Star Wars Knitting the Galaxy Book Review
If you’re a Star Wars fan then you should be thrilled to know that there’s a brand new book out just for you: Star Wars: Knitting the Galaxy – the Official Star Wars Knitting Pattern Book. Tanis Gray put together these 28 knitting patterns, created by a handful of talented, recognized designers, into a collection that meets the needs of any Star Wars fan.
Whether you’re a Padawan or a Jedi (beginner or advanced), you’ll find patterns in here to match your skill level. And whether you’re most inspired by Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, or one of the other Star Wars characters, you’ll find designs that celebrate your favorites. And each pattern comes rich with information, fun facts, and behind-the-scenes details from the movies.
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Comprehensive Star Wars Knitting Book that Covers Every Detail
The first thing that stands out about this book is that it’s huge. It’s hefty. It’s a full color hardback book with more than 200 pages of content. And what this means is that you get absolutely everything you could ever ask for from this book. It includes:
- 28 themed knitting patterns in multiple categories: toys, costumes, clothing, accessories, and home decor
- The patterns are clear, concise, original, easy-to-follow and have all of the complete information you could need at every step
- Charts as needed for the color work in some of the patterns; schematics where needed for garment design
- Terrific full-color photos of the knit items themselves as well as images from the Star Wars films
- Behind-the-scenes information and movie quotes for Star Wars fans; these make working with the patterns even more fun!
- Good-to-have extra information like an abbreviations list, a yarn resource guide, and a glossary explaining things like how to do a long tail cast on and tips for wet blocking
Porg: An Example Of What To Expect from a Pattern
Let’s take a closer look at the first pattern in the book: Porg by Susan Claudino. It’s a small toy (about 4.5″ tall and the same size wide since it’s a round creature). It is worked in 3 colors of worsted weight yarn, using US 5 / 3.75 needles, crafted mostly in the round although the Porg’s belly patch is worked flat.
If you are a big Star Wars fan, then you already know what a Porg is and what it looks like. You’ll have fun with the pattern no matter what. But what’s great is that if you’re only a little bit into Star Wars (or you got the book to knit items for someone who loves it more than you) then you’ll also get to learn some things. The book has a paragraph that tells you all about the Porg: puffin-like birds introduced in the sequel trilogy.
The chapter also provides some fun facts:
- Chewbacca once ate Porgs for dinner
- How the writer-director was inspired to add the Porgs, which weren’t originally included in The Lost Jedi script
- How they created the sounds the Porgs make in the movie
- A quote from General Leia Organa related to the Porgs
- Images of the Porgs from the movie
And of course detailed images of what your own knit Porgs will look like when you’ve completed the pattern.
Each of the 28 patterns in this Star Wars knitting book offers a similar combination of fun facts, added details, and all that you need to know to knit the design.
All 28 Star Wars Knitting Patterns
Here are the patterns that you’ll enjoy finding in this book:
4 Stuffed Knit Toy Patterns
The aforementioned Porg falls into this category. You’ll also be able to make a Pocket Yoda, a Chewie, and a Death Star toy.
4 Costume Replicas
Whether it’s for a convention, Halloween, or just for fun, enjoy making these four popular Star Wars costumes:
- Luke Skywalker’s Flight Vest
- Princess Leia’s Hoth Snow Vest
- Rey’s Vest and Arm Wraps
- Padme’s Battle Wrap
17 Star Wars Knitting Patterns for Garments and Accessories
The majority of the knitting patterns in this collections are for things that you can wear. In addition to the four costumes, which are replicas of those in the movie, you’ll find seventeen patterns for everyday wearable items inspired by the films. These include:
- 3 pullovers, inspired by The Order of the Jedi, General Leia Organa, and Darth Vader
- 3 pairs of mittens and another pair of mitts (the latter inspired by Yoda)
- 2 scarves – Starfighter and Chancellor Palpatine
- 2 cowls – The Millennium Falcon and Anakin’s Infinity Cowl
- 2 pairs of knit socks – Lightsaber and Wookiee
- 1 shawl, inspired by The Rebel Alliance
- 1 matching hat and mittens set, inspired by TIE Fighter
- 1 Clone Trooper hat
- 1 Ewok-inspired hood
Home Decor Patterns
The book wraps up with three Star Wars knitting patterns for the home: the BB-8 Throw Blanket, the Droid Throw Pillow Set, and the Villainous Mini Sweater Ornaments. The latter is a set of ornaments that look like knit sweaters adorned with various Star Wars designs. It’s one of the cutest knitting patterns in the book.
