Knitting

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Boost Your Knitting Skills with this Collection

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knitting skill booksI’m really trying to clear out a bunch of knitting books because I’m not sure I’m going to keep doing giveaways (at least weekly ones) in the new year, so this week is a big one.

It includes four books:

Beginner’s Guide to Lace Knitting by Rita Weiss

Beginner’s Guide to Knitting in the Round by Kristin Omdahl

I Can’t Believe I’m Entrelac Knitting by Marly Bird

Take the Fear Out of Cables by Jill Wright

That should keep you going with new skills and fun patterns for a while.

If you’d like to win these, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Nov. 19. I’d love to know which of these particular skills you most want to learn, or, if you know them already, who you’d like to teach them to.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  1. I’d like to win these, and me and my mum could spend hours of quality time together knitting

  7. I would like to learn all of it!!! I can do basic stiches but thats it, so this is awsome for me!! fingers crossed!!

  10. These are some great books. I love the lacy patterns. I am an elementary school counselor and have began to teach a few of my students. I am on a mission to teach a whole new generation love of knitting. I do not have much experience with entrelac or cables and would love the opportunity to get better. This is one big giveaway I would be excited to win!!

  11. Cables and lace knitting are both on my list for learning this next year. Would love to win!

  12. The Entrelac looks very interesting! Would like to learn that and do a refresher on the cable stitch. Love the headband ear warmers, too!

  14. My Mom and MIL were fantastic knitters during their lives. I can barely knit above the knot stage. The lace knitting looks like a great book

  16. I am teaching myself to knit and these books would be a great boon especially the knitting in the round book.

  21. I REALLY want to learn Enterlac! I am knitting hats for my granddaughters on round needles … I probably should have researched this technique a little better before I tried it. I’m also teaching my oldest granddaughter and her best friend how to Knit. Then I can learn lace …

Have you read?

Knit a Classic Aran Cardigan with this Free Knitting Pattern

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time. 

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring. 

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. 

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row. 

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves. 

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body. 

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy. 

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn. 

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]