Nordic Knits

This is a marvellous collection of hand knitting patterns from Iceland, Sweden and Norway. The pattern designers are well known and experts in their field. A word of warning, many if not all of these patterns have appeared in earlier separate printed publications but have been brought together for this new edition. The designs are inspired by traditional knitwear, examples of which are given and many are featured in museum collections, however these patterns are not old-fashioned by any means. The presentation is clean and bright with large colour photographs of each design. The instructions look clear and are well laid out.
This is not a book for the complete beginner, and in fact many patterns would challenge quite experienced knitters. Knowledge of circular knitting and colourwork is assumed, but guidance is given for some techniques that maybe unfamiliar such as an afterthought thumb, crochet cast on, kitchener stitch and steeks (for the more adventurous).
Most of the yarns used were familiar to me, although not necessarily available in the UK, but information is provided to source suitable substitutes. Yardage information and suggested tension is provided to make yarn comparisons quite straightforward.
There is a wide range of patterns, socks, mitts, scarves, sweaters, shawls and more. I particularly like Helen Magnussen's sock band socks and Hilma's gloves by Sue Flanders and Janine Kosel.
This is a book that I will return to again and again as it will extend my own abilities with attractive and very wearable designs.

4 stars

These 44 Norwegian, Swedish, & Icelandic inspired knitting patterns include winter accessories, clothing items, decor pieces, & bags. I love the textile history included in each pattern’s introduction, & the mix of traditional & modern aesthetics. This book has variety & several unique patterns. I’d recommend this book for someone who already has some confidence & experience knitting, but there are a few simpler patterns (like wrist gauntlets).

[What I liked:]

•This book, while of course focused on Nordic knitting, has lovely variety. There are patterns for clothing (five sweaters, a woman’s top, a capelet, socks, slippers, a skirt etc.), children’s & adult wear patterns, & patterns for household items (a garland, a hot pad, two cushions, three bags, & a blanket). Most of the patterns are for hats, gloves, & mittens, but also among these there is a nice variety of style & motif.

•My favorite thing about this book is that each pattern was inspired by a specific piece of heirloom knitting or clothing preserved in a cultural or textile museum, or by depictions of knitted wear & folk costume in traditional art. Photos & a brief history of the historical pieces are included, along with biographical details of the maker if available. I love textile & fiber art history, & it’s really cool to be able to see the inspirations for these patterns & better connect with the artists, culture, & history behind them!

•I must also say that I’m impressed with how well the patterns capture the feel & look of the pieces they were inspired by. Some translate motifs to a new item (ex., the cross-country ski hat was inspired by a sock), some evoke the feel of the original piece with a bit of an update (ex., the dancing hat looks a lot like the original but uses bolder, more modern colors), & some take themes from other folk art styles (embroidery, tapestry weaving, oil painting, architecture, leatherwork, stained glass, etc.) & reinterpret them in knitting.

•The patterns include standard row-by-row instructions in stitch abbreviations, & stitch charts where necessary. I haven’t tried knitting any of these patterns yet (I will update this review when I do), but I’ve read through most of the patterns line by line & I’m reasonably confident I could follow what was happening.

•Most of the patterns include a “pattern notes” section near the beginning with tips, recommended techniques, &/or things to watch out for. Some of the patterns also include detailed instructions on special techniques or methods of cast on/bind off, if needed. Both are helpful additions to the main instructions.

•At the back are instructions with step-by-step photos for two styles of casting on, creating thumb/heel holes, & a double-lifted decrease technique. There are also written explanations of a few other techniques used in the book. Very helpful!


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•For some of the stitch charts, the numbering of the rows was really tiny. I read a PDF of this book on my phone so I could zoom in, but I’m not sure how small it would look in print. (Maybe it won’t be an issue in print though)

•For finishing the felted bags, no instructions are given other “full to desired size in washing machine”. Felting wool isn’t difficult & there are plenty of tutorials available online, but a brief explanation could’ve been included in this book’s appendix.

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

I’ve never been a knitter, but after reading this inspiring and colourful book, I may well take it up!
The introduction offers an informative guide to the history of knitting and Norwegian knitwear. The book consists of 44 knitting patterns for wooly sweaters, hats, scarves and socks etc, all designed with the Nordic ethos in mind. Photography is bright and clear throughout, and the creations look achievable.
A lovely book that celebrates the best of Nordic heritage and lifestyle, with simple patterns for practical clothes that the whole family can wear.

Nordic Knits is a technique and pattern tutorial with patterns in Scandinavian style written and curated by Sue Flanders, Janine Kosel, & Helene Magnusson. Due out 15th March 2022 from Quarto on their Voyageur Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is such an appealing collection with a wide range of classic styles and techniques. The pieces are knitted and embellished with needle-felting, surface embroidery, stranded colorwork, lacework, cables, and the garments themselves are full of clever shaping and construction details based on historical culture and inspired by traditional nature or existing historical garments and design elements. Most of the projects are for accessories: socks, scarves, shawls, mittens, hats, and totes, but there are also a fair number of larger pieces such as pullovers, cardigans, and some nursery items.