Get To Know the Knitting Designers
This book is a collection of patterns from several outstanding designers. The book itself is by Tanis Gray who designed the Chancellor Palpatine Scarf, the Anakin’s Infinity Cowl, the Clone Trooper Hat, the BB-8 Throw Blanket, and the Droid Throw Pillow Set. You might know this designer from a variety of other things she’s done – including Harry Potter Knitting, which she talked to me about previously on the Yarn Thing Podcast.
The other designers with patterns in the book are:
- Susan Claudino, knit toy designer also known as No Knit Sherlock!
- Carissa Browning of Carissa Knits where she shares both knitting and sewing
- Martaschmarta, who describes herself on Ravelry as “Mom, teacher, evil stepmother, wife, friend, fiber craftsman…craftswoman…maker of handcrafted items and patterns, and throughout it all, a diehard sci-fi/lit/fantasy geek.”
- Stephanie Lotven, designer and founder of Tellybean Knits
- Heather Zoppetti, author of Unexpected Cables and part of designer collective Stitch Sprouts
- Trysten Molina, knitwear designer and indie yarn dyer
- Meghan Regan of Bad Wolf Girl Studios
- Jessica Goddard of ODDKnit
- Cassandra Cruikshank, who designed the Lightsaber Socks shown in the above image
- Barbara Benson, author of Mosaic and Lace Knits and Big Yarn, Colorful Lace Knits
- Rhiana Bams
- Lotta Lundin, also known as KnittingLotta
- Susanna IC, a designer with Wool Studio capsule knit collection
- Therese Sharp, who notes on Ravelry that she’s the “founder of Swedish charity organisation Hjärtekatten, where crocheters all over the country try to make life a little better for children with heart disease.”
- Natalie Sheldon, who sells handmade ceramic buttons for knits at Etsy store Remembrances Pottery.
- Christy Houghton of Yarn Cafe Creations who is passionate about dyeing yarn
- Susan Claudino, knit toy designer also known as No Knit Sherlock!
- Carissa Browning of Carissa Knits where she shares both knitting and sewing
- Martaschmarta, who describes herself on Ravelry as “Mom, teacher, evil stepmother, wife, friend, fiber craftsman…craftswoman…maker of handcrafted items and patterns, and throughout it all, a diehard sci-fi/lit/fantasy geek.”
- Stephanie Lotven, designer and founder of Tellybean Knits
- Heather Zoppetti, author of Unexpected Cables and part of designer collective Stitch Sprouts
- Trysten Molina, knitwear designer and indie yarn dyer
- Meghan Regan of Bad Wolf Girl Studios
- Jessica Goddard of ODDKnit
- Cassandra Cruikshank, who designed the Lightsaber Socks shown in the above image
- Barbara Benson, author of Mosaic and Lace Knits and Big Yarn, Colorful Lace Knits
- Rhiana Bams
- Lotta Lundin, also known as KnittingLotta
- Susanna IC, a designer with Wool Studio capsule knit collection
- Therese Sharp, who notes on Ravelry that she’s the “founder of Swedish charity organisation Hjärtekatten, where crocheters all over the country try to make life a little better for children with heart disease.”
- Natalie Sheldon, who sells handmade ceramic buttons for knits at Etsy store Remembrances Pottery.
- Christy Houghton of Yarn Cafe Creations who is passionate about dyeing yarn
Get Knitting the Galaxy on Amazon today.
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