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Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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Knockout Knits

October 15, 2014 6 Comments

Knockout Knits Book Review at handsoccupied.com

Knockout Knits is a new knitting book featuring accessory patterns by Craftsy instructor and knitting designer Laura Nelkin. As one would expect from this publisher, Potter Craft, the photography and styling are wonderful. Knockout Knits has a really nice rustic vibe, and the patterns featured are super perfect for fall knitting and wearing. (For a fuller look at the patterns in this book, check out this page of Laura Nelkin’s website.)

Knockout Knits Book Review at handsoccupied.com

The book is divided into three chapters: Wrapped Stitches at Play, Get Your Lace On and Beaded Beauties. Each chapter kicks off with a pattern for a knitted cuff designed to get your feet wet with that chapter’s featured technique. As you knit your way through each chapter, the patterns get progressively more advanced within that technique. As someone who learned to knit by working her way through every pattern in her knitting books in high school, I love that Knockout Knits is formatted this way. It’s time consuming, but I’ve always found it a really fun way to improve your knitting.

Knockout Knits Book Review at handsoccupied.com

If you’re getting this book hoping to add to your knitting skill set, but you’re worried you might not be at the right level, you’re in luck. There’s an illustrated Knitting Essentials section at the back of the book you can refer to for help as you go. I love appendices like these  because you won’t find yourself stranded while knitting on a plane trip (you know, when there’s no wifi or smartphone data to Google that stitch you’ve never heard of?). Not that that’s ever happened to me before… ;)

Knockout Knits Book Review at handsoccupied.com

Overall, this book is absolutely on my to-gift list for the holidays this year, particularly for knitting friends who are looking to build their skills. If you’re looking for a knitting book that has appeal for millennial knitters, I really think this is a good pick!

You can get Knockout Knits by Laura Nelkin for $22.99 at Random House. Blogging for Books provided a copy of this book in exchange for a review. Opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: book review, fall knits, knit accessories, knockout knits, kntting books, laura nelkin, potter craft

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Laura Nelkin

    October 15, 2014 at 9:35 am

    Thanks for the great review! I’m thrilled you “got” it!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      October 15, 2014 at 9:48 am

      NO problem! Now to find the time to knit it all, haha! :)

      Reply
  2. Denise

    October 15, 2014 at 10:04 am

    The book and its contents are gorgeous. I thought it’d be filled with foo-foo stuff I’d never make like many accessory books are, but I bookmarked so many pages on the copy from the library that I’m going to have to get a copy. Which I forgot to do. Eep! I have an excuse–two new kittens :)

    I love how the patterns are meant to teach and expand skills. I’ve been knitting for almost two years and I’m ready to learn new stuff, but not sure what. I’ve looked at the “next steps” for newer knitters and nothing really grabs me. But Knockout Knits offers new techniques I haven’t seen before and a bunch of ways to use them. I think it’s a great next-step book, no matter what someone’s skill level.

    Reply
  3. Jaime

    October 15, 2014 at 11:12 am

    What a great book! I’m a new knitter and I pick projects that will teach me something new. I love how Laura Nelkin’s book is organized, it’s like having a tutor with me all the time!

    Reply
  4. Leslie

    March 12, 2018 at 6:35 pm

    I love hats, which is how I happened to stumble upon this book – and I am so thrilled that I did! What beautiful, artistic, and unique work Laura Nelkin does.
    I’ve knitted for many years, but haven’t actually knitted anything for many years, if that makes sense – because it gets stale and you need something new – something that speaks to you, grabs your interest – and it is so nice to have something interesting and fresh in knitting!
    I am looking forward to learning new techniques, how to apply old ones differently, and trying as many of the patterns as I possibly can.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      March 13, 2018 at 9:04 am

      That’s the best part about this lovely craft! A great excuse to keep learning. :)

      Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
If only knitting a whole project took 39 seconds… 😮‍💨 
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In this video, you can see how the Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern knits up - two flat panels, one with intarsia, both are blocked, and then they’re seamed. Find the pattern on @hi.ravelry & my website, just search Intarsia Flower Pillow. 🌸 
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P.S. I’m really smiling in this video while seaming the pillow, so I guess I’m proving last week’s claim that I truly enjoy that sometimes-dreaded task. 😆🫣
In knitting, a Left Lifted Increase (LLI) lets you In knitting, a Left Lifted Increase (LLI) lets you add a stitch in between two columns of stitches that leans to the left. Similar to an M1L, LLIs allow you to increase nearly invisibly.
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To learn more about lifted increases, including when to use them and how they differ from Make 1s, head to the 🔗 in my profle. 
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Have you ever used lifted increases? I used M1’s almost exclusively for a long time when I needed to inc between stitches, but when I designed the Intarsia Flower Pillow pattern, I needed something that would allow me to increase a lot near my cast on, and M1’s resulted in edge curling. The more you know! 🌈 
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Yarn: @lionbrandyarn Wool Ease from my Stash / Neddles: @boyeyarncrafts - Just remembered these are the needles I learned to knit on at age 8. 😂
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Last week I got to hang out with my family & helpe Last week I got to hang out with my family & helped babysit my red-headed niece and nephew. So here’s some plane knitting, and a couple pictures (shared with permission) of my babysitting adventures.
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Lessons learned: 1️⃣ Trying to knit around 2 toddlers, 2 cats & 2 large dogs is pretty hard. 2️⃣ I learned during water color time that pink and black make “colorful black.” 🩷🖤 3️⃣ Toddlers do NOT care about your rainbow sorting of their toys. 4️⃣ Toddlers are very good at finding mischief in a very short amount of time, what a surprise. 😂
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