Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together

by Larissa Brown, Martin John Brown, Michael Crouser (Photographs)

The immensely popular knitalong—an organized event where people knit together for a common goal—has only grown with the explosion of the Internet. Yesterday’s wartime Red Cross sock drives have evolved into today’s meet-ups at locales as diverse as cafes, state fairs, and major league ballparks, as well as international online gatherings; in fact, at any given time tens of thousands of people worldwide are involved in knitalongs, organized around a particular yarn, a favorite social cause, an intriguing project, a special event, or myriad other themes.

Authors Larissa Brown and Martin John Brown present an inspiring look at centuries of people knitting together, and why knitters find the interaction so meaningful and worthwhile. Along the way, they offer 20 projects especially suited for different types of knitalongs. The Barn Raising Quilt and the Traveling Scarf, for instance, call on individual knitters to collaborate on a single project; while the Pinwheel Blanket and the Meathead Hat encourage a community of knitters to improvise on the same pattern to come up with a variety of results. Also included is essential information about finding, joining, and starting knitalongs.

Hundreds of knitters participated in the knitalongs hosted by the authors as part of their research, and this book will inspire thousands more to get involved in the knitalong movement. The only book that celebrates this tradition of community and purpose, Knitalong is sure to have a powerful impact.

Genres: Knitting, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2008

About the author

Larissa writes epic love stories and creates dramatic designs for hand knitters.

Her first novel, Beautiful Wreck, is a time travel love story set in a fictional 10th century Iceland. So Wild A Dream is a two-book series, set in the same world, which will launch in 2016. Larissa is also the author of the novella Tress, a gothic horror fairytale love story.

She regularly posts photos of her #writingspot on Instagram to share the adventure of writing, and she is the proud owner of the addictive online generator What Does Your Hero Smell Like?

An eclectic reader, Larissa's favorite book this year was A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic. She reads speculative fiction, romance, historical fiction and craft books, and has a special love for knitting stitch dictionaries.

A two-time craft author with STC Craft, Larissa has published books, articles and designs with a variety of knitting-related publications. She independently publishes her hand knitting designs. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband Martin and son Sebastian, adorable loser-of-hand-made-hats.

Reviews

[Liza · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sweet little collection of knitting patterns, history, mini-essays and lots and lots of photographs. This charming little book attracted me with its design and kept me interested with its range of projects.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 bk 15. It is obvious that Larissa Brown has a love of knitting and of bringing people together to knit. I enjoyed how she sectioned off the books, creating chapters focusing on different aspects. My only criticism is that the photo of each chapter's knit project was at the end of the instructions - I like to see what is being made first. I appreciate her list of projects to which knitters can participate and that in the ebook format all mentions of businesses, organizations, etc. had a linkable access point. There was one type of knitalong that she did not mention - and that is faith community/knit retreats.
It is were I was introduced to the world of retreats combined with crafting combined with focusing on one of two charitable projects. Being with and having just about 15 minutes a day on our serving as God's hands was important to me - as important as knitting. Will I knit anything from the book, probably not as I am involved in charitable work not shown in the book, will I look for more opportunities to knit with others - yes.

[Maggie Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sure if I had read this book in the early days of the internet and not today, I would have given it 4 stars. It seems dated now with talk of blogs and such. Also the knitted patterns are a bit old school.

[shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Came for the Meathead hat pattern. Enjoyable read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book of celebrating community through knitting. Nice patterns too!

[WifeMomKnitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the book synopsis:

"The immensely popular knitalong—an organized event where people knit together for a common goal—has only grown with the explosion of the Internet. Yesterday’s wartime Red Cross sock drives have evolved into today’s meet-ups at locales as diverse as cafes, state fairs, and major league ballparks, as well as international online gatherings; in fact, at any given time tens of thousands of people worldwide are involved in knitalongs, organized around a particular yarn, a favorite social cause, an intriguing project, a special event, or myriad other themes.

