Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Giveaway: Books to Help Someone Learn to Knit

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knitting booklet giveaway

Congratulations to Kristen!

A few months ago I did a roundup over at About of some books to help people learn how to knit. I’m only going to link it once but I’m actually giving away four of the booklets listed there as one prize this week:

All four are Leisure Arts booklets and include basic knitting instructions as well as patterns that are perfect for new knitters — or people coming back to knitting after a break who want to knit for babies (hey, I wrote a book about that, too!). Two of the books include video tutorial support, while the refresher book has pattern instructions for standard knitting and using the Knook knitting tool.

All four will go to one winner. If you want a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Oct. 11. Why don’t you tell me who you would like to teach to knit.

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

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Comments

  1. I haven’t done much knitting because I don’t feel I know enough to do it well. I would love to have these books.

  4. I am an LPC Intern and volunteer two days a week at one of the county’s crisis respite centers for people who are homeless. I spend an hour with each client who signs up to see me and they choose from two crafting activities each week in order to teach them coping skills for if they are in crisis in the future. I use your weekly newsletter for ideas, especially for nature and recyclable goods, items the clients can use when they are on the street. I would love to add these books to the art supply closet so that all residents could benefit from learning this! Knitting scarves and gloves are important for the clients for the winter, and it’s inspiring for them to be able to create items themselves.

  5. I am just learning to knit and would like to teach my mom and several friends, so we could do a knitting club.

  8. My sister in law in Scotland taught me to knit. I am still learning but can do simple items. I would like to teach our girl scout troop to knit now that they are a little older and can handle the needles (pins as my sister in law would say).

Have you read?

A Blanket Knitting Pattern Where Yarn Selection is Everything

Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]