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:

During the summer (which is what it is where I am writing from) I like to share patterns for things that you can knit and use even when it’s warm out. And sometimes they are things you can use when it’s cold, too, like this collection of coffee cup cozies. Because hot coffee is a must almost any time of year.

This simple pattern form Darling Jadore is a great one for beginners and could be a good first knitting in the round project. It uses worsted weight yarn and includes video tutorials if you need extra help.

If you want a perfectly plain cozy that you can jazz up with your own designs, check out the Base Doodle Cup Cozy from Jamie Lomax. This free pattern on Ravelry comes in two sizes (short and long) and is meant to be used with her doodle charts to make it your own. You could also keep it plain, add stripes or design your own motifs to stitch on it.

Most coffee cozy patterns that I see are just sleeves meant to go over travel mugs, but what if your mug has a handle? This pattern from Stacey’s Knit Wits has an I-cord loop and button so you can use it on a mug with a handle or a travel cup. It uses DK weight yarn.

Coffee cozies are a fun way to play with stitch patterns and learn new techniques. If you’ve never knit cables before, this cozy from Purple Wool Co. would be a great first cable project, as it features simple braided cables all the way around. It uses worsted weight yarn and is worked in the round.

Try double knitting to make an extra-insulating coffee cozy with this pattern from Tracy Leming. It includes little color changes so you can get the concept of how double knitting works on a small scale. It also can include a little pocket for a tea bag if you want. This one uses worsted weight yarn and is a free pattern on Ravelry.

Or try stranded knitting with the Love in the Air cozy from Danielle Thuen. It features hearts of different sizes and is worked in sock yarn. You’ll need to make sure those floats are nice and loose so it will stretch to hug your cup. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

They’re also a fun way to add a bit of flair to an otherwise plain cup. KnitnKaboodle Designs has this lovely leaf-shaped cozy pattern, which you could use for hot or cold beverages by changing up the fiber you choose (that’s pretty much always true). It is made in pieces that are stitched together and can be worked in a single color or choose different colors for each leaf.

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