This pattern is a knitted book cover, using stranded/Fair Isle techniques to create words and images associated with Nerdfighteria and Vlogbrothers videos. The front cover has a phrase from John Green’s Looking for Alaska, and the back cover has the key initialism of Nerdfighteria, DFTBA. I did two different panels for the verso (inside front/left) and recto (inside back/right): First, an ex libris or library of panel where the book owner’s name can be added, and the back with circles after the Hiroyuki Doi inspired project that John Green did earlier. It is possible, of course, to simply do two of the circles panels instead of two different interior panels.

The plain stockinette that surrounds these motifs means that by knitting more or less, one can downsize or increase the pattern to fit different sized books. The pattern works well with a book that’s 8.5”x6”; I used ribbing for the spine so that it would readily accommodate books with different page ranges.

I used a worsted wool, knit to smaller than the producer’s suggested gauge by using smaller needles and a fairly tight tension. It would be possible, of course, to substitute a lighter yarn that is closer to the gauge used in the pattern.

I used part of one skein of natural wool, and three mini skeins in two different colors from the Woolstok bundles. The mini skeins are twelve yards each, which means that my contrast colors were approximately 36 yards total. Again, each knitter could use more contrast colors or a single contrast color, depending on their preference. Changing gauge or other features of fiber selection will, of course, change your yardage needs.

This pattern is created for and will be distributed by Complexly as part of the 2023 Project for Awesome, which takes place Feb. 17-19.

I hope you’ll enjoy knitting this book cover and adapting it to your color, book size, and style preferences. And as always, Don’t forget to be awesome!