Knitting

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Giveaway: Textured Knitting Books from Leisure Arts

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leisure arts booklet giveaways

Congratulations to Bradi!

I’m really liking sharing some quick book reviews over here, both because it gets me looking at more books than I was otherwise and because it’s giving me some more great stuff to give away.

So this week I’m giving away two books from Leisure Arts that I reviewed recently: Easy Textured Knits and iKnit Intrepid Cables. Both of these booklets are great for new to intermediate knitters and will give you lots of ideas for adding interest to your knitting.

If you want a chance to win them, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, February 22. Why don’t you tell me if you have a favorite textured stitch pattern? Moss Stitch is my favorite basic, but I also love diamond patterns (and chevrons, though I’m not wild about them in woven fabric, which is kind of strange).

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

Comments

  1. I have never really thought about if I have a favorite stitch pattern. I think that just something other than straight garter or stockinette is great.

  5. I have only just taught myself to knit this past month so I don’t know which I like. lol
    i don’t have internet (really) & I hv taken all the books my library has. New books would be sweet & then when I’m done with them the library will be 2 books richer!

  8. I am new to knitting so i do not have a favorite stitch yet, but i am already addicted and am excited to discover a favorite as i learn more!

  11. Cool books! I love a cable texture even though I haven’t been able to master it yet. But I’m working on it!

  12. I have a simple slip stitch pattern that I use for cowls frequently. Also like a stitch that the Yarn Harlot used for a scarf. Easy and good texture.

  21. I love moss stitches for more interesting yarn (my favorite piece I’ve ever knitted was a mustard yellow cowl with super, super bulky yarn in a moss stitch!) and chevron for baby blankets. I’d love to add more to my repertoire!

  22. I love trying most stitches, making garments look unusual and original as long as the wool isn’t too thin as my hands are beginning to become old before I want them to.

  23. I am still beginner o I do not know how to do the fancy stitchs yet. I want to try to learn though.

  25. I’m currently working on a sampler afghan so I’m looking for any new textures I can. So far I’m just loving just how many patterns there are made with nothing more than knit and purls and I really love those, but it’s probably just because I’m still new when it comes to the other stuff, ie cables.

  28. I like moss stitch, seed stitch, ooo – cables are pretty, but I’ve never tried ’em. Texture is GREAT!

  37. I tend to prefer textured fabrics to colorful ones- and I like moss stitch, too, but should probably learn some others…

    thanks for the giveaway!!

  38. I love linen stitch. The texture is subtle and the it can create great visual texture if you use different color yarn.

Have you read?

Learn a Flower Bobble Technique to Knit a Fun Shawl

Generally I like knitting patterns where I feel like you can use whatever yarn you have (because my stash is big enough and I want to use it, thanks) and make a successful project. This is one of those times when a special yarn makes the process that much easier. 

The Floral Bouquet Shawl from Xandy Peters uses a specific extended color pooling yarn from Feisty Fibers, which allows you to place the bobble flowers with increasing frequency as you knit the project. 

It starts with a solid color yarn, then the two color yarn is added in, and you make a bobble whenever you encounter the color pops. This would be hard to replicate with other yarn that doesn’t have the extended color pooling built in.

The background of the shawl is ribbed, making the project reversible. 

The shawl uses fingering/sock yarn and comes out to be an asymmetrical triangle that’s 54 inches/137 cm long and 36 inches/ 90 cm deep and 60 inches/150 cm across the top edge. 

Xandy says the pattern is for intermediate to advanced knitters. Knowing how to work traditional bobbles would probably help, but there’s a great video tutorial for how to work the floral bobbles so you can practice on other yarn or even incorporate the bobbles into other projects. 

The bobbles are five-petaled flowers but they also kind of look like starfish to me, which could be fun on a child’s cardigan or other pattern. They’d also be fun on the leg of a sock or around the brim of a hat for extra whimsy. 

The pattern includes photo and video tutorials, and written and charted instructions. It also includes tips on what to look for if you choose to use different yarn for the project, and instructions on how to dye your own yarn to use in the project. 

If you want to give it a try, you can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

[Photo: Xandy Peters]