Authors Larissa Brown and Martin John Brown present an inspiring look at centuries of people knitting together, and why knitters find the interaction so meaningful and worthwhile. Along the way, they offer 20 projects especially suited for different types of knitalongs. The Barn Raising Quilt and the Traveling Scarf, for instance, call on individual knitters to collaborate on a single project; while the Pinwheel Blanket and the Meathead Hat encourage a community of knitters to improvise on the same pattern to come up with a variety of results. Also included is essential information about finding, joining, and starting knitalongs.

Hundreds of knitters participated in the knitalongs hosted by the authors as part of their research, and this book will inspire thousands more to get involved in the knitalong movement. The only book that celebrates this tradition of community and purpose, Knitalong is sure to have a powerful impact."

When this book can up for swapping on the Goodread's swap, I snapped it up quick.

This book to me is very reminicent of the Mason-Dixon Knitting books with a bit of "chatting" about the different ways we knitters come together to knit with each other.

So far, I've been part of a Traveling Scarf and am currently working on the Barn Raising Quilt. I've got my eye on a few more patterns and can definitely see myself knitting up more projects from this book.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never participated in a Knitalong, not even online, and this is something that I wish was different. I am a novice knitter at best. I’ve learned much of what I know by reading books. I did take a class at a community center once a long while ago but that was just one day and there are so many stitches in knitting. Reading Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together, has inspired me to try to remedy this situation. This book provides a wonderful history of knitting (which it seems was nearly always done as a knitalong through history). It is packed with lovely photos, both of the patterns in the book and historic photos of people knitting. It features several simple patterns which are written so that you won’t need to think too much about the pattern while you are in your group. One of the points I found most helpful was a list of knitting cafés, a new concept to me but also a very appealing one. The book is well researched and provides both references and wonderful details on where to look for additional information for a given knitting topic. This would make a great gift for a friend who knits, or for an inspired individual to start their own knitting circle. I hope to join my local knitting club very soon! Oh, I received my copy of this book from netgalley.com, however these opinions are my own and uninfluenced by author or publisher. I after reading the galley, I would absolutely buy a copy of this book for myself.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly lovely. Knitalong celebrates the joy of knitting together and sharing one's love for the craft. As a knitter, I am always so pleased to find out when others knit. It's like a not-so-secret society. Although the act of knitting is singular, it lends itself to building a community. It's why thousands of people have come together and joined online communities, such as ravelry. And it's this sense of community that Larissa Brown focuses on in her book Knitalong.

Knitalong is a collection of stories, resources, and even patterns. It explains how to find knitting groups both in the flesh and on-line. I found Larissa Brown's stories engaging, interesting, and inspiring. I especially liked the chapter on historical knitalongs. Knitting together is such a beautiful concept and this book inspired me to start a knitting group at my workplace.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I also bought this book on sale, and thought it would be a good resource to get our knitting guild to organize a knit-along of some kind. We're kind of a well established group that just sits and knots once a month. Wish we could be a bit more, ahem, dynamic or something! It just may not be in the cards....
I;m not sure if this book is what I thought it was. It doesn't have much new content to me. Maybe if I didn't read so many blogs and ravelry and stuff, then I wouldn't know all this already. Still a good resource. Not any patterns that I tagged.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, inspiring book about knitalongs - groups of people all knitting the same pattern at the same time or just knitting together. The book discusses the history of knitalongs, wartime knitting, and internet based knitalongs and has several knitting patterns. There is knitting for others, for charity, for art, in cafes knitting blogs, as a part of challenges and more. I enjoyed the book, but to me, the patterns seemed rather difficult. I am trying the sock pattern and will see how I do with it. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved reading all the history & personal stories of past knitalong experiences. I originally bought this book to help me organize a craftalong with some friends, but I found the entire book wonderful. Everything in this book gave me some great ideas for when I start my craftalong, but I do wish there was a bit more on organizing one. With only 3 pages on that particular subject, it was a tad bit disappointing.

