Knit Like A Ninja Day?

A little Ninja told me that today was supposed to be Knit Like A Ninja day! I can totally do that. I can do the stealth knitting thing with the best of them. Hmmmm, where should I do this? I don’t have to hide, good little Ninjas can be right in front of you and not seen. Lucky for you, that’s not my style. We’re a bit on the ungraceful and clumsy side (probably comes from physically moving pigs, cattle, and horses, not to mention hay bales and 100 lb sacks of grain), but that’s my other life, let’s get back to my knitting life.

Everyone knows that 11.15 marked the opening day of Deer Season. What??? You didn’t know that?

Wow! Stunned! Shocked! Speechless!

Everything a ninja isn’t supposed to be!

Let’s see, where will I be knitting today? Hubby’s deer blind? Hiding in the basement? Sitting right in front of you? You’ll never know, and you’ll never see me! I’m stealthy like that. Clumsy, yet stealthy!

haaa haaaaa, maybe I’ll have a finished object to show you? Maybe not! You never know now, do you…….

Next Pattern:

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.

Comments

Lynn says
November 16, 2008 at 10:12 am
I have been seen knitting while huning..with my gun or bow. I have taken my sock knitting with and knit while sitting in a tall tree stand or while sitting on the ground waiting for DH to return to get me from where he left me…I get lost very easily so I always stay where he wants me to be so that he won’t have to call out the search and rescue squad!
Thank you for the comments on my blog. The pattern and yarn can be purchased at Rosemarys Gift shop..she has it all in stock, books and yarn colors! http://www.maine-crafts.com/ Rosemary is such a wonderful person and she is always ready to please the customer…give her site a look and then email her. She uses a lot of the links from the companies whose yarn she carries.
Take care and KNIT ON!
In Maine where it is 57F and it shouldn’t be!

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