knit.purl Replaces knit.wear, and a Giveaway

October 6, 2014 by Sarah White 51 Comments

Interweave/F+W has had a special issue magazine called knit.wear for a few years, and the magazine has evolved with its latest issue to have a new name and design with the same editorial team. knit.purl is what the magazine is called now, and it is edited by Lisa Shroyer, who also edits Interweave Knits.

“We’re updating some older elements, and keeping the most important ones,” she said in a news release about the change. “The packaging has changed a bit, but at the end of the day, this magazine is all about clean, contemporary, intriguing knitwear.”

I really enjoyed looking through the new issue, on newsstands now. It includes a roundup of great bulky knitting yarns, which are completely on-trend this season. There’s also a story about Jasmine Gonzalez, a student at San Francisco’s Academy of Art University, who presented a collection of hugely chunky sweaters and sewn pieces at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. And you’ll learn about a Navajo plying method that allows you to make a three-ply yarn as you’re knitting, so you can turn a lightweight yarn into something bulkier with ease, and go back and forth between chunky and thin in the same project with the same yarn. That one’s going to be cool to play with.

In addition there are 23 patterns for sweaters, hats, mitts and cowls to get you through the cold season. I love the Spiral Pullover, pictured on the cover and designed by Cathy Carron. The Ply List Sweater by Michelle Hunter plays with that plying technique, making bulkier stripes mixed in with single-ply stripes. Ashley Rao’s Plumage Pullover is a pretty tunic with cascading feather patterns, while the Pintuck Cardigan by Bristol Ivy uses a tiny detail to make a sophisticated design that much more interesting.

I may need to knit Alice Tang’s Asymmetric Hem Pullover right away; it combines ribbing and garter stitch with uneven row gauges and a pointed hem to make a bold look. On the accessory front I love the Tilting Fair Isle Mitts and Hat by Mary Gehling, which have short rows that tilt the bands of colrowork. Check out all the patterns for yourself on Ravelry.

I happen to have an extra copy of this magazine to give away, so if you’d like it, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, October 12. Tell me which pattern you’d love to knit or what you’re most looking forward to knitting this fall and winter. (Congrats to winner Claire!)

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing and good luck!

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

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Diana says
October 11, 2014 at 1:58 pm
I really like the Pintuck Cardigan,

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Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

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.

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