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Giveaway: Knitting on Top of the World

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Win a paperback copy of Nicky Epstein's Knitting on top of the world.

Congratulations to winner Debby!

Nicky Epstein’s Knitting on Top of the World is a really fun book, chock full of 50 designs inspired by knitwear and other traditions from around the world.

For example (opening to some pages randomly) an entrelac wrap inspired by strolls in Paris, a Fair Isle and diamond brocade cardigan, a super fancy Aran sweater (that’s it there on the newly designed cover for the paperback edition), a capelet that looks like giant versions of tams sewn together, a flower-covered pullover inspired by Spain, and a lace scarf fir for a Shanghai garden.

I started knitting the dragon from this book a long time ago. Never finished it, but maybe I will now that I’m thinking about it again.

This week I have a copy of the paperback version of this book to give away. One winner will be chosen at random from the people who leave comments on the post before the end of the day Sunday, October 19.

Why don’t you tell me where your dream vacation would take you? I would love to go to the Mediterranean!

Thanks for visiting, sharing and commenting and good luck!

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 want to go to the U.K. I want to see the broad northlands, Dartmoor ponies, Exmoor, the ancient Roman roads, so many places!

  7. I would love to revisit Australia, I visited quite a few years ago when my sister lived there, and I think i may have left a part of me behind. And not just the blood that the mosquitoes had out of me either!

  8. Well so many places to go but I think Peru. Visit the ancient ruins, and get some beautiful yarn!

  9. I would love to go to Provence in France..and the Alps.. and Italy…Switzerland; it’s a big world!

  13. I would love to see Egypt or India. And I love Nicky Epstein’s designs. Maybe I could talk her into going with me so we could get inspired together. 🙂

  14. My dream vacation would be Great Britain. I’d love to see all of the castles, historic sites, and the Harry Potter studio.

  23. It’s Scotland for me! It doesn’t matter what season, what time of year, I’d like to spend weeks (or months) there seeing absolutely everything.

    This looks like a fun book — thanks so much for the chance to win. 🙂

  25. I would love to go to Italy, and specifically to Rome. Thanks for the question, and for the great giveaway. I would love to win this book- Nicky Epstein is awesome! Thanks

  26. My dream vacation would be to go to the Galapagos Islands to see all the different wildlife there. I bet I could come home with fabulous photos. And I could probably do some fantastic scuba diving there.

  29. Have to say my dream vacation would take me many places – on a cruise ship to Tahiti , Fiji , all around Polynesia .

  31. I would love to go to Spain. We hosted a student from there so I would love to go see her and meet her family. I would also like to check out their yarn, she gave me a book with really interesting knitting patterns.

  33. Do I have to just pick one? Hmmm….I love going to Hawaii, so that’s always up there. Europe, the UK, and South America would be great too.

  38. My dream vacation would be to Ireland where I could visit all the yarn shops and talk with all the local knitters who knit the beautiful fishermens knit sweaters. I would see all the awesome castles and fantastic green countryside dotted with herds of sheep!

  39. Definitely the Mediterranean, it has always been on my bucket list! I’d like to start in Spain and end up in Greece or Turkey, maybe even make my way over to Israel. 🙂

  42. Glacier Bay, Alaska has always fascinated me. And it will be a great place to wear my handknits! Thanks for another generous giveaway.

  44. I would love to go on a yarn tour type of vacation. Explore new places and enjoy all sorts of yarn as I go along. Heaven!

  46. My dream vacation is an Ireland/Scotland road trip where I get to stay in rustic lodgings and pretend I’m in a historical romance novel 😉 Thank you for the giveaway!

  47. I have a good friend who lives in Germany and has traveled to the US to visit me a few times already. My dream would be to visit her in Germany and explore the countryside!

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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