Rugged Knits by Andrea Rangel – Book Review and Pattern Excerpt

 

Title: Rugged Knits – 24 Practical Projects for Everyday Living
Author: Andrea Rangel
Published by: Interweave/F+W
ISBN: 978-1-63250-120-2
Format: Paperback, 144 pages
Published: July 5, 2016

 

Rugged Knits by Andrea Rangel, published by Interweave/F+W, contains 24 practical and functional knit projects. There are vests, sweaters, cardigans, and accessories for both men and women. There is a project for everyone in this book!

Here are some of the wonderful projects that you will find in Rugged Knits:

Wheat Creek Vest (p 42)
This slim vest is perfect for keeping you warm and toasty when you are outdoors!

Lilac Sky Infinity Scarf (p 76)
This chic scarf will keep you warm all through the cold weather season.

Blueberry Paws Mitts (p 108)
These stylish fingerless mitts are practical, durable, and perfect for keeping your hands warm and your fingers free!

Each of the patterns in Rugged Knits contain sizing information, materials needed (yarn, needles, notions, etc.), gauge information, and any pattern notes needed. There are even stitch guides, charts, and diagrams to help you successfully complete each pattern. Each pattern is written in great detail to help you as you go along.

At the back of the book, there is a helpful glossary with the abbreviations and a section of techniques that are used in the book. There are also visual aids that accompany the different techniques.

If you want to try any of these fabulous projects for yourself, you can get Rugged Knits from the Interweave Store for just $24.99.

Bonus Content!

A special thank you to Interweave for providing us with a free pattern excerpt from Rugged Knits! I hope you enjoy it!

Excerpted from Rugged Knits Copyright © 2016 by Andrea Rangel and published by F+W Media, Inc. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Photos courtesy of Julia Vandenouver.

Sun Flare Shawl

Tie this richly textured kerchief on for an evening around the campfire. The nubbly stitch pattern and simple construction make for a fun, engaging knit that will add warmth and color to any outfit. It’s worked from the point upward, so you can make it as small or as large as you like.

Finished Size

About 41″ (104 cm) wide and 19 ¾” (50 cm) long.

Yarn

541 yd (495 m) fingering weight (#1 Super Fine).

Shown here: Swans Island Natural Colors Fingering (100% certified organic merino wool; 525 yd [480 m]/100 g): color #YF124 Bittersweet, 1 skein (sample shown uses almost an entire skein; to ensure sufficient amount of yarn for swatching, you may consider purchasing a second skein).

Needles

Size U.S. 2 (2.75 mm): 40″ (100 cm) circular (cir).

Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions

Size C-2 (2.75 mm) crochet hook; markers (m); tapestry needle; blocking wires.

Gauge

28 sts and 48 rows = 4″ (10 cm) over Textured Stitch patt.

Notes

Triangle shawl is worked from the bottom up, starting with the tip of the triangle. A three-stitch garter-stitch border is worked throughout.

The single crochet bind-off creates a stretchy edge. If desired, use the standard bind-off method to BO all sts loosely.

Stitch Guide

See charts. The charts show only right-side rows; work all wrong-side rows as foll: K3, purl to last 3 sts, k3.

Read chart rows from right to left.

kfbf (knit into front, back, front): Without removing st from left needle tip, knit into the front of the next stitch, then into the back of the same stitch, then into the front of the same stitch again—2 sts increased.

Bottom tip of triangle

Make a slipknot and place on needle—1 st.

Row 1: (RS) Kfbf—3 sts.
Rows 2 and 4: Knit.
Row 3: K1, M1L, k1, M1R, k1—5 sts.
Row 5: K2, M1L, k1, M1R, k2—7 sts.
Row 6: K3, p1, k3.

Body of shawl

Working from charts (see Stitch Guide), work Rows 1–40 of Chart 1—47 sts.

Work Rows 1–40 of Chart 2—87 sts.

Work Rows 1–40 of Chart 3—127 sts.

Work Rows 1-40 of Chart 4—167 sts.

Work Rows 1–40 of Chart 5—207 sts.

Work Rows 1–52 of Chart 6—259 sts.

Top edging

Knit 6 rows even. BO all sts using single crochet method as follows:

Place first st on left needle tip onto crochet hook, *insert hook into next st on left needle tip and slip it off needle (2 sts on hook), yo and draw loop through first st, yo and draw loop through both sts (1 st rem on hook); rep from * until all sts are bound off.

Finishing

Weave in all loose ends. Block aggressively using blocking wires threaded along all three sides because the measurements will relax somewhat when the pins and blocking wires are removed.