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Book Review – Knitter’s Know-How

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Knitter's Know-How giveaway

Congratulations to Dina!

One of my other jobs aside from writing for Craft Gossip is that I occasionally write book reviews for Foreword, a great magazine and website supporting small, independent publishing.

I recently did a roundup of craft book reviews for them, which was a lot of fun, and included a knitting book I’d like to share with you: Knitter’s Know-How: 127 Techniques Every Knitter Needs to Know by Cap Sease.

From my review:

Cap Sease covers a wide range of planning and finishing techniques in this straightforward and helpful book. Clear illustrations, sometimes photographs and sometimes drawings, show knitters just what to do to get the results they want. The book offers many options for the necessary steps of finishing, leaving it up to the knitters to determine what works best for them. For example, while most knitters are familiar with mattress stitch as a way to sew seams, Sease offers nine other options, as well as knit and crocheted edges.

The book covers project planning, weaving in ends, blocking, seams, Kitchener stitch, picking up stitches, working bands, cord and crocheted edgings, buttons and buttonholes, zippers, pockets and more, as well as how to care for your knits to keep them in the best shape possible.

It’s a great reference book for knitters of all skill levels who knit garments and want to explore ways they could do things differently and better than they do now.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Dec. 11. Tell me about the last sweater you knit or what you hope to knit next (I have a cardigan in Christmas colors on the needles for my daughter).

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

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Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

 

Comments

  1. I am trying to finish an afghan sampler for myself – so that I can start knitting a nativity set.

  2. I have startitis….I haven’t finished anything lately, but the last thing I started was the first baby sweater for my twin grandsons.

  3. The last sweater (and the first sweater!) I knit was a vest from a 1980s pattern and I used a pale green yarn because I had it. It turned out beautifully except the color is a little … different. I lost weight and it is too big!

    Next sweater project planned is something quite complicated that I saw Staci from verypink.com knit. Fair Isle, steeking, intricate pattern – I can’t wait! I have some gorgeous Icelandic wool in natural colors that are perfect for this.

    I always start big.

  4. I quite often start knitting without a pattern or a definite plan, then wind up with a garment I’m not quite sure how to finish. These go into my WIPWIPWIP pile. That’s Work In Progress While I Ponder What I Prefer.

    Right now I have a sweater sitting waiting for me to figure out how to add a facing and zipper where there was no facing or zipper planned when I started. Perhaps this book could help?

  5. The last sweater I knit was entirely in seed Stitch which I ordinarily avoid like the plague. I participated in a shawl knit along with Marly Bird and thanks to her instruction and tips, I finally get how to keep my seed Stitch mistake proof

  7. I saw a link a few days ago about an owl pattern hat, so hopefully that will be something i can sink my teeth in next!

  8. I have been thinking about knitting a pink sweater for myself. I just have this caught up in my mind as to what I want. I usually make things for others and it has been some time since knitting a sweater. Lately it has been scarves, hats and afghans.

  10. I’m on the second sleeve of my first jumper – a gift for my husband! Next I want to get a handle on knitting lacey patterns for a lovely hat

  11. I knitted my first and last sweater 7 years ago for my toddler daughter. I’m currently working on mittens for me!

  13. The last sweater I knitted was for a Barbie doll. My granddaughter finds it easier to dress her Barbie doll if the clothes are hand-knitted.

  14. After my chemo hat, and a baby blanket, I will be knitting an Aran jacket. Thank you for the giveaway.

  15. I am currently knitting a Tallulah in Bella Lino. It’s my 3rd top, and I’m loving the pattern–except for the pick up and knit on the vertical edge, a combination of garter and stockinette. I am not sure I did it right. I don’t think I like the picked up edge. Maybe the book could help?

  16. Last sweater was a top down navy blue one, had bands of garter stitch round the yoke. Fitted so well that I have another one on the needles in pink.

  19. I have a wash clothe in 2 colours of cotton to finish – I sell them with my homemade soaps. Have a lovely shrug to do next

  22. I have one cardigan, one top down bulky cable knit and one sport weight bottom up sweater on needles. I vow to finish all in the new year!

  23. Last thing I knitted was a no-seams summer jacket for my toddler. It’s green and she looks gorgeous wearing it!

  24. I have a cardigan on the needles in hibernation whilst I knit Christmas decorations for my local library!

  25. The last thing I knit was dish cloths and right now I have a Christmas sweater for one daughter and a scarf for the other daughter on my needles.

  26. My last sweater was Thea Coleman’s Dark and Stormy. I’ve been wearing it a lot lately, it’s cranberry colored and very warm and cozy.

  27. I have so many things on my to knit list, I wouldn’t know where to begin! Finishing up Christmas presents now, then maybe an afghan stash-buster.

Have you read?

Knit a Classic Aran Cardigan with this Free Knitting Pattern

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time. 

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring. 

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. 

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row. 

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves. 

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body. 

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy. 

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn. 

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]