Review: My Dream Knits by Veera Välimäki

ArticleBook review

8 Oct

*I had the pleasure to receive* My Dream Knits as a digital copy from Laine Publishing for a review.

In the recently published book My Dream Knits, Finnish knitwear designer Veera Välimäki shares knits she “considers her absolute essentials — timeless favourites made to be worn, lived in and loved for years to come.” The book features 20 patterns, including 7 sweaters, 4 cardigans, 2 slipovers, 4 shawls, 2 hats and even 1 skirt. They all come in 9–10 sizes and are graded to fit at least a 152cm (60") chest or 147cm (58") waist.

For a timeless collection, you need versatile pieces, and in my opinion, Veera achieved just that: “All the knits in My Dream Knits are made for everyday wear: pieces that look just as good for office attire as for a day spent at home.”

Apart from different textures and stitch patterns as well as a range of colours and Veera’s beloved stripes, the patterns feature various yarn weights – from double held mohair to chunky knits. Difficulty levels also vary across the book, making the book suitable for both newer and more experienced knitters. As Veera reassures us: “After all, it’s mainly just knits and purls” – which is something I say to people a lot as well.

Every detail of the book and its patterns seems well thought out. Something that particularly stood out to me was Veera sharing her reasoning behind the pattern names. Continuing a tradition from her previous books, she wanted to shine “the light on female architects, mainly from Finland but also from elsewhere in the world. A lovely little detail is that the names just happen to include the names of my beloved nieces.”

“All the knits in My Dream Knits are made for everyday wear: pieces that look just as good for office attire as for a day spent at home.”

— Veera Välimäki

A selection of the patterns

Norma, a cable sweater, grabbed my attention because it features texture upon texture. Rather than on a plain stockinette background, “bold cables twist and unfurl across a backdrop of soft moss stitch.”

While I am not a shawl knitter (yet), Ines peaked my interest. It might be the colour of this triangular textured shawl, or the striped sections of understated texture. The pattern features Veera’s favorites: garter, brioche and moss stitch.

Its sister shawl, Stina, uses the same stitch patterns but features a crescent shape instead. As explained in the book: “Where Ines is bold in its triangle shape, Stina leans into subtle transitions, and elegant silhouette.”

Looking for a classic, striped sweater? “Whether you knit it in misty neutrals that remind you of coastal skies or bold contrasts that reflect the changing light on the landscape, Lina is the kind of knit that settles into your wardrobe like it was always meant to be there.”

I am a big fan of the scrumptious texture brioche stitches produce and Elli, a scarf with a wingspan of 274cm (108"), delivers just that. Looking through the instructions, I am also highly intrigued by Elli’s construction, where you first knit the center diamond before turning to the right and left wing respectively.

The yoke design of Martta was what drew me to the entire book from the get-go. The textured mohair sweater where “the upper yoke, rich with rhythmic patterning and thoughtful shaping, draws the eye — turning simple stitches into beautiful ornaments.”

The Wivi cardigan seems to me the most fashion forward with its *very* dropped shoulders. I am not entirely sure the design for me but the construction again has me intrigued.