Knitting

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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?

Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.