Alyssarhaye Graciano - Chunky Knits: Cozy Hats, Scarves and More Made Simple with Extra-Large Yarn

Safe to say I gave up just a couple of inches into my scarf. I tried again when I was a senior in high school. I had picked up crochet and thought I would give knitting another go. This time I chose the plainest, least fuzzy yarn, but it was way too thin! Projects took more time than I was willing to spend. I solved that problem by doubling the yarn but didnt like the end result. I knit a few hats and put knitting back down for another two years.

In 2014, I received a scholarship to study abroad in Costa Rica where I would help save endangered sea turtles. What in the world does this have to do with knitting?! Well, let me tell ya! I needed to fund my trip and I needed to do it fast. I thought, I can knit beanies And if I use chunky yarn, Ill be done in no time! Fast-forward to three months later: I was using every chunky yarn I could find. Knitting up beanies, scarves, cowls; never following any patterns. I just knit what I liked. Turns out other folks liked it too because I was able to fund my entire trip, flight included! Thus, BlackSheepMade was born.

I realized I could make a career out of my passion for knitting. BlackSheepMade creates handmade fiber goods for you, your home and your pets! I hand make everything myself by way of knitting, crochet, macram and weaving. While it started out as a hobby, knitting individual custom pieces and consignment for local shops, I now teach workshops across the West Coast, create art installations and design patterns for myself and other brands. BlackSheepMade has brought me many incredible opportunities, such as this book! Now, five years later, I have compiled all of my tips and tricks into one book for you all to use! Whether you want to start your own knitting business or simply want to learn a new hobby, Chunky Knits will guide you through the world of chunky yarn and all of its accessories. In Chunky Knits, youll learn how to knit large color-block scarves, different ways to seam up a cowl, how to knit in the round if seaming just isnt your jam and a few other tricks Ive learned along the way. These tips and tricks will lead you to wearable, everyday knits that will look good on you and your favorite furry friend, as well as in your home! By using bulkier yarns, these projects can be done in as little as two hours or just a single weekend.

The bulky weight allows you to knit up what could be more time-consuming projects in a fraction of the time. I am what I would call a procrasti-knitter. I often wait until the last minute to knit up orders. Thicker, bulkier yarn allows me to do so because it works up so quickly. One of the things I love most about chunky yarn is that youre able to see your stitches. No more guessing if youre inserting your needle in the right loop or accidentally adding stitches.

The stitches are so large that when you mess up, youll be able to trace your steps and fix your mistakes without a major freak out. Chunky yarn is very forgiving. Youll be able to see where your needles are going during complicated stitches, make grand motifs simply because the yarn is already big, and most importantly, stay warm! With this added ease, a knitter can feel more confident when trying out a new stitch. The patterns in this book are split up in three different levels of difficulty: Casual Knitter, Adventurous Knitter and Granny-Level Knitter. If youre a beginner with a few basic stitches in your toolbox (knit, purl, k2tog) start with the Casual Knitter patterns. If youve dabbled with more involved stitches like Herringbone or have tried colorwork, the Adventurous Knitter patterns are for you.

Granny-Level Knitters should be able to handle complex stitches, colorwork and shaping simultaneously. Before starting a pattern in this book, I recommend taking a look at the abbreviations and techniques that will be used for that specific pattern. Check out the Stitch Abbreviations appendix ( guide. Now lets talk supplies. Big yarn requires big needles. I like to use circular needles for the majority of my projects.

These needles tend to be shorter than straight needles and therefore less cumbersome. If youve knit with thinner, lighter weight yarns, youll know its pretty easy to fit your WIP (work in progress) in a small project bag and take it around town. With chunkier yarn, your projects grow quite quickly and make travel-knitting a bit inconvenient. Dont get me wrongyou can definitely find me at a coffee shop takin up two tables and a chair with my chunky WIP! But if your yarn is already bulky, it helps if your needles are a bit shorter and more manageable. Circular needles also have a cord in betweenall the extra room for thick stitches without being in the way! They ease travel knitting and allow you to pause in the middle of projects. For a couple of projects in this book, your needles will be your arms.

Yep, you read that right. In Chunky Knits, youll learn how to arm knit, a fiber phenomenon. Well dive into more detail about arm knitting when we get to those patterns, but be ready for a good upper body workout! Feel free to skip arm day at the gym. If you plan to substitute yarn for any of these patterns, head to my resource page. Not only do I list my favorite tools but also chunky yarns I have grown to love throughout my knitting journey. My big hope for this book is that you learn something new.

Whether that means a new stitch pattern, a new construction technique or a yarn you arent familiar with, my goal here is to teach you and share the joy knitting has brought me! Chunky Knits helped me quit my day job and pursue my creative dreams full-time, becoming the Granny-Level Knitter I have always wanted to be. I hope these patterns help you advance in your knitting journey, and I am so excited to see what youve learned from my book! Now lets get knitting!