Knitting

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Get Ready for Fall and Winter with Handknits from Norway

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handknits from norway

The winner is Connie.

If you’re a fan of classic Norwegian knitting motifs — snowflakes, stars, geometric patterns and the like — but would also like to use those designs in less-than-traditional ways, you’ll love Handknits from Norway: Classic Norwegian Motifs in Modern Knitting Patterns for Men and Women compiled by Karen Marie Vinje.

The book includes classic patterns for ski sweaters, hats and gloves, but you’ll also find some more unusual designs like the short sweater with puff sleeves, which uses classic patterning on the cropped top of a sweater finished out in lace. There are tunics and dresses, bags and berets, and a few projects for men as well. (You can see the patterns on Ravelry, though this version of the book is not in English.)

If you’d like a chance to knit some of these patterns, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Sept. 24. I’d love to know what you most look forward to about fall. Me? I love breaking out all the handknits again and snuggling under blankets with my daughter.

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

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Comments

  1. I love how the nights draw in and even though it is too warm for heating, it’s cold enough for candlelight. The nights seem cosier and conducive to knitting.

  3. Since I live in the South, I most look forward to days below 90 degrees. Cool fall nights are the best and being able to knit projects without sweaty lap

  4. Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the return of cool, dry air, the intense colors of the forests here in Maine, and being able to wear the knitted items I have made. This is the time of year my knitting energy comes up, and it usually stays with me till hot weather arrives again.

  5. Waiting for the cooler weather and the beautiful fall trees. And SAFF! A little over a month and we will be headed to Asheville.

  6. Curling up on the couch covered in a crocheted afghan, knitting a hat, and having a cup of hot tea on the table next to me. Yummy!

  7. I love getting those handmade knits out in the cooler weather too! The sweater on the cover is fabulous!! I bet there are a lot of nice projects in this book! thank you!

  8. Autumn is my favorite season, too. I like to watch the leaves fall in my backyard. And I like to light my candles in the evening when it gets dark.

  9. I’m not crazy about fall – the days get short, grey and rainy here in Oregon while I crave the sun. But I do look forward to the crisp apples and fresh-pressed cider at the farmer’s market.

Have you read?

Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

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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