Friday, September 06, 2013

Jean Moss's New Book + A New Giveaway

Veteran knitwear designer Jean Moss has a new book out called Great Little Gifts to Knit: 30 Quick and Colorful Patterns



If you aren't familiar with British knitwear designer Jean Moss, you probably know her designs. She is one of the most prolific designers out there with her work being featured on the catwalks and in print in knitting publications for many years. Jean and her partner Philip run knitting tours including this fabulous one to France next June. Last year she brought out the very popular Sweet Shawlettes book and this year's book focuses on quick projects for gifts.

I know many of you are big into gift knitting so today I want to share some of my favorite little projects from Jean's book. This cute little garter stitch baby blanket features a shadow knit heart. 



The color possibilities are endless.


This kids cardigan and hat is called the Jubilee Cardigan. Sweet and a perfect shower or Christmas ensemble to make. 


Hedy Lamarr would be all over this knit turban. A great stashbuster and there is a hat version too. 


For the classic man's hat, check out this beautiful tweedy cabled hat.


My favorite design is a knitted toran - a traditional Indian decoration to bring abundance, love, prosperity and healthy and happiness to all who walk under it.  I have many of these in my home purchased from an Indian import store in Brattleboro. I love Jean's rainbow version of one you can knit yourself.


Here's a close-up of the colorwork. Lovely.



You can see photos of all of the designs here on Jean's website

Taunton Press, the US publisher of the book has offered a book to one of my lucky readers. 

To enter, please answer the following question in the comments....
What is your favorite project to knit, crochet and gift....
As always, leave an easy way to get a hold of you - blog address, rav id or email address.
Contest ends Monday evening at midnight. I'll pick the winner randomly on Tuesday September 9th.

Pop back in this month for more great book giveaways. Good luck everyone! 

Contest is over - the winner is
Robin T who said...
I like to knit hats for gifts - quick and always needed,but I'm always looking for new ideas !! I'm robcroknit on Rav.

89 comments:

Mary G said...

ooo, I love Jean Moss's style! That banner looks like it would be great fun to make.

THANKS!
Mary G.

Diana said...

I love to knit socks for my family. They're always much appreciated!

--Diana (Rav: Mom2O)

Cate said...

My favorite is lace shawls, but a girl can only have so many! Right now I'm enjoying returning to knitting sweaters. But that toran is mighty appealing! Thank you for sharing, Kristin.
-- Cate

Cherie M in EP CO said...

I love the way you phrased your question. While my most likely gifts to knit would be hats, scarves or mittens, my favorite gifts to knit are sweaters. They are more personal.

cherielynne538 on Ravelry

Lisa Viviano said...

I love knitting and gifting baby booties. They are a quick, portable project.

vivianos3@aol.com

Denise said...

I love to knit shawls! I have gifted several to family members and also donated one to an auction to raise funds for a cancer patient. When you gift a shawl to someone, it's like giving them a hug every time they wear it! Thank-you for this contest!

FiberGeek said...

I like to knit hats and socks for gifts. I love this book!

beth said...

I like knitting baby blankets and hats best of all. The book looks wonderful. Thanks for the giveaway

Anonymous said...

My favorite thing to knit is...something new! I'm not one for loving a pattern and making it again. That's why I'm always looking for new patterns. And this book looks like a wonderful source. Thanks.

Julia

jagl on ravelry

Cynthia said...

socks have been the request of late by my niece and nephew - I agree the banner is fabulous
Cynthia

Unknown said...

I love knitting socks, hats, scarves, and mitts. They work up fast and make comforting winter gifts. It is also a good way to sample new yarns and techniques. The socks on the cover of this book are calling to me!

katrynka said...

I like hats and mittens, and dishcloths. I can't seem to complete anything else!

BarbaraJ73 said...

My favorite gift to knit is something I know the person wants or needs and hopefully will love and use. Two that fit that description were a shawl for my mom and a cabled scarf for my niece. I'm always on the look out for new ideas - this book has peaked my curiousity!

TracyK said...

My favorites to gift? Hats and mittens, hands down (oh that just became a terrible pun!). They're portable projects, sure, but the best is when a recipient wears them with a "someone who loves me made me this" air.

