Book Review: Urban Knit Collection

Kyle Kunnecke’s Urban Knit Collection was originally published in 2016 but has been reissued in a new, updated edition.

The 18 knitting patterns inspired by urban life are the same as they were in the original, but I missed it the first time (or have no memory of it, so either way it’s new to me) so let’s take a look together.

The sweaters in the book are knit flat in pieces and have five or six size options. I like the Arabella Pullover, with an allover chevron lace reminiscent of Art Deco architecture and textured sleeves. The Savoy Cardigan, with colorwork swirls and stripes and low buttons, is also fun.

In addition to sweaters, there’s a chapter on wraps and scarves and one one on knit accessories like mitts and hats. The allover colorwork and intricate designs of the D’Amour Wrap would provide a fun challenge to knitters (the book emphasizes the difference between hard and time consuming, and also offers tips for working big projects with lots of charts).

The Ritz cowl uses colorwork and a repeating pattern of beads for extra sparkle. Check out all the patterns on Ravelry.

I don’t fully understand why certain things are given the amount of space they are (or where they are) in the book. For instance there’s a section on color bleeding, and many pages devoted to locking yarns when doing stranded colorwork, before being introduced to any patterns or other knitting techniques, and only 8 of the patterns use stranded colorwork.

There are more instructions for specific knitting techniques like cast ons, bind offs, increases and decreases, grafting and mattress stitch, short rows and shaping in colorwork to name a few.

It should be noted that while this is a new edition of the book, the patterns have not been updated to reflect yarns that might not be in production anymore (such as Brooklyn Tweed and Classic Elite yarns) or offer suggestions for substitutions. It seems like that would have been an easy thing to update rather than just reprinting the patterns without those modifications.

Still, the book is full of colorful patterns and detailed cables representing iron grates, subway maps and other urban inspirations.

About the book: 16 pages, paperback, 18 patterns. Published 2025 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $29.99.

I love the look of mesh tops for summer, but I don’t know that I would ever actually wear one that’s full of giant holes, even though I admit they look cool (in both senses of the word) on other people.

What I would wear, though, is something that’s still lacy but maybe a little bit more subdued, like this chevron lace knit top from Yarnspirations.

This easy to knit T-shirt style top is worked flat in two pieces from the bottom up, using and easy lace pattern that’s a repeat of 10 stitches and four rows (though the wrong side rows are just purled, so there’s only two rows you need to learn the pattern on).

It has little cap sleeves that are worked as part of the top by casting on stitches where you need them.

If you’re new to lace knitting this is a good one to try because the pattern includes both written and charted instructions, and the only skills you need are yarn over, knit two together, slip slip knit and slip 1 knit 2 together pass the slipped stitch over (which makes a centered decrease).

There are four size options available (which they claim is enough to cover XS to 5XL), with finished chest measurements ranging from 38.5 inches (that’s 98 cm) to 59 inches, or 150 cm. The amount of ease would vary widely depending on your size and the size garment you choose. For example the largest size is said to fit a chest measurement from 5258 inches/132-147.4 cm, which gives you a range of ease from 1-7 inches, or 2.5 to 17.78 cm, depending on your size. Just something to be aware of when you think about how you want it to fit.

The project calls for Red Heart Cotton Breeze yarn, which isn’t a yarn I’ve tried yet, but it’s a DK weight acrylic and cotton blend, which should make a lightweight top that’s great for summer.

Grab the free pattern from Yarnspirations.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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