The Intentional Spinner

So you want to learn to spin. Of course you do. I did. Why? I have no idea, kind of seemed like the next direction to take my fiber addiction. And, doesn’t everyone need another hobby?

Enter Interweave Press and Judith MacKenzie McCuin’s book, “The Intentional Spinner”. First off, this book has really cool pictures, and lots of them. I’m a sucker for eye candy, what can I say, I blame it on the fiber addictions. In this book, Judith breaks it all down, from the ground up, from the different forms of fiber bases, cellulose, protein and manufactured, and puts them all together again, you actually know what you’re working with. And people! There are charts in this book! Charts!

Let that one sink in for a minute!

Are you back? Ok. In one section she talks about not only having yarn that is beautiful coming right off the wheel, but aiming for yarn that is gorgous plied, and worked up into your knitting. Knowing ahead of time how to get just the right twist so that the yarn will be just as nice in it’s final resting place as it was right off the wheel.

Preview the book, here: http://www.interweave.com/spin/books/IntentionalSpinner/preview.asp

And…. pssst…… there are patterns in this book too!!

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.

Have you read?

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