Review: Oval Loom Knit Collection

When I think of loom knitting, I usually think of hats and tube scarves, because to me that’s what looms are for. You’re supposed to use all the pegs all the time, right?

The truth is you can use just a few of the pegs, or all of them, work back and forth in rows or in the round, even knit and purl to make different textures on the surface of your knitting project, all with the same tool.

Oval Loom Knit Collection by Kathy Norris shows some of the great variety of projects that can be done with a loom, including a baby blanket, bib and booties, a cowl, armwarmers, a hat, a pillow and a throw.

Most of the projects are pretty easy for people who are new to loom knitting, but the few bigger or more challenging projects make this book a nice choice for people with a few simple projects under their belts as well. Instructions for the basic stitches are included in the back of the book.

Loom knitting is a great way to make a knit fabric that’s easier for some people than knitting with needles, and even if you can knit with needles it’s still fun sometimes to explore other options.

Have you ever used an oval loom? I’d love to know what you made.

About the book: 32 pages, paperback, 8 patterns (3 beginner, 1 easy, 2 easy+, 2 intermediate). Published November 2016 by Leisure Arts. Retail price $11.99.

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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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