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.

Adding a bit of knitting to your fall decor is a lot of fun, whether it’s knit pumpkins or a bunch of adorable knit ghosts like these.

Knit ghosts can be super simple like this free ghost knitting pattern from Trixie Zynch on Ravelry. Using about 50 yards of worsted weight yarn, they’re worked from the bottom up and are super cute as a pair.

This fuzzy little ghost from Forest Knitting Toys is holding a pumpkin and wearing a witch hat, though of course the accessories are optional, as is the fuzzy yarn. The main yarn is chunky and the ghost measures about 10 cm/4 inches tall. It’s worked in the round.

Another fuzzy ghost in more of a Pacman style is this ghost plushie form South Stitch Girls. It’s worked in the round with bulky yarn and includes a sweet little bow you can make in whatever color you like.

The ghost doll from Edith Grace Designs has little arms and a curl at the top of its head. The body is worked flat using DK weight yarn and you could also work it in glow in the dark yarn for extra fun. The body and head are worked in one piece with the arms knit separately.

The Grim Grinning Ghosts from Susan Claudino are super cute and you can knit them in any yarn and gauge you like to make ghosts of different sizes. These are worked in the round with the body done in one piece and the arms are knit separately. The ghosts shown were knit in sock yarn, DK and worsted weight yarn. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Make a ghost with funny striped legs with this ghost shelf sitter design from Claire Fairall Designs. It’s worked in three colors of DK weight yarn, and the letters spelling out boo are made with strips of garter stitch sewn into shape.

Have you read?