[Michelle Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers some very unique patterns & design ideas, which I find very refreshing. It totally sparks your creativity, and makes you want to reach out and knit with/and for others. I was one of the lucky ones that was able to partake in the knitalong for the book (barn raising quilt, and meathead hat). It was so much fun partaking in this virtual knitalong! I also love that it takes recycling, refashioning, and reknitting into consideration.

[Desiree' · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book at my local library. This book is an important book for those interested in organizing an online or meetup knit-a-long (KAL). I found the information as well as the patterns interesting; the patterns themselves offer a knitter history of how successful KAL's are. I like how the author organized the information and introduced other established knitter's through exploring their KAL's and how to establish your own successful KAL. A valuable resource for knitter's.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Why knit together?"

That's the question this books sets out to answer and in nearly 160 pages, it does a great job. There are various knitalong diaries and profiles of knitters along with excellent patterns - some that lend themselves to collaborative knitting and group projects.

The Blessingway Blanket and Entomology Hat and Mitten Set are alone worth the price of the book.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

thoroughly enjoyed this book and looking forward to knitting a couple patterns from it. a very easy and sweet read. the layout of the book is very well executed. i had a great time skimming over the pages multiple times. it's fun to come across comments and pictures of bloggers i read.

definitely a good addition to a knitter's library.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book, and not just because I was a Meathead Hat knitter for it! While my hat's picture isn't in there, there are plenty of fantastic projects, along with smart essays about how knitting has worked in the context of communities. I"ve made two projects already from the book, and the directions are clearly written. Lovely photos, too!

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The historical tidbits about knitalongs were fun to read, and the additional resources listed at the end of each section were great jump-off points for digging deeper into the different subjects. The only reason I can't give this one a higher rating is because the patterns weren't that impressive. They were okay, but not great.

[Polly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very beautiful book about knitalongs. It explains how this modern phrase has historical roots. Plenty of patterns and tips about hosting one's own knitalong. This book tailors a lot to the internet crowd as well as women in particular.

A few cute patterns to try: spiral blanket, meathead hat (with crayon pocket), and the barnraising quilt.

[Larissa Brown]

I wrote this, so no stars or reviews. It was one of my favorite things to write! And the majority of it was written by my husband and co-author Martin John Brown, so I can say that all his pieces are great. I can also say that the photography by Michael Crouser is gorgeous, and the hundred+ amateur photos from knitters around the world are amazing.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great knitting book. Not just a book of patterns, but how to knit something that will really be special to your friends and family now and generations later. Also, it inspired me to enter a knitted project in my state fair. So there's that.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A photo of my knitting is in this book, and I was eagerly awaiting it's publication. So far it's an incredibly readable and uplifting account of knitting with friends.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really comprehensive... it touched upon a lot of activities that knitters engage in during Knitalongs. If only I could knit...

[Sophie Riggsby / allthingsequilateral · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully photographed...illustrates the concept of knitalongs in our blog-filled world...such yummy patterns, I can hardly wait to start a project or two...love the barn raising pattern.

[Frances Schuff]

I've done KALs and enjoyed them. It was interesting to read about projects I've followed online.

[Fjain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring. This really emphasizes the idea of community - both online and in the flesh - in craft. It is now on my Christmas wish list.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a photo in this book, but I'd love it even if that weren't the case. Really good book with fun patterns.

[Kimberli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this for the Barn Raising Quilt pattern and found several other patterns I'll someday tackle.

[Cayenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and heart-felt. I'm tempted to buy because it had some cool patterns, especially the entemology set and the barn raising quilt, but I'll hold off for now.

[Bridget Belyeu · Rating 5 out of 5]

so beautiful. great patterns. so fun if you love to knit in community.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book. Some great things to knit with a group. It also looks at the history of knitting and knitting groups.