Knitting Without Needles » Bookish Thursday

Bookish Thursday: A Giveaway!!!

Denise — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:15:26 +0000

I just finished listening to the most wonderful book I have had in a while. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is as interesting and delightful as it’s title leads one to believe! I loved every minute.. even when I realized my iPod was on shuffle it didn’t really matter. I was able to follow the story, as it is all in the form of letters, and other correspondence between the characters!

Set just after the end of WWII in London England, the story tells the tale of an unlikely group of people who form a literary society amidst the war. Juliette, an author who lives in London, receives a letter from Darby, on the Island of Guernsey. He had found her name inside a book he had bought after the war,and a simple letter of inquiry about the book and it’s author quickly turns into a flurry of correspondence from himself and others of the Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Juliette. After all who wouldn’t want to know more about such an oddly named group?

I liked it so much I want to give you a chance to have a listen too! So please leave a comment letting me know what great books on tape or regular books you have read lately if you would like to win the audio CD set of this book. I will draw a name on Sunday afternoon! Please be sure to leave an email where I can get in touch with you if you should win!

Disclaimer: A copy of the CD set was provided by the publisher.

Bookish Thursday: The Lampshade Lady’s Guide

Denise — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:10:00 +0000

I don’t know how they do it, but my kids always manage to mash, or otherwise ding dent and mangle our lampshades. I was quite glad when I was sent a copy of The Lampshade Lady’s Guide to Lighting Up Your Life: 50 Custom Lampshades and Lamps by Judy Lake.

With this easy to follow and incredibly beautiful illustrated guide, I can give them a completely new style or at least work on replacing them!!

I just wish I had more time to make more of these funky and stylish lampshades Judy describes in her book. With all the fabric pieces that I have collected lately I would finally give them a purpose!

Judy Lake has written a craft book in the real original sense, a book about a craft that she has perfected to an art. The love for her art shows in every detail and on every page.

The book is easy to follow, features terrific photos, and best of all, it provides a treasure trove of fresh ideas. So if you are like me and in need of some new lampshades, or just want to restyle your current ones, which is a really easy way to update the look of a room, then this book is for you!

Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Bookish Thursday: Stashbusting with One Ball Knits: Gifts

Denise — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:26:53 +0000

No matter how hard I try, I always seem to have one ball of yarn left over when a project is finished. So I have this modge podge collection of odd balls just waiting for either someone on Ravelry who is one ball short, or a book like One Ball Knits Gifts

This book is filled with 20 great little projects to take care of those odd skeins you have laying around.

The projects are quite inventive, like this bowl:

A little knitting, a little fabric stiffener and voila!

or this hat… LOVE IT!

And now I also know what I can do with that whack of I-cord I cranked out a while ago..

Napkin rings!!!

Over all I didn’t see a project in this book that I wouldn’t knit! It’s definitely a keeper!!

Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher

Bookish Thursday: The Sock Knitter’s Workshop!

Denise — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:23:21 +0000

So, I the not-a-sock-knitter am planning to start a pair of socks just for knitting while in lines at Disney. I love knitting socks in line, it just looks so cool and people are always intrigued. Also they are a nice small project that is portable.

When today’s book was offered to me I thought ok, I’ll take a look.. well.. I did and I am in LOVE!!!! The Sock Knitter’s Workshop by Ewa Jostes and Stephanie van der Linden is terrific! It’s like a buffet of techniques that you can mix and match to make socks!!!

Anyone who knows me as a knitter, knows I love interesting construction in knitting. So this book is right up my ally! There are like 13 different heels, 7 different toes, 5 cast on methods, toe up cuff down if it is a sock knitting technique that has been invented… it’s in here!

Of course there are also some really nice patterns..

Like this…

and this….

and this..

oooh those are crazy fun looking..

So many sock options so little time. hehe or well in my case I might have time in those lines!!

Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher

Bookish Thursday! NEW SOCK BOOKS!

Denise — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:13:10 +0000

Boy was I excited when I got home Monday after a LONG day.. to find three packages with 4 books in them on my doorstep! So with this and all the other new books I have picked up lately look forward to plenty of great Bookish Thursdays to come!

Let’s get started! Like the title says there are new sock books on the ranch! First up is a new volume by Wendy Johnson of the delightful Wendy Knits blog.

