Coffeehouse Knits: In which I drink all of the coffee and screech about knitting

“As people leave, they take a little of the warm glow of the evening home with them, a reminder that even when the world outside is unyielding, dark, and unknown, there is always the bright spot that is knit night.”

"Coffeehouse Knits" is a collection of cozy patterns and essays that are approachable enough for beginner knitters, but still offer some more challenging projects for the intermediate-to-advanced knitter.

If you’re a beginner knitter who is ready to start reading and following your first real pattern, and you want designs that are wearable, choose this book. For me, as a reader, a knitter and a coffee drinker, it intersects many facets of my personality. The book’s hygge vibes made me almost (ALMOST!) miss places that experience cold weather. 

When I was younger, I spent my rare free time at Starbucks or Panera, drinking endless cups of coffee and knitting, and some of the essays in "Coffeehouse Knits" made me nostalgic for that time. Now, as a way to fit some self-enrichment into my day and commit to a daily ritual, I wake up early, brew a pot of coffee, and drink most of it while puzzling over a rigorous knitting project and listening to an audiobook. (I'm listening to "The Stone Sky" by N.K. Jemisin right now, in case you're wondering.)

As an advanced knitter, a lot of the patterns in "Coffeehouse Knits" were much too basic for my taste. That’s not to say they weren’t very beautiful, because they were! And I got the impression that while beginner knitters might face a challenge with a few of them, intermediate and advanced knitters could carry on a conversation while making any of the patterns. I’m guessing that was kind of the point. The three patterns I was attracted to were: the chocolate challah pullover, an interesting v-neck pullover with braided cables on the shoulders; the house blend cardigan, a dramatic, long, cozy cardigan with big buttons and deep pockets; and the marshmallow tee, a unique twist-front tee knit with thick-and-thin yarn for a rustic effect. The other, smaller projects, such as scarves, hats, cowls and mittens, I might choose if I needed a quick gift because they seemed to incorporate effortless colorwork and texture techniques.

The recommended yarns for "Coffeehouse Knits" patterns could be found in a well-stocked local yarn shop, as well as online stores, and lean toward mid-priced (Universal Yarns, Brooklyn Tweed, Quince and Co.) to luxe (Hedgehog Fibers, Lorna’s Laces, SweetGeorgia.) To make these patterns more economical or inclusive to those who don’t have a local yarn shop, I would recommend future books include some yarn options, such as Patons or Lion Brand, that can be found in big-box stores.

Advanced knitting books I love

"2-at-a-time Socks" by Melissa Morgan-Oakes: I always reach for this book for a quick kitchener tutorial. One of these days I'll start knitting my socks two at a time.

"Continuous Cables" by Melissa Leapman: If you've already mastered basic cables and cabling without a cable needle, axis cables and closed-ring cables are a good next step!

"Knitted Lace of Estonia" by Nancy Bush and "New Vintage Lace" by Andrea Jurgrau: Estonian bobbles, or nupps, make Estonian knitting fascinating to me because they can't be replicated on a knitting machine. They have to be created by hand. Whenever I reach the limit of a skill, in this case lace knitting, I want to see how far beyond the basics I can stretch that skill. Once you've mastered lace knitting, Estonian lace is the next step. In "New Vintage Lace," the Ghost Orchid shawl has an unusual hexagonal shape and lace motifs reminiscent of legendary lace knitter Herbert Niebling.

"Sock Innovation" by Cookie A., "Socktopus" by Alice Yu, and the sock patterns of Claire Ellen and Caoua Coffee: If you've mastered basic sock construction, the next step is to add a challenging design. Cookie A., Alice Yu, Claire Ellen and Caoua Coffee have some of the most stunning sock designs I've ever seen, and it just motivates me to stretch my knitting skills every time I see them. I might even let out an audible gasp when I see a completed pair. Some of Claire Ellen's patterns are inspired by Lord of the Rings, and Caoua Coffee is inspired by operas, which just increases their level of cool (or geekery, whichever you prefer... I say cool.)

"Tudor Roses" by Alice Starmore (yes, the reprint): I enjoyed this book and it inspires me to be a better knitter. Alice Starmore is known for her intricate colorwork motifs inspired by nature.

New-ish advanced knitting books on my radar (a.k.a. please buy these for me)

"Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible" by Hitomi Shida

"Glamourie" by Alice Starmore

"100 Knits: Interweave's Ultimate Pattern Collection" by Interweave Knits

I received "Coffeehouse Knits" from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.