Review: Cozy Knits

Knitting has long been a textile art in use in most of the world, with different traditions, techniques and colors used in different places. The book Cozy Knits: 30 Hat, Mitten, Scarf, and Sock Patterns from Around the World (edited by Kari Cornell) aims to gather together as many of these styles as possible in little projects sure to inspire.

The book draws inspiration from knits and other objects from around the world, including the knitwear traditions of Iceland, Scandinavia and Peru; one designer’s wedding ring; Chinese characters for good luck; Maori symbols; and a barbed wire collection from a cowboy museum in Wyoming. There’s lots of colorwork and some cables and lace as well. The patterns don’t indicate skill levels but I would say more are for intermediate and beyond knitters because of the techniques used and the heavy reliance on charts.

Some of my favorite scarves include the Icelandic Yoke Scarf by Gretchen Funk, which has flared ends to mimic the decreasing size of a yoke sweater’s motifs as you work toward the neck; the European Cowl by Donna Druchunas, a big, rectangular loop featuring an Estonian-inspired leaf lace motif; and Lucy Neatby’s Pendleton Scarf, inspired by Native American blankets and stained glass.

In the hat and mitten category, I like the Icelandic Leaf Pattern Tam and Mittens from Helene Magnusson, which features colorful, traditional leaf colorwork motifs and Janel Laidman’s Japanese Sashiko Hat and Mittens, inspired by the embroidery technique of the same name and worked in classic blue and white.

For socks, I like the Uppsala Socks by Chrissy Garner, which use traditional Bohus methods including purling as a design element and Anna Zilboorg’s Poppy Socks: Turkish Socks, which have a traditional Turkish hook design commonly found on rugs and other Turkish textiles.

You can see a few of the patterns on the publisher’s website, but the book doesn’t appear to be on Ravelry.

Cozy Knits is a fun book if you like to think about how knitting has been a part of the textile tradition around the world and if you want to play with different motifs and techniques on a relatively small project. It might inspire you to delve deeper into a knitting tradition that you didn’t know much about or might not have known existed.

About the book: 192 pages, originally issued in paperback, now available as an ebook, 30 patterns, published 2021 by Voyageur Press. Suggested retail for the ebook is $24.99.

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When I first started knitting again after a long absence from the craft (which has now been almost 25 years ago!) I really didn’t like garter stitch that much. I found it super boring, somehow even more boring than knitting stockinette stitch in the round, even though it’s exactly the same thing.

Over the years I’ve softened my opinion, and even grown to like garter stitch. There’s nothing wrong with being plain, and actually the texture of garter stitch is more interesting than stockinette.

Also there are fun things you can do with garter stitch to make it more interesting if you want to, such as adding stripes, working on the bias, or doing fun effects to change the look.

That’s the way with the Bernat Twist My Way Garter Knit Blanket. Using combinations of casting on and binding off creates what they call a Swiss cheese effect along two sides of the blanket. This is a lot of fun in the self-striping ombre yarn they chose for the pattern, but it would also be fun in a solid color or making your own stripes.

Despite the dramatic effect, this pattern is rated easy. It’s worked from side to side (if you consider the “cheesy” edges the top and bottom) and has an eight-row repeat that involves binding off and then casting on again to make the holes. They’re kind of like giant buttonholes.

Once you get the hang of it it’s a pretty easy repeat to remember, and it will be smooth knitting as big as you want to make it.

You can download this pattern from the Yarnspirations website for free, or you can buy a kit direct from them that includes the yarn you need (and knitting needles if you need those, too). Bernat Sport Ombre Twist, which is what is used in the pattern, comes in 12 self patterning colors and is a DK weight acrylic yarn.

[Photo: Yarnspirations]

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