Too Good To Miss….

Vogue has done it again! Their latest Stitch Dictionary, called Lace Knitting, is #5 in their Stitchionary 5 arsenol. With this book, anyone, and I do mean ANYONE can knit lace. I know what you’re thinking, that maybe anyone can do lace but you can’t. But think of it this way. It’s just a series of yarn overs and decreases strategically placed to make intentional holes!

There are several sections in the book, the first being Easy/Mesh designs.

The next section, Edgings, gives lots of designs to dress up anything you can think of.

Chevron designs are easy too, again, with charts and row by row instructions for all of these designs. All over designs such as sweet violets and field of daisies, perfect for your summer sweaters, and leaf designs for your cooler weather items. Panels patterns are perfect for afghans. Combos section shows how to combine these awesome designs into 2 or more per item. Come up with your own unique designs! And finally Motifs, such as sea star and medallions finish out the book.

Included, of course, is a glossary, complete index and technique section to help you on your way to knitted lace. While this isn’t a project book, it’s a technique manual, if you’re interested in dressing up your standard patterns or creating your own designs, this one is a must have. From, none other than Vogue!

Next Pattern:

I’m trying to include more knits for kids in my posts because I know a lot of people do a lot of their knitting for the little ones in their lives.

This child’s striped vest from Lion Brand Yarn is not only cute and great for kids who might find a full sweater too hot, it’s also an easy project if you’ve never knit a garment before.

Lion Brand rates it as level 2 easy/beginner +, probably just because there’s a little shaping and seaming invovled, but it’s nothing you can’t handle.

The pattern comes in three sizes that are meant to be for ages 6, 8 and 10. The finished chest measurement is 30, 31.5 or 33 inches, which is 76, 80 and 84 cm respectively. This makes the vest a little roomy and makes it easy to slip on over a T-shirt or other top.

It’s worked in two pieces from the bottom up, with the neckband and armhole bands worked in the round after the body pieces are sewn together. One benefit of knitting stripes on a project like this is that it’s easier to make sure your pieces are the same length because you can just count the stripes (it’s also a little easier to seam because you’re always lining up the stripes).

If you’re knitting the smallest size, you only need one skein each of the two colors you choose, and for the larger sizes you will only need two, making this project a pretty good value. The suggested yarn is Color Theory, a worsted weight acrylic yarn that comes in 18 relatively muted colors. Of course you can use any worsted weight yarn you like. Keep it acrylic for easy washing or use wool to make this a warmer garment for kids who live in cooler climates.

You can grab the pattern for free from the Lion Brand website, or get a kit that includes the yarn you need (and needles if you don’t have them already). I think this would be a great basic to knit a kid for back to school in their school colors, or make it holiday with red and green, or whatever colors the child likes.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

Next Pattern:

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