Back to (Stitchery) School with Love of Knitting!

Above Image: Leaves and lace run along the edges of these cardigans. You’ll love knitting the Ashwood Hoodie by Jenny Williams (left) and the Nottingham Lace Cardigan by Rebecca Blair (right).

Ahhh, fall—temperatures start to drop and, once the kids go back to school, you finally have the house to yourself. (In my case, the cool weather inspires my cats to take longer naps.) If this newfound “me” time feels a little lonely, join us at Stitchery School and fill that time with knitting! We packed the Love of Knitting Fall 2017 issue of with all kinds of lessons: knitting techniques and stitch patterns, the fundamentals of great fit, and even some history.

Three project sections add some unusual twists to tried-and-true techniques. In “Edge Finishes,” you’ll find all kinds of trimmings to make your knitting stand out from the crowd: lace, leaf-motif cables, welts, a colorwork hem, and easy slip-stitch bands with three colors. The “Textures” story includes allover cables, moss stitch, garter stitch, knit and purl motifs, mitered blocks, and hexagon motifs. Tickle your rib(s) with the great designs in “Ribbing”; they feature curving rib patterns, broken rib, twisted rib, and brioche (a simple variation on k1, p1 rib). Brush up your technical knowledge with two great features. Learn how to rescue a sweater with super-long sleeves in “Better Than Frogging.” “Sweaters That Fit & Flatter” begins a three-part series on making garments that fit well and flatter your figure. (The series will continue in Love of Knitting Winter 2017 and Spring 2018.) If you’ve ever wondered why you don’t always love your finished garments, this series can help you figure out what to do differently.

Bonus: embark on a historical scavenger hunt! I selected place names from the British Isles for these designs for two reasons: as eighteenth- and nineteenth-century educators built schools in the United States, they borrowed many English practices, and two classic knitting terms (cardigan and raglan) have historical roots in Wales. Try searching for these place names online and uncover the fascinating, sometimes quirky, factoids that inspired me to connect place and project.

Remember, we always love to hear your thoughts on the magazine, see what you’re making, and answer your questions about projects or knitting in general. If you send in a knitting dilemma for “Better Than Frogging” and we publish it, I’ll even knit you a tiny frog!

—Deb

More and better knitting with Love of Knitting!