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Giveaway: Knitting Architecture by Tanis Gray

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knitting architecture giveaway

Deborah is the winner.

There are so many great knitting books published each year, full of inspiring patterns I wish I could make, but I have to admit to myself that I’m never going to knit all that I wish I could and so I need to pass some of these great books on to others.

That’s the way it is with this week’s giveaway: Knitting Architecture by Tanis Gray. It includes 20 patterns for tops, wraps, mittens and more, the “and more” including a cool colorwork bag and a skirt inspired by a hotel in Dubai designed to look like a ship’s sail. (See all the patterns on Ravelry.)

The name of this book, as you might imagine by now, is literal. The designs actually are inspired by architecture from around the world, and she writes a little bit about the building behind the design of each pattern, which adds to the fun.

I’d love to knit the color-blocked Bauhuas cardigan, designed by Anne Weaver; the brightly colored Byzantine Pullover by Tanis Lavallee; Grace Anna Farrow’s bright-striped zig-zag Popmidou Wrap; or the super-airy Tower of Piza Shift from Veera Välimäki. Maybe you will knit one of these, instead, if you’re the winner.

For a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, Aug. 14. I’d love to know if you have a favorite building, or a city that includes your favorite architecture (mine is probably Chicago).

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

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

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

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Comments

  2. I would have to say New York just because of the diverse design. Love Tanis Gray. Would love a copy of this book. Thank you.

  6. I’m not a big city girl, I’m more a fan of coastal, southern architecture. Simple houses and then grander ones with big wrap around porches. I also haven’t traveled much to see the architecture of other places but give me pretty beach homes any day 🙂

  8. My favorite building is an old barn that is falling on both ends that is in our area. Every time we go past it I look to see if it is still standing.

  9. Great giveaway-Amsterdam, when I took the boat tour, truly was an inspiration for so many things. Doll house architecture, very quaint, and yet very, very old!

  12. What a cool book! Someday I’d love to go to Paris to see the beautiful buildings in person…for now, I’ll just admire the pictures.

  15. I guess the pyramids are great structures that look so awesome. However, from the book, the top on the cover is a winner.

  16. Growing up in the Pittsburgh area, I have always loved the old stone buildings contrasted with the newer glass buildings. And lots of bridges. This book looks fantastic–esp love the Beaux Arts Cardigan and the Bird’s Nest Shrug. They look fantastic. Thanks for the chance to win a fabulous book.

  17. I would have to say my favorite city for architecture is Chicago also. (My husband loves anything Chicago) but it is surprising how many unique architectural details you will spot in small cities and towns if you look for the,

  18. I’ve always been partial to New York City because I visited often with my aunt when I was younger.

  20. I love Victorian and Art Deco architecture. Those styles always look like the people involoved took their time to craft something wonderful.

  21. Thanks for the chance to win. I don’t know that I have a city that I love the architecture. I like small old towns with beautiful homes. The Victorian details are amazing!!! This book looks really beautiful.

  23. I love Vienna – the architecture is amazing but there are areas of London that are fantastic blends of ancient and modern. Thanks for the chance to win this book. 🙂

  25. What a beautiful and innovative concept! I love this book! I would love to see a pattern in honor of NYC’s Flatiron building!

  27. I was recently in Shanghai and loved the tall buildings and the bridges with the river view!

  28. I love the old wooden stave churches in Norway, which were built without nails, just fitting the pieces together.

  29. I love Doric columns of Segesta, the Grrek temple on Sicily. So I want to make the skirt that echoes it columns in Knitting Architecture. Thank you for the chance to win it.

  30. New York is the city I love! Huge avenues and beautiful buildings that surround one of the best city park of the world. thanks for the lovely giveaway

  31. My favourite city for architecture is Bath in the UK. All the beautiful yellow brick Georgian houses!

  34. I adore the old-world architecture of Madrid, Sevilla, Toledo. Spain was my first taste of the world outside the US, and it just cannot be beat in my mind!

  35. I don’t know if this counts as architecture or not, but I would have to say the Great Wall of China.

  36. I’m not a huge architecture person, but I tend to get more emotional about historical architecture.

Have you read?

Book Review: Viking Knits

Beautiful people and beautiful sweaters combine in Lasse L. Matberg’s Viking Knits. The book includes more than 40 Scandinavian inspired knits for men, women and children featuring textured stitches and colorwork.

Matberg is known as The Viking and has worked as a chef, naval officer, fitness instructor and model, as well as being on a couple of reality TV shows. He comes from a long line of makers and his book was first published in Norwegian in 2021 and has since come out in an English version.

The book is divided into sections including everyday sweaters, knits for the great outdoors, stylish knitwear, Norse sweaters and accessories. Some of the patterns use the same designs in different versions for men, women and children. I counted seven projects rated for beginners, 19 for intermediate knitters and 17 for experienced knitters. The more difficult patterns tend to have allover colorwork or stitch patterning.

The pattern stitches and colorwork are shown in charts, with a little bit of text to tell you how to make the garment. Most of the book is sweaters, but there are also hats (sometimes coordinating with sweaters), scarves and a couple of sitting mats.

You can check out all the patterns on Ravelry. Some of my favorites are the more basic ones, such as the Power Sweater, a close-fitting (sized for men) ribbed sweater; the Heart Sweater, a raglan with allover lice stitch; and the Midsummer Sweater, with textured stripes and a henley neckline. I also like the Breeze designs (there are versions for men, women and children) that have colorwork diamonds on them.

Sizing on the garments varies, but there are six sizes for the men’s patterns (noted as small through XXL and then Lasse sized), six for women (XS to XL) and three for children (age 2-4, 6-8 and 10-12).

The yarns used in the book aren’t available in the United States but you can find suppliers here if you want to use the same yarns. Otherwise the book gives a lot of details about yarn content and gauge so you should be able to find good substitutes wherever you live.

If you have Norwegian or Scandinavian heritage or just like the look of cozy textured or colorful sweaters, this book is a lot of fun, and the eye candy is pretty great, too.

About the book: 192 pages, hardcover, 43 patterns. Published in English in 2023 by Search Press. Suggested retail price $29.95.

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