Check Out Cooperative Press’ Knit Edge

Shannon Okey, better known to some as KnitGrrl and the mastermind behind indie fiber publisher Cooperative Press, one spent some time knitting a British knitting magazine. Since she left that publication to start the Press, she says people have been telling her they miss the work she did there, providing fun patterns and techniques that were not just for beginners but offered a challenge to more seasoned knitters, too, or at least something they hadn’t seen before.

Okey has now started a digital knitting magazine called Knit Edge, which premiered at TNNA last month. I took a look at “issue zero” and think it’s a sign of good things to come.

The sample issue has an article by double-knitting pro Alasdair Post-Quinn about a recent design of his — a scarf knit with images of a deck of cards — as well as a look at top-down sock knitting from Kate Atherley and an overview of podcasts by Heather Ovdover. Four patterns are included: a bulky lace and cable cowl, a colorful felted yoked pullover, a short-sleeved cardigan and a pair of fingerless gloves.

The first issue, which is a PDF, can be purchased for $3.99. Subscriptions are now available for the PDF version of the magazine, which will launch issue 1 in September. A year’s subscription is $14.99. You can also purchase a recurring single-issue subscription for $5.99 an issue. This is the choice for people who would rather read the magazine in app form rather than PDF (the app is not ready yet).

[Photo by Knit Edge/Cooperative Press.]

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

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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.

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