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:

I’ve shared a lot of Christmas stocking knitting patterns over the years (see posts 1, 2, 3 for example) but what if you want to knit a stocking for a non-human member of your family. If you’re looking for Christmas stocking knitting patterns for your cats or dogs, this is the post for you.

These large paw print stockings are perfect for either dogs or cats, so they’re great to knit if you have both. They are worked in the round using DK weight yarn, and the stocking measures about 17 inches/43 cm from the top to the heel. You can get the pattern from nicolaluke.

The K4 Project has a super cute Kitty Christmas stocking pattern, which is worked in worsted weight yarn. They also have a dog version, or you can buy both and get a discount if you have both dogs and cats to knit for. Both projects have two patterns, showing how to work the stockings flat or in the round.

Put your dog into a Christmas scene with this stocking pattern from ifanhourChild. It shows a dog in a dog house in the snow, and has room for the dog’s name at the top. It’s worked flat using worsted weight yarn and the pattern includes charts for many small and medium dog breeds (there’s a separate listing for bigger dogs) so you can stitch a dog that looks like yours.

Annie’s Woolens has both dog and cat stocking knitting patterns that are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round. You can change up the colors to suit your pet if you want, and they come with an alphabet chart for personalization. Or you can stick with holiday colors and buy a kit to make the dog or cat stocking.

Waiting for Santa Paws is a pattern from Kate Agner on Ravelry that would be cute for a dog or a cat. It looks like a leg with a paw print on the bottom part of the foot and more paw prints running around the top of the leg. This is a great option if you don’t want to mess with a heel turn because it doesn’t have a heel, because dogs and cats don’t have heels so why would their stockings?

Book Review – 20 to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit

Book Review – Knit Christmas Stockings

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