Review: Lace Knitting for Beginners

For some reason, lace reminds me of spring. I guess because when it starts to get warm outside you can start thinking about wearing projects with eyelets again.

Whatever the reason, I have lace on the brain right now as we in America eagerly await spring, so I thought it was time to share a great little booklet full of lace projects for those new to lace knitting.

Lace Knitting for Beginners, compiled by Amy Palmer, is a little booklet with 11 projects for new lace knitters. It opens with a primer on reading lace charts, including what all those symbols mean and why sometimes the chart means nothing (in the case of a “no stitch” box).

Five of the patterns are for scarves. The others include a towel, tote bag, headband, book sleeve, poncho, shawl and hat. Most of the projects use charts but for the most part they aren’t very complex.

Some of my favorites include Molly’s Headband by Pam Allen, a rectangular headband with a lace panel running down the center and I-cord ties for an east fit; the simple Rain on the Prairie scarf, pictured on the cover and designed by Maureen Hefti; and the fun Peace Street Hat by Grace Akhrem, which uses a lace panel as the brim, from which stitches are picked up to knit the body of the hat in Stockinette. Accent buttons add a bit of whimsy.

There’s also a pattern by Ann Budd called A Scarf of Your Very Own, which shows several basic variations and includes information on how to design your own lace scarf, which is good information for the basics of designing just about any garment.

A glossary and techniques section round out the booklet, which is a great quick start guide for lace knitting. If you’re new to the genre and don’t want to be overwhelmed by a book full of complex projects, you should check this one out.

[Photo via Interweave/F+W.]

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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.

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