Susie Hewer said...

I love knitting socks and crocheting scarves as gifts. Greta looking patterns - I love the dog jacket and the toran!

delmarknitter said...

My favorite things to knit are baby items 0- I love the cocoon pattern in Jean's new book

RavID ledaloux

Unknown said...

Well, I knit three pairs of fingerless gloves for my sons last Christmas which I enjoyed doing because they were easy and fun to do and they really liked them to boot. Thanks for the chance!

Anonymous said...

I've been making cowls for women as gifts this year. I'm thinking of turning to bulky weight mittens for some tween girls next.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Rav= alchemy

Sheri said...

I love to knit hats for gifts.

Rav. ID: Craftslm

Anonymous said...

I love to make baby blankets and prayer shawls., but give me yarn hooks or needles and a KAL/CAL and I'm in

Fracksmom on Ravelry

Andrea said...

I love to knit mittens as gifts. You can add fancy stuff—colorwork, cables—and they don't take long to make. And fit isn't as crucial as with, say, socks.

andymeg on Rav

Sandra said...

I am still new to the knitting scene so my gifts are simple. Working on some dishcloths now.
I would love to do socks :)
someday....

old lady said...

I love making shawls and giving them away. I give them to family and co-workers. And I knit hats for "Hats for Sailors".

Judy Wilkinson said...

My favorite item to give is a pair of Fiesta Feet socks (pattern by Lucy Neatby). These socks make me smile! I am currently undergoing breast cancer treatment and gave my chemo nurse a pair of these socks, and she loved them.

Would love to make the taron pattern. What a cool concept!

Judy in Richmond VA

Frances said...

Kristin, thank you so much for this post...I had no idea until now that Jean Moss had a blog site.

What a continually inventive knit designer she is! I think that I first came across her talents way back in 1987 when I bought "Summer & Winter Knitting," a book that included some of her designs.

Now let's see, what my favorite gift to knit...socks for one of my brothers. It's a sure fire fit! Easier and faster gifts are hats, scarves and fingerless mitts.

Best wishes to you. xo

Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

I like to knit shawls and dishcloths.

Tobie said...

This looks like a lovely book. I enjoy knitting baby items for the new babies in my community.

Unknown said...

My favorite thing to knit right now is sweaters or vests for little ones. They grow so fast and their mom's are happy to receive the gifts!

purplebeatty said...

I love to knit baby blankets and scarves both are somewhat portable and a good way to practice stitches! Her book looks fabulous. My email is: purple.beatty@gmail.com Thanks
Carol Beatty

Lise said...

I love to knit socks and shawls as gifts. The pattern that has caught my eye in this book is the turban. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!

Tamson Ely said...

My favorite item to knit is scarves, and I have given them as gifts to friends and family for years. On a long trip I often take assorted yarns-- different colors and even different weights and make a patchwork scarf and am always surprised at what results.
Tamson
tamsonely@gmail.com

Marblemount Homestead said...

Hats, definitely hats. That way, I can use my own handspun, handpainted yarn and make the gift extra special!

Sspinnr said...

Hats, mittens, and dishcloths. I absolutely love knitting the dishcloths as my family appreciates them and I see them in use around their homes.

Sheila said...

My goto last-minute knitted gift is a washcloth wrapped around a fancy bar of soap.

Unknown said...

oh what adorable knitterly things
luvsknittin on Rav

Angeluna said...

For gifts, I love to knit hats, scarves and gloves. And for special friends...socks. The more appreciative the recipient, the more they get.

I'm very much liking several of the patterns you showed here.

Thanks, Angeluna (Ravelry)

camby said...

I like to knit scarves as gifts. Thanks for the chance to win!

Camby on Rav

Robin T said...

I like to knit hats for gifts - quick and always needed,but I'm always looking for new ideas !! I'm robcroknit on Rav.

stella said...

What great ideas!

Auntie Shan said...

My GO-TO-GIFTS are usually my Crochet BLANKETS in HANDICRAFTER-COTTON. They last forever! Actually I've got 3 on my current to-do-list right now. Although one is in WOOL [an experiment]. Otherwise, if I have time, there are always my "STACK" of Knitted TOQUES! -- Gotta "use" The-MEGA-STASH some time...

