Cool Stuff - Knitty's opinions on products and books we like. We don't publish reviews of things we don't like.
INTRODUCTION
Cool Stuff
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. We do not publish reviews of products that do not perform well in our testing.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. If you're not in the US, please consider purchasing at your local independent bookshop. Small businesses need our support especially in this increasingly complex economy.
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My Dream Knits
by Veera Välimäki
Laine Press
39,99€/hardcover; 36,99€/digital download
SR: 32–74"
Buy now from Laine Publishing or your local yarn shop
My Dream Knits by Veera Välimäki is a collection of knits she’s been wanting to design for pieces that she wants to wear day after day. In her introduction, she welcomes both novice and experienced knitters, promising something for both in its pages. An additional element to this book is that Välimäki wanted to highlight and celebrate female architects through the names of the patterns.
Välimäki is a well-known and -loved designer, and this collection demonstrates why. From Ines, a shawl whose design highlights the interplay of garter, brioche, and moss stitch, to Wivi, a relaxed v-neck cardigan, to Salli, a below-the-knee-length ribbed skirt, the patterns in My Dream Knits inspire a knitter to imagine themselves reaching for these designs over and over.
There are patterns for every mood – from relaxed, to sophisticated, to playful, to romantic. Which suits which mood is entirely up to the knitter. This collection features six pullovers, four cardigans, three shawls, two vests, two beanies, a short-sleeved eyelet top, and one scarf. Most of the designs are knit in a single color, adding to their versatility.
My Dream Knits has patterns that are certain to become your dream knit, one you will want to wear again and again.
CBM
Kindred Knits: Patterns from My Estonian Family Archives
by Aleks Byrd
Laine Press
38,99€/hardcover; 35,99€/digital download
SR: 33–74.75"
Buy now from Laine Publishing or your local yarn shop
Inspired by her Estonia grandmother’s sketchbooks as well as remaining examples of other family crafts, Aleks Byrd’s Kindred Knits honours the skills of not only her grandmother but of her great-grandmother and great aunt as well by translating their designs for use in contemporary knitwear. The patterns feature not only lace, cables, and stranded colorwork – Byrd also features an Estonian inlay method called Roosimine.
Kindred Knits features 15 patterns. Some of these are “sister” patterns, meaning they use (and therefore complement) a design feature from another pattern in the collection. For example, Orav, a design featuring textured stitches, comes as a hat, vest, and cardigan. One can make matching lace handwarmers and a hat using the Täppid patterns. The basic shapes of the designs should be accessible to most knitters; however, there are some that require steeking.
In addition to photos of the finished items, Byrd has included snapshots of some the images and artifacts that inspired the designs, bridging her family history with her contemporary design aesthetic. Kindred Knits is a collection of thoughtful designs that bridge an old world with a new one, and it is a great introduction to a colorwork technique with which many may not yet be familiar.
CBM
The Art of the Sea: 23 Knitwear Designs Inspired by the Moomins
Various designers
Laine Press
39,99€/hardcover; 36,99€/digital download
SR: 35.25 – 82.25"
Buy now from Laine Publishing or your local yarn shop
The Art of the Sea celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Moomins, the imaginary hippo-shaped characters created by the Finnish writer and illustrator Tove Jansson and a beloved part of Finnish childhoods. One does not need, however, to be familiar with them to appreciate the patterns in this collection. Most of the designs reference themes and characters from the series in subtle ways. There are only a few that showcase an actual Moomin figure.
Featuring 15 sweaters, 3 vests, 2 scarves, as well as a jacket, poncho and a pair of socks, the designs fit the sophisticated aesthetic demonstrated by Laine in their other publications. Most of the sweaters are deliberately oversized, suggesting the kind of piece you might reach for on a chilly evening as you feel the saltwater spray on your face. One such sweater is Flower Loop, a design from Maja Kløvdal (shown below). This raglan pullover features a generous shape and stranded colorwork. Painter, with its sailor collar, is another sea-worthy raglan sweater that offers options for either short or long sleeves.
