Book Review – Wilderness Knits: Scandi-style sweaters for adventuring outdoors

Wilderness Knits: Scandi-style sweaters for adventuring outdoors 23 knitting patterns for jumpers and cardigans to last a lifetime

Combining her love for the outdoors and knitting, Linka Neumann presents patterns for Scandi-style jumpers, cardigans, and a headband that will keep you warm and dry, no matter how rough the weather is.

Drawing on traditional Norwegian knitting methods, these designs for thick, woolly knits are not only comfortable and cozy, but also represent authenticity and style that has stood the test of time. Linka takes inspiration from nature and wildlife for her fresh yet timeless designs. From the Norwegian forests, snow-covered landscapes, and fjords to reindeer, wolves, and her beloved Husky dogs.

Many of the designs come with variations to suit all tastes, whether you prefer a jumper or a cardigan, a thick or thin garment, sewn-on arms or round yokes. The patterns include instructions for a range of sizes and for both female and male body shapes. There is also a pattern for making Linka’s signature Wilderness Sweater in children’s sizes.

The projects are showcased in a stunning Norwegian landscape that will make you yearn for the outdoors. And no matter how long or short your adventure, you will be cozy in your bespoke, home-knitted jumper. These knits chime with an eco-conscious, anti-fast fashion sentiment and will literally last you a lifetime of adventuring!

Over the years I have shared a lot of pumpkin knitting patterns, and I’ve knit and crocheted a lot of pumpkins myself. But it feels like there are always more fun things to try with knit pumpkins, so this year I wanted to look a little more beyond basic stockinette or ribbed pumpkins and share some pumpkin patterns with cables, bobbles and colorwork.

In the cable collection we’ve got these cute little basic cable and ribbed pumpkins from Elly Bear Knits. There are two sizes that make a wide, flat pumpkin and a taller round pumpkin. Both are worked in the round as a tube that’s cinched top and bottom when you’re done, and they use bulky weight yarn.

Another cute cable pumpkin knitting pattern comes from Gray Bear Akswokrat. This one is knit flat and it looks like a chunky yarn but you could use other weights to make pumpkins of different sizes. This one also has an I-cord stem and uses yarn to cinch up the sections of the pumpkin, giving it a more natural look.

Add some bobbles to your pumpkins with this design from Autumn Shelter Makes. Also worked in the round in a tube, it features a repeating pattern of bobbles and uses yarn wrapped around the outside to make segments. This one looks like worsted weight yarn to me.

Of course there’s nothing that says your pumpkin has to be a single color, so let’s throw in some colorwork. I love the look of the Cozy Fall Pumpkin knitting pattern from South Stitch Girls. The little leather loop adds a rustic touch but you could also just add a stick. These pumpkins have five colorwork options and are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round.

There’s also the Autumn Fair Isle Trio pumpkins pattern from Equestriann Style, which has three different sizes of pumpkins with four colorwork designs. They are worked in super bulky yarn in the round and look good with high contrast or more muted color combinations.

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