Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Book Review – Speed Knitting

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speed knitting book giveaway

Congratulations to Gill!

I’m here to help you with your holiday knitting problems, with this week’s giveaway of Speed Knitting.

OK, even if I mail this one more promptly than usual, it might be a little late for this year, but I’ll bet you can still ship up a couple of pairs of bulky mittens, a lacy poncho or a skinny scarf before the holiday season is over.

This book includes 24 projects, worked with big yarn and needles, and tries to hit a lot of different gift recipients, from babies to dogs and cats, teens and women, and a couple that would work for men as well. There are garments, accessories and projects for the home.

It’s got a lot of great basic patterns (see on Ravelry) that you’ll enjoy knitting even when you’re not in a huge hurry.

If you’d like a chance to win this book, leave a comment on this post by the end of the day Sunday, Nov. 28. I’d love to know what you’re working on for gift knitting this year. Other than the requisite warm things for my daughter, I’m not sure I’m knitting anything for anyone, but I’ve been known to change my mind at the last minute!

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

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

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Comments

  3. Everyone I would knit presents for has moved to warm climates – Floria, Arizona, Dubai – so I’m left knitting just for me, my daughter and husband. And they like hats. Hats, hats and more hats.

  4. thanks for having this giveaway, I would love to have it in my library. I am working on some scrubby’s, and other household helpers for everyone this year.

  6. I’d love to knit from this book! I’m 5′ along in a scrumptious double-knit alpaca scarf my teen requested last year- it WILL be under the tree next month, all 7′ of it!

  8. I’m at the end of a shawl, and there are a couple of sweet Neighbor girls who could use a good Winter hat. I’d love to make one of them something a little on the frilly side, with little curly Q’s on it, so it would make her smile, and possibly get her Mom to put it on her, when the weather is cold enough!! She’s in her terrible 2’s!! This book sounds like it would have some interesting projects in it, and would have some last-minute ideas, too, so you won’t be empty-handed for the Holidays!! Have a wonderful Christmas, and all the best in the coming Year!!

  12. I’m knitting a vest for my husband, but have totally lost my mojo to finish it before the holidays. Maybe I just need some quiet time to get back in the groove, and I should be able to carve some out now that Thanksgiving has passed.

Have you read?

Knit a Classic Aran Cardigan with this Free Knitting Pattern

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time. 

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring. 

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. 

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row. 

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves. 

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body. 

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy. 

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn. 

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]