. Hi was wondering what patterns are listed for intermediary knitters. There’s an absence of images and contents for the patterns that are included for this skill level.

  2. Usually patterns are on Ravelry but because some of these were already published on their site, it doesn’t look like they have done so. That said, the whole book is suitable for beginner and intermediate knitters, and 16 patterns are labeled as intermediate.

  4. I don’t think I have my copy of the book anymore, but looking at the video I did, it looks like there is a long mohair dress but that cardigan doesn’t look familiar.

Have you read?

Striped Socks Knitting Patterns

There’s just something about stripey socks that makes me smile. It’s not really any more difficult to knit socks with stripes as it is to work in a single color, but for me, the payoff is pretty big in terms of added cuteness. Let’s take a peek at some fun striped socks you can knit.

I have to start with the Rainbow Panda Socks from Sheila Toy Stromberg because I was one of her test knitters and these socks are delightful. Not only do they have stripes on the toe and the leg above the ankle, they also include duplicate stitch panda faces on the backs of the legs and ears you knit into the bind off at the top. They are so cute and fun to make and sized for everyone from infants to adult XL, so you’ve got no excuse not to knit them for everyone you know. Get the pattern on Ravelry.

Those socks are totally ’80s in their coloring, but if you want to step back to the ’70s, try Jeff’s Groovy Socks by Anne Vally. These athletic style socks have a ribbed body and stripes of two contrasting colors on the leg and you can pick one (or both) of the contrasting colors to use for your heels and toes. These come in three sizes for different widths, and you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

If you’d rather have allover stripes, check out the Easy Striped Socks pattern from Knitgrammer on Etsy. These sweet socks can be worked toe up or top down using whatever needle configuration you prefer. Either way you can make a custom fit sock, but toe up makes it a lot easier to fit your foot (without swatching!).

Add a little more color while maintaining allover stripes with the Hunky Guy sock from Long Beach Designs, which adds a contrasting color for the cuff, heel and toe. These are worked in worsted weight yarn for great hiking socks, and despite the name the pattern says it’s sized for adults and teens.

Summer Lee’s sock patterns are synonymous with happy to me, and her Classic Ribbed Socks are a great example of that. They use three colors and I love the bold red and white, which makes them look perfect for spring. And they come in five sizes.

If you want to add even more colors to your socks (or use a colorful self-striping yarn) try the Collection of Columns socks from Nancy Wheeler (on Ravelry). This one is a pretty standard sock with six different charts for “columns” of stitch patterns you can add to make the knitting a bit more fun. There are mock cables, textured stitches and eyelet options, and the sock pattern comes in three sizes.

And we can’t talk about stripes without adding some rainbow stripes, so be sure to check out the Happy Friends Socks, a free pattern on Ravelry from Monika Soltysik. These fun socks use crocodile stitch worked flat for the cuff, which is then joined in the round to knit the body of the sock with two-round stripes. Use any leftover yarns if you don’t have rainbow colors handy.

The Perfect Socks to Knit for Fall

Knit Socks on a Circular Knitting Machine

Learn to Knit Socks with this Easy Ribbed Sock Pattern

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