Knitch Magazine

Author: Kara Gott Warner, editor

Date Published: April 2011

Review Date: July 18, 2011

Who is this book for?

Blankets and afghans make us think of snuggly warmth and the security of home. Just like toddlers who obstinately cling to tattered corners of a favorite baby blankie, we feel safer and warmer when wrapped in a treasured afghan. Often we remember the person whose loving hands created the afghan. It’s not the yarn or pattern that we treasure, but memories of home, hearth and dear ones. If wrapping up in the family afghan is almost like being held in the arms of our loved ones, it is no wonder that families keep afghans for years and years. Knitters can now create their own heirloom afghans. In this “The Best from Annie’s Attic” retrospective, editor Kara Gott Warner brings together 52 different afghan designs for knitters. A Year of Afghans is filled with afghans for every preference, skill level, and degree of difficulty. There are ten baby blankets, three cabled afghans, two ripple designs and two with mitered squares. There is also a lace afghan, one with bobbles and a woven-look throw in addition to many other attractive, fun-to-knit, fun-to give (or keep) afghans knitters will want to knit.

What Yarn Does it Feature?

Afghans could be thought of as giant swatches. Other than being long and wide enough to wrap up the average baby or adult, there isn’t much to think about in terms of size. If knitters have difficulty getting to gauge, it is usally because they don’t knit tight enough. With afghans, a looser gauge is preferred because it drapes and wraps beautifully. Most of the blankets featured in A Year of Afghans are knit using medium weight yarn worked at the standard 20 stitches over 4 inches. Some, particularly baby afghans use light weight yarns. For really quick projects, there are some quick to knit afghans using bulky yarns. The patterns are written using the standard yarn weight system, making substituting yarns a simple matter of matching gauge, yardage and texture.

What's Inside

A Year of Afghans includes a full color illustration of each design.

Using It

Afghan styles are sorted into general categories in 7 chapters. The first chapter, Block Party, includes afghans that are created square by square. Many knitters prefer this method because of its portability or the opportunity to practice many different stitches in one afghan. The Make it Mitered Afghan creates the illusion of using several different color yarns but is knit with a single multi-colored strand. For those in a hurry, the Easy Does It chapter includes quick knit ideas using bulky yarn or several strands of yarn held together. If you think it’s just not an afghan without fringes, you have ten choices for fringed and tasseled afghans in On the Fringes. Chevron or ripple stitch afghans are traditional favorites, four are included in the chapter Ripple Effect. Welcome a new baby with one of the 13 sweet baby afghans featured in Baby Love. For knitters who love to work with texture and color, there are 5 sophisticated texture designs in Tempting Textures. Those who revel in color will be attracted to the 5 colorwork afghans in Country Living. Each chapter includes thumbnail photos to reference the designs and there is a complete photo index at the back of the book.

Best Pattern

The easy to knit huggable hooded blankie for babies is appealing for many reasons. Diagonally knit to 30 inches square in bulky weight yarn on US size 20 needles, this is a quick project that defies deadlines. It is practical, cute and easy to do.

Recommendation

A Year of Afghans is a bountiful collection of afghan patterns in all styles and construction methods. It would be an excellent addition to any knitter’s library.

Overall Recommendation

A Year of Afghans rates #8.