Winter Knitty is Here!

I love diving into a new issue of Knitty, though it does make me wish I could take weeks off from my current knitting plans and cast on a few new projects.

If I were to do such a thing, the first project I’d pick from this issue, I think, would be the fascinating Wraptor socks by Jeny Staiman. These stunners are worked flat in a self-striping yarn with long repeats and are stitched from side to side — sort of — ending with a long grafted seam that runs around the foot. This pattern is so detailed it’s been released as a 15-page PDF rather than on the website directly.

Other lovelies include the Whiteleaf pullover from Wool + Bricks, which is a pretty circular yoked sweater with leaf motifs worked in handspun; fecknom’s funny but super-useful Contempt headband, which is double knit with options that say I hate winter in English and either German, Spanish or Russian (there’s an I love winter option in English only, too); and Franklin Habit’s stunning Princess Franklin Plaid Collar, adapted from an old pattern in beautiful current colors. There’s a lot of detail work here but certainly worth it.

Check out the rest of the patterns, and be sure to check out Donna Druchunas’ tips for designing a Norwegian ski sweater and Kristin Frasier’s video tutorial on cabling with and without a cable needle.

Anything in the new Knitty catch your eye? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo by Jeny Staiman via Knitty.]

Looking for knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Looking for pullover and sweater patterns? Check these books out.

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.

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