If you have knit through every sock pattern in Wendy’s first book Socks from the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits, and are ready for more then Toe-Up Socks for Every Body: Adventurous Lace, Cables, and Colorwork from Wendy Knits is for you! Yeah.. you know who you are.. don’t make me point you out.. and no, I don’t mean Wendy.. though knitting for work is a great excuse.. (no dear I can’t cook tonight I have to get these socks done for the book!) Anyway.. I digress..

Toe-Up Socks for Every Body is chock full of sock patterns.. 21 to be exact, and as the title indicates they are socks for all people.. little to big, young to old, funky to traditional. While heavy on patterns, this book is light on instruction. Wendy leaves that up to her first book which is chock full of sock knitting instruction, tips and wisdom. This makes the book a great companion volume to the first.

The two books together make a perfect set, and would make a great gift for a sock knitter or a knitter looking for some great portable projects!!

For my loom knitting friends.. with all the amazing and versatile sock looms that Decor Accents has out now I don’t see how you could go wrong with this book! If you have knit through all the patterns in the Loom Knitting Socks book you might want to give this book a look!

Disclaimer: A review copy of the book was provided by the publisher

Bookish Thursday: Regretsy

Denise — Thu, 06 May 2010 23:10:39 +0000

What started as somewhat of a joke, has blossomed into the mother of all ‘White Elephant’ gift collections. In Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF, author April Winchell shares her collection of the finest failures ever found on Etsy..

A chicken poncho. A painting of a corn dog. A clock made out of an old “mostly clean” cheese grater. All this and more await you in the pages of Regretsy, a collection of crafts gone wrong. Separated into categories such as Décor, Pet Humiliation, and Christmas, Regretsy showcases the worst of the worst.

If you like snarky commentary, and bad crafts, then Regretsy is the book for you.

Bookish Thursday: Alabama Stitch Book

Denise — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:11:01 +0000

I seem to be drawn back to my craft roots lately. Most possibly due to the upcoming release of Vickie Howell’s Craft Corps book, in which I am featured. My little teeny tiny bio talks about the beginnings of my crafty pursuits, and my aunt who encouraged me. I started out stitching, you know cross stitch, embroidery, crewel work and that ever popular craft: candle wicking. ( I just dated myself didn’t I?)

And so, when I saw the Alabama Stitch Book by Natalie Chanin I snapped it right up. This is right up my alley..

The beautiful hand sewn garments, mixed with embroidery and appliqué are something that I really love. The simple country style.. is lovely. The use of recycled materials like t-shirts and old quilts wonderful!

There is this slow transformation of my wardrobe from east coast to mid west. Pink was a color that used to never cross my mind, but now I find it might be ok…

The book is chock full of great ideas that you can use and make your own. Stuff you can run with because they have covered the bases with you! And not only is it chock full of ideas, the book itself is a treat, from the beautiful photos to the cloth spine it is a feast for the eyes and the fingers.. I love to just hold it and flip through the pages..

I definitely encourage you to pick it up if you see it at the bookstore.. and browse through the pages.. but be warned, you might not put it back down!

I will show you the finished product of that pink shirt tomorrow on Finished Friday, as well as a little knitting I have finally gotten done!! And perhaps a shot of that other stitching project I hinted at a while back! For now here is a peek at the beginnings of my first ever garment.. a corset made of recycled t-shirts from the book! I’ll be testing out a reverse appliqué on it as soon as my stencil paint dries!

Bookish Thursday: A Rainbow of Stitches

Denise — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:35:00 +0000

I recently earned a $5 Amazon card with my point earnings from SwagBucks and so I had to use it to get a book right?

I have been drawn back into stitching lately, cross stitch, embroidery and the like and so I grabbed a copy of A Rainbow of Stitches: Embroidery and Cross-Stitch Basics Plus More Than 1,000 Motifs and 80 Project Ideas.

This book is chock full of terrific stitch motifs. Pretty much all cross stitch and embroidery designs. They are all very nice! Many of the designs, especially the cross stitch, tend to be on the traditional side. But many of them are nice modern designs that I look forward to using in some various projects in the future.

So of course I started stitching…

This is just a little fun project using recycled materials (except for the embroidery floss) that I will share with you all tomorrow!

Don’t worry.. I also have at least two knitting projects going as well!

Bookish Thursday: Imagine Lily Chin in Slow Motion!

