Book Review: Only Yoking

Yoked sweaters are a great entry-level sweater for knitters learning to work garments in the round. Because they are worked from the top down, you’re starting with the smallest (and most fun!) part, and you can try on your sweater as you go to make sure all the pieces are just the size and length you want.

And circular yokes are a lot of fun to knit because they usually are covered with colorwork or textured stitches that make the sweater interesting.

Olga Putano, a knitwear designer originally from Ukraine, designed three basic sweater bodies worked in superfine, DK and worsted weight yarn, and four yokes each that work within that basic pattern, to make up her book Only Yoking.

Each pattern has 10 sizes available, ranging from a 32 inch to a 68 inch chest measurement. In each section there’s an overview of the yokes along with the yarn information needed to make that particular version and the charts for that design. The section ends with the general sweater pattern, so you can work from those instructions and flip back to the chart you need when you get to that section.

My favorite patterns are Sienna, a worsted weight pattern with a sort of leaf design on the yoke; Audrie, a two-color sweater with a tulip-like, floral motif using DK weight yarn; and Mila, pictured on the cover, which the designer says was inspired by stained glass windows and has a pretty, painterly look. This one is a little trickier because you have to work with three colors in a round, but it’s well worth it for the pretty result.

The projects aren’t all shown on Ravelry or the publisher’s website, though you can see a few there. This quick flip through gives you an idea of what the sweaters look like.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EzY3HiFx28?si=yO8HIW20JWgWfrWI]

In addition to the patterns, the book includes information on how to work cables for the textured yoke patterns that use them, as well as an overview of basic knitting skills.

Only Yoking is a fun and colorful book that’s great for knitters getting into sweater knitting with colorwork or cables, or for those with a few patterns under their belt who want to try something new. The patterns give you a lot of encouragement to make it your own and the tools you need to stitch a sweater just the way you want it.

About the book: 128 pages, paperback, 12 patterns. Published 2023 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

It feels like it’s too early to be thinking about back to school, but as I write this my daughter has just a couple of weeks of summer left! So let’s get in that school and fall knitting spirit by looking at some apple knitting projects.

If you have a 22 needle circular knitting machine, knitting an apple is one of the easiest things you can do. I have an apple pattern over at Our Daily Craft that will take you just a few minutes to knit and they’re a great addition to your fall decor.

Apple hats are a classic, and whether you want to knit a hat that looks like an apple or one with apples on it, we’ve got you covered. For hats that look like apples check out the rolled brim version from Emma Crochet Design 4 U, which uses worsted weight yarn and comes in sizes for kids of all ages; and the ribbed brim version from Hand Knit Hugs. This one also calls for worsted weight yarn and comes in four kids sizes. Both include a stem and leaf.

If you’d rather have apples on your hat, try the Red Apple Hat from Little Red Window. This one is sized from newborn to 2T and calls for four colors of worsted weight yarn.

How about apple socks? You’ll find Ariel Chang’s Apple Picnic Socks as a free download on Ravelry. These use three colors of sock yarn and come in three sizes. Stone Knits also a pair of stripey apple socks that show the inside of the apple. These also have three sizes but they use six colors total, with the main color being a self-striping yarn.

If you want a little apple accessory for the house, the apple potholder from Nifty Knitter Designs is cute and a great way to practice double knitting. It uses two colors and you’ll find the colors in the reverse on the other side. The pattern only uses about 50 yards of each color of worsted weight yarn, so it’s a great use for odd balls, too.

Once you’ve got your double knitting skills sorted you can also try the double knit apple scarf from Crow and Chai Shop. The Winter Apples scarf is shown in red and gold, but you can use whatever colors you like. There are apples, stars and random stitches in the design, which calls for DK weight yarn. There’s also a matching fingerless glove pattern.

Have you read?