Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Giveaway: Dress-to-Impress Knitted Scarves

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dress to impress knitted scarves giveawayThis week’s giveaway is for the girly girls, the ladies who love feminine fashion and a bit of a challenge or an interesting technique in their knitting projects.

Dress-to-Impress Knitted Scarves by Pam Powers offers 24 knit scarves, cowls, ascots, kerchiefs and other fun shapes, all with a creative touch. There are often multiple yarns, colors, stitch patterns and techniques in the same project, and she loves to pattern block a project (where one section in the center is worked in one style/yarn and the ends are worked in a different way).

The projects often have a layered look because of this, which gives you lots of options for how to wear them. These projects are unique and not like anything you’d be able to buy anywhere, but they’re also not for beginners. Of course if you love a design you’ll be more inspired to learn the techniques necessary to make it your own (and some of the special skills required are described in the book, too).

If you’d like to win a copy of this fun book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Monday, January 19. If you want, tell me what sort of style you like in neckwear the most: a simple rectangular scarf, a cowl, a small shawl wrapped around your neck? I love them all on different days, but I’ve been partial to a super long, warm scarf lately because it has been so cold!

Thanks for visiting and commenting, and good luck!

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. I am a bit of a scarf slut – long scarves, short scarves, thin ones, fat ones, cowls and anything, which is why I would love to win this fabulous looking book to expand my collection o(and maybe e a few for other people if they’re very nice…)

  11. It all depends on the weather and that changes alot here in Canada but I love the short fancy ones the best

  12. My preference is for little neck warmers similar to the cover scarf. I have a super short torso and broad shoulders… I feel like adding the bulk of long, wrapped scarves makes me look dumpy.

  13. I love every type of scarf for different day different weather different occasion, as long as it’s pretty and keep me warm from the chilling weather.

  14. I love knitting and wearing cowls the most. They tend to provide maximum warmth with a shorter knit time. 😀

  17. I have been loom knitting scarves to earn a little extra money since I have only Social Security, but I would love to learn how to needle knit.

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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