Knit the Galaxy with this Star Wars Knitting Book

Attention all Star Wars fans: a new official Stars Wars knitting book is being unleashed on the galaxy, and I for one can’t wait to get stitching.

Star Wars is one of the fandoms everyone in our family agrees on, and I think there’s something to knit for everyone in Star Wars Knitting the Galaxy by Tanis Gray.

This collection of 28 knits includes toys, replicas of costume items, apparel inspired by the movies and home decor. If you’ve ever wanted to knit a porg, or a Death Star pillow, now’s your chance.

There’s so much great stuff in this book I can’t even name favorites, but I do think I need Princess Leia’s Hoth Snow Vest, designed by Stephanie Lotven, or Meghan Regan’s The Order of the Jedi Pullover, which elevates the holiday sweater with lightsabers, Yodas, stars and other symbols. My daughter would love Carissa Browning’s Ewok Hood (she had an Ewok-themed birthday party a few years ago), and the Chancellor Palpatine Scarf might be just the thing to actually get my husband to wear a scarf. The BB-8 blanket Tanis designed is adorable, as are the R2-D2 mittens from Therese Sharp (they say beep, boop, bleep and other droidy noises on the palm side!).

The patterns aren’t on Ravelry yet since the book isn’t released until Jan. 26, but you can see some of them on Amazon.

Patterns are rated by number of light sabers to show degree of difficulty from one to three. Five patterns are rated one, 14 are two and nine are three.

This book is the perfect thing for a knitter who loves Star Wars, or knitter who knows and wants to knit for people who love Star Wars. I will note because I’m sure someone will ask, that this book really just covers the movies so there is no Baby Yoda here, but there is a pocket Yoda pattern that could probably be altered to look a bit more like Grogu. That is definitely not a reason to skip this one, there is so much fun stuff in it!

About the book: 208 pages, hardcover, 28 patterns. Published by Insight Editions, suggested retail $29.99.

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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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