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Giveaway: Quick Nordic Knits

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Quick Nordic Knits giveaway

Mary is our winner!

When I reviewed this book when it came out back in 2010, I noted that I wasn’t sure the word “quick” should have been used in the name, because while socks, hats and mittens (which are the types of pattern found in Quick Nordic Knits by Ann-Mari Nilsson, the patterns often use small yarn and needles that, combined with colorwork, don’t make for very fast knitting.

That said, the patterns are lovely and will definitely keep you entertained as you knit and warm when you wear the projects you’ve made. There are great traditional speckled patterns, solid-color cable projects, plaid, stripes and traditional colorwork motifs like stars and trees.

There are patterns here for all skill levels, though having a comfort with circular knitting would be helpful.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, March 27. Since we’re in a time of seasonal transition right now, I’d love to know where you are and what the weather is like there today.

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

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. I am in Colorado and the snow from the last two snow storms is finally starting to melt. Thank you for sharing this giveaway. I have loved this knitting style ever since I went to Norway when I was in High School. The outdoor markets were so colorful thanks to all the knitted sweaters and accessories.

  2. The midwest.
    We are a bit cool today (40’s) we are supposed to be warmer tomorrow and then fall back into the 40’s.

  5. Im in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada on the east cost part of the maritime aka atlantic provinces…it is a nor’easter snow storm for us today with expected up to 30 cm of snow……yesterday was -9 and green everywhere,,,lol …today most things closed….due to snow storm, ttmrw calls for +4 and rain…..what a mess but fun and pretty out there.

  6. I’m in New York and after enjoying warm-ish weather for the past few weeks, today is oddly cold and right now, it’s even snowing a little. But it’s Spring and Summer can’t be far behind!! Thank you for this giveaway!

  7. West Wales – had lovely spring weather over the weekend, clear blue skies but didn’t get over about 6 degrees. Today is grey and colder and yet more rain is expected………..

  8. I live in Canada and we are always guaranteed snow and more snow in April where I live!! Our summers are relatively short too, so winter gear is neede early too!! This book would be perfect, thanks!!

  9. I am in coastal RI. Overnight we received about 4 inches of heavy wet snow. Today the sun is coming out and the thermometer is rising. I would love to win this pattern book of Quick Nordic Knts. Thank you for running this giveaway.

  10. I live in North Florida so weather not bad, just a cool breezy 55 degrees. Thank goodness no snow.

  11. I am in Illinois and it is 43 degrees right now. Kind of chilly but at least it is not in the 30’s or lower. I love the look of Nordic knitting.

  13. I am in Montana outside the gates to Glacier Park and although the winters can be fairly harsh, we have had a very mild one this year. Today will be in the 40’s. These are the most gorgeous patterns I have seen and those colors are so bright and cheerful. Thanks for the give away! Wonderful act of kindness!!!!!!!!!

  14. I love the look of Nordic knits, but have never attempted to try it. The word “Quick” in the title is very appealing. I live in NC and today it’s sunny and about 50. Last week it was in the high 80’s and the rest of this week should get back into the 70’s. Azaleas and dogwoods are gorgeous now. . . as long as it doesn’t freeze!

  16. I’m in southern MS , the wind is blowing hard out of the north, and temos to fall in the 30’s for the next couple of days. Then it will warm up & rain, with highs in the low 70’s. Everything is in bloom, so the lows will affect the new blooms, but with summer, all will be as it should be here in the south.

  17. I’m from Massachusetts. It was in the mid 50’s late last week. This Morning? we had a snowstorm. 5 Inches. Welcome to New England! Would love a copy of these patterns. Pick Me! PICK ME! Please!

  19. Southwestern Oregon on the Rogue River. We are having a period of liquid sunshine. We are no longer worried about another drought year so we are happy! It’s only in the 50s but will warm up later this week. Trees are budding out and the flowers are blooming. It’s beautiful!

  20. I’m in New York State . It sunny and windy today. It’s around 45 degrees but to me it feels much colder due to the wind chill. I’m ready for spring!

  21. North Idaho here and almost afraid to say it seems like an early spring….highs up to 50! I’m Nordic heritage and would love this book! What a cool giveaway.

  22. Here in Southern Maryland we have some serious winds. Temperatures have dropped off to mid 40s and a freeze warning has been posted for tonight. We were just in the low 80s a few days ago. Please send us back into the 80s!!!!

  23. Hello from what I lovingly (cough cough) call the frozen north! I am in North Dakota and, sigh, temps are actually seasonal… meaning mid-thirties during the day 🙁 Being a Texan at heart (from Galveston Island) I had to learn to crochet and knit in self defense of the weather when I moved up here! lol I consider myself still very much a learner and would love to add this book to my slowly growing library I refer to as I try to learn new stitches and techniques. Thanks so much for the chance to win this book!
    MaryBeth

  24. Would love to try some of the patterns in this book.
    I am in Northcoast California – trying to keep dry!! And hoping the roof doesn’t leak!!

  26. I’m in Michigan, and currently we’re under a Winter Storm watch, so when I saw the book, along with your question today, it brought a smile and chuckle. We’re not out of the woods yet, so a book like this would come in real handy (no pun intended)!!

  27. I too am from MI – snow this morning and very chilly still and loved seeing this book! I am Scandinavian and would love to give some of these patterns a go! thanks!

  28. Hi! I’m from Vancouver, WA (just north of Portland, OR). The day is mostly overcast with periods of rain. A light breeze is providing the music for trees to dance and sway.

  29. I am NOT at home in Northern California where it was snowing today, I am in the West Indies where it is a balmy 82F with a constant gentle breeze. Because I’m enjoying possibly the best weather on earth, I probably don’t deserve to win the book, but I’d love to have it just the same.

  32. I am in Frederick, Maryland. The weather is a bit chilly for this time of the year. But this week is actually the peek week for the Cherry Blossoms in DC. Thanks for the giveaway. I do want to learn Nordic Knitting. This looks like an excellent book to start.

  33. I’m in Mississippi right now and it’s been really cold at night, like in the high 30s and in the 60s during the day. It’s a little cooler than normal for us this time of the year.

  34. I live in the South. Today we got a taste of our kind of winter–it was in the 40s. By the end of the week its supposed to get back up into the 70s. That’s spring. You never quite know if its short sleeves or coats.

  36. Here in Israel, at the start of spring, we’re experiencing cold winter weather – but without the winter rains.

  38. It is a gloriously bright and sunny day here–chilly though. I harvested a nice armful of pussy-willows on Saturday. Spring has come unseasonably early and the bears have awakened!

  40. I live in Lisbon, Portugal. It is sunny today and the temperature is just great, 17 Celsius degrees. A light wind is taking care of nice fluffy white clouds.

  42. I’d love a chance to win this! I just got back from Iceland and picked up some lovely Icelandic wool, intending to make some mittens. It’d be even greater if I could use a pattern inspired by that part of the world.

    I’m in Chicago and it’s very cold and rainy here, unfortunately. 🙁

  43. I love Nordic-style knits! I’m in Wisconsin and today we’re sloppy. We received close to 12″ of snow Wed-Thurs this week but today it’s in the mid-40’s so it’s disappearing fast.

Have you read?

Knit a Garter Stitch Blanket with a Twist

When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]