Review: Teach Me to Knit

I’m teaching some classes at the “summer camp” at my daughter’s school this year that will include a couple of general fiber arts courses for different age groups and a class just focused on learning to knit.

So I have been looking with special interest lately at books that aim to help get kids interested in learning to knit and that include easy projects younger people will enjoy making and using.

Teach Me to Knit from Leisure Arts is a brief booklet that covers all the basics, from yarn and needle selection to casting on (long-tail), knitting, binding off, purling,decreasing, seaming, increasing, working yarn overs to make eyelets, slipping stitches and producing the make 1 increase.

Each lesson is accompanied by a project or two that will help knitters of any age use their new skills. It starts with Garter Stitch coasters and a flower made by casting on, binding off and sewing up. There’s another coaster worked just in purl (which is still Garter Stitch), a washcloth, can cozy, dog’s ball toy, eyelet scarf, lap afghan made with the ripple stitch and a pillow worked in wedges that are seamed together.

Other projects include a fish-shaped cat toy, leg warmers, mitts and a hat, all worked flat.

There are lots of pictures and words to guide knitters who are learning new skills, and links to online video tutorials are included for anyone who needs more help. If the child knows an adult who knits, so much the better, though it’s not strictly necessary to be able to follow this bookk.

I like the variety of patterns in this book and that it manages to cover a lot of skills quickly, giving new knitters confidence to try new things and to make projects they will love to use and give as gifts.

I will definitely have this book on hand while I’m teaching this summer.

Book specifications: 64 pages, paperback, 13 patterns. Published by Leisure Arts, December, 2015. Suggested retail $14.99.

Next Pattern:

There are certain things that just make sense to knit at this time of year, and market bags are one of them. We tend to use our canvas bags more often in the summer with trips to the farmer’s market and the library, but string bags and market bags are great to use all year.

I love the Three Oranges Bag by Hana Cho, which looks just like a knit version of a plastic shopping bag, but with three cute oranges stitched on. The bag uses intarsia to make the oranges, but you could use duplicate stitch or intarsia to add a different design if you like. It calls for fingering weight yarn and you can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Sharyn Anhalt’s Market Square bag (also on Ravelry) uses worsted weight yarn and a mosaic pattern to make a pretty bag you’ll want to use every time you go shopping. The bag comes in two sizes and is worked in two colors of the same yarn for a fun mixed up effect that’s almost like weaving.

Speaking of fun colors, the Market Bag from Hubbabubbie Art uses a multicolored cake yarn (specifically Lion Brand Mandala) to produce fun color changes without any extra work. This bag is worked from the bottom up with a crocheted bottom and knit mesh sides. It’s a free pattern on Ravelry.

The Pike Place Market Bag from Blue Bird Pine Shop looks like a massive bag to hold all your market goodies (that is a child holding it, but still). The bag calls for worsted weight cotton yarn and the mesh is worked on extra large needles to help it open up to hold everything you want held.

The Knit Farmer’s Market Bag form Design BCB is another good one, made mostly of mes with a little stockinette for extra stability. The base is also worked in stockinette so items you put in it will sit flat.

This mesh bag from Sheep and Stitch doesn’t have a base, and the body is worked flat before being joined in the round to make the top and handles. That makes it easy to make the bag just the size you want because you can stop knitting whenever you feel it’s big enough. The pattern includes a step-by-step video if you need extra assistance.

And the Eco Market String Bag from Mama in a Stitch has a solid knit base worked in a contrasting color from the mesh body. It’s an easy project that comes out a great size for your market needs without being too huge.

Do you have a favorite knit market bag pattern? I’d love to hear about it!

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