Dig into Knitty’s Deep Fall Issue

I don’t always post about Knitty’s new issues, but it’s been a while and they have some news so it’s worth taking a look at the latest issue.

There are actually a couple of projects in this one that I would love to knit. Linger is a classic, slouchy, ’90s grunge cardigan that I am confident I would wear all the time. It’s made with chunky yarn, which is the only thing that’s kept me from casting on already, because I’m not sure I have yarn in the house that I can use for this project. But it’s definitely getting on my needles soon. It was designed by Åsa Buchta and uses super cozy half fisherman’s rib.

The other one I love is this plaid jacket, called Plaid World and designed by Amy Gunderson. It’s not a difficult project but it is a large project, and it does have some surprises like a folded hem and facings and a short row collar. How great would it be to have the perfect fall jacket and to know you knit it yourself?

You can see all the other patterns for Deep Fall here.

Starting this issue Knitty also announced the beta rollout of Knitty+, a service that will be available to the magazine’s Patreon users. It allows you to select the size of the pattern you want to knit and print out a copy that includes only the numbers you need. If you’re working from the pattern online, it will also save your progress and open up the next time right where you left off (highlighting the row you are working on is a feature for the future).

You can read all about Knitty+ here, and subscribe to the Knitty Patreon here. Patreon is what keeps Knitty free and allows them to inovate in this way, so if you’ve ever knit something from their virtual pages, consider supporting them.

[Photo: David Buchta via Knitty]

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.

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