Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Get Yarn Inspired by a Book Cover

by

immortalists yarn bundleYarn dyers are inspired by many different things, from their favorite movies and TV shows to the colors right outside their doors.

I think this may be the first time, however, that I’ve heard of a yarn bundle being inspired by a book cover.

Though I have to say, this particular book cover is gorgeous.

I was sent a review copy of Chloe Benjamin’s The Immortalists, which has nothing to do with knitting, but Benjamin is a knitter and the cover is gorgeous (did I mention?) and it sounded like an interesting story so I read it and it was.

Short version is four kids go visit a gypsy whose special expertise is telling people the exact day they are going to die. The rest of the book is about how they live out the rest of their lives with that information, how it shapes who they become. It’s certainly dark but I enjoyed it.

Someone at Quince & Co. loves the book — or at least its cover — too, because they recently released an Immortalists bundle, which includes a cowl knitting pattern and skeins of six colors of yarn inspired by that dazzling cover designed by Sandra Chiu. Check out Benjamin writing about her writing and her knitting, and check out the bundle, too.

Have you read The Immortalists? Would you be more likely to read a book if you knew it was written by a knitter? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo via Quince & Co.]

Looking to buy your Yarn online? Check out these online yarn specials.

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.

Check out these books dedicated to Knitted Cowl Patterns still looking for more cowl patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. The colors are what makes this cowl, which are all favorites of mine. Very pretty and bright, just right for the fall and winter.

Have you read?

Knit a Garter Stitch Blanket with a Twist

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]