BTW, I think You've just split the Age-Grouping here with the Hedy reference! -- Way to make "The KIDS" go "GOOGLE" Her!
;-D

Suzanne said...

If there is a new baby coming, then my favorite thing to knit is a little baby sweater. When there is a drought of babies, then I like to knit hats.

Joyce said...

I love to knit and give scarves. You can try something new, colorful, personal and yet you don't have to worry about fitting. I also love making baby sweaters for the same reason. At some point in their rapid growing season, the sweater will fit - - - at least for a week or two!

Cathy said...

Scarves and hats are usually my go-to project for gifts. Size is not as much of an issue and they are quick to knit.

Cami said...

I love knitting EZ baby sweaters to give. They are fun to make and well received.

Beau said...

What is your favorite project to knit, crochet and gift....

For dear friends - an afghan with "fancy stitches". (I enjoy doing Aran type combinations.) I also like to knit my "packaging" and make it something unique which can be used for other purposes by the gift receiver ........... bag, bowl, etc. This provides an opportunity to try out different techniques and ideas. 'Tis fun.

Leanne said...

I love to knit slippers and mittens for friends. I've also enjoyed knitting and felting a couple of purses which are fun!

Savannagal said...

I'd have to say my favorite thing to knit are socks because they are the only thing, so far, that I can knit well. I've tried other garments, but have not been successful. Fit was wrong mostly, but I've had other problems too. But socks I seem to have figured out.

Anonymous said...

I love to knit things for babies...usually sweater, hat and banket sets. I would love to win this book
Leslie bagatelle@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

I love to knit bags. This book looks like a lot of fun.
Lindaallen4@me.com

Anonymous said...

I love to knit and crochet hats and scarves, which are gifts for the less advantaged in our city. I donate them through my church and though the Hope Centre. Giving anonymously like this is my favorite kind of giving. :)
samm@ravelry.com

Anonymous said...

Hard to choose where to start. Perhaps the headbands for holiday giving. Slh98220 on Ravelry. Thanks for sharing...

tjf said...

Jean Moss' designs are some of my favorites. I've been waiting for this book to come out - it looks great.

Tricia
thefankells@mesanetworks.net

Jane said...

I love knitting socks, hats and scarves for gifts. I knit sweaters for my grandchildren. I have never seen a toran. That got my attention! Thank you for your enjoyable blog.

yardsailor said...

I love to knit shawls, hoping to make one for everyone in the family, so I can keep hugging them when I am gone.

LindaR said...

I love to knit cowls as gifts. They always seem to be well received and there are no sizing problems!
lindarumsey on Ravelry

NancyP said...

While socks and shawls are top of the list, there is something special every year that must be knitted and gifted. So far this year that something special has been cowls.

Unknown said...

My favorite item to knit and gift is a prayer shawl. Sometimes I gift it to someone I know personally. There is great reward knowing how much
it is appreciated by the recipient! And yet, knitting prayer shawls for unknown recipients is God's stewardship! Thank you for this opportunity to do more gifting!
hawknitr13@hotmail.com

steph said...

My favorite gift to knit really depends on the recipient....some are 'sock people' some just need a hat/mitt set but that mommy-to-be will most likely be getting a blanket!!! Just as long as the love that went into the making of the gift is apparent!!!!

soyknits on ravelry!!

Anonymous said...

My favorite gift, if time allows, are socks- if time is a concern a soft cowl... And for a new baby, a sweater in size 2.
Again, thanks for the inspiration!
Johalley on RAV

Cheryl clemons said...

My favorite thing to knit or crochet are baby blankets. I love to give handmade gifts. This book looks like it would be a perfect addition to my library.

Clemons3781 on Ravelry

Patty said...

I love to mix it around...cowls for guys and gals one year....scarves another...hats another...bags another. Guess I have a hummingbirdish approach...darting hither and yon. Got my fingers and toes crossed for good luck on this one! I could use some inspiration:)

From Farmers' Market Day In VT,
The Vermonster
Patty M.
Patty7737@yahoo.com
Patty7737 on Ravelry

Denise k said...