Bringing together a wide variety of designers, including many familiar to knitters already, such as Olga Putano (whose most recent collection of patterns, Field Notes, was reviewed in our Winter 2025 issue), Sari Nordlund, and Dee Hardwicke, The Art of the Sea is an enticing collection of extremely wearable designs. While the Moomins may not be as familiar to those outside of Scandinavia, these designs inspired by them transcend cultural references and are sure to appeal to knitters from any corner of the world.
CBM
The Doodle Knitting Card Deck: 200 Mix & Match Motifs
by Jamie Lomax
David & Charles
US$29.99
Buy now from Bookshop.org or your local yarn shop
This handy deck features all the motifs from Jamie Lomax’s The Doodle Knit Directory (reviewed in our Spring + Summer 2025 issue). The 3.5 x 2.375" cards are color-coded for ease of reference. There are five design categories: Basic (ochre), Spring (pink), Summer (sage green), Fall (peachy orange), and Winter (deeper green).
One side of the card features a photo of the motif as it appears when knit. On the other side, you’ll find the name of the category in bold, the name of the stitch pattern, the number of stitches for the motif, and a chart. The 15-page booklet that comes with the deck provides all the basic information for working with these cards. Lomax gives guidance on working with the charts and offers tips on how to arrange multiple cards for design inspiration. To help you put all of this into practice, Lomax includes a basic cowl pattern as a way to explore the motifs and experiment with combinations.
The Doodle Knit Card Deck has broad appeal. It’s a great resource for a knitter new to colorwork as well as for the experienced knitter interested in deepening their exploration of colorwork or designing their own sweater.
CBM
Mystery Grab Bag
by TOMBIHN
Small: 8.8" (w) x 4.3" (h) x 4.1" (d) / 225mm (w) x 110mm (h) x 105 mm (d), $36
Large: 9.4" (w) x 5.3" (h) x 4.1" (d) / 240 (w) x 135 (h) x 105 mm (d), $38
Buy now from TOMBIHN
If you're a long-time Knitty reader, you've seen TOMBIHN bags in our pages again and again. You might have wondered why we love them, but perhaps the price gave you pause. It can be hard to make a leap for a bag you've never touched.
TOMBIHN has made it easier for us all. Meet the Mystery Grab Bag, an affordable and very functional basic bag for carrying your smalls. Why are they called "Mystery"? Because you have no idea what you'll get. TOMBIHN takes what would otherwise be scrap fabric from their production process and randomly combines it into these bags. Some of the fabric may be currently available in other bags. Some might be from their archives. When you order, you don't get to pick colors. You get what you get. Your bag could be super cool, or maybe super stealth, or even super weird. At under $40 each, they're about as affordable as a well-made bag can be!
The small bag is big enough to hold 6" long DPNs or crochet hook easily, or an 8" spindle. Of course your circulars will fit! A skein of sock yarn will fit easily, plus your sock-in-progress. The large bag is just over a half inch longer and an inch taller, so there's more room. Maybe it's the right choice for all your knitting or crochet notions. Maybe it's exactly the thing for your loose bits (phone, wallet, keys) that you pop into your bigger tote or backpack so that things don't get lost. Take a look at the TOMBIHN website to see lots of different ways people use their Mystery Grab Bags.
It's a simple unlined bag, with every internal edge neatly finished and covered with binding. It has enough structure to stand on its own. It's got two cool Triangular d-rings so you can attach a shoulder strap (optional). And it's got two of the famous TOMBIHN o-rings inside. One to clip your keys onto, and the other for whatever you wish! Two top handles let you hold it like a little purse. And straps on either end of the bag let you grab it from just about any angle.
If you can bear the suspense and lack of control that comes with not choosing the exact bag you get, this is a great little treat that is super functional. If I were starting fresh with TOMBIHN, I'd get together with a bunch of friends and order a few of them. Then you can play rock-paper-scissors to see who gets which one!
AS