Elemental Knits: A Perennial Knitwear Collection

by Courtney Spainhower

Elemental Knits is for women who aspire to be ever stylish, more comfortable, and less wasteful. With knitwear designer Courtney Spainhower, you'll craft an appearance that truly reflects your spirit with a collection of 20 knitting patterns designed to enhance your wardrobe year-round.

   • Knit with intention, selecting patterns and fibers for their wearablity, versatility, and how they enhance your existing wardrobe.
   • 20 patterns explore a range of knitting techniques with features suited to each season--texture and cables for autumn, allover patterning for winter, garter and lace for spring, and colorful accents for summer.
   • Revel in gorgeous details that take these garments and accessories from functional to essential in a way that will have you wearing them year after year.
Enrich your hand-knit wardrobe with intentional projects that will act as wardrobe staples for years to come with Elemental Knits .

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction, Crafts

160 pages, Hardcover

Published October 8, 2019

Reviews

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings on this one, so splitting the difference at 3 stars.

The Good
Lots of photos of the patterns from different angles.
Good diagrams and the instructions seem pretty clear (usual disclaimer - haven't made any of the patterns yet, so can't say for sure)
Aesthetically very pretty book.

The Bad
For being so "slow fashion" and focused on lasting pieces, some of these were rather trendy sihlouettes. If I'm spending this much time (fine yarns = tiny stitches, and lots of them!) and money (these are not cheap brands!) on a sweater, it had better be pretty classic.
Also, there were quite a few (especially in Summer) that would NOT work on a larger framed person. Dax? Not for the generous-hipped among us!
There's a lot of narrative chatter - her inspiration for the book, descriptions of all the different yarns and yarn companies used. I just don't really care. I realize I can order yarns from anywhere via the miracles of the Interwebs, but I'd really rather have more patterns or instruction in a pattern collection than her chattering or info about specific yarn companies that may or may not exist as long as the book, or (quite probably) don't ship to where I live.

The Knit-worthy
Cloria shawl
Harue vest - nice layering piece
Cormac cardigan - like the cable pockets
Jorah cardigan - practice my brioche!
Eira cardigan - love the cables, especially on the collar
There were several patterns in Winter, actually, that are pretty classic and fairly to my taste, but not unique enough to justify purchasing the book for myself.

Take home?
Glad this was a library find. Not a bad collection, but not one I can see purchasing for my own collection either.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is lovely with many good pictures. Each piece is photographed from at least two angles, some more. Other things I like:

1. Recommended Yarns - I had never heard of some of these and I am happy to check out the makers and buy them for these and other projects. I was especially happy to find the linen yarns, as none of my regular suppliers carry those and I would like something cooler.
2. Styles - I appreciate many of the styles offered here as well as the recommended colorways. This takes the question out of what color to choose out of it, which is nice.
3. Insights & Glossary - I found both of these helpful and picked up a few tips.
4. Concept - I like the idea of incorporating these pieces into a capsule wardrobe as well as being able to produce your own clothing intentionally.

Things I don't prefer:
1. Styles - many of these styles seem like they will only look good on a very skinny person. There are also a couple with awkward shapes that don't seem to match the slow fashion concept.
2. Yarn weights - while appropriate, the summer yarn weights are tiny. If you are a slow knitter, you better start this in January because it will take f o r e v e r.

This was a library discovery for me. I have three patterns I've photographed for person pattern use that I plan on making. Depending on how those patterns go, I may add this book to my personal collection.

[Ligaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

This knitting book has a lot going for it: plenty of photographs, clear and instructive illustrations, most patterns have schematics, and a pleasant graphic design throughout. The big thing, for me, that it doesn't deliver are knitting patterns that I'd want to knit. Of the 20 designs, four are shawls/wraps/cowls. (I only see people wearing shawls or wraps at fiber conferences.) Of the 20 designs, most all the sweaters look terribly uncomfortable at the armholes, some as if they don't want to stay on the shoulders. After reading zillons of knit/crochet patterns, I am not much interested in reading more about the author's personal journey to the current collection of patterns, so I skipped all the text here cause it looks like there's A LOT. I was disappointed that there really wasn't anything here for me. The yarn gauge is rather fine, so lots and lots of knitting. The silhouette is most becoming for the really tall and skinny, like the Dax Shell, with its hip accenting triangular gussets. Waaa?

[Emily Vander Ark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the colors and textures of the knits in this book, and the design of the book itself is so cozy. There are four patterns I would consider making in the future, but the rest are a bit too oddly shaped for my liking.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a feeling this was going to be the kind of knit book that wasn't size inclusive, it just gives that feel, and unfortunately I was right. The styles were a mix of cute and alright. But they could've done better.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is absolutely beautiful and full of things that would look ridiculous in real life.

[Heather Culley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern young women look like such drips to me.

[Cheri]

Cormac page 92 - cardigan

Quilo cape 126 ; colorwork

[Erica Eggleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read through this book for the "hobbies" section of my summer book bingo card. I saved lots of patterns to try later! I really like this author's style.

[C2015 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nine sweaters, wraps, and cowls I really like. Need to be proficient with different stitches

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful patterns, but beyond my skill level.

[Dianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Attempted to make one pattern and it was full of errors. Ridiculous that it wasn’t tested and tech edited before being published.