Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway! New England Knits

by

What do you think of when someone says “New England”? Myself I think of storm swept beaches and rocks jutting out into the ocean, snowy landscapes, rolling hills in every color imaginable, big red barns, and of course cozy fisherman sweaters.

This book has all of that and more.  And not just sweaters but  vests, hats, bags and mittens too.

Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa La Barre have teamed up to bring us 25 patterns with classic wearability and contemporary style for knitters of all skill levels.

This book is available over at Interweave Press on July 1, so you’ll be one of the first to get this. To enter, tell me what you think of when someone mentions a “New England Knit“. What’s the first thing that pops into your mind?

Leave me a comment! This giveaway is good until next Friday, July 2, 2010 (yes, I know, July already… deal with it!), when I will, with the help of my 65 lb lap-puppy pick a winner.

Ready, set, go……

Comments

  4. I would so love to know some of the wonderful patterns that this book includes.

  6. I think of the Newhart show, becasue of the sweaters Joanna and Stephanie wore, and lots of caps, scarves and mittens also come to mind.

  7. I definitely think of fishermans sweaters and cables. And though a little non-traditional, I think of cotton yarn.

  8. I love New England and knitting, so I’m sure I’d enjoy this book. What I really want to know is…how is your dog going to help pick the book winner? I’m picturing choice by drooling, LOL!

  9. Hee! I’ve been ogling the patterns in this since they went up in Ravelry.

    Honestly? I think of mittens, mostly because I’m in one of the adjacent mid-Atlantic states, and when I think of cold weather knits, my mind automatically turns to everyone’s favorite snowball throwing, sidewalk shoveling, frostbite fighting winter accessories, and what oddball things I can do to make them more interesting. 🙂

  12. When I think of New England Knits I think of “fisherman’s wool” sweaters.

  14. I think of that first cold day in the fall when it’s really crisp and you see your breath for the first time. The dogs are wild in the cool air and your coffee tastes soooo good and that great sweater is just the right thing for a morning walk.

  15. I’d love a chance to enter – I’m thinking of warm sweaters and accessories 🙂

    Thanks!

  17. Knitted goodness is my FAVORITE thing about living in New England. Mittens and scarves and sweaters, Oh My! This book looks fabulous. What a cool giveaway. And for those of us who are snails-pace knitters, now is the time to prepare 🙂

  20. Wow! The book looks great. Even though it is very warm outside I think it is time to get out the needles and get ready for the cold. brrr. I know these patterns will keep me busy.

  23. One can never have too many knitting books! I’d like to add this one to my stash. Thanks.

  24. I think of Fall and a New England knit sweater….I’d love to win that book…. :o)

  25. I think of walking along stone scattered sand on a cool windy day wrapped in a hand-knit shawl in the perfect blend of purple and gray.

  26. New England, storms, rocky coast, beautiful old homes..they are all Katherine Hepburn movies to me. I live in Australia, so just have to imagine what such a place really feels like. The jumper on the front of the book is snuggly but stylish, so perhaps that would be a good place to start an imaginery roadtrip!! Thanks
    Jane

  28. When you say New England Knits – I think of crisp white cotton and blue or red accent – sailor style – soft cotton knit tops with lovely style and border knitted patterns

  30. I think of a lovely warm gansey with mittens and a toque. I’d actually love the sweater on the front cover! Thank you for a chance to win!

  31. I think of clam chowder and light houses. I’m originally from New England and would love to win – thank you for the give away!

  32. Ooo I just saw some of these patterns on Ravelry and they look terrific – thanks for the opportunity to win the book! 🙂

  33. After living in New England for many years I would have to say that fisherman sweaters jump straight to my mind. What a lovely idea for a book!

  34. I immediately think of all beautiful fall days I would spend sitting on my front porch knitting in New Hampshire. I lived there for two short years and miss it dearly!

  37. New England Knit makes me think of a nice warm sweater for a cozy winter. Thanks for the chance!

  38. I think of navy blue wool, either in a classic raglan crewneck sweater, or in a bulky Aran style knit. This book looks great!

  40. What first comes to mind
    is a warm, cuddly sweater
    to put on when the wind
    blows, while by the sea.
    Thank you.

  46. Oh wonderful. I love Melissa’s designs, so I’d love to win a copy of this book =)

  47. I think of fisherman sweaters, like the ones grandma would knit for my grandpa (he’s a legit fisherman, away for weeks at a time).

  49. I think of fall, colorful leaves, warm beautiful sweaters, and long walks along the beach with my dog. Then starting a new sweater from the book that I just won! Wow! Have a great 4th of July!

Have you read?

Book Review: The Knitting Book

There are two schools of thought when it comes to instructional books about knitting. Either focus in one particular technique or kind of knitting (stranded knitting, say, or brioche) or try to cover a little bit of everything in a reference book that knitters will use throughout their careers. 

The Knitting Book by Frederica Patmore and Dr. Vikki Haffenden aims to be the second kind. The subtitle is: a step-by-step guide to creating imaginative projects for the home and to wear. I’m not sure it does that, exactly, but it does include a quick look at a lot of different techniques and stitch patterns you might use in your projects. 

A “guide to creating imaginative projects” sounds to me like it’s about design, but this book is not. There’s 1/3 of a page about altering patterns that only talks about how to add length to a sleeve and adjust where the increases go.

There’s nothing about measuring your body (the section on choosing a size in a pattern only suggests measuring a garment you already own), general garment construction, ease or stitch pattern multiples. The section on gauge (which is the last third of the page with choosing a garment size and altering patterns, discussed above) just says to knit a swatch, block and measure it to compare to a pattern, with no discussion on how you might use your swatch to design your own project or alter a pattern to meet your gauge. 

If you ignore the subtitle, what you will find is a lot of information about different kinds of knitting and various techniques you might want to try on your projects. There are 20 cast ons and 15 bind off options, for instance, all discussed before you learn how to knit or purl. (Another quibble I have with this book is the order in which things are presented, but that’s relatively minor.)

You’ll find quick hits on increases and decreases, twists and cables, lace, colorwork, textured effects like fisherman’s rib and brioche, loops, mosaic knitting, double knitting, decorative stitches, shadow knitting, bias knitting, mitered squares, entrelac and more. There are tips for selvedge stitches, knitting with beads, adding buttonholes, picking up stitches and more. 

A few patterns at the back give knitters a taste of some of the techniques included, but they’re not rated by skill level and the first one is a bias knit gradient scarf worked in six different colors of mohair, which isn’t a thing I’d wish on any beginner. 

And I guess that’s maybe what my issue with the book is. I don’t know if it’s meant for beginners and it doesn’t seem to, either. I feel like this book would be overwhelming to new knitters and doesn’t really give you a place to start or all the information you might need to do projects well.

The variety of techniques included is fun, and there are also stitch patterns in the back you can use on your own projects, but again it doesn’t really provide any guidance for how to design your own projects so I don’t know how helpful all of that is. 

I want to like books like this because having one reference that helps you with a lot of different things is great, I’m just not sure this is the one. If you can find it at your library or local book store and flip through it before buying, I think that would be a great idea to see if it’s a book that would be helpful for you. 

And if you have this book and love it please let me know! I’m sure it’s good for someone I’m just not sure who. 

About the book: 336 pages, hardcover. Published 2026 by DK. Suggested retail price $40.