Techniques
Ask Patty: Your Book About Your Knitting
I’ve been incredibly inspired by my 6+ years writing for MDK. I’ve learned so much from the questions you’ve asked. I’ve also been delighted by the products that MDK has brought into my life. Believe it or not, I had never played with washi tape, until I got a gift from Ann and Kay, of a bullet journal and those delightful little rolls.
But I get ahead of myself.
Today I want to share with you the inspirations for my labor of love: Patty Lyons’ Knitting Bag of Tricks: The Official Workbook.
My journey goes back to 2022. Since the publication of Patty Lyons’ Knitting Bag of Tricks, I have received so many emails all asking the same thing. A couple of examples:
Dear Patty,
I love your new book. Would you consider teaching a class on the whole book? There’s so much there, I feel like I need help figuring out how to remember it all.
Thanks!
Tamera
Patty,
I’m trying to figure out the best way to practice everything in the book. I thought of trying to knit one massive swatch that has everything, but I can’t figure it out myself. Any chance of turning the book into a video class?
I would love that!!
Beth
I mulled it over. I turned it around in my mind. Nothing felt quite right. The book was already a one-way delivery: I teach, you read. A class, live or video is the same one-way delivery.
It didn’t feel right. Sure, I could create an entire series of video classes with every knitting trick. But would that bring the knitter closer to their own knitting?
So, I picked up my trusty MDK bullet journal—full disclosure, I never really learned how to use it. It’s just been a glorified to do list, and, yes I did just register for Felix Ford’s bullet journalling class, thanks for asking.
I flipped past my random pattern squiggles, to my last ribbon. It’s the section where I brain dump ideas for later. And it struck me like a bolt of lightning—
A WORKBOOK!!
What I wanted was a tool that the knitter could use to take a deep dive into their own knitting. A place to play, record, decorate, and celebrate their knitting.
I immediately thought of my favorite book when I was a kid: Dr Seuss’ My Book About Me.
As I wrote in the preface of the workbook:
When I was a kid, my favorite book was Dr Seuss’ My Book About Me. It was an interactive book that had questions with blanks to fill in, places to tape pictures and boxes to color in. It was fun. But more than just being fun, it was my book to write all about my favorite topic (at least according to my mother) – ME!
This is YOUR book to write about your favorite topic — KNITTING!
A few weeks ago, I found my My Book About Me from when I was 8. I was shocked when I put it side-by-side with the Workbook and saw how much they had in common.
As most of you know, I am a self-taught knitter, and I messed up EVERYTHING that could be messed up. I learned before YouTube. I didn’t know anyone to help me, so I used to knit little swatches to figure things out. I drew pictures, and took notes, LOTS of notes.
I remember when someone saw every other row of my knitting was twisted, but couldn’t tell me why, I picked up scrap yarn and needles to REALLY look at the construction of my stitches.
I tried wrapping the yarn this way and that. That’s where chapter one of the book came from.
The first time I knit a sweater for myself, I didn’t know anything about gauge, and it couldn’t fit a child.
I picked up yarn and tried many different needles and learned about swatching. Now you know where chapter two of the book came from. You see where I’m going here?
I built the workbook with tiny patterns and charts that let you knit your way through every single trick in the book. This is your time to spend with your own knitting. No end product to worry about, just the pure joy of knitting and working on perfecting something you love.
When I was teaching myself, I used to write a lot of notes. The workbook has space to write about your “Swatchservations,” places to tape pictures, and draw your doodles.
I’m loving the pictures knitters are sharing with me of their pages.
I also wanted to make it FUN. I remember early in the process talking with Kay about ideas, and she showed me her journal. It was full of stickers and color and so much joy. Who doesn’t love washi tape and stickers, colored pencils and fill-in-the-blanks.
(You can thank Kay for the fact that the workbook comes with eight pages of stickers. I believe her quote was “you can never have enough stickers.”)
After working through all eight lessons, it’s time to put everything you learned into practice.
The final section of the workbook is a place for you to track your Twelve Months—Twelve Projects. That’s where I hope the real fun begins. When you start to see the time and care you invested in exploring your knitting turn into projects that you love, that’s the good stuff!
My sincerest thanks to MDK and all of the knitters here for constantly inspiring me. My hope is you’ll have fun playing with the workbook, on your own or with a group of friends (IRL or in online community groups). When I wrote:
Think of this as a knitting party in your hands. Work it on your own or with a group of friends or at your local yarn shop.
I had imagined a group of friends laughing and knitting. I can’t tell you how happy I was when a knitter sent me this picture:
I hope you will all, knit, learn, and laugh with me.
Xxoo
Patty
Want to know more about Patty’s approach? Join our virtual class on Jan. 10 when she’ll be showing us all about beginning and ending your knitting.
