Knitting is undeniably practical, but let’s be real—it definitely doesn’t have to be boring! It is one of the coolest ways to express your creativity. Imagine stitching entire tiny worlds into your next cozy blanket or scarf. Australian designer Jake Henzler (you might know him online as Boy Knits World) does exactly that by bringing stunning architecture to life with yarn.
Using clever stranded colorwork and intarsia techniques, Henzler creates intricate little windows, colorful roofs, and adorable building facades. The best part? He is sharing all his design secrets in his brand-new book, Knit the City: Building Blocks.
The gorgeous book features unique knitting patterns inspired by iconic global cities like London, Paris, Copenhagen, and New York. Take a look at the image 1.webp to see how these designs come together! Henzler picks memorable structures and scales them down into knittable art. For example, he recreates Amsterdam’s iconic 17th-century canal houses. He also pays homage to Sydney’s classic terrace houses, which hold a special personal meaning for him, reminding him of the sharehouses he lived in during his 20s and 30s.
Every single pattern in Knit the City is completely modular. This means you can knit individual blocks just for fun, or stitch them all together to create one of the three larger projects featured in the book: a massive blanket, a sweet baby blanket, or a stylish pillow cover. Don’t worry about the logistics, either—Henzler provides clear guidelines for yarn amounts and block counts so you can grab your supplies and start casting on your favorite city right away!
Jake Henzler: Instagram | Ravelry
