Book Review: Island by Jane Richmond

Jane Richmond is one of those designers I’ve been keeping an eye on for a couple of years. I’ve knit her Mustard Scarf, and it’s one of those great stashbuster + quick knitting patterns. I’ve got quite a few of her hat patterns on my “want!” list and she’s published a few women’s sweater patterns lately as well. Her aesthetic is somewhat preppy, somewhat trendy, and completely classic and timeless.

I saw a couple of her patterns from her self-published book ISLAND and was immediately intrigued. Five brand new patterns exquisitely photographed around Vancouver Island, this book is more of a catalogue of excellent, low-key adventure scenes than a knitting pattern collection. Good product photography makes you wish you were living in that scene and everyone of the shots in this collection hits that nail squarely on the head.

Strathcona is a lovely, simple biasing lace scarf. It may just be the color and the latticed lace look, but I feel that Strathcona is beautiful matched in the Rathtrevor mitts.

Arbutus was the first pattern in this collection to grab my attention. A squishy garter ridge cowl, it manages to achieve a gorgeous layered look with only one skein of DK weight yarn.

Renfrew is a simple slouchy hat with a reverse stockinette body and a lovely cable pattern running up the side (or front, or back, or wherever you place it).

Finally, Grace is a cozy cardigan with raglan sleeves and a lace yoke on both the back and fronts. The sample was knit in Sweet Georgia Yarns BFL sock, and now I can’t get the idea of making one for myself in that yarn out of my head.

ISLAND is a wonderful homage to Jane’s neck of the woods, and is only CAD$18 for all five patterns. Purchase the print edition next month for a beautiful combination coffee table/daydream book and knitting pattern collection, or nap the digital edition today to maybe whip up a few last minute holiday gifts.

All photos are from Ravelry pattern pages; no copyright infringement intended. I purchased my own digital copy of this book and this review is comprised of my own opinions.