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Book Review: Garter Stitch Revival

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Garter Stitch RevivalI go through periods of liking and not liking Garter Stitch. It’s the simplest knitting stitch out there, but that doesn’t mean it has to be basic. Garter Stitch can be combined with other techniques and stitch patterns to make projects more interesting, or it can be worked in different ways to create something that’s both fun to knit and to wear.

Garter Stitch Revival aims to get even more experienced knitters interested in this rustic and versatile stitch, with 20 projects ranging from sweaters to shawls, scarves to a halter top fit for a music festival.

The book is divided into three sections: one where Garter Stitch plays a minimal role as a detail in a larger design, one where it’s found in a supporting role and one where Garter Stitch dominates.

There are pretty projects in each of these sections. Some of my favorites include the Be True Fingerless Mitts by Jennie Santopietro, which use Garter Stitch and eyelets to make cute arrow designs on the hands; the Flapper Cloche by Megan Elyse Nodecker, using Garter Stitch and short rows to make a scalloped, almost floral brim for the hat; Kristen Tendyke’s Just Peach Saddle Shoulder Cardigan, a classic one-piece top-down design worked in bulky yarn; the Beachcomber Braided Poncho by Heather Zoppetti, which involves dropping stitches and picking them back up to form braids on the body of a basic poncho;and Courtney Kelley’s Ocean Waves Shawl, a Garter Stitch triangle with a multicolored wave embellishment at the edge. Check out all the projects on Ravelry.

Instructions in the back cover techniques you might not know, but I wouldn’t say this is a book for beginners. There are some easy patterns, but many of them include details like short rows, shaping and multiple pattern stitches that might be intimidating to newer knitters. Whatever your skill level, though, you’ll be rewarded with some lovely, classic, wear-with-everything garments and accessories when you stitch the projects from this book.

About the book: 144 pages, paperback, 20 patterns (no skill level given, but patterns range from advanced beginner to experienced). Published January 2017 by Interweave/F+W, retail price $24.99.

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Comments

  3. There are many beautiful and complicated knitting patterns but Garter Stitch is probably the most simple. Its in the simplicity that each stitch can be clearly seen, sometimes in the thousands and each stitch can represent the love and patience knitted into what is made. A way to say “I love you” thousands of times.

Have you read?

Knit a Linen Stitch Hot Pad

Linen stitch is one of my favorite knitting stitch patterns that, every time I use it in a project, I think about how I don’t use it often enough. 

It’s an easy stitch to make, with slip stitches done with the yarn held to the front of the work on the right/front side and to the back on the wrong/back side, which makes the strand of yarn a visible part of the pattern. 

It also makes a fabric that is thick and looks kind of like a woven fabric.

I recently used linen stitch to make a double-thick pot holder, which I worked in a kind of interesting way. I didn’t want to have to do any sewing on the project, so I started it from a crochet cast on and picked up stitches from the side of the cast on to make the hot pad all in one piece in the round with the edge sealed. 

This requires working on two circular needles, which is another technique I don’t use that often and am always reminded how much I like it when I do. 

The combination of double thickness and the stitch pattern makes for a hot pad that’s already pretty thick, but I also added a bit of old towel to the inside before I closed up the end to make it super thick and extra protective for your surfaces. 

I found the engineering challenge of this construction method to be a lot of fun, but you could also just knit it as a tube (casting on twice as many stitches as I did) and sew up the ends by hand when the knitting is done. Either way you’ve got a useful and pretty addition to your kitchen, whether you work it in a solid color, stripes or as a stash busting project will all your cotton odd balls. 

You can grab the pattern over at Our Daily Craft, or check it out on Ravelry. 

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