The book is divided into regional designs: Norwegian, Swedish, and Icelandic. The projects include tools and supplies (measurements are provided in American standard inches -and- metric centimeters, yay!), step by step tutorial directions, and a short background note containing the design inspiration or historical background. Each project is clearly photographed in color and the models are posed in such a way that they're easy to understand and visualize. There are (by my count) 44 projects included, more or less evenly divided between countries.

One of the benchmarks of a good collection for me is paging through the book and finding many patterns which call to me and which I could see myself knitting. This collection is full of really nice patterns which I want to make. I knit several gauge swatches for projects in the book and found no obvious or glaring errors with any of them. The instructions are written clearly and concisely. Materials used in the patterns are from the larger/more well known spinneries and will be familiar to most readers and should be widely available. The authors have included an abbreviated links and resource list in the back of the book.

Five stars. Lovely designs, well executed.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is a nice collection of Nordic inspired knitting patterns. I love that the patterns include photos of the inspiration pieces. The collection contains a good variety of techniques including colorwork, lacework and cabling. Several projects have made it to my "knit someday" list!

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry, Voyageur Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

These are really beautiful and creative patterns from Iceland, Norway and Sweden. I love that they were all inspired by real historical items and usually included photos of those from museums. It's rich with the history behind items and patterns, and keeps to the original looks while still managing to look current. There are photos of every project and there's a great variety of items, from pouches to sweaters to shawls to all different kinds of hats to shoes! Definitely not for beginners. Lovely, fun, inspirational and educational.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.

Very beautiful patterns that I can’t wait to try. This book looks different from others of the same kind and I really enjoyed it. I might purchase a hard-copy version when it comes out, just to have it handy and read it again. Recommended.

•thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for the #ARC in exchange for an honest review•

Nordic Knits is so much more than a collection of illustrated knitting patterns. This beautiful book of Swedish, Norwegian and Icelandic patterns features descriptions of holidays, local costumes, customs, art, knitting history and more. The 44 patterns for sweaters, socks, scarves, and hats are intended for an experienced knitter. However, a beginning knitter will find thorough, detailed instructions and well illustrated techniques for the more complicated methods: weaving, I cords, embroidery and steeks. The Nisse hats and Ruth’s mittens are beginner projects. Intricate color work and patterns are for experienced knitters. My favorites are the All Things Swedish Shawl with its twelve eyelet sections and the Crayfish Hot Pad. Nordic Knits belongs on every experienced knitter’s bookshelf and would be a perfect gift! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry, Sue Flanders, Janine Kosel and Helene Magnusson for this ARC.

Lots of interesting designs and fun patterns. The inclusion of the materials that inspired the designs was a nice touch.

I’ve crocheted since I was about 10 years old. I never learned how to knit though, as no one I knew, was a knitter. I’ve always wanted to learn but each year that I don’t learn, the very idea of learning how to knit takes on a herculean effort in my mind; I imagine it will be impossibly difficult to grasp. My 16 year old taught herself how to knit a few years ago, knits beautifully now and has offered to teach me how numerous times.

Looking through this book with the written patterns for Norwegian, Swedish, and Icelandic garments inspired by historical pieces, abbreviations and special techniques, yarn information, all of the lovely, timelessly classic Nordic patterns has renewed my interest in taking my teen up on her offer and finally learning.

I don’t see how you could go wrong with this one.

Absolutely beautiful knitting patterns that keep true to their Nordics inspirational roots while updating techniques and styles with a new flare.

What an original varied beautiful instructional book. Mittens, gloves , totes, pillows, shawl, scarf, hats, slippers. But the most gorgeous blanket is towards the very end and it is worth just to purchase this book for this blanket. Absolutely breathtaking. There are alot of techniques that probably for the more advanced Knitter but also some that an inexperienced knitter can attempt.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A real beautiful Nordic inspired knitting patterns for real advanced knitters but as a beginner it was really challenging and so difficult to follow any of these patterns. Anyway,I loved the designs of each article and I would like to be able to make one of them in the future. Also, I loved the history part of each item with pictures.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a nice knitting book.

There are a variety of patterns in this book for hats, gloves, and sweaters. There's a bit of history on Nordic-style knitting and knitting options. There are a few photos of finished products. This is a hefty book for a beginner knitter, but has some interesting ideas to try.

A lot of good patterns, and I really liked that the designers gave an illustration of where they got their inspiration from.
There are quite a few of the designs which weren’t really to my taste and I probably won’t knit them but this is a pattern book which certainly suits all knitters, from beginners to the more advanced. I also liked that there is a section at the end explaining the special techniques used for casting on; I-cords; Kitchener stitch etc as well as a list of stockists for the yarn. A good selection of options from quick knits to longer projects

This is an excellent knitting book for all lovers of stranded colorwork and Nordic motifs and inspiration. The book itself is divided into regions: Norweigan, Swedish and Icelandic. Each section has accessories and garments, as well as the occasional bag or household item, so there is a wide variety of items to knit!

Each item is inspired by a historical piece(s) (pictured), with a bit of a text describing the designers choice. In typical Quatro publishing fashion, the patterns are well laid out, with a clear overview page, a box delineating the special stitches, and easy to read and follow instructions. There are both charts and written instructions. Rarely the charts are a bit small, but effort has been taken to make them large, clear, and if they use color, they have good enough contrast to photocopy in black and white.

