Machine Knitting Monthly
Niina Laitinen is one of Finland's most popular knitwear designers. Her stylish collection of 21 stunning garments is perfect for confident knitters. The book includes all charts and sizing diagrams needed, plus beautiful photos.
The Knitter
Nordic-inspired colourwork and textured patterns fill the pages of this beautiful collection of sweaters and accessories
Niina Laitinen is popular across Finland and beyond for her beautiful Nordic sock designs using lace and colourwork. For this new book, designer Minna Metsänen has taken Niinas most popular sock patterns and reinterpreted them as garments, shawls and accessories. Niinas nature-inspired colourwork motifs appear on a range of garments - and by using a much larger canvas than a sock, her artistic vision is even more impactful. The Pride and Prejudice turtleneck sweater, for example, has a bold, all-over pattern of large peacocks, leaves and hearts. Pretty butterflies worked in a gradient yarn decorate the Dear Sister belted coatigan, and floral motifs bring beauty to a cardigan, a short-sleeved jumper and a stunning dress. Yours I Remain, a cosy sweater in Icelandic wool, has an amazing bird pattern around the yoke. More graphic patterns are used for Annaleena, a relaxed sweater in black and white, and Metropolis a boxy, cropped-sleeve jumper with a geometric pattern inspired by city skylines. As well as stranded colourwork, there are elegant textured projects to enjoy. These include Soulmates III, a chunky raglan sweater with a pattern of twisted ribs which makes a real impact. The Anemone lace jumper combines wool and mohair yarns to give a glamorous fabric, and Lake Kallavesi has an intricate, ethereal lace and cable pattern around the yoke. Smaller projects include a choice of elegant shawls, such as Butterfly Wings, a rectangular wrap that mixes lace with colourblocking, plus an asymmetric shawl with leafy textures, and a long lace scarf. Theres also a colourwork tam, a pair of colourwork mittens in aran-weight wool, and fingerless mitts with a three-colour design inspired by the blue sky and snowflakes of a winters day by Lake Tiilikka in Finland. The Cherry Blossom Time blanket, meanwhile, is a knitted work of art; its large, pictorial design in black and white was inspired by Japanese paintings, and is knitted in the round with a steek. The book contains 21 projects, and the garments are typically sized to fit busts of 34in to 50in.
