New Pattern Book from Knit Picks

I just got my fall Knit Picks catalog, which is a dangerous thing for me to be looking at right now, but I opened it up for you guys so I could tell you about the new pattern books Knit Picks has just released.

Modern Sophisticate by Erica Jackofsky has six patterns inspired by modern dance choreographers. I love the simple Twyla cardigan with eyelet shaping at the hips, as well as the cute fingerless armwarmers that combine stockinette and garter stitch (they’re called Yvonne).

And Ann Weaver’s Twentieth-Century Graphic should appeal to some of you who enjoyed meeting her during the Olympic giveaway. Her collection of six patterns uses lots of color blocking, similar to the projects found in Craft Work Knit. The Modular Mitts look like a lot of fun, but I really like the Partition Cardigan, too, which has an easy raglan design with a vertical stripe. (That’s the one pictured here.)

Hmmm…mitts and cardis. I must be thinking fall!

Both of these pattern collections are available now as ebooks ($9.99 each) and will be available soon in printed form. They look like great fun if you’re looking for something new to put on your needles.

[Photo by Ann Weaver/Knit Picks.]

Next Pattern:

Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

Next Pattern:

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