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Giveaway! New England Knits

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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……

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. I think of the fabulous cabled car coats my Katharine Hepburn-esque eleventh grade English teacher wore all winter. I always imagined her roaming on some rocky shore in them, pining for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. (I was a nerdy kid.)

  2. When I hear New England Knit, I think of the movie Dan in Real Life. I loved the setting of the movie- New England in the fall, totally charming!

  3. the first thing that new england makes me think of is HOME. i grew up there and now live far, far away. i miss it and love revisiting through the knitters that live there. what a beautiful book!

  6. I think of something wooly, and cabley, in natural colors…something to keep you warm on those New England mountainsides. 🙂

  10. what do I think about New England? it’s home! I miss it.

    Choose me! tx for the giveaway.

  11. I think of adorable houses with shutters on every window, sailing, chowder, lighthouses, and the Red Sox!! I really hope to win this book… I’ll send your puppy some treats!

  12. I was born and raised in New England. So when I read New England Knits, I think of warm heavy sweaters and big cozy mittens.

  14. New England Knits… hrmmmm definitely fisherman’s wool. And it smells like the sea. And the wind is giving me a cool embrace while I knit on the rocks…
    Beautiful!! The patterns look lovely. And very warm and comfy.
    What a very generous giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity!

  22. When I hear about a new england knit, a few weeks ago it wouldn’t have triggered anything in my mind, except an appreciation of the poetic sounds it creates. But now I see lovely and stylish garments that can be worn on the seashore.

  24. Ooh. I have been eyeing this book since I first heard about it. I’d love to win.

  25. I think of all that you mentioned, hats, cream cabled sweaters, mittens, thick scarves, as well as old wooden wind-weathered cap cod houses and salty, windy weather.

  27. Oooooh, from what you can preview on Amazon & Ravelry, this book looks absolutely yummy!

  29. First I think of mittens and big, comfy sweaters–and anything warm–that’s “traditional” New England. But from the patterns I’ve seen in this book, it’s “modern” New England and that’s very exciting. Can’t wait to see it!

    Thank you for the giveaway.

  30. I’m just beginning to tire of the summer heat, so the thought of cool fall mornings with a lovely sweater sounds so appealing right now.

  31. I think of home–I live in Vermont–and all the great knitted items I get to wear. What do knitters do who live in warm climates?

  32. New England Knits brings to mind classic garments to wear while walking on the beach in winter.

  34. It makes me think that they are very close to us (Quebec), so the knits must be perfect for our weather! Also, we used to take family vacations in New England when I was a kid!

  39. the first thing I think of is a gorgeous cream-colored sweater with cables, on a beautiful woman with windswept hair and faraway eyes. I wish that were me!

  40. I would need to start a sweater in summer because it will take me several months to knit it! just in time for cold weather. I’d LOVE to win this book!

  41. I think of lobsters, cold breezes from the ocean and warm, classic sweaters that are stunningly beautiful

  43. I think of lighthouses and patterned gansey sweaters. Looking forward to flipping through this once I can get a hold of a copy

  44. The first thing I think of is: WARM! I am from Kentucky and have lived in New England for the last 7 years, and although I don’t like the cold, it is nice to be able to wear sweaters out of wool and other really warm natural fibers.

  45. Oh! That book looks fabulous. Mmmmm, New England. I think of adorable small towns, beaches, and cozy sweaters.

  47. I think of crusty old sailors. Luckily, it doesn’t look like this book contains anything that looks like something an old sailor would wear!

    I also think of clam chowder and sailing.

  48. I always think about crisp autumn leaves and cozy warm sweaters! Can’t wait to see the book!!

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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