– Ann and Kay
Patty,
I can’t wait to order your workbook! Your bag of tricks book stays at my side when I am working on a project – it such a great resource. Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom, and creating the workbook. Franklin Habit’s illustrations are wonderful, too.
A wonderful article on a not so wonderful morning. Thank you thank you, Patty!
Yes, this was the only thing worth reading this morning. My work with fiber is going to have to do some heavy lifting for quite a while. Reality is just crushing.
Agreed.
Yes! Love the backstory and thought process that went into writing the workbook. It has been in my knitting bag, patiently awaiting my attention. Today is for knitting and BritBox.
When the world looks so bleak today, I am glad I have your workbook and class to look forward to in January. I just ordered two copies of the Dr. Seuss book for my grandsons. It will be a project for us to work on together. As usual, you are an inspiration.
Just what I needed to restart my knitting habit. I ordered the workbook after reading this post. Will sign up for the workshop next. Thanks Patty for sunshine on this dark day.
What a wonderful idea this book is. I can’t wait to join the fun. My knitting would certainly benefit from Patty’s wisdom. This is the time to turn to not just who but what we love. Knit on!
I can’t wait to dig into the workbook! It’s one of the goals that I’ve set for 2025. PS – I also have my Dr. Seuss book – my sister and I love reading (and laughing out loud) today – almost 50 years later.
Dear Patty,
What a wonderful Mother you have to gift you a book so you could think about who you were at 8 years old. That really touched me. How lucky you were and are to be encouraged to know yourself.
And the knitting — I had preordered the Tips book and now will get this workbook and set time aside to stop knitting projects and do a deep dive into learning the tips and tricks. It won’t take long as it will cure my broken heart from last night.
I went to bed before knowing for sure and wanted to drink by coffee with my MDK letter before joining the world outside knitting, but this was a softer way to learn the news. We all have a lot of work to do going forward. Stay strong fellow knitters — and think about Elizabeth Zimmermann’s advice: “Knit on with confident and hope, through all crisis.” Although I may be Knitting through the Tears . . .
And of course, signing up for the workshop!!!
Thanks for this comment.
Hello MDK! This post is so timely. I recently stashed away Patty’s workbook next to her Knitting Bag of Tricks. The call of life, work and not enough time to knit most of this year has grabbed time to deep dive into the books. I vow to make time to use both books in 2025.
This reminds me of Jacqueline Fee’s Sweater Workshop, which I found at a yard sale when I first started knitting. I made the sweater sampler back then. It didn’t go into as much of an in depth study as Patty’s workbook, although it was fun and educational. Looks like this will be on my Christmas list…
I just now ordered the Workbook! I can’t wait to gain some great insight into my personal knitting.
Thank you for this gift today. Knitting is definitely on the agenda…Though it might suffer from stress mistakes right now.
I was on the telephone with my daughter for an hour this morning. Reminding her that she works for the first female to be elected governor in our state. Our governor went to Harvard, as Harvard. She is openly gay and lives with her partner. This progress in education, civil rights, and economic rights will not be undone. It took challenges, courage, and commitment to gain such opportunities. And it will take courage and commitment to continue forward. Women will not be going back.
Thanks. We need this reminder!
I might need several bowls of spegdee to get thru today.
same, mlegan. same.
onward.
What is spegdee? All my googling comes up empty….
It’s a child’s attempt to spell spaghetti.
Look at the photo of Patty’s All About Me Book, under favorite food, for a smile.
Thanks! Love it!
***TOP COMMENT***
I preordered Patty’s books (the original & the workbook) & I’m just waiting for life to slow down so I can start working my way through the workbook. There was so much to learn in the original & there’s so much to implement with workbook!
Thanks, Patty – I learn something every time I click on your videos or pick up your books.
So inspiring.
My sister Shirley texted me this at 5:30 AM. Life Goes On. Robert Frost. It helped.
As does this MDK missive.
You will love Felix’s course. I replay it every now and again.
Like everyone else, I turned to knitting at my LYS today because I knew it would be a sanctuary. I showed up and the owner was putting a bigger Pride flag in the window.
Thanks for your book and the insight into younger you. You were an amazing drawer, even at 8! I’m looking forward to using ALL the stickers!
Thank you all. Resurfacing to try to face the day, and reading all your comments was soooo lovely. Find community and joy in what we can make with our own two hands.
xxoo
P
There is no “right” way to use a BuJo. The way you use it that works for you IS the right way.
Love the workbook!
Love the intuitive spelling of spaghetti.
I like that when Patty drew a bird, she scratched out “His name is” and replaced it with “Her name is Betsy”.
I REALLY remember that. I was upset that the bird had to be a he. My mom said it didn’t have to be anything, because I drew it. Betsy was my best friend at the time.
Brilliant!