Knitting Books

Lately, I have been obsessed with buying knitting books. Some books I have bought because someone else recommended it, or because I like the cover, or because it looks like something I would get a lot of use out of. Most of these books I have purchased online through Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, or Crafterschoice.com. Which means many times I haven’t had a chance to flip through the book before buying it, but I figured there would be some interesting or new information enclosed and no matter what I would get something out of it.

When the book arrives I typically flip through it, looking at all the different patterns, and I dream of making some of them. Then the book will immediately goes into my bookcase. Sometimes, if the book is really amazing, I leave it on my coffee table for a few more days and flip through it a couple more times before it finds it’s home in my bookcase.

So far I haven’t found time to actually read the books I have purchased, except one, but that is all going to change. One of my goals is to actually read the knitting books I have before I purchase any more. Okay, so that probably won’t happen because there is bound to be a great book released before I can get through the 30 or so knitting books I already have, but I am going to certainly try.

Now mind you, I am not planning on actually reading the patterns, just the introduction and the front part of the book, which gives different tips and special techniques that are included in the book. At least that is my assumption of how a knitting book is laid out, it is based on the one and only knitting book that I have actually taken the time to read, which is "KnitWit" by Amy Singer.

I decided to purchase this book because when I first met my friend Amanda, from knitting club, she had started making a sweater from this book. She has since abandoned it for more socks, but that is beside the point. I secretly hope she starts knitting on it again soon, because I really would like to see it when it is completed.

Anyway, I got a quick glance at the pattern from across the room, but at the time I was to shy to ask if I could look through the book. So I bought the book myself. I know many people would probably be very happy to loan out their book when they aren’t using it. But, I just have to have my very own copy. Those of you who know me, know I don’t share well with others. When I find something that I like I don’t want to just borrow someone else’s I must have one for myself. And I typically don’t like to loan out my books, rubber stamps or anything else that I might want to use the moment it walks out the door. I do, by the way, share very well, when the object to be shared stays within my reach, because you just never know when inspiration is going to strike. 

Okay, so the real point of this post was to actually tell you what I liked about this book "Knitwit", but I have swayed from my course. So let’s get back to that.

This book is great for any level of knitting skill. Even some of the beginner patterns are so cool, that advanced knitters will want to take a break from their elaborate projects to whip up a quick and simple one. The author has included some basic knitting information in the front of the book for someone who is just getting started. Having already known how to knit before reading this book I don’t know if it contains everything a knitter must know, but at least it will get you through the projects in the book. By the way, I am not sure it is possible for a knitter to know everything about knitting, because so many new things are being invented every day. Anyway, I am getting off topic again.

I found the book to have a great layout, with a built in A-frame stand so you could prop the book up on a table while you knit, or just for display purposes. One thing I found interesting is that it showed you some ball bands and how to read them. I guess I am a real ditz when it came to choosing yarn and I always got confused with all those symbols and charts. They try to include so much information on the little ball band that it can get jumbled together and difficult to understand, especially if you are a novice knitter and don’t know any better.

So whether you are a new knitter or one who has been knitting for many year I recommend this book. Not that my recommendation is going to make you go out and buy it, but maybe you will think about it.

I would love to hear what knitting books you are reading and what you think about them, because I need more knitting books.

Stuff

I know I have started making a habit of only posting once a week, and I am sorry about that, but who wants to read about my boring life anyway. I know you are mostly here for the knitting.

I am the Kitchener stitch away from finishing my second pair of socks, the pair of socks that I started on two circular needles, but decided to complete using the magic loop, which I absolutely love. The socks fit perfectly. I was a little concerned when I tried them on before decreasing for the toe, because they seemed a little loose, but as it turns out they will fit great. The only thing I wish is that I could have made the leg longer. I had plenty of extra yarn, but having not used this yarn before I had no clue how much would be needed to completed the sock. Needless to say if I had been doing these socks toe up I could have had a better idea.

Speaking of toe up socks, I have been working with different ways to complete toe up socks in my attempts to create a sock pattern for the Hill Country Yarn Sock Pattern Contest. I have found that I love the figure 8 cast-on and what I think is called a short-row heel. Attempting to create this pattern has been the best thing I could have done, because it has forced me to experiment with different techniques and styles, and I have found what I like and don’t like about each element of the sock. The only bad part about it is that I have been using crappy yarn for my trial and error, which means that I won’t be able to use it for anything. But I can’t bring myself to use good yarn because of the fear of having to rip it out 100 times and eventually ruining the yarn. So I will stick with the scrap practice yarn for this even though it will be totally worthless in the end.

So do you really want to know about my boring life. Well, I can’t even remember what I did on Saturday, which means that it must have been just about nothing. Sunday, Steve and I spent some time in the backyard working on projects. I finally planted 9 flats of flower seeds. I have never done this before and I had no clue what I was doing. I don’t even know if I had the right soil mixture, but I gave it a go and we will see in a few weeks how it all turns out. A gardener friend of mine told me she has never had luck with seeds, so I don’t know why I think I would, because I have the farthest thing from a green thumb. But seeds are cheap and when you are saving your money for yarn you have to find other areas to cut costs.

