Get Some Texture with the Pass the Honey Knitting Pattern

I love a good stockinette stitch pattern because of the classic look and the fact that I don’t have to pay a lot of attention to what I’m doing.

But I’ll admit I’m a sucker for a good textured knit, too. They make the knitting more interesting, and the look is a little more special. I always feel more of a sense of accomplishment from a project if it has some kind of technique to it more than stockinette stitch. I also feel like something with special details like a fun texture makes it look more like I made it, if that makes sense.

The Pass the Honey cardigan by Joy Friedman for Knit Picks is a pattern like that. This long-line cardigan uses a mock honeycomb stitch pattern to give a look that’s reminiscent of honeycomb. The pattern is rated intermediate but it’s not difficult once you get the hang of the pattern.

The cardigan is worked flat in one piece from the bottom up to the armholes. It includes faux seams at the sides, and after the top parts are worked, you knit the sleeves in the round. There’s a wide ribbed edging on the open fronts.

The pattern is available in nine sizes, ranging from 38 to 70 inches in circumference. Using the same yarn as used in the sample (Knit Picks Brava Worsted Tweed) the smallest size can be made for about $25 worth of yarn, and the largest size is about $40, making it a pretty good value for a big project.

You can download the free pattern (email signup required) from Knit Picks.

[Photo: Knit Picks.]

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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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