botanical knits

Posted on annePosted in book reviews/events

fellow knitwear designer alana dakos is in the process of publishing her third book, this one a collection of garments and accessories inspired by plant life, entitled botanical knits.

leaves, vines, berries, and branches twine over and travel across the surfaces of  twelve pretty pieces—four sweaters, fingerless mitts, hats, scarves, and socks.

the color palette featured within the book’s pages is autumnal, a composition in rich greens, rust, gold, and taupe—a look that is warm and comforting when the weather drops in the brisk zones it has been lately (right now, it’s much too cold for springtime where i live).

but if i squint my eyes, i can totally see these pieces working equally well in all natural colors, such as the palette in our collection of bare naked wools.

or for springtime, an array of garden colors like celery, apricot, wheat, and sky blue, knit in soft cotton or silk for more temperate weather.

with botanicals, you just need to choose a season and look around to find a set of alternate colors that would work.

everyone who loves leafy motifs will be pleased by the designs featured on these pages—from the simplest application to ones that get more elaborate, there is something for everyone.

deep texture, sheer openwork, eye-catching trims—sometimes a little and sometimes a lot; they are each interpreted in a way that makes you want to reach out and touch (i like that in a book, don’t you?).

alana is one of a whole wave of contemporary designers who is comfortable producing and promoting her own compilations. as with her earlier books, this one is self-published, which means you can purchase it directly from her (a nice win-win) in hardcopy or eBook format.

hardcopy may be preordered now and will begin shipping in mid may. for a limited time, early birds who pre-order the book will immediately receive a free eBook copy with their reservation (this bundle offer ends in may).

purchasing the bundle will also entitle buyers to a free additional garment pattern as a thank-you from the author. the eBook is available for purchase by itself, for those who prefer a green option that does not require expensive shipping.

preorders are a crucial component in the self-publishing equation; with some idea of how many knitters are interested in buying the book and what version, producers can make informed, cost effective decisions about how many copies to print. preorders also help fund the print run and initial promotion work, providing the author with income during these stages, as well as the ability to plan and budget the distribution of the work.

and if all that wasn’t enough, here’s some awesome sauce to go on top:

alana has offered a free eBook version of botanical knits to one lucky knitspot reader. leave a comment at the end of this post by 9 pm EDST on sunday, march 24th. we’ll draw a winner on monday or tuesday morning and let you know the results.

david and i will be on the road most of today (friday); when you next see us, we’ll be transmitting from upstate NY and have we got a weekend planned for you. not only a look at alana’s beautiful designs, but tomorrow the release of the next installment of bare naked wools—our new stone soup blend, in both fingering and DK weights, which would be lovely in a number of the patterns seen here.

so don’t wander too far—you don’t want to miss the excitement!

287 thoughts on “botanical knits”

  10. This is a gorgeous book, the photography is aimed at knitters, you can see the way the patterns work.

  12. I love designs inspired by nature. thank you for a chance to win this lovely collection.

  13. these patterns would be so beautiful in Bare Naked Wools! Thank you for the chance to win this lovely set of patters!

  14. The best part of spring is seeing the trees start to leaf out – the patterns in the book are wonderful at showing leaves.

  16. I would love a chance to own this beautiful collection of patterns, thanks for sharing.

  23. Stunning collection. Seldom do I find a book where I want to knit every single pattern..this is one of those books.

  27. Beautiful designs! I love the mix of simple and more complicated/busy designs… truly something for everyone and for every mood.

  28. I love those sweaters. It’s a cold early spring here in the Midwest–warmth and a promise of leaves making an appearance soon.

  33. What a collection of simple yet sophisticated patterns! Another designer, like you Anne, who really gets it. This is a book I will add to my collection soon.

  34. Wow, every one of the designs is beautiful. Thanks for the introduction to this designer.

  39. These patterns are so lovely! I would love to add to my wardrobe with a few of these pieces.

  40. What a gorgeous book! I would love to knit several of these designs up in BNW yarns. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I win!

  45. I really like the bright red lace sweater. Several of the other designs really caught my eye, also. Great job with the designs – very appealing.

  47. Count me in! Love the colors and the designs. Leaves especially. I like the beret with reverse stst and leaves. Have a great time in NY. Glad David is going as well. Hard to wait to purchase some stone soup, but I’ll try.

  49. The designs look wonderful – I can see myself wearing them – particularly the sweaters. Would love to win! Thanks!

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