Book Review – Scandinavian-Style Christmas Knits

Scandinavian-style Christmas knits are becoming increasingly popular due to their timeless aesthetic, natural inspiration, and simplicity. The minimalistic and functional style of Nordic design is a refreshing contrast to the commercial and over-the-top Christmas decorations that are often seen in other cultures. The use of natural materials, earthy colors, and geometric patterns are a reflection of the Nordic landscape and culture.

In this book “Scandinavian-Style Christmas Knits: Ornaments and Decorations for a Nordic Holiday”, the author presents a collection of hand-crafted accessories for the tree, the windowsill, holiday place settings, and more, inspired by Nordic customs and the natural world. The designs are beautifully coordinated and can suit any interior. From classic stars and Christmas balls to glittering trumpets and miniature stockings, these wonderfully quick projects are satisfying to make, to hang, and to gift to others.

The book also provides instructions for all special techniques and stitches, guiding you through increases, decreases, short rows, and more, so even if you are not an experienced knitter, you will be able to make these projects. Additionally, there are suggestions for embellishing with embroidery, beads, and shimmering metallic yarns to make every pattern shine its brightest. The full-color photographs illustrate every project with ideas for decorative holiday looks and festive arrangements.

In conclusion, the book “Scandinavian-Style Christmas Knits: Ornaments and Decorations for a Nordic Holiday” is a perfect guide to create unique and beautiful decorations that reflect the Nordic traditions and culture, and that can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Fall will be here before we know it, and that means there are holidays coming right behind where we might be entertaining at home. It’s always fun to have a hand knit touch in your home for other people to see, and if you’re going to be in the kitchen all day you might as well have some nice knit dish cloths to use.

I love this little plaid hand towel from Darling Jadore. Use a little bit of leftover cotton yarn from another project for the plaid portion. It looks like the horizontal stripes are worked as you knit and the vertical stripes are done with duplicate stitch, making this a quick and easy project even newer knitters can make.

Combine garter stitch and an easy eyelet pattern worked sideways to make the Annette Dish Towel from Cluck Cluck Boots, which is meant to be reminiscent of flour sack towels. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can work it in one color or two (or even three!).

Add a little more texture with this set of kitchen towels from Whileberry Creative. They’re mostly worked in garter stitch with borders in easy knit/purl patterns, and you can work them in sport or worsted weight yarn.

Two of Wands Shop has another cute allover knit and purl pattern they call the Seersucker Textured Tea Towel. It’s an easy repeating pattern worked in worsted weight yarn, and there’s a chart in the pattern you can use, but don’t have to, if you want to practice knitting from a chart.

The Classic Cloth dish towel from Handmade Home by Connie is another one that can use a little leftover yarn in a contrasting color, or you could color block it our use stripes throughout the pattern. This one uses worsted weight yarn and another easy repeating knit purl stitch pattern.

If you like to hang your towel on the oven handle or elsewhere but it’s always falling off, try the Stay Put kitchen towel from Fancy Step Knits. This project is worked in garter stitch and includes a hole partway through so you can pull the towel through itself over a rod or handle. Stripes are optional but a nice addition.

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