Knitting

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What Sort of Knitting Book Would You Like to See?

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If you’re a regular reader here you probably know that I have a book of knitting patterns for babies coming out in August (which you can preorder on Amazon!) and I’m already thinking about what the next book should be about.

Given the websites that I write, I have access to some information about what’s popular among people looking for knitting patterns, but it seems worthwhile to ask directly, so I’m going to?

What kind of knitting book would you like to see? Is there something you haven’t seen covered in a book that you’d like? Or a particular kind of knitting you’re really interested in right now?

I can make no promises that I’ll actually write that book, but I’d love to know what knitting topics you’re looking for information on and I can share more of that here, too.

Thanks, everyone, for reading and sharing your insights.

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Comments

  1. This is more of a pet peeve. I find that mosy knitting books start with pages and pages of “How to knit”. A good third, or more, of a book has stuff that I already know. I don’t like paying for that.

    Glad to get that off my chest. Have a good day!

  2. My knitting skills are growing, so I’m a middle of the road knitter. I’m not advanced by any means. I would love to see a book on using alternate yarn for your patterns. Say I found a pattern for a sweater, made in one of our lovely, expensive yarns, but I want to make the sweater in a washable, dryable, everyday yarns. I’d like to have that book that tells me the exact
    exchange yarn to use. I’ve found it difficult to come by this information, and I’ve
    passed up patterns because I couldn’t find this information.
    Thanks for letting me share 🙂

  3. I would like to see more books on using up scrap yarn! I have tons & tons to use up and my patterns are scattered. It would be nice to have a “collection” of patterns.

    And I agree with Teresa N. – please, no “how-to-knit instructions”.

Have you read?

A Whimsical Sock Pattern to Blow Your Mind

You probably know by now if you’re a regular reader (and if you’re not, welcome!) that I love a knitting pattern that’s a little silly or a little different from the usual. Classic patterns are great, too, but sometimes you just want to make something with a bit of whimsy. And when it’s super functional, too, that’s even better.

That’s the case with the Bananen-Socken pattern from Susanne Shahin. These banana socks are one of those patterns no one seems to be totally sure where it came from, and this free pattern on Ravelry explains how she makes them based on how she learned it.

It’s a sock that’s curved and when not on a foot it looks rather like a banana. There’s no heel, and you can use whatever number of stitches you need to make it fit your foot. If you’ve knit enough socks to know how many stitches you like you can just use that number, or the pattern notes include sizing charts to help. (It needs to be multiples of 2 for the ribbing.)

After working a traditional cuff, the body is made with ribbing on the back and welts (or what the pattern calls horizontal ribbing) on the front, which is what gives it the curved shape. There’s no heel, but there is toe shaping, but for the leg and the foot you just keep working the same pattern as long as you like.

I’m a little skeptical about how these socks will feel with ribbing on the bottom of the foot, but I’m definitely intrigued and will probably give them a try. 

The pattern notes are available on Ravelry in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. If you head to the pattern page you can see a photo of what it looks like on a foot, and it just looks like a normal sock.

Have you ever knit banana socks or do you want to now? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: Susanne Shahin]