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Giveaway: A Year’s Worth of Projects from Debbie Bliss

by 97 Comments

knitter's year giveaway

Lennette is the winner.

I’m not quite ready to admit that a new year is almost upon us, but my brain has already started making plans for the clean slate that is 2016.

Of course, those plans include a lot of crafting, and a lot of knitting.

If you’d like to knit more in the next year, this week’s giveaway is for you. The Knitter’s Year by Debbie Bliss is full of 52 projects you can make in a week or so, to fill your year with gifts, seasonal knits and charity projects.

The book includes bags, pillows, socks, hats, gloves and scarves, as well as holiday decor like Christmas stockings, napkin rings and tree decorations. There’s a pumpkin pincushion for fall and flowerpot cozies for spring.

There’s a lot of fun stuff that would make sweet gifts for friends and new babies,a s well as things you’ll want to knit for yourself (always a good resolution). Check out all the projects on Ravelry.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, December 27. I’d love to know if you have any knitting-related resolutions for the coming year.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing and good luck!

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. I would love to win this it is always nice to have fresh ideas and if I do win I promise to try to get hold of JoAnne Micon and share with her. Sounds like she needs some fresh ideas and a new friend to share them with.

  3. I plan to use sock yarn I bought several years ago and finally make some more socks for my daughter and myself.

  6. I like doing quick project (I think I have a short attention span!) so would love to try a new project each week. I really enjoy learning to do new things- creative variety keeps me motivated.

  7. It’s very reassuring to see so many other people resolving to use up their stash. Problem is that, usually, new projects need more than I have in my stash but this books seems to have smaller projects too. Win win!!!

  9. This year’s resolution is the same as the last so many years-make a dent in my WIPs. Oh but the temptation to start something new is difficult to overcome.

  11. I am a beginner who can’t seem to figure out how to pick up dropped stitches, so that would be my goal for next year.

  12. What a great prize! Thanks for giving me a chance to win!
    I’m hoping to keep growing with my knitting and continuing to create new patterns and try new concepts.

  15. This would be perfect for my niece, Ashley, who’s just started knitting . Thanks the chance to win.

  17. I’d love to win this, even though I have several sweaters I plan to knit, plus some other projects. Seems I want to make everything!

  18. I have really been having fun with a project always in process. I want to learn continental next –oh and how to fix problems without pulling out rows.

  19. My resolution is to continue to use up my stash. This book might give me some further ideas to do so. Thank you for the giveaway.

  22. I used to knit, and have a gorgeous stash of yarn. Then I had twins! But they are getting old enough, and in school long enough now that hopefully I can start back up.

  23. I want to continue to challenge myself with learning new techniques and just knit, knit, knit! And visit my local yarn store more often.

  24. Would love to win this book, I think it could help use odd balls of yarn which should be next years goal.

  25. My annual resolution is to reduce my stash. I continue to knit and I haven’t purchased “that” much yarn, yet my stash continues to grow. That being said, books aren’t stash, and books help with knitting inspiration.

  27. This year I plan to make myself a sweater – something I’ve never done. I tend to love small projects, so my goal is to have a large project. Thanks for the chance to win!

  28. I have no ambitious knitting projects for the coming year but, when I retire, I plan to knit a Dr. Who scarf.

  29. I do have a resolution I’d like to get more finished, now most of my projects are large so I want to break it down to get X% done each month that sort of thing. Some things to just get done by summer Ect. Not fully thought out but it’s a start!

  30. Ooh, a knitting New Year’s resolution! I would say I would resolve to make more time to knit for others; I knit way too much for just myself.

  31. New Year’s knitting resolution – knit from stash…. oh wait that was last year’s resolution and the year before and the year before! Maybe this year I’ll do better.

  35. I no longer make any kind of resolutions – it would just be adding to the list of ways I can disappoint myself. Besides, I have lots of leftover resolutions. For instance I still haven’t knit a litle cushion for my pet rock. He’s getting old now, he’d like that.

  37. I’m planning on starting and finishing a sweater but also learning to spin. I’ve drop spindled but now have a wheel to try. I’m ready for the new year!

  39. I have several unfinished projects that I’d like to complete this year. (That doesn’t mean that I can’t start some new ones, also!)

  41. This year I’m going to read Principles of Knitting cover to cover instead of just the part I need to get past the speedbump in whatever project I have in my hands.
    I’m going to finish loading my stash on Rav so I know what I have to work with (and what I NEED to buy of course!)
    Either frog or finish FO’s. Really. I mean it this time.
    Keep up learning new techniques on a hat with stash yarn and then gifting stack of hats when snow falls to local shelters.
    Buy more yarn. 🙂

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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