Book Review: Seed Stitch by Rosemary Drysdale

Most people, when they learn to knit, seem to learn the knit stitch and then the purl stitch. We make endless Garter Stitch and Stockinette Stitch projects before combining knit and purl in the same row, usually to add ribbing to the edges of projects that are still mostly worked in Stockinette Stitch.

But of course it’s the combination of knits and purls that accounts for a lot of the interest that possible in a knit fabric, and one of the most basic ways to get there is through Seed Stitch (or what the British call Moss Stitch, which is a whole different thing this side of the pond).

Seed Stitch in its basic form is simple: knit 1, purl 1 across and then do the opposite on the next row.

Rosemary Drysdale took this simple stitch pattern and twisted it in all sorts of ways for her lovely and inspiring sourcebook Seed Stitch: Beyond Knit 1, Purl 1.

The book includes a primer on the basics of working with Seed Stitch, such as how the pattern is worked on even and odd numbers of stitches, flat and in the round, and how one increases and decreases in the pattern.

Readers will then find swatches and instructions for 60 variations on Seed Stitch including projects with multiple colors, chevrons, cables, lace and other design elements.

Thirty-one patterns using some of these stitch patterns round out the book. There are five cowls, four scarves, six pillows, two bags, one throw, two baby blankets, three baby hats and two versions of a pint-sized cardigan, as well as a couple of hats, a pair of mitts, a poncho and two tops. All of them are rated easy except one, the Open Squares Cowl, which is rated intermediate (it’s an eye-catching cowl made with Seed Stitch and open squares made by casting off stitches).

A few of the patterns that caught my eye include the Striped Wristers, which have a cute zig-zag pattern worked in tweedy yarn; the Cropped Pullover, worked in two color Seed Stitch Stripes; and the Narrow Zigzag Pillow, which uses a two-color vertical chevron design that’s one of my favorites of all the stitch patterns in the book.

If you’re already a fan of Seed Stitch you are sure to enjoy this book, and if you’ve never gotten into knit 1, purl 1 before this book will make you realize there’s a whole lot more out there that can be a lot more interesting to knit.

About the book: 144 pages, paperback with interior flaps. Published September 2017 by Sixth & Spring Books. Suggested retail $21.95.

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

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It seems like every year there are more rainbow colored (and other flag hued) knitting projects out there to celebrate Pride. Whether you celebrate at a local event or just want to add some more color to your wardrobe, these Pride knitting patterns are a great place to start.

See also these Pride knitting patterns, tiny Pride flags, and more rainbow projects if you need more inspiration.

These Pride socks from Birger Berge are a free pattern on Ravelry. They feature a rainbow flag on the heel and toe, plus stripes on the cuff with the word Pride and a heart worked in.

Or you can Put Some Pride in Your Step with these allover colorful socks from Oriahna WhimsyStitch. Using a self-striping fingering weight yarn, they have a spiral rib on the legs and come in three sizes. The pattern has suggestions for if you don’t have self-striping yarn to use. You can find it on Ravelry.

Amy Snell’s Pride Like the Wind is a triangular shawl that uses slipped stitches to add texture to the multicolored stripes. The pattern was made with a large skein of rainbow colored yarn and mini skeins in rainbow colors, but you can use stash or whatever you can find in theose colors for a different look. You can find this pattern on Ravelry.

Pride and Elegance is a pretty pair of rainbow striped arm warmers made by martaschmarta. They call for fingering weight yarn and have sparkly beads incorporated at each end for extra flair. This pattern is also on Ravelry.

Pride in Parallelograms by Treena Evans is a mobius knit cowl worked in a multicolored ombre yarn. It calls for DK weight yarn and is a free pattern on Ravelry.

Stephen G. Krueger has designed a lovely kippah/yarmulke pattern that can be worked in the colors of any Pride flag you like. The pattern is free on Ravelry and uses fingering weight yarn.

And if you want to make a full progress flag in knitting, you’ll need the modular progressive Pride flag pattern from Kim Smith for Alterknit Universe. The pattern comes in two sizes using different weights of yarn to suit your needs, and the modular style of the project makes it seamless. You can purchase this pattern on Ravelry.

If you want to add a touch of Pride to a sweater, wall hanging or other project, the abstract waves chart from Hits Knit Patterns is a great place to start. It uses the colors of the lesbian flag, but you could change it to whatever colors you like (there are six colors used and the chart is 49 stitches by 80 rows).

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