Review: I Knit Paris

I had a very happy mail day last week, receiving my copy of the new pattern book I Knit Paris. The book features 10 patterns inspired by the city of Paris, by nine different French designers. Besides these patterns, the book includes an overview of all the knitty spots in the city, as well as interviews with all the designers and their connection to and favourite spots in the city.

I’m really excited by this books, as it actually is very insightful about spots to visit that I wasn’t aware of yet, and has information about all my favourite knitting stores bundled together. The pattern photography is stunning and feels properly Parisian, capturing both the knitting and the places that inspired it.

I think my absolute favourite pattern from the book is the Tuileries Pullover by Julie Knits in Paris. If I’d had to imagine a sweater that looked interesting to make, interesting to look at, but also interesting to wear basically every day, this sweater is the personification of those thoughts. I’m going to need this sweater in all of the colours.

I’m of course also head over heels (pun intended) in love with the sock design in this book. The Jardin à la Française socks by Tisserin Coquet feature fun colourwork inspired by shapes and symmetry that can be found in French gardens.

I also had an immediate cast on after receiving the book, which is the Running Up That Hill shawl by les Tricoteurs Volants. The pattern name refers to the hill leading up to Montmartre, which in general I would not recommend you to run up ;).  Knitting this shawl I can heartily recommend however.

All in all, I’m extremely happy with this book. If you’re looking for a beautiful pattern book that also happens to be a knitty Paris city guide, this is the book for you. You can have a look at all the patterns here.

Dreary Sunday, happy socks

I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday afternoon. I am currently wrapped up in my pyjama’s while watching the rain outside. It is perfectly cosy. And every cosy Sunday needs a cosy pair of socks.

Pattern: Improvised vanilla socks with fish lips kiss heels
Yarn: Twisted Limone sock yarn in the Dreamcatcher colourway

These socks have been my mindless knitting for the past couple of weeks, picking them up every now and again. They are actually much longer than I had intended. I had just bought a new set of 2.25mm sock needles and cast on 72 stitches. After knitting a couple of cm’s these socks seemed way too big however. I measured my brand new needles as a sanity check, and turns out they were actually 2.5mm needles. Very frustrating! I didn’t feel like starting over so I decided to make them longer and decrease stitches on the calf. I added contrasting heels and toes using some leftover sock yarn.

With these socks now off the needles I only have 2(!!) active WIPs! One is a pair of First Star socks, and the other is the Inori shawl. I feel a little cast on spree coming on soon..