Knitting

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KnitBits: Baa-ble Hats, Knitting Bits and Franklin Schools Journalists

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KnitBits: Baa-ble hats, stash knitting and Franklin's tips for writing about knitting.I see stuff about knitting online all the time. I’m always saving links in Facebook, holding onto emails with patterns and Google alerts with knitting news stories.

And these things tend to pile up. So I’m going to try once a week this year to collect some of those favorite links and news items that I haven’t gotten to yet all in one place. And there’s some really good stuff this week.

A Facebook group I’m in has been obsessed with the Baa-ble hat by Donna Smith lately. It’s easy to see why, because it’s adorable, and I really want to knit one soon. But there have been a lot of complaints that the hat comes out big. Susan B. Anderson has some great modification tips for this hat on her website, which she learned from Martha Healy. This is great stuff to keep in mind if you’re planning to knit this sweet sheepy hat.

If using up bits of your stash is on your agenda this year, check out the Knit by Bit posts on the LoveKnitting blog. Each of these is a small pattern that will use up some of your odd balls, whether a skein of bulky for a big cowl or a little bit of a lot of colors on a striped hat. And make sure you check out my posts on using your yarn stash for more inspiration.

Finally, I shared this one on my Facebook page the other day but it’s just too good not to mention again. Franklin Habit has some great advice for journalists (or interns, perhaps) who get “stuck” writing the knitting story. He hits all the important points: knitting and crochet are not the same, grandmas should not be mentioned and yes, guys do it and yes, that’s not a big deal. My only addition would be to please not mention yoga in your story, either!

Have you seen any great knitting-related content online lately? I’d love to hear about it!

Next Pattern:

Comments

  1. I love that Baa-ble hat, but I don’t really wear hats that much. Keeping this pattern in mind to modify for another project. It’s so cute!

Have you read?

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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