My Waaayyy Cute Sweater Jacket and A Note About Sizing.

This is one of the projects currently on the needles here at knitting.craftgossip.com

It’s from Sandra, The Knitting Magazine, Dec. 03. (pretty bad scan, the magazine is close to totalled). I ran into a snag, as the pattern is supposedly written for a size 12/14. Not so much, unless over in Austria, their sizes differ markedly from ours. I guess the lesson here is pay attention not only to sizing but measurements. So after trying it on and finding it way too small (probably a size 6 I would guess) I decided to add a 2×2 rib panel on either side of the front, between the design squares and the fur yarn border. We’ll see how that plays out, I just finished the bands this morning.

This was a quick knit, enjoyable and easy, not boring but not too intensive either, I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, which I adore!

Now to find the perfect closure! Any ideas?

A note came across my desk about adopting a puppy or kitten for a Christmas present. I love critters, I’d have a houseful if I could get away with it, (hubby would not be happy), but I would love to encourage you, if you’re thinking along those lines, to visit either the local kennels or a rescue center. These animals are probably not the cute puppies and kittens, but they desperately need loving homes. Another option, you know all of those leftover swatches, squares and unfinished afghans, or the yarn you can’t stand to knit with that you don’t want to throw away? Why not whip up a blanket and donate it to your local animal shelter.

Off my soapbox now, off to knit some more, spin some more, and cuddle with Bu-Dawgh, my 60 lb lap dog shar-pei/spaniel thing. He has wrinkles! Lots of them! And he’s cute!

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.

Next Pattern:

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