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Your Chance to Grab these Blanket Knitting Books

by 15 Comments

New afghan knitting books from Leisure Arts.

Karey is the winner!

Last month I shared a couple of little booklets from Leisure Arts all about knitting quick afghans and blankets, and this week I’m giving you the change to get them for yourself.

The booklets are:

Make in a Weekend Afghans to Knit by Rita Weiss

Quick Throws to Knit by Rena V. Stevens

In all these books have 14 patterns for quick-knit warmers to throw on the back of your couch or give as housewarming gifts.

If you’d like a chance to win these, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, April 16. I’d love to hear about your favorite knit blanket, whether you made it or someone made it for you. My super simple Bulky Stockinette Throw is the blanket I use the most, and I love it.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

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Comments

  2. My favorite knit blanket is one that my daughter received as a family hand me down. It’s nice to have things that were made by a grandparent for someone else that has survived the test of time.

  3. I participated in the BERNAT Blanket Stitch Along knit version last year. At first I wasn’t crazy about the design but then when the applied cable border was added, oh my word I’m in love with that design!! I’m planning to make another using just one of the stitch patterns and all in one color or solid blanket with contrasting border.

  5. I would love an opportunity at winning these booklets. I haven’t knitted in years and would like to get back in to knitting. I crochet and do counted cross stitch. Needlework has become a passion.

  7. Blankets and afghans are the perfect project for evening quiet time in front of the TV or listening to the radio. My favorite pattern was a broomstick lace blanket I made to go in our new family room – it went very quickly and is very warm to snuggle under on snowy nights. These new booklets are bound to entice me to create another for my daughter’s new family room!

  9. I love knitting blankets for gifts. My favorite is one I knit from all the leftovers from previous year’s projects

  10. I would love to win these. It would be so wonderful take a pattern book with me instead of having to print them.

  12. I would love to win these books. I’m a beginner knitter. The afghans would make lovely gifts for everyone!

  13. I haven’t made a knit blanket yet! I’ve made plenty of crochet ones . I would love to try knitting one though!

  14. What a great couple of booklets to add to my library. Thanks for offering them. I’ve only knitted a couple of throws on size 50 needles. Anxious to try some others.

Have you read?

Book Review: Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit & Crochet Blankets

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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