I love to knit baby gifts... Toys...hats...booties. I also love to knit for anyone that appreciates it. Rav Id- kittykatz

sandrarumsey said...

Would love to win this delightful book.
SandraRum - Rav. I.D.

Gramma Phyl said...

It depends on whom I'm knitting for, but for quick and simple gift it tends to be hats and neck/hand-coverings. (Our family live in Upstate New York and we get COLD.)

GrammaPhyl47@gmail.com

Ellen said...

I loved the man's hat and the toran. That would look lovely in my new graduate's apartment.

Denise said...

I usually gift baby things. That's mostly because I'm a really so knitter, so I can make baby items and have them ready to go whenever a baby is coming.
flgirl1987 AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I'm currently addicted to socks, especially with self striping or varigated colorways!

shing.hsieh@comcast.net

adodds said...

I love knitting almost anything. My two favorite are hats because they are great gifts, quick, and easy to fit, and sweaters for me. This book looks great
Skibum on Rav

Anonymous said...

Socks and mitts (from sock yarn) for friends and family.

Debbie said...

I make pretty dishcloths and put them in a basket with some fancy soap. It's always a favorite.

Sigrun said...

Mittens are my favourite - they are fast to made and there are gazillion patterns to choose from. And you never have too many mittens, do you?

Marcia said...

My fav thing to make is an afghan -- so cozy, warm and comfy -- either knit or crochet.

Joyce said...

Mittens, hats and cowls. I haven't knit socks for my family yet but have thought about trying ti knit a pair for my daughter

Barb T. said...

I have never gifted a hat that wasn't appreciated!
I'd love to win the book!
Ravelry. barblt99

Robin V said...

For children, I like to knit soft toys. For adults, I seem to gravitate towards scarves and shawls - where 'fit' is not as critical!

Yellowbug said...

I usually knit something special for each person. For charity I prefer to knit hats and scarves.

Anonymous said...

I love to knit scarves for gifts - they always fit! :-) rav ID - arilisbeth

Cher said...

I love making log cabin knit baby blankets.

Robin C said...

I love to make scarves, I have nerve damage in my hands so try things that are quick. This book looks wonderful.

Vermont Grand View Farm said...

As always, there is nothing that gives me greater joy than knitting for my family! I think my most favorite thing to knit for them so far, was the shrug I knit for my daughter's last Christmas. It was long sleeved and had colorwork at the cuff of each sleeve.

Patt said...

I guess I'm not so different than most! My gift knitting is hats, scarves, mitts. I gift babies with a Layette. And my fave, a good sock. I have some special friends that get a luxury yarn gift. This book looks like a bit for everyone on my gift list. And the Author is one I follow. Thanks for the great blog and the give away!
auntiddaknits@yahoo.com

Robin said...

The hat patterns are perfect for me- I always have large amts of leftover yarn and use it for hats and mitt.

Carmen N said...

I love making doilies for gifts and have several on-hand.

Nuna Knits said...

I usually make baby blankets or blankets for older kids. I'm planning on mittens for each of my sisters this year.

bookagent said...

My favorite gift to knit are hats, quick, fun and useful for the recipients. I do love the turban headband in her new book! Thanks for the giveaway.

Pam
phopkin1@rochester.rr.com

Anonymous said...

Hats, mittens, and fingerless mitts are always welcomed since they are so (sadly) easily lost and are far warmer then anything you can buy in the usual stores. Socks are fun to knit and give but are trickier because size does matter. It is fun coming up with colors and patterns that I think will please the recipient. gnlmutti at gmail

knitster said...

Socks, always have one going, easy portable project and who doesn't love getting a pair of home made socks.

Kim W said...

I just love that knitted Toran. Lots of possibilities there for seasonal or holiday colors. As for my favorite thing to knit these days, that would have to be hats and mittens - my daughter is in college in Vermont and it gets chilly! I'm KimW on Rav.

schwip said...

At this point, as an advanced knitter, I am still knitting scarfs for my family, increasing the difficulty. I have a hubby, 2 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws and 7 grandkids. I am only halfway through the bunch. Then onto trying socks.

schwipknits@gmail.com
schwip on rav

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