Book Review: Wool Studio

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.

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

Have you read?