95% of these designs are colorwork patterns, but there are a few lace, st st, or or embroidered motifs used as well.

There are some very interesting and ingenious designs in this book. I'd recommend it to anyone who like color knitting, Nordic designs, or wants some unique colorwork patterns. It seems like it would be a great beginner colorwork book as well, since there are simple two-color motifs as well as the more elaborate multi-colored motifs.

I was so delighted by Sue Flanders' Cozy Knits that I didn't need any persuading at all to pick up her Nordic Knits. This delivers forty-four patterns inspired by textiles and local traditions from Norway, Sweden and Iceland. There are a few sweaters or jackets but the majority of patterns are for smaller items such as mittens, gloves, hats and bags. All are bright and cheerful and very cosy.

When I worked my way through Cozy Knits there wasn't a single garment which I couldn't see myself wearing: some had that 'must by knitted up immediately' feeling. With 'Nordic Knits' there were only a few pieces which I could see myself carrying off. I suspect that this is because my clothes tend to be classical rather than quirky but if you like to wear clothes which will be noticed you will find the book more rewarding than I did. I think that some of the patterns have been published previously: if you have a collection of such patterns and books, you should check before buying.

The range of patterns is described as being from simple to more complicated. I've been knitting for well over sixty years and felt that there were only a few 'simple' patterns but rather a lot which fell into the 'more complicated' range. I didn't feel that it was book for the new knitter - and some patterns would challenge those with experience. If, on the other hand, you're looking to extend your range of techniques, this could be the perfect book for you. The special techniques are explained well at the back of the book and you're find step-by-step illustrations. I liked the colour charts: they were particularly clear and easy to follow.

The yarns used are not easily obtained in the UK but you should be able to source suitable substitutions on yarnsub.com. If you're looking for unusual garments to make as presents this could well be the book for you - and you never know, you might find something which you love for yourself.

I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.

This book was great for intermediate to advanced knitters. It has nicely thought out patterns in a Nordic style and both charts and written instructions.

Nordic Knits has a variety of knitting patterns using traditional Nordic designs. There is a really great selectionof oattwrns feom scarfs, hats, aocks and more. The skill level in this book is for the more advanced knitter who is familiar with colorwork and other design techniques but would make an excellent reference or learning aid fir anyone wanting to delve into more challenging designs and knit work. Absolutely loved the pictures.

This book has a variety of knitting patterns based on traditional Nordic designs. There is a nice variety of garments, accessories, and household items. The yarns listed should be easy for most American knitters to purchase for the projects. The skill level in this book is for the more advanced knitter who is familiar with colorwork and other design techniques.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the format of this book. Most knitting books tend to strictly use written instructions rather than charts but this has both, which makes adjusting for being a lefty a breeze. The patterns are clear, the photos are beautiful, and the background on where the motifs or patterns come from are fun little insights on history and culture with explanations as well. If you want to learn more about Nordic specific styles and motifs of knitting, this is a great book to pick up.

The projects in this book are so awesome- I wanted to make all of them!

I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Nordic Knits 44 Beautiful Patterns to Knit and Keep You Cozy by Sue Flanders; Janine Kosel; Helene Magnusson
Table of contents where patterns are broken up into Countries: Norway, Sweden and Iceland patterns.
Intro discusses the differences between the countries and their style of knitting compared to years gone by.
Each section starts out with a brief summary of the area.
Each pattern starts with a title summary, finished measurement and equipment you will need, gauge along with a color photo.
Special techniques and pattern notes are highlighted.
Instructions are easy to follow and complete and finishing suggestions included.
I do period knitting from 1620, 1790 and 1850s and it's interesting to see how a certain item has progressed over hundreds of years.
Love the idea of the wimple and that would be my first project to try. there are charted areas also which are included.
There are also some geometric stitching with different colors making the final piece real authentic to the country it originated from.
Like several of the techniques described and cant' wait to try a sample of them to put into a charity item for others.
Abbreviations and diagrams of stitching is included at the back of the book.
Other needle techniques re explained and shown.
Yarn weights and sources are also included along with index.
KEEPER!
Received this review copy from the publisher Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry, Voyageur Press via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#NordicKnits #NetGalle

The perfect guide to knitting! The patterns are fun and frisky and the detail accumulated together shows a pure love for knitting. The patterns are clear and easy to read. Absolutely exciting and thrilling. I cannot wait to make some of these patterns.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book early for an honest review. I may be unfairly partial to these patterns as my ancestry is Swedish and Norwegian, so these patterns speak to me. The pictures are beautiful, and I love reading about the inspirations for the projects. I was tickled to learn the Swedish inspirations can be found at the American Swedish Institute in my home state of Minnesota.

There are some projects a beginning knitter could tackle, but I would recommend this book to an intermediate to advanced knitter, or someone who is comfortable reading graphs and charts. This book is full of inspiration, and I want to try every pattern (except maybe the sweaters). It would make a beautiful addition to any knitter’s shelf.