INTRODUCTION

Cool Stuff

by Claudia B. Manley

SR [Finished chest measurement for sweaters] = the smallest chest measurement to the largest chest measurement we could find in the book. There may be only one pattern with the smallest or largest size, but it's in there.

Books are softcover unless noted otherwise.
We are provided with samples to review for free, and we do not publish reviews of products that do not perform well in our testing. We are not paid to review any product.

Browse the whole list of books reviewed this issue at Bookshop which gives 10% of their profits to independent bookstores across the US, and a 10% commission to Knitty for every purchase.

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52 Weeks of Chunky Knits
Laine Publishing
€39,99 hardcover/€33,99 digital download
SR: 33.5 – 78.25"

Buy now from Laine Publishing

If all the chunky sweaters popping up in your pattern feed (like Cozy Quills from Knitty Winter 2024), on the runway (Fall/Winter 2025 collections from Khaite, Nanushka, and Sacai), or the news (Hefty Sweaters for Hefty Times, The New York Times – January 26, 2025) are piquing your interest, consider picking up Laine Publishing’s 52 Weeks of Chunky Knits, featuring 52 patterns from 46 international designers.

Designed for a gauge of 12-14 stitches per 4" /10 cm, the patterns featured in this volume range from sweaters, cardigans, and vests, to accessories and home décor items. There are projects for knitters of all skill levels and a crochet pattern included for good measure.

The designs have a contemporary feel even when they feature retro details like the zip-front vest – Stratocumulus. Looking for a little bit of cozy elegance? You might try Bluma, a sweater that features an all-over lace pattern. Feeling a bit more effervescent? Net, featuring a cabled net pattern worked using intarsia, might quench that thirst.

The book is divided into categories that feature the “weeks,” or pattern numbers, in that section. For example, Sweaters, the first section, contains patterns 1-12. Other than the patterns themselves, there is a brief forward followed by a section on abbreviations and general information (e.g., how to read charts and blocking instructions). At the back of the book is a category index where you can search for patterns by kind and name.

52 Weeks of Chunky Knits has a little bit of something for almost every knitter. Winter might be waning where you are, but there’s probably still time to whip up a little something to take off the chill.

CBM

The Doodle Knit Directory
by Jamie Lomax
David & Charles
US$24.99

Buy now from Bookshop.org | Amazon

“Doodles” is the name given to Jamie Lomax’s micro-motifs (modular colorwork patterns). Designed to be mixed and matched, this book is essentially a recipe book. Lomax provides knitters with 200 different charts, from basic geometric shapes and household items to animals and seasonal motifs.

Then it’s onto the “pattern recipes.” Take your shape of choice (such as a cowl or socks), select your motifs, and then decide upon your color palette. For example, if I wanted to knit a woodsy-themed cowl, I might choose the mushroom, fox, and tree motifs to execute in brown, rust, green, and cream yarns. It’s as simple as that.

There are nine “recipes” included: two cowls, a scarf, a hat, headband, mittens, fingerless mitts, and two pairs of socks. There is a helpful difficulty scale at the start of each pattern. The majority are ranked as medium difficulty (two yarn balls out of three). There are only two patterns that are rated three out of three, and those are the sock patterns.
Each pattern features an introduction as well as key steps and ways to modify it. Oftentimes, she offers alternative colorway examples, which allow the knitter to get a sense of how different color combinations might look before choosing their yarns.

There is plenty of guidance given throughout. The book starts with sections on things such as planning the project, working with the charts, and modifying patterns. At the back of the book, she gives instructions for general techniques as well as a glossary of common knitting abbreviations.

The seemingly endless possibilities of pattern combinations make this feel like a book you could turn to again and again, and if you somehow run out of motifs to try, she provides you with a blank template and some basic design principles so you can create your own.

CBM

Knits to Wear: Effortless Patterns by Kutova Kika
by Veronika Lindberg
Laine Publishing
€38,50 hardcover/€35,50 digital download
SR: 28.25 – 81.5"

Buy now from Laine Publishing

This collection of designs by Veronika Lindberg, also known as Kutova Kika (Kika, for short), features a wardrobe’s worth of patterns for throughout the year, with 13 sweaters (including two sleeveless tops, two cardigans, and a vest perfect for between seasons) and 4 patterns for accessories.

This book feels like a glimpse into Kika’s life, and in the preface, she says that her designs for the book were guided by the hand-knits she wears most and the things she most loves to knit. She is the main model throughout, which contributes to the sense of following her throughout her day. In addition to modeling, she provides styling tips. The influence of social media is present here but not in the manufactured perfection we’re tired of. There’s context, story, and information as well as images from multiple angles.

A relaxed elegance runs throughout these designs. Nothing feels too precious, not even Yours Truly, a knitted lace collar. The inclusion of a one-shouldered sleeveless top (Fortuna) provides an opportunity for a little drama without straying from the overall minimalist design aesthetic.

Knits to Wear features a section called 10 Tips to Knit Like a Pro that includes advice on blocking, joining new yarns, and storing your knits as well as an abbreviations guide and instructions for special techniques such as the 5-stitch bobble used in the pattern for My Favorite Story.

This is a great book for anyone who likes a modern Scandinavian style or is simply attracted to appealing knits that are easy to wear. The patterns in this book seem effortless to knit as well as to wear.

CBM

Tsundoku

curated by CBM

Tsundoku is a Japanese word that describes the acquisition of books that one may or may not read in the future. There are so many great crafting books coming out, and we hope by providing a snapshot of some of these titles, your curiosity will be piqued.