What’s Your Favorite Thing You’ve Ever Knit?

I’m not sure this is a question I could answer, but what’s your favorite thing you’ve ever knit?

One of my favorites is definitely the Color Belt Sweater (Ravelry link) from my Colorwork Knitting book, because I’d had that design in my head for years and it came out just the way I wanted. It always makes me smile when I wear it.

Or maybe it’s the first pair of toe-up socks I knit, which fit perfectly and made me think I should always knit socks toe up (I don’t, but I do love that style). Or it could be the hat I knit my daughter while she was in the NICU, or the Harry Potter robe I knit for her birthday one year, or the blanket that’s on her bed that she loves so much. Or any number of sweaters I’ve knit and loved to wear through the years. Or the giant wool blanket I snuggle under on the couch every winter.

Point is: don’t make me chooose!

The Guardian, for reasons I’m unsure of, recently asked some people about their favorite knitting projects, or the ones that bring them the most pride, and their answers are way better than mine. They’re all sweaters, which I love, and they have very different stories. There’s an amazing sweater with a colorwork parrot on it, a couple of sweaters the knitters designed themselves, and a sweater that inspired a matching garment for a dog.

These stories are worth your time because they’ll make you feel good about being a knitter. And if you’ve never knit a sweater before they just might inspire you to make that your next project.

I would love to know what your favorite project is, or what you’ve made that you’re most proud of. Or if you’re like me and can’t name just one! Let’s talk about it.

[Photo from Kirsty Nottle via The Guardian.]

Next Pattern:

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.

Next Pattern:

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