Things to Watch to Inspire Your Knitting

I don’t know why a lot of knitting-related videos have popped up in my newsfeed recently, but I thought they might make a good watchlist for those of you who like to watch things about knitting while you are knitting. Some of them are kind of old but all are worth your time.

First, have you seen the video of the cake with knit icing? This is amazing, and I’m sure it took forever, but it’s beautiful and actually doesn’t look that hard if you were willing to put in the time. The knitting is made by twisting strands of sugar paste together, then placing ones twisted in opposite directions next to each other to give the effect of the vs of knitting. Spectacular, and fun to watch, too. (From Cakes for Show, via Knit Hacker.)

This one is a few months old, but I think I missed it the first time around. The Secret History of Knitting is a 46 minute long video talking about the history of knitting and what it means to be a knitter in this day and age. It was produced by Makeful, and I haven’t watched it all yet but it is fun.

And the last one I know I have seen and shared before. It’s just a lovely little video called Knit Me Some Happiness, about what happens when a group of friends gets together and makes something, then has a picnic in a field of sheep. I promise it will make you smile, if for no other reason than the guy knitting in the bathtub.

Have you seen any great knitting-related videos lately? I’d love to hear about them!

[Photo from Knit Me Some Happiness, via Vimeo.]

Next Pattern:

There’s always room for more stitch dictionaries on your shelf, but Andrea Rangel’s Knitovation Stitch Dictionary is unlike those stitch pattern books you might already own. That’s because this one is full of colorwork stitch patterns rather than textured stitches, lace or cables, so the designs are ripe for adding to hats, sweaters and other projects with a stockinette stitch background.

The book starts with a quick introduction to knitting colorwork that’s also unlike what you’ve probably seen before, because it’s less about the colors themselves and more about the kinds of fibers you choose, how the yarn is prepared and the gauge you’re working at and how those things all change the look of a design.

Most of the book is filled with motif designs and swatches. The motifs were designed and named by Andrea’s husband Sean, who is an artist and brings a bit of whimsy to the designs.

You’ll find some classic looking leaves and flowers, mosaics and waves, but also rubber ducks, penguins, puzzle pieces, cherries and cows, snails and teapots, eyeballs and chess pieces, to name a few. Many of the designs also have funny names, like a fish named toilet bound, or cats in suits called corporate fat cat.

Of course you can use the designs in any way you want on any project you like, but there are also three patterns in the book — for a hat, a sweater and a pair of fingerless gloves — plus discussion of how the motifs were added, adjusting patterns for a different size or gauge, and adding your own motifs.

If you like adding a bit of colorwork to otherwise plain projects that other people have designed, or you’re ready to start making your own designs with fun motifs, this book is a great place to start. The fun and funny motifs are sure to inspire you to want to pick up your needles and add a little more color to your projects.

About the book: 160 pages, hardcover, 150+ motifs and three knitting patterns. Published 2023 by Interweave, suggested retail $28.

Next Pattern:

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