Musing by Knitwits - Brave New Knits

Published: August 2010

Publisher: Rodale Books

Pages: 256

Copy Provided by: NetGalley

Summary: Amazon.ca

Summary:

Brave New Knits is the first book to celebrate the convergence of traditional hand-knitting and modern technology. The Internet has made it possible for the knitting community to connect through photos, pattern-sharing, and blogs that document the knitting projects and passions of dozens of designers and enthusiasts. With a Foreword written by Jessica Marshall Forbes, co-founder of Ravelry.com, Brave New Knits includes 26 must-have garment and accessory patterns, all gorgeously photographed by knitting celebrity Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed. Contributors range from established designers like Norah Gaughan, Wendy Bernard, Anne Hanson, and knitgrrl Shannon Okey, to rising stars such as Melissa Wehrle, Connie Chang Chinchio, and Hilary Smith Callis. In-depth interviews with the designers reveal their design philosophy and passions. From shapely sweaters and delicate shawls to fingerless gloves and stylish hats, each of the knitted designs features detailed directions and charts to inspire both the beginner and experienced knitter.

Review:
After just a quick review of this e-book (Thank you Rodale Publishers!), I found that the author just jumped right into instructions and I found it hard to follow, wondering where the photos of the finished project were. I prefer to flip through the book and look at the pictures while deciding if the pattern instructions are do-able for me. I eventually found the pictures at the end of the book and I must tell you, they are GORGEOUS!  Why these babies don't have front and center attention at the very beginning of the book is beyond me.  I would like to try something myself (to add to my overflowing unfinished project closet) because these sweaters are absolutely stunning. One of the nice things about this book was that the designers were interviewed and you could learn a little bit about them. What a nice way to combine contemporary methods of sharing in the knitting community (online blogs, websites) with a traditional craft.

My favorites - The Global Cable Coat, Krookus, Silke Jacket, and the Origami Shrug.

Many of the instructions included cables (which I have yet to attempt) and seemed a bit more for an advanced knitter but there were several accessory projects which may be more suited to a beginner level to start with. I may be putting this one on my Christmas wishlist!

Musings by Knitwits

Author: Pam Allen

Published: Sept. 2004

Publisher: Interweave Press

Copy provided by: Library

Summary: Goodreads

This collection of 31 elegant and ingenious scarf designs tap the expertise of more than 25 knitwear designers who offer new ways to think about this most basic of garments. Designs by Kathryn Alexander, Debbie Bliss, Nancy Bush, Lily Chin, Nicky Epstein, Sasha Kagan, Sally Melville, and Kristin Nicholas are included, representing a varied exploration of techniques that provide innovative ways to think about knitting and crochet. Sections on knitting and crochet basics, making a scarf without a pattern, and a designer's notebook with templates for basic scarves and suggestions for design variations are provided.

Ok, last month I mentioned socks - speaking of which, have you checked out our Curl Up With a Good Book giveaway yet. If not, check it out HERE. Sorry, back to the post! This month I wanted to suggest that you budding knitters out there try a scarf this time around. Scarves are pretty straight-forward. You can cast on 30 stitches, and then knit every row until just before you run out of yarn, then cast off. Yep, it's that easy! But sometimes you want a scarf that has just a little more to it than that.

This book is really good for that. It gives instructions for striped scarves, cabled scarves, lacy scarves, fringed scarves, big scarves, little scarves, huge scarves - ok you get the picture. It even has instructions for a turtleneck with arms, that you can turn into a scarf - ok, you have to see the photo of that one on the cover and inside to understand it, but it's pretty cool. Oh, I just found a pattern for a neat crocheted scarf as well!

Anyway, with Fall on the way and the weather thinking about getting a little cooler, scarves are a really neat way to keep warm. You can never have too many if you ask me. So if you'd like to try out your knitting skills on something simple and useful, check out this book. There are actually 31 patterns for you to choose from, and I'm sure you could find at least one that you'd like to attempt.

Hmmm! May'be we could try another giveaway in the winter with a book and a scarf instead of socks? Let's see how popular this month's giveaway is and we might just consider it!

Cold Feet!

A few weeks ago I posted about listening to books and knitting at the same time and I mentioned that I would occasionally review a knitting or embroidery book. So here goes. Let me know what you think.

