A few weeks ago I was asked to be part of the ‘Scrumptious Knits Collection volume 3′ blog tour. This collection is created by a group of super talented people who produce a fantastic end product working as a team. Of course everything starts with Jeni, who creates beautiful yarn and is always innovating, and dreaming big. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her (and her yarn) many times before and it’s always a great experience. The beauty of her yarn really shines through in this collection and is used to its full effect by some very talented designers.
Nic has done the pattern layout for this book. It is clean, clear and very easy to follow. Every chart has got full written directions to accompany it which I’m sure many knitters out there will appreciate. Each pattern is laid out with the full set of abbreviations for that particular pattern in the pattern layout. You don’t often see this in pattern books but I think it makes life a little easier for knitters, everything you need is all in the same few pages, no flipping to the front/back of book to find what you need.
So now that you have a feel for how the book is laid out I’ll get down to business, the patterns!
Iwerne (designed by Kyoko Nakayoshi) is the first garment for this collection that caught my eye. I saw it pop up on ravelry’s ‘Hot Right Now’ list and I was very curious about the construction. For me that’s often what catches my attention as a designer. I’ll see something pretty and I immediately want to know how it was put together.
Much to my joy this was a seamless construction. It begins with the two front/bottom sections knit sideways from the front to the back and then joined. From there each side of the front is worked with the sleeves and with picked up back stitches to create the yoke shaping in one piece. It creates an elegant, well constructed garment that should be as much fun to knit as it is to wear.
The second garment that I fell for is Hample Sweater (designed by Lien Ngo). This is a simple sweater with clean lines, lovely details, and some great pattern additions. This pattern uses one of my favourite techniques, short rows, to create a nicely raised neck back as well as giving sizing instructions for adding short row bust darts. This isn’t provided in patterns very often so it makes this one pretty special!
Giveaway!
The kind people at Fyberspates have offered a copy for one of my blog readers. Let me know what design/design feature you like best in the comments below and you’ll be entered in a raffle to win a copy of the book. Enter before Tuesday night (28th January) and I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday morning.
Do you want to follow along on the tour and read a bit more for the designers and contributors?
22nd January 2014- Celtic Cast On and True Brit Knits
24th January 2014- Nic Blackmore, Platinum Knits and Louise Zass-Bangham
26th January 2014- Carol Feller, The Knitgirllls and Ashley Knowlton
28th January 2014- Coopknits and Jen AC
30th January 2014- Stitched Together, Kyoko Nakayoshi and A Playful Day
If you want to get your hands on the book:
Price: (print and digital) £12.00, $26
Distributors:
Retailers: The Scrumptious yarn and pattern range is widely available from shops and online retailers around the world. For an up-to-date list of where to find our products, please click here.
So hard to choose a favourite, but mine is probably Iwerne – looks like it will be a wardrobe staple for me.
Totally agree with you. Iwerne was the pattern that stands for me too. I love the subtleness of the design with the lace detail and it’s seamless…every knitters dream project! #notekeenonsewingup
This looks like a great prize -I’ve only recently learned about short rows and love them now. I’m using them to alter the shape of sleeve caps on the jumper I’m making at the moment:)
The Iwerne Cardigan andLoveny Mantle are at the top of my list. All of the patterns in the book are lovely and a few have even caught my eye on Ravelry in the past few days – before I knew they all went together. I love when that happens.
Love, love, love the Iwerne! As soon as I saw it I added it to my queue. Love that it is basically one piece, and on worsted to boot!
I’m loving practically all the patterns in the book, all are so wearable. But if I’d had to choose one it would be Iwerne Cardigan.
Thank you for the chance to win! I love love love that Iwerne pattern…it is just so beautiful.
Like many, I have a pear shaped figure so I love patterns with no hip emphasis but patterning up around the shoulders, or down centre front, so Hample Sweater is ideal. No -ideal. No – drop dead gorgeous.
All the patterns are gorgeous but I think i’d knit Larigan first…thank you showing us the booklet!
I really like both of these, but especially Hample — I love the detail along the neckline!
