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?

Beyond Basic Pumpkin Knitting Patterns

Over the years I have shared a lot of pumpkin knitting patterns, and I’ve knit and crocheted a lot of pumpkins myself. But it feels like there are always more fun things to try with knit pumpkins, so this year I wanted to look a little more beyond basic stockinette or ribbed pumpkins and share some pumpkin patterns with cables, bobbles and colorwork. 

In the cable collection we’ve got these cute little basic cable and ribbed pumpkins from Elly Bear Knits. There are two sizes that make a wide, flat pumpkin and a taller round pumpkin. Both are worked in the round as a tube that’s cinched top and bottom when you’re done, and they use bulky weight yarn. 

Another cute cable pumpkin knitting pattern comes from Gray Bear Akswokrat. This one is knit flat and it looks like a chunky yarn but you could use other weights to make pumpkins of different sizes. This one also has an I-cord stem and uses yarn to cinch up the sections of the pumpkin, giving it a more natural look. 

Add some bobbles to your pumpkins with this design from Autumn Shelter Makes. Also worked in the round in a tube, it features a repeating pattern of bobbles and uses yarn wrapped around the outside to make segments. This one looks like worsted weight yarn to me. 

Of course there’s nothing that says your pumpkin has to be a single color, so let’s throw in some colorwork. I love the look of the Cozy Fall Pumpkin knitting pattern from South Stitch Girls. The little leather loop adds a rustic touch but you could also just add a stick. These pumpkins have five colorwork options and are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round. 

There’s also the Autumn Fair Isle Trio pumpkins pattern from Equestriann Style, which has three different sizes of pumpkins with four colorwork designs. They are worked in super bulky yarn in the round and look good with high contrast or more muted color combinations.