This is a preorder; publication date is October 17.
Kindred Knits: Patterns from My Estonian Family Archives by Aleks Byrd is a warm and inspiring collection of 15 designs—four sweaters, four cardigans, one vest, one shawl, two hats, one pair of socks, one pair of slippers and one pair of mittens—rooted in her family’s heritage. Drawing from the sketchbooks of her grandmother Hilja and heirloom crafts passed down through generations, Aleks brings us textured knits that blend lace, cables, colourwork and the traditional Estonian inlay method, roosimine. Each piece feels like a meeting point between past and present: contemporary in style yet deeply tied to tradition.
We are especially happy to share that two of the patterns, the Orav Hat and the Orav Vest, were designed using Les Garçons’ British DK base, in the “Aleks’s Red Squirrel Friend” colourway. We are eager to knit them and delighted to see our yarn featured in such a meaningful book written by a dear friend.
Aleks Byrd is an illustrator and knitwear designer with Estonian, Canadian and American roots. She is particularly well-known as a moderniser of Estonian knitting traditions. Aleks has introduced techniques such as roosimine and vikkel to knitters around the world. Kindred Knits is her second knitting book: her innovative debut, Traditions Revisited, was published by Laine Publishing in 2022.
Kindred Knits: Patterns from My Estonian Family Archives is printed in Latvia.