Book Review: The Knit Vibe

Vickie Howell has written more than a dozen books on knitting and crochet, but her latest, The Knit Vibe, is unlike any of her previous titles and indeed probably unlike any knitting book you’ve ever seen.

The book’s subtitle–A Knitter’s Guide to Creativity, Community, and Well-Being for Mind, Body & Soul–lets you in on a little bit of how this book is different.

In addition to knitting and crochet patterns, there are profiles of knitwear designers, others in the industry and people who have used their yarn skills to help raise awareness of issues and to change people’s view of the world and what knitwear can do.

There’s also information on keeping yourself healthy as a knitter or crocheter, including yoga poses to try, tips on supplements for healthy bones and joints and more.

On the spirit side of the spectrum there is discussion of knitting as it relates to Judaism, Catholicism and Native American spirituality, as well as a pagan yarn craft ritual, knitter’s astrology and knitter numerology.

Knit and crochet projects by Howell and others interviewed in the book round out the offerings. Many of them are in Howell’s typical style of pretty easy projects with fun details, though some of the projects by contributors are more detailed, delving into brioche, colorwork, cables and more. Check out the projects on Ravelry for more info.

It’s definitely not like anything you’ve seen in a knitting book before, but if you’re a knitter who likes to connect your craft to your community, your sense of spirituality and the world around you, it’s worth checking out.

About the book: 208 pages, 23 patterns, hardcover. Published October 2019 by Abrams Books. Suggested retail price $29.99

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply