Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

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

  3. Looks like a good year to branch out and learn new stitches. Instead of sending basic stitched items to charity it would be great to send ones with a little something extra.

  4. Oh it would be awesome to win this and actually have Christmas presents ready next year
    Fingers crossed
    Knitting needles crossed

  5. I plan to knit more this year and this would be great! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.

  6. One of my resolutions for next year is to knit more consistently. Instead of tackling big projects that take a long time to complete, I’m going to try some smaller projects I can get done quicker to get that quicker gratification

  8. I am determined to finish some UFOs that are haunting me and knit up some of the yarn that I have in my stash before buying more.

  9. Just my perennial resolution to use up more of my stash, which includes yarn from my late mother, and yarn abandoned by other knitters.

  10. I love Debbie Bliss’s patterns. I always have knitting projects going all year long. I want to use up a lot of my yarn stash making misc. items.

  11. I put my knitting needles aside for awhile now, and I think it’s high time to make some woolly wonderfuls!!! Thanks for the chance!

  16. I plan to knit for myself, which I never do. I start a project, someone sees it, and there it goes, into a box, wrapped in nice paper, and out the door. Hey, don’t you think it’s my turn?

  18. My plan is to knit only from my stash, but as it hasn’t ever stuck in years past, I doubt if it will this year. New yarn and projects are too hard to resist!

  19. What a GREAT way to get into knitting even more!!! Looks like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win!

  20. How AWESOME would it be to win this! I have a new grandaughter and will be knitting lots of fun things for her. Heck, I might even knit something for me if I win!

  21. I ALWAYS have time for knitting with Debbie Bliss YARN! Love, love, LOVE it. Would love to have the book of projects, too.
    Pick me! PICK ME! PLease!

  24. I am a senior and am returning to knitting. I didn’t realize how much I missed it!
    I live in a senior retirement community, envy all the lovely things the ladies make. Somehow they don’t care to share…Would be nice to win something I can start a project from.

  33. I’ve started knitting again and have really enjoyed making some cowls. I plan to try a sweater!!!!!! Also some fun things for my granddaughters!

  35. My resolution is to organize my stash, and to make some items for myself, and for friends, family, and organizations that I’ve been itching to make some projects for. I volunteered to teach a knitting/crochet class, so there’s always something on my needles!! I’m currently finishing up a shawl for a dear friend whose Son passed away, and have an afghan to make for another friend. After that, I have a sweater to finish for another friend. My projects never stop!! Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and thank you for the great giveaway!! I can always make use of the new patterns!!

  37. My goal is to improve my knitting skills – these skills are very basic and I want to move up the ladder skill wise!

  38. I AM going to master fairisle knitting in 2016 – I usually avoid it at all costs but I have a couple of fab patterns that I want to make…….

  39. I would love to win this book. The scarf on the cover looks very nice. Resolutions? The same as last year, learn to be a better knitter.

  40. I remember when my mom taught me how to knit oh so many years ago….I think I forget more than I remember as far as stitches go but the memories are still there.

    The book would be a great way to get those stitches and memories back and maybe pick up some new tricks.

    Anyway have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new Year

  42. This would be a wonderful addition to a knitter’s library. Just have to tackle the procastination problem! And the “i will just browse through a few more patterns, THEN start knitting” problem!

  43. My knitting friend, Lorie, would love this book and I would love to be the one to gift her with it!

  44. I don’t make resolutions because I am a procrastinator & resolutions make me feel guilty! I’ll just do my crafting at my own given pace and get done what I get done!

  45. I would love to finally knit myself a cardigan. I never get around to making something for myself, and a Debbie Bliss cardigan would be just what the doctor ordered.

  50. I would love to get some ideas to knitted for the next year. This year has sucked and need something to get interested in again; I used to knit all the time but can’t seem to get into it now;

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *