Classic Elite Does It Again!

You Need This Book:
Classic Elite Knits, 100 Gorgeous Designs For Every Occasion.
But before I convince you how much you need this book, check out this link; you can actually see the projects in the book: http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/pattern_detail.php?patternID=65
And you can see who’s knitting them on Ravelry!

Ok, ready? Here’s my take on this book.
The cover is interesting in the fact that they have combined a warm orange with a cool purple/mauveish shade and totally made it work.

If you check out the link above, you’ll see sweaters, vests, scarves, mittens, bags, coats, t-shirts to fit every size human! Even the cutest little princess socks.
These projects are easy, these projects are design intensive, these projects are all consuming. One book, every type of knitter. Make the Bulky Ridge Cardigan quickly and easily. Or, go all super knitter and tackle lace, cables, short row shaping, embroidery, and colorwork. Classy or sassy, whatever you like, it’s in there!

This is what the publisher, Taunton, says: “This exciting collection features patterns by well-known names in the field, including Melissa Leapman, Annie Modesitt, Michele Rose Orne, and Kathy Zimmerman, along with the work of up-and-coming designers. So much variety.”

Knit these design in Classic Elite’s yummy assortment of yarns and you can’t go wrong. This book’s a keeper, sorry local library!

Obligatory snowflake pattern post:
Augh! I’ve exhausted the knitted snowflake patterns on the net. If anyone knows of any, please send them along. I’m interested in just knitted snowflakes, like the kind you’d block out, starch and then display.
Today I’m going to pour through my collections of patterns and magazine clippings for ideas, yes, I’ve been known to tear out a picture or pattern in a magazine.
Looking forward to all of your wonderful snowflake patterns…… (HINT!)

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.

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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