Books: A Late Summer Shindig

It’s time soon to leave the hammock and open up to fall’s marvelous changes. I’m back with more books from my library to inspire your making. Enjoy!

Make Thrift Mend: Stitch, Patch, Darn, Plant-Dye & Love Your Wardrobe by Katrina Rodabaugh

Katrina Rodabaugh’s Mending Matters taught us how to extend the life of our clothes. Her new book is so much more.  Through beautiful photography, thoughtful essays, and detailed instructions, Make  Thrift Mend is an invitation to make sustainable fashion a larger part of your life. Get ready to remake your wardrobe.

Norah Gaughan’s Twisted Stitch Sourcebook by Norah Gaughan 

To me, twisted stitches are a subtle cousin to cables. Cables are rock and roll—straightforward and brash. Twisted stitches are jazz—suggestive, with a little more meander. This book has a stitch dictionary, projects, and directions to design you own garments. One of the things I like so much about Norah is she has a sneaky, subtle way of showing that complexity may take time, but isn’t hard. 

Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Stitch Dictionary by the Editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine 

Eight! Hundred! Stitches! This collection is mostly pulled from the original multi-volume Vogue Knitting stitch dictionaries, plus 100 new stitches. It’s a perfect book for all of your desert island knitting needs.

1000 Japanese Knitting and Crochet Stitches: The Ultimate Bible for Needlecraft Enthusiasts
from Nihon Vogue, translated by Gayle Roehm

This is a translation of the legendary Japanese stitch dictionary originally published in 1992. There are 700 knit stitches and 300 crochet stitches. Japanese stitch patterns are distinct and original, and even the easiest stitches will elevate your knitting. Go on—make everything you knit just a little bit more beautiful.

Star Wars: Knitting the Galaxy by Tanis Gray 

This is a dangerous book. Once the Star Wars fans in your life see what you have made from it, they will be after you to knit them all the things. The variety, creativity, and quality of the patterns in this book are thrilling. Plus everyone needs a Pocket Yoda.

Japanese Wonder Knitting: Timeless Stitches for Beautiful Bags, Hats, Blankets and More from Nihon Vogue, translated by Gayle Roehm

Don’t tell my people, but most of my knitted gifts this year are coming out of this book. Wonder Knitting walks you through 14 different stitch patterns then presents accessories to knit using those patterns.

This book ticks all my gift knitting boxes. Quick, most are knit in worsted weight and heavier yarns, portable all are accessories, the cowls have my heart, and interesting, 12 of the 14 stitch patterns were new to me, and really fantastic knit at a bigger gauge. So much win.

Scandinavian Sweaters: Over 25 Stunning Patterns to Knit by Kristin Wiola Odegard 

The sweater designs in this book are as fresh as biting into Mentos. They are clearly Scandinavian inspired, but the colors, color combinations, and twists on motifs make them so much more exciting that traditional Scandinavian designs. 

This is Scandinavia with a little sass. 

Geometric Knit Blankets by Margaret Holzmann

From the mind and needles of the designer who brought us the MDK Pattern Party-nominated Safe at Home Blanket comes a kaleidoscopic array of playful, modular-knit geometric blankets for casual stash-busters and precision-loving planners alike. Confident beginning knitters, don’t be put off by the complexity of these designs—each project has plenty of illustrations.

Visible Mending: Repair, Renew, Reuse the Clothes You Love by Arounna Khounnoraj 

If I was limited to one mending book this would be it—it has just enough information for me to do the techniques precisely and to follow along with the projects. Plus it’s packed with ideas and so much encouragement that I feel confident doing my own thing as I refresh or repurpose my clothes. If you don’t already, do yourself a favor by following Arounna on Instagram for a huge dose of inspiration.

MDK makes a commission from all books purchased through the links in this article. 

Save it for later! Here’s how to tuck Jillian’s recommendations away for reference with one click.

And stay tuned for an MDK Staycation coming next week! Monday through Friday we’ll shine the highbeams on MDK 2021 highlights and add a few choice items to the SALE! aisle every day too.