Knitting

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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!

Next Pattern:

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?

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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