Knitting

Patterns, projects and techniques

Giveaway: Northern Knits Gifts

by 40 Comments

northern knits gifts giveaway

Ruth is the winner.

It’s time to start thinking about — and more than thinking, to actually start knitting — any knit gifts you want to make for the holidays, and this week’s giveaway can help get you started if you need some ideas for people on your list.

Northern Knits Gifts: Thoughtful Projects Inspired by Folk Traditions by Lucinda Guy has gifts for all sorts of occasions and recipients, including a lacy scarf, gorgeous Fair Isle socks, a sweet knit doll, an array of hats and mitts, a snuggly chunky baby blanket, slippers with classic snowflake designs, sweaters, shawls and more. Check out some of the projects here.

The 20 projects included in the book are mostly small and quick knitting but they include a lot of details that make them fun to knit and impressive to give. There are patterns for kids and women, and one project, a hat, for men, so most of your gift-giving bases are covered.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, October 11. I’d love to know who you are knitting for this year. I always make a little something small for my daughter’s teachers, but I’m not sure what I will do this year because I usually knit a heart and she had one of her teachers last year so she already has one.

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

Save

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. My own daughter started daycare thus year and she LOVES going there. Her educators are fabulous and so nice. I have been thinking of doing pot holders originally as Christmas presents buy I have recently been in a fair isle kick knitting – wise. I’d love to make them something nice like that!

  2. I have been working on baby blankets and hats for my co worker who is expecting her first child.

  4. I knit socks for my family, and I try to learn a new skill each year. This book would be my challenge for next year!

  10. I knit for my granddaughter. Right now, I’m knitting dresses for her Barbie doll.

  16. This year, there are some people I know that could make use of some of these items. I know they would appreciate something handmade, as opposed to waiting to save up for a store-bought item. There are other items they could use now!! I’d love to surprise them, along with the kids. I also have a couple other people in mind I’d love to surprise.

  17. I’ve just finished a lacy cowl for my mom. Next on the list is a hat for my son, double layered for warmth.

  18. I’m knitting for my grandma, my mom, my step dad, cousins, my grandpa and maybe a little something for myself too. I love giving hand made knitting.

  23. Every year I knit a Christmas stocking for a women’s shelter. I belong to a support group that fills stockings with little gifts. I’m also knitting small gift card holders for members of my neighborhood craft group – for them to use in giving their gifts.

  25. I’m short a family of my own but my one best friend has two small boys that are seriously fun to craft for and my other bestie lives in a very cold climate and appreciates any protection I can come up with.

  27. I am knitting mittens for everyone this Christmas and single colored mittens won’t do-so colorful is the way to go. I love stranded knitting. Ursula

  28. I am a retired teacher and still treasure the handmade gifts and cards I received through the years. I am currently working on small gift items for my grandchildren and friends.

  29. I’ve stopped knitting gifts for people I know, because I don’t think they were really appreciated. Instead, I’m doing more charity knitting. This looks like an amazing book. Thanks for another great giveaway!

  30. I always knit things for family, so that’s who I’ll be doing it for again this year, including my future son-in-law!

  31. I’m not a seasoned knitter. My talents are limited to rectangles, so I knit scarves for all the family. I have graduated lately to knitting in the round. I recently am able to knit infinity scarves. Now I can knit circles and Rectangles!!!:)

  32. I made a few things for my daughter and step mom… That’s all I have planned this year. I’m still churning through my stash making nice things, some of which might find their way to someone else this holiday.

  33. I was hoping to knit socks for some of the women in my family this year, but there has been many pregnancy announcements lately so I will be making baby blankets instead!

  36. I’m knitting a vest for my husband. It was supposed to be a simple stockinette v-neck, but it looks like I won’t have enough yarn for only one color. Time to get creative…

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *