Inside Interweave Knits Spring 2023: Introducing the Café Collection

When you think of classic combinations, what comes to mind? Peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, and Laurel and Hardy are a few . . . and of course, there is coffee and knitting. 

Pouring a warm, comforting beverage, settling into my favorite spot on the couch, and knitting a few rows before starting the day has been my morning ritual for the past decade or so. I’m sure for many of you reading this, you’ve been doing the same for much longer. Coffee and knitting have been with me those mornings when I’m anxious about a big project looming. They’ve been with me as the sun rises and hits the treetops in my backyard. They’ve been there when mourning loss, as well as when celebrating new life.

Coffee and knitting have seen more than just personal moments. They’re also a key part of so many group moments. Whether I’m meeting friends at a café or in someone else’s living room, coffee and a knitting bag are always within reach. 

Inside Interweave Knits Spring 2023

In the Spring 2023 issue of Interweave Knits, we celebrate this unwavering duo of coffee and knitting. We didn’t take a literal approach. You won’t find colorwork coffee bean motifs here. Rather, designers were called to find inspiration in their favorite local coffee spots to create projects that are cozy, creative, and textural. The resulting patterns make up The Café Collection, and they’re some of my favorites to date.

Each offers something interesting and unique. Evelyn Siatra’s Affogato Cardigan is the perfect transitional wardrobe staple, whether you wear it as a cozy housecoat while you shuffle through your morning or you grab it on those cooler spring days as you run out the door. The color, style, texture, and ease of the Tisane Cardigan, by Kirsten Joel, is a personal favorite—I’ve already ordered the yarn to knit one for myself. And I can’t wait to cast on Lana Jois’ Rooibos Shawl; I love the way the cables float on the surface of the brioche stitch background. 

Click the arrows below to view all of the projects from The Café Collection!

It’s not just about the projects, though. We also have fun Maker’s Tools for tea lovers and an inspiring Fiber Review that shouldn’t be overlooked. Plus, our technical content editor, Sandi Rosner, is sharing insights into bind-offs for brioche stitch. And the issue closes with an essay about the unexpected origins of a crocheted cape. 

Related: How to Work the Two-Color Bind-Off

Pour yourself a warm beverage, grab your knitting, and discover all that this issue of Knits has to offer.