Book Review – One More Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit

“One More Skein” by Leigh Radford is a must-have book for knitters who want to turn a little yarn into fun projects and gifts. The author, who is well-known for her alternative approach to knitting and felting in her previous books “AlterKnits” and “AlterKnits Felt”, presents 30 diverse projects that can be completed with one or two average-sized skeins of yarn or multiple bits of leftover yarn.

The book includes a wide range of projects that are perfect for knitters of all skill levels. From an earflap hat sized for the whole family to fingerless mitts, sweaters, britches, and capelets for baby, the projects are quick and relatively easy to make, without sacrificing beauty or ingenuity. The author also includes a hemp jewelry embellished with jump ring “beads”, a felted, pleated sleeve to dress up a vase and a multicolored blanket worked from assorted stash yarn.

One of the things that makes this book stand out is the author’s ability to meld her alternative approach to knitting and felting with the magic of working with a single skein of yarn, which she introduced in her bestselling book “One Skein”. The author’s fascination with the creative potential of these raw materials is evident throughout the book and will inspire knitters to think outside the box and create something truly unique.

Overall, “One More Skein” is a fantastic book for knitters who want to explore the creative potential of a little yarn and create beautiful and unique projects and gifts. The patterns are well-written, easy to follow and the finished results are beautiful and creative, making this book a must-have for any knitter’s library.

Next Pattern:

Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

Next Pattern:

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