Do You KIP? – Knitting

Do you Knit In Public? I don’t spend a lot of time in the “public” choosing instead to spend my time either out in the garden, barn, behind the computer, and of course, knitting!

But… I’m seeing more and more people knitting. Maybe it’s because I’ve been knitting more and more. No, that can’t be it, I couldn’t possibly knit any more than I already do. It’s got to be a growing trend.

I don’t do the Stitch ‘n Pitch thing, because my son is grown and I don’t go to baseball games anymore. Besides, as sports go, hockey is more my thing (go Red Wings!). But I digress…

Worldwide Knitting in Public Days are June 13 and 14, and June 20 and 21.

Go here to find out how to promote your own Knitting In Public Day, and break out those needles! http://www.wwkipday.com/fliers.htm

Next Pattern:

Beautiful people and beautiful sweaters combine in Lasse L. Matberg’s Viking Knits. The book includes more than 40 Scandinavian inspired knits for men, women and children featuring textured stitches and colorwork.

Matberg is known as The Viking and has worked as a chef, naval officer, fitness instructor and model, as well as being on a couple of reality TV shows. He comes from a long line of makers and his book was first published in Norwegian in 2021 and has since come out in an English version.

The book is divided into sections including everyday sweaters, knits for the great outdoors, stylish knitwear, Norse sweaters and accessories. Some of the patterns use the same designs in different versions for men, women and children. I counted seven projects rated for beginners, 19 for intermediate knitters and 17 for experienced knitters. The more difficult patterns tend to have allover colorwork or stitch patterning.

The pattern stitches and colorwork are shown in charts, with a little bit of text to tell you how to make the garment. Most of the book is sweaters, but there are also hats (sometimes coordinating with sweaters), scarves and a couple of sitting mats.

You can check out all the patterns on Ravelry. Some of my favorites are the more basic ones, such as the Power Sweater, a close-fitting (sized for men) ribbed sweater; the Heart Sweater, a raglan with allover lice stitch; and the Midsummer Sweater, with textured stripes and a henley neckline. I also like the Breeze designs (there are versions for men, women and children) that have colorwork diamonds on them.

Sizing on the garments varies, but there are six sizes for the men’s patterns (noted as small through XXL and then Lasse sized), six for women (XS to XL) and three for children (age 2-4, 6-8 and 10-12).

The yarns used in the book aren’t available in the United States but you can find suppliers here if you want to use the same yarns. Otherwise the book gives a lot of details about yarn content and gauge so you should be able to find good substitutes wherever you live.

If you have Norwegian or Scandinavian heritage or just like the look of cozy textured or colorful sweaters, this book is a lot of fun, and the eye candy is pretty great, too.

About the book: 192 pages, hardcover, 43 patterns. Published in English in 2023 by Search Press. Suggested retail price $29.95.

Comments

dj says
May 20, 2009 at 2:25 pm
i don’t knit in public per se, my commute is about 40 minutes one way, and i have a few long red lights so I can get 2-3 rows day each way. Right now I am working on my first pair of sock.
Becky says
May 21, 2009 at 7:19 am
Watch out for dj – knitting while driving!!
Okay, I’ve done it too but only at red lights like dj 🙂
I have been knitting in public for about 8 years. My kids (now grown) used to hate it but got over it.
It’s so cool to share projects and ideas when you meet others also KIP.

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