Book Review: We Are Knitters

Most knitters who have been around the Internet for very long have probably heard of We Are Knitters, a Spanish company that sells yarn, knitting needles and kits (and now some crochet patterns as well).

Company founders Alberto Bravo and Pepita Marín published a book including 15 of their patterns and information about six of their favorite cities (as well as knitting instructions) called We Are Knitters: Knitspiration to Take Anywhere and Everywhere.

While the travel angle somehow feels dated in coronatimes, the pages of pictures and tips on where to knit in different cities might help with your wanderlust. It’s not enough so that it feels like a travel book exactly but it might inspire you to add some destinations to your “whenever this is over” list.

The patterns are some of the classic WAK designs and are mostly pretty simple straight pieces largely worked in Stockinette, Garter Stitch and other easy stitch patterns. Some of my favorites are the Tuareg Sweater, which is all rectangles but worked in a fun three-color Linen Stitch pattern; the Encina Scarf, which is really a big triangular shawl with alternating Stockinette and purl ridges; and the Olmo Headband, made of braided I-cord.

You can find a full list of the patterns in the book on their website.

The garments offer four sizes, so there’s not a huge range (one tank top ranges from 35 to 44 inches, for example, while a boxy cardigan is 42 to 50 inches) but if you fit in that range and like the We Are Knitters style you’ll probably enjoy this book.

In addition, the book includes a lengthy section on their yarn, care instructions, tools and knitting basics including casting on, knitting, purling, binding off, slip stitches, increases, decreases and working with two strands of yarn held together. Techniques are illustrated with photographs that are sometimes a little hard to make out what is going on, but could serve as a good refresher for someone who already knows how to knit.

If you like big, boxy garments, simple designs, and working with large yarn and needles, that is most of what you will find in this book. It would be good for beginners wanting to build their confidence, knit their first simple garments and finish some fun projects quickly. The accessories here would be fun to knit as gifts or for yourself.

About the book: 176 pages, hardcover, 15 patterns. Published 2019 Abrams Books. Suggested retail $24.99.

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:

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