Hard to pick a favourite, but I love the Rosemorran cardigan.
I can’t help but think that lwerne would be a great cardigan for discreet breast feeding… but I’m slightly one-track-minded at the moment. I do adore knits with something interesting & new to teach – whether specific techniques or garment construction
Love the Iwerne–
I love the Rosemorran cardigan! Lacework, but clean and crisp. Gorgeous color too! Thanks for the chance to win such a beautiful collection!
Dana
The Hample sweater is beautiful!
I love the Divelish Mittens – colorwork projects are at the top of my list to knit this year!
I love the Kenwyn Cowl, but I would make it long enough to loop around twice. I love infinity cowls for winter!
I love the yoke detail of the Hamble Sweater and it would be the first thing I’d knit in this beautiful collection of patterns.
I liked Iwerne when I first saw it on Ravelry, and now I like it even more.
I’m with you on the construction of Iwerne. Just lovely.
I love the Larigan sweater (or maybe I just love the purple it’s knit in). The Hamble looks like a really wearable everyday sweater too.
Well having just completed the short rows course on the Craftsy paltform. The Hample is definitely the pattern I would love to try my new skills on. I love the simplicity of it.
I’m interested in seamless items at present, so Iwerne looks very attractive.
Not very original but.. Iwerne cardigan also wins my vote!
I’m a sucker for a waterfall cardie so I’d love to make the Iwerne. Please enter me for the competition!
Wow! I can’t choose. I’d probably make them all!!
If I had to choose one pattern it would be the Iwerne Cardigan. I think I would wear this cardigan spring, summer, fall and winter. I love the lace on the sleeves and bottom. So beautiful. This may be my first sweater. Thank you for the give away.
By far, the best feature is the short row shaping. I always need bust darts, and it would be helpful to have them ready to go in the pattern.
I love the Iwerne cardigan. Seamless construction is my favorite to knit sweaters.
I like the detailing at the neck of the Hample Sweater.
I’m not sure I can choose just one of these yummy designs. The Larigan sweater is on the top of the “Oh, wow!” scale though. Cheers!
Short rows for bust shaping is my favourite.
I always look at the texture, the shape of the neck on a jumper and of course, how hard it is to knit!
My favourite is the Rosemorran cardigan- love the simple lace detail and the colour is lovely too.
I love the combination of feminine lace and laid back style in the Iwerne cardigan. The construction method is new for me, but given the beauty of the finished garment I’m definately up for the challenge.
My favorite design, I think, is Iwerne. I love the elegant way the sweater drapes and the simple and very lovely design.
Lwerne looks to be the most interesting of the designs. Will go add this to my queue immediately.
Love the Larigan cowl neck jumper! It looks amazingly soft and warm. Perfect for this dismal weather!
Divelish set. It might be the weather that is craving the warmth
Love the Divelish Mittens and the Lernnish (sp?) ones too. Figures they’re Rachel Coopey. She’s my fave designer these days. I have 2 pair of her socks on the needles.
wahoomerryf on Ravelry
I really like that drape front cardigan. I haven’t knit sideways yet ( at least on a sweater) and that one looks like a good place to start!
Ridiculously in love with Iwerne. I’m currently having a love affair with neutrals, especially gray. I’m always in the mood for a new way to construct a sweater, and this one sounds right up my alley!!
I’m with you on liking short rows as a feature. Once you get the method down you can create some stunning pieces with gentle curse hat appear without any holes.
I do like Irwene, looks so easy to wear and like it would be a delight to knit
I’d start with Kenwyn because I need another hat and cowl *cough* in my defence, I don’t have a hat cowl _set_. Hats and mittens, cowls and gloves, bot no hats and cowls.
Well it is freezing here and just today I found a hole in my mitten so I think I would like to be knitting those mittens.
I think the Iwerne cardi looks like a great piece.
The Iwerne would get a lot wear. I love the design and seamless construction. It is beautiful!
The mitts and hat are my favorites.
Rosemorran- classic shape with beautiful stitch details, could be a summer or winter project! Love it