Much to my delight, knitting is becoming popular again. I don't think it will ever go completely out of fashion, but it's popularity comes in fits and starts. There are many young designers out there at the moment who are introducing fun new patterns and right now, with internet accessibility to amazing yarns and patterns, there is a bit of a revival going on, and I'm all for that. I have been knitting for many years - made my first sweater when I was 16 (it complimented the first dress I made at the same time) and I've never looked back. I mostly knit sweaters, with a liberal amount of hats and scarves thrown in - but up until about a year ago I had never knitted a pair of socks. OMG, how much fun they are to knit. I don't know if it was the speed at which they knitted up or the amazing self-striping yarn I was using, but I had a blast.

Now I do admit that you have to have at least a basic knowledge of knitting before you start on socks, but with the right yarn and a circular needle all you need to do is knit!












Author: Ann Budd
Released: 2007
Publisher: Interweave Press
# Pages: 136
Copy provided by: Me

I discovered this book when I was in the book store a few months ago and bought it with very little internal struggle. It is full of basic information, clearly set out, with lots of pictures and step-by-step diagrams to explain the details. Not sure if you can handle double pointed needles? Don't worry, this book gives you an additional 3 ways to use circular needles - 5 options in all, so you're bound to find one method you like. The TIPS are wonderful- if you already know how to knit, they might seem a little basic, but not everyone knows about marking your rows to help you count, and other useful hints.

"TIP: Matching Leg and Foot Lengths
Do you ever wonder how knitters make two socks exactly the same size? The secret is in counting rows. This is the best way to be assured that the second sock will be a perfect mate to the first. I use the markers that look like tiny safety pins to mark every 10 or 20 rounds as I work the leg and foot. Then it's a simple matter to count markers to make the second sock match the first." (page 27)

There is a chapter on 'Basic Sock Instructions' which shows you how to adapt your pattern to different yarn weights. Want a pair of warm thick socks to wear with your boots, or a pair of fine lacy ones to wear in the summer? No problem with 'Getting Started Knitting Socks" There are also chapters dealing with colour and texture, and there are several different stitch directions if you want to progress beyond plain socks.

I thought this was a wonderful book to tell you all about the basics of sock knitting, but I feel honour bound to issue this warning: Sock Knitting is Addictive! Try it, you'll see.

Too many books ...... not enough time

One of the reasons that Christinabean and I get along so well together is our love of books, particularly YA fantasy, but our tastes are similar in many other reading areas as well. We also share a love of knitting. I helped teach Christinabean how to knit a short while ago and now she is hooked. But there is one huge problem. Have you ever tried knitting and reading at the same time? OK, I have to admit that if I'm reading a large hardcover book and my knitting is just plain stockinette, I can actually do both at the same time ( talk about multi-tasking!). Unfortunately, most of what I'm knitting these days is a little more complex and requires my concentration, and I do understand that it takes years of knitting practice before you can knit without looking (I refuse to admit just how many years that is in my case).

So here is my dilemma - do I read, or do I knit? (I also embroider, which causes similar problems.) Simple solution - listen to books instead of reading them. Now, I have heard some people say that listening to a book just isn't the same, and I do agree up to a point. When you read a book, your mind provides the voices in your head and your imagination really comes into play. When you are listening to a book, you are hearing an actors' voice interpreting the story, which completely changes the experience for the reader/listener. But if my choice is listening or not reading at all, you can be sure I will listen.

One of the interesting things I find is that I am actually inclined to listen to books that I might not necessarily pick up and read on paper. This has opened up a whole new spectrum of books for me and I am thoroughly enjoying it. You might have noticed that I listened to Living Dead Girl, before reviewing, and I probably wouldn't have read that one. I would have missed out on an amazing experience if I hadn't.

The real beauty of listening to books is that I get to enjoy my 2 hobbies, which would otherwise be mutually exclusive. I listen to books on my computer, on my cd player, I even download audiobooks from overdrive (through my library) and listen to them on my Ipod, and I get to listen to books in my car - although that can be a bit disjointed since I only have a 10 min drive to work. I'm not sure if Christinabean listens to books, but she has a toddler at home, so her time is much more occupied than mine.

Anyway, there is a point or two to this post. I would love to hear from anyone out there who listens to books as well as reading them, and do you do other things while you are listening?

The other reason is to let you know that since I have solved my read-or-knit problem I'm going to review a few knitting/embroidery books. There are hundreds of really great ones out there that knitters like Christinabean and I don't know about, so keep your eyes peeled for the occasional post.