Books For Knitters, Both Young, And Well, Younger!

2 books have recently stumbled down my path, found their way into my life, and deposited themselves on my coffee table. Here’s what I found:

Knitty Kitty is an engaging tale, written by David Elliot, complete with gorgeous illustrations, by Christopher Denise, about a Kitty who, well, knits! The scarves, mittens and hats she makes for her kittens end up being used for something else, but no matter, they manage to stay warm anyway. And… the patterns for them are included! You’ll have to see for yourself how these mischevious kittens use their hats, mittens and scarves, and how mama keeps them warm anyway.

This is a nice hardcover book, suitable for your toddler’s coffee table!
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Shear Spirit is a book for every knitter. It seriously made me want to go hug a lamb! The subtitle is Ten Fiber Farms, Twenty Patterns, and Miles of Yarn. (It should read.. Miles of “Droolable” Yarn). I couldn’t put this book down. Not only are the Fiber Farms showcased, but their owners too. It’s nice to read about the “behind the scenes people who make this stuff happen”, the REAL people. The people who feed and care for their animals and who shear, work with rovings, spin, dye, knit, felt, and weave with the fibers. And love it. There are lambs, alpacas, even yaks in this book, but I think my personal favorite is the Icelandic sheep. From farms all over the USA, these stories and patterns will have you out hugging your fiber animals! This book’s description includes “A visual journey to America’s fiber farms and ranches plus a rich inside look at the challenging but rewarding lives of the people who have devoted their lives to harvesting and spinning fleece into yarn.” It’s truly inspiring to get to know others, if only through print and pictures, who’s lives revolve around the fiber animals we love.

Shear Spirit is written by Joan Tapper with photography by Gale Zucker.

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:

Have you read?

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