Book Review: Wool Studio

July 27, 2018 by Sarah White

I’m in the process of moving my office to another room in my house, and while I’ve been cleaning and clearing I found some long-neglected knitting books that are in need of reviewing. So hopefully this will bring back more regular book reviews over here, at least until I run out of books!

First up, Wool Studio: The knit.wear Capsule Collection. knit.wear is an Interweave publication that launched in 2011. Wool Studio is a pattern collection developed by the knit.wear editors for digital download, and the book includes the patterns from the first two pattern collections (because some people still really like printed books).

The patterns aim to be classic and modern, things you can knit now and feel good in but that won’y look dated next season. Most of the patterns are for sweaters and tops, but there’s also a cowl, a scarf and a wrap.

The projects are named after beach towns, and many of them have a laid-back, casual feel. There are more than a few oversized project (check out all the patterns on Ravelry).

Kate Gagnon Osborn shares a fun, rectangular lace tank in her Monterrey Tee, while Sarah Solomon’s Pacific Grove Tee is a simple, oversized, off-the-shoulder garment worked in a luscious blend of cashmere, silk and wool. I also like the Topanga Canyon Cardigan (OK, I guess they’re not all beaches) from Veronik Avery, with pretty Moss Stitch panels that cascade into super long fronts you can leave open or snuggle up in.

Bristol Ivy’s Hyannis Port Pullover is also fun, with a combo of short rows and colorwork that makes for shifting stripes on the back.

About the book: 144 pages, hardcover, 21 patterns. Published April 2018 by Interweave Press. Suggested retail $27.99

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.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Add a Little Lace to Your Knitting Patterns

If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.