Patterns, projects and techniques
Don’t forget to get in on our latest giveaway. Knit To Be Square, book by Vivian Hoxbro, at the end of next week, I’ll send emails from all of my comments and the first to respond with their address gets the book!
In your comment, tell me about your lace knitting!
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.
I love to knit lace, especially on socks. The interplay between increases and decreases, color and light, always make me marvel that I actually created the intricate (or simple) patterns which stretch around my foot.
I love to knit fun original characters and novelty items, but have yet to venture into lace.
sounds like a good book
I love lace knitting. I have made several scarfs. I would love to tackle a shawl some day.
My next lace project will be lacy socks.
Sheryl
I’m a new knitter and love lace projects. I’ve started a lace baby blanket, so pretty!
Looks like a fun book!
I THINK EVEN I CAN KNIT A SQUARE
I’m currently knitting a lace shawl – the stormwater shawl to be precise. I’m making it in a fingering weight yarn, but its still lace.
I have just started a shawl after doing a lace scarf. It is a bit scary but very enjoyable.
I’ve only made a couple of lace items, one was a small scarf that could have been a shawl. Just don’t have the patience for it!
You know, I’ve never tried lace knitting. I want to, but just haven’t gotten around to it yet. That may have to be my next project.
I’m a new knitter and would love to know more about it 🙂
I recently took a lace knitting class, the very last class at The Point NYC before the store swiftly, sadly closed. The class improved my technique and helped me manage my yarn overs. Now I’m hungry for patterns to keep me going.
I love knitting lace – my first real project was a beaded lace shawl… came out lovely, got a blue ribbon at the county fair! I continue to like to make lace shawls with beads and am winding yarn this week!
I’m on my first lace knitting project. It is a scarf in the Feather and Fan pattern using Dream in Color Smooshy Sock yarn. It’s been really fun and the pattern really only has one line to memorize – the other 3 lines of the pattern are either a knit or purl row. Not hard at all to do and it’s coming out SO cute!
Thanks for the opportunity to participate in the giveaway!
Betsy
I LOVE Vivian Hoxbro’s patterns and her latest book sounds wonderful. I would love to see what she is up to now.
I’d actually love to win this for a friend of mine who love to knit!