Make Your Own Knit Cardigan, Block by Block

I love knitting patterns that give you a lot of options. It’s almost a step between following a pattern and designing something yourself, where you get to make some of the decisions but you don’t have to do the math for yourself. The result is a mostly unique design that you didn’t have to design yourself, which is perfect for people who don’t want to design a garment from scratch but still might like some variations.

The Building Blocks Cardi pattern from Aimee Sher is a great example of this. It’s a worsted weight cardigan with a V-neck and optional bust darts, but the options don’t stop there.

You can make it a vest, which has short sleeves, or long sleeved. Make it whatever length you like and choose a straight hem or a high-low hemline. You can add one pocket, two, or none as you like.

Beyond all those options, there are 11 sizes to choose from, ranging from an upper bust measurement of 31 to 63.5 inches. The sweater has built in positive ease so the actual garment measurements range from 38.5 to 79 inches.

The pieces are worked flat from the bottom up, and includes shaping for the armholes so they fall nicely off the shoulder (which is why the vest has short sleeves). A three-needle bind off is used to join the pieces at the top.

There’s even an eight page PDF you can check out before you buy the pattern that includes detailed yardage information, sizing tips, information on special techniques used in the project (including German short rows and special cast ons and bind offs) and detailed schematic drawings and size charts so you can ensure the perfect fit for you. (The schematics are also included as images in the listing on Ravelry.)

Check out all the details and grab your own copy on Ravelry.

[Photo: Aimee Sher.]

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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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