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Guest Post and Giveaway – Knits Men Want

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This giveaway is over. Winner Announced Here.

Editors Note: We at CraftGossip are honored to have Bruce Weinstein present his list of top ten knitting blogs for inspiration. In celebration of this post, we have a copy of Bruce’s book to giveaway. How to enter the giveaway is presented at the end of this post, so read on!

Bruce Weinstein is the author of the new book, Knits Men Want (STC Craft): part humorous relationship therapy, part straight-forward knitting instruction. Bruce has been designing knitwear and teaching knitting for 10 years, and has also written 15 cookbooks with his partner, Mark Scarborough. You can find Bruce blogging over at http://knitsmenwant.blogspot.com, or on his and Mark’s hilarious food blog: http://www.realfoodhascurves.com, but when he’s not busy blogging, knitting, teaching or cooking, you’ll find him hanging out at these great blogs:

http://spinningshepherd.blogspot.com

Diane’s sheep are so regal and she really brings the artisan craft – from fleece to yarn – to life on her blog. Plus it’s in French as well as English

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog

Stephanie says what we’re all thinking – like sending killer bees to attack people who annoy us.

http://www.westknits.blogspot.com

It’s always great to see Stephen’s hip urban knits.

http://thececrux.blogspot.com

Kimberly is a wonderful knitter and really explains what she’s doing well.

http://www.moltingyeti.com/blog/index.html

Daniel has some unique patterns, love his baby blanket. And he’s a really nice guy, to boot!

http://queerjoe.blogspot.com

Anyone who knits gloves for a friend as a thank-you deserves to be read.

http://www.brooklyntweed.blogspot.com

If for nothing else, just to see how Jared photographs his latest project.

http://cubistliterature.vox.com

Craig makes crazy t-shirts and remind me of when I was his age.

http://modeknit.com

Because Annie really knows how to tell a story.

http://iknitipurl.wordpress.com

Because mixing food and knitting is always a good thing.

To win a copy of Bruce’s latest book Knits Men Want, leave a comment on this post. A winner will be randomly selected from all the entries. Good Luck!

Comments

  3. We’ve been together six years, he doesn’t see me without needles in hand – but I haven’t had the courage to knit for him yet! Please send me the book and give me the courage I need!!!

  4. I read some of those blogs! Thanks for the links. There are some I’ve never seen before—and I’m a blog-hog.

    Oh, and I’d love to win a copy of the book!

  6. I’ve recently learned knitting and love making knits for the kids, but something for my boyfriend would be great, I’ve just been at a loss! Thanks for the chance to win!

  7. Thank you for all the links.
    I am always interested in what others have to say and how they are being creative

  8. Some perennial favorites there, but some new faces to check out as well. Thank you for posting this. 🙂

  9. Wow! All of these blogs are just wonderful (& let’s not forget Bruce’s wonderful blog either! ;)! I really feel so honored to have mad

  12. Sounds like a book I need. I was just looking for a pattern to knit for the Man of the House.

    Fingers Crossed

    Darla

  14. Thanks for some new links I hadn’t tripped over before…I hear good things about the book around the web and would love to have a copy…

  17. Alright! I can’t wait to check out all those links – thank you so much. Thanks for the chance to win what looks to be a fantastic book!

  19. I need a new men’s book for my 2 guys – hubbo & son, both big, both need new sweaters this year.
    Thanks for the links… I know some, but it’s great to see a few new too.

  20. I have a lot of patterns book, but very little patterns for men. I always support guys whom write knit pattern for us only. I hope this book success and their will be another one in the future.

  21. It’s always nice to read new blogs. As for the book, I’ve heard great things about it and wouldn’t mind seeing for myself!

  22. the book defenatly has great stuff for men.
    i would love to see my husbend wearing those knits
    thanks for the giveaway would love to win the “how to”

  24. As a fairly new knitting maniac, I’m always grateful for new resources for inspiration, how to’s and patterns. ‘Knits Men Want’ appears to deliver just what guys really would choose to wear.

  26. So far I’ve only found one pattern that my Dh was happy for me to knit for him – so I would love this book!

  27. I have three guys in my life (DH and 2 very tall sons) and would love to be able to knit for them! Thanks for the chance to win.

  28. I read the excerpt on melaniefalicbooks.com and I so totally see how true it is. I knit the same ole pair of socks over and over for my husband. And I have made two very plain sweaters for him. And for hats, the darker and plainer the better. Though he did ask for turn-a-square by Jared Flood for Christmas 🙂
    I have to check this book out, I think he might like the simplicity.

  29. I’m surrounded by men – my DH, 2 sons, one of who’s favorite color is black and the other will go as far as gray, and 2 grandsons so far – so this book would really help out a lot. Of course, I’d get a lot more knitting done if I didn’t keep spending all my time reading knitting blogs. And, now I have a new list to add! Hmmmm, guess I can knit straight stockingette stitch in the round and read, too….

  30. Thanks for the great links! It’s not always easy to find patterns for men – especially larger sizes.
    I’m off to spend time at these sites…

  33. As someone who never got past five entries on a blog, I really appreciate those folks who share their skill, knowledge and inspirations with us.

  34. Brilliant links – and some great men’s knits there. What a generous giveaway, thankyou 😉

  36. Thanks for all of the great links! I would like a copy of this book. I think there are several things my husband would love.

  37. Please enter me – I’d love a chance to win this wonderful book!
    Thanks 🙂

  39. My mom and I, both expert knitters have yet to finish a sweater for XXL DH. It always comes out too big. Maybe this is the book that would change our luck.

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]