Review: 3 Skeins or Less

I love knitting ebooks because they keep me from having quite so many books on my shelf, but I do tend to forget they exist, which is a shame when it comes to reviewing books, because I often miss ones I wish I’d looked at earlier.

So it is with 3 Skeins or Less by Tanis Gray. I’m glad I’ve given it a look now. It’s full of accessories that use a relatively small amount of yarn, from a bunch of great designers so there’s a lot of variety to be found.

There’s an entrelac lace stole designed by Heather Zoppetti, mitts with a ton of Latvian braiding by Ann Weaver, a mesh-stitch mobeius cowl from Åsa Tricosa, a buttoned cowl bedecked with stripes and an open dot pattern from Kirsten Kapur, even a lace camisole designed by Sauniell Connally.

Some of these skeins are obviously bigger than others, such that three can get you a top, a shrug or a shawl, but there are lots of little projects here, too, including hats, mitts and socks. Check out all the patterns on Ravelry. About half of the patterns are accessories like hats, mitts and socks, while the rest are larger projects.

If you’re the sort of person who buys yarn a skein to two (or three!) at a time without much of an idea of what you want to make with it, this book has a lot of lovely ideas to make for yourself or to knit as gifts.

If you’ve looked at this book or made any of the patterns from it, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

About the book: 144 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published October 2014 by Interweave/F+W. Retail price $24.99.

Next Pattern:

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]

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