After we completed our respective projects, Steve’s was to cut deck boards, we took the motorcycles out for a nice ride. It was a really beautiful day and we enjoyed being out on the bikes. The only problem was we were also doing errands so after about 2.5 hours we were both ready to go home and relax, which we did for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. We even sat on our deck enjoying the fantastic weather. I got to knit on my sock pattern and we chatted with each other and the neighbors. It was so nice to be outside. I love spring.

Nintendo DS

I have been rather remiss about posting to my blog lately. I have been doing some knitting, but have nothing really to show for it. Lately I have been hooked on playing my Nintendo DS. I know I am a video game junkie, but I can’t help it. In fact I have gotten Steve, my mom and my two nieces hooked too. We have all been playing Animal Crossing. It is the cutest little game and something different happens every day, so when you miss a day you miss fun stuff. Anyway, I am going to try to get back to my knitting on more of a regular basis and try not to spend all my free time playing video games. But if you have a Nintendo DS, get this game it is so cool, and when you do let me know because then we can visit each others neighborhoods.

I must be stinkin’ CRAZY

I have entered the Hill Country Yarn "Sock Pattern Contest"! Am I nuts???? What was I thinking, I have never created my own pattern before, socks or otherwise. For that matter I have only completed one pair of socks and that was about 2 months ago, currently working on my second pair. I know I will love making socks and ever since becoming a part of the world of knitting, some 3 months ago, I have known I want to eventually create my own patterns, but nothing like jumping in with both feet. At least this way I am forced to give it a try, and hopefully my design and pattern will be great enough to win me some FREE yarn, or at least give me the courage to try again.

When I signed up for the contest almost a month ago I immediately started running ideas through my head, but every time I took my idea and made a knitted swatch it just didn’t come out the way I had envisioned. So each and every time I was sent back to the drawing board for an alteration. I finally came up with an idea that I liked and actually looked nice in a knitted fabric. Then I received my yarn. You see the contest is for three different sock yarns and each of them have a different gauge and needle size, and the company decides what yarn to send. Needless to say the pattern that I worked up just wouldn’t work with the gauge of the yarn I received, so it was back to the drawing board once again.

I have since come up with a design and I have been experimenting with different cast ons and cast offs, as well as heel shaping. This is a great opportunity for me to create a sock with all my favorite features. Wish me luck! I will also need a test knitter or two so if you are interested let me know.

The Yarn Harlot

Yesterday, I went with a bunch of my knitting friends to Ann Arbor, Michigan to see the Yarn Harlot. Now let me tell you, if you haven’t heard her speak or read her blog or books, I highly recommend it. She is hilarious; her knitting humor is fantastic. As of yet, I haven’t read any of her books (I purchased 2 yesterday and plan to read them soon), but I have been reading her blog which she writes on a regular basis. On her blog, she shares her adventures with knitting and her life in general. The great part about her blog is she not only shares her life and knitting experiences, but she entertains you at the same time. Check it out at www.yarnharlot.com.

Thank goodness I was traveling with seasoned “Yarn Harlot Groupies” yesterday, because they knew the only way to get good seats and not be banished to the overflow room was to get there EARLY. And when I say early, I mean early. The Yarn Harlot was scheduled to speak at 2:00 pm. So I was thinking if we go there by 1:00 we would be in good shape. Not necessarily so, the library opened at noon and they insisted that we get there so we could be there the moment the doors opened, and rightfully so.

We arrived at the library at about quarter to twelve; mere minutes before the doors opened and there was already a crowd forming outside the library. We had left the Troy area around 9:30, which apparently was a little early for a few people in the group. Not me though, since I am usually up at 4:00 am to work out on most mornings, 9:30 was nothing for me. In fact, I slept in until 6:30. We arrived in enough time to have a nice big breakfast at Afternoon Delight. Which was a really good thing because little did we know it would be nearly 12 hours before our next meal.

Once the library doors opened we all made a mad dash to the meeting room so we would sure to get a good seat. At around 12:30 they announced that the Yarn Harlot’s plane was not able to land due to the morning fog, so we were in limbo until they were able to see if she could catch another flight into Detroit. We were all totally bummed, but hoped they would still be able to pull something off, even if it would be a few hours later than originally planned. A short while later they announced that she was able to catch another flight and was expected to land in Detroit within a few hours and they hoped she would be able to speak around 4:00 pm. Only two hours later than expect, not bad, unless you had gotten there two hours early, now instead of having two hours to burn we had four. But it gave us plenty of time to knit, mingle with the other knitters, and meet the knit bloggers who we have been reading online. We even had time to take a run over to the LYS for some distraction and YARN! Yarn is always a good thing.

Finally, the Yarn Harlot arrived around 4:30, thanks to a Good Samaritan, Brad, who drove her from the airport. She spoke for nearly 45 minutes and then began the book signing. You would have thought by being in the first three rows we would have also gotten a good spot in line, but I guess we just weren’t quick enough, at least some of us got stuck close to the back of the line.

Even though we got up early, in some cases, and waited a very long time it was well worth the wait. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is a very nice down to earth knitter with an incredible sense of humor.

Go see her if you ever get the opportunity!

Here are some pictures from the day for your enjoyment!

Miranda and Kim

Mary

Kristy

Amby

Dana

Amanda