Review: 52 Weeks of Scrap Yarn
New books always hold a certain allure for me and receiving a press copy of Laine Publishing’s latest book in their 52 Weeks series was no different.
Running my fingers over the embossed title. Breathing in the smell of the freshly printed book. Hearing the spine crack open for the very first time.
There is a sense of newness and excitement. And filled with dozens of ideas for scrap yarn, I felt the creativity flush through me like a wave.
On over 250 pages, the Finnish publisher, which is known for its high-quality books and magazines, presents 52 (mostly) knitting and (some) crochet patterns. In total, there are eight sweaters, six cardigans, four vests & slipovers, eleven scarves, shawls & cowls, six socks, eight hats & headbands, four mittens & handwarmers and five bags & home decor patterns.
“Modern, colourful, ecological, versatile, and inventive" is how the Laine team describes the book and I couldn’t agree more. Using what you already have saves money and space, and is good for the environment, while combining different scraps can lead to really unique pieces and bring a sense of adventure and playfulness to your crafting.
“It is time to go on a scrap yarn adventure!”
An energising experience
Which yarns are suitable for which pattern? Pulling out my yarn stash to play and be creative really energised me for the rest of the day.
As with every book I review, I first flipped, then read through 52 Weeks of Scrap Yarn. Perusing the nine tips for using scrap yarn (p.8-9), I was already flooded with ideas, like a patchwork blanket with all my saved swatches.
I took copious amounts of notes on all patterns that stood out to me, before I finally rushed to my stash and pulled it out to play: yarns leftover from bigger projects, the special skeins I picked up on holidays, the sweater quantities of gorgeous squishyness. All offering special memories or previous creative inspiration.
I wondered: Which patterns go with which yarn weight? Which colours go together? What do I want to bring to life? Do I have enough for this, that or the other pattern? Could I combine yarns? What would that look like?
And then I noticed the probably biggest impact the book has: This exercise really energises me. I was tired in the morning, but now I feel a rush to get creative with my stash. I have new ideas and inspiration to combine what I already own into new and unique projects. I am so excited and motivated.
Intriguing designs
To be honest, 52 patterns is a lot and almost feels overwhelming. The editors did a great job in clustering the smaller and bigger projects. But with my perfectionist tendencies, I still have to remind myself that I neither have to nor that I can make all of the projects in the book. And that that is okay.
So, in my pattern review, I am distinguishing between those I want to knit (aka the ones I checked my stash for) and those that have an intriguing detail I want to highlight.
On my to-knit-list
Other stand-outs
Dive into that stash
We all know it is better to use what you have than to buy new. But oftentimes we get shiny object syndrome (or squishy in the case of yarn) and choose to ignore our ever-growing yarn stashes. But there is value in diving back into them.
52 Weeks of Scrap Yarn helps to make use of your yarn and scrap collection in the most creative and sustainable ways and prevents it from feeling like an anchor. Instead, it gives you energy and motivation to play.
In a world where scarp yarn projects are often very colourful, loud and ‘in your face’, Laine managed to create a book of balance: with patterns of various levels of difficulty, complexity and ‘loudness’. It offers tips as well as guard rails for those of us who want to dip their toes into scrap busting but in a more structured way, while giving inspiration and motivation to everyone to finally make use of that precious yarn stash.