Denise — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:23:00 +0000

I love love love Lily chin! I do! she is a creative, knowledgeable and accomplished knitter and crocheter! (is crocheter a word?) I have toyed with taking a class with her at Rhinebeck and at another venue, but there is one problem! She talks so very fast even I can’t keep up!

That is why I was so very excited when I heard from Potter Craft Publishing that she was coming out with two tip books.

First there is Lily Chin’s Knitting Tips & Tricks: Shortcuts and Techniques Every Knitter Should Know

And they top it off with Lily Chin’s Crochet Tips & Tricks: Shortcuts and Techniques Every Crocheter Should Know

It’s like putting Lily in slow motion, or better yet pause!!! I can have her tips handy, by throwing the book in my knitting bag, and taking her along! The books are the perfect size for that!

Each is jam packed full with her terrific ideas, shortcuts and tips! If you are a visual learner like me there are plenty of diagrams and drawings to help you figure things out as well!

So grab a copy for yourself and take Lily along with you wherever you go!

Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was supplied by the publisher.

Bookish Thursday: Morehouse Merino Knits

Denise — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:57:00 +0000

When I went to the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival a couple years back I had a little conversation with Stephanie Pearl McPhee about my love hate relationship with wool. I liked the way it knit up but I often was bothered by the itchyness! she said simply that I hadn’t used the right wool and that I needed to try some different varieties!

I did and I found out that she was right! Merino was one of the wools that I tried and loved.. and the Morehouse Merino farms yarns are a great!!

In the fall an oldie but goodie Morehouse Farm Merino Knits: More than 40 Farm-Fresh Designs came out in Paperback!! I hadn’t seen it before so I jumped at the chance when offered a copy!

It’s a great book with some cute patterns! I mean how can a mom of boys not be drawn to this:

Luckily my middle son LOVES sweaters! So I really need to knit him up one of these!!

All the patterns in this book just scream out warmth and comfort and home! All the things you would expect and more. They have something for everyone.. even the family cat!! So if you are looking for some great patterns to work with some GREAT wool.. this book is for you!

Bookish Thursday: We knew Twinkl sewed but now…

Denise — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:37:00 +0000

She is sharing it with us!!

I love Whenlen Chia’ a.k.a. Twinkle’s knitting patterns. If there is one of her patterns in a knitting mag, I am there.. case in point the last two issues of Vogue Knitting that didn’t last 5 minutes on the shelf because I was there to rescue them!

If you love her sense of style you probably also like her line of ready to wear clothing! Then on the other hand, if you are like me, you can’t even touch one of the lowest price pieces in her line with a ten foot pole.. sigh..

Well turn that frown upside down, because Twinkle has decided to share some of her patterns for sewing with us as well!!

Twinkle Sews: 25 Handmade Fashions from the Runway to Your Wardrobe is a great book full of 25 sewing patterns by Whenlan. Super cool!!

The best thing is that there is a disc included with the patterns on pdf format! Oh do I wish my knitting pattern books came with that.. at least just a digital copy of the charts!!

A great book full of fun styles overall!!

Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher.

Bookish Thursday: Crafting Your Words

Denise — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:05:00 +0000

Today a little something different! I have a pair of books I picked up along the line that help with writing!!

First up: Just the Right Words: Over 400 Messages and Motifs for Cardmakers and Crafters This little book packs a punch! If you are looking for a phrase, saying or something to write in a greeting card this book has something for pretty much any occasion. You won’t find yourself at a loss for words with this little volume on your shelf!

Next up is No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog A couple years ago I joined the Blog 365 challenge, It certainly was a challenge! It was hard sometimes to come up with ideas fro what to write about. So I picked up this book. It’s a great little book full of ideas to jump start your writing!

So if you are having a little ‘bloggers block’ you might want to pick yourself up a copy!

Bookish Thursday: Haiku Knits

Denise — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:09:00 +0000

Nothing is simpler that Haiku. I love the short simple form of poetry. True to it’s namesake by Tanya Alpert is full of simple, beautiful knit designs.

I don’t think that there is a design in this book that I wouldn’t like to knit!

The designer does some mixing yarns in some pieces to add to the interest of the simple designs. This adds to the interest of the project and increases the possibilities when you are looking for yarn for the projects as well.

The directions are clear and diagrams are provided for all the patterns.

Even the most complicated pattern in the book is made easy with clear instructions and charts.

To add to the fun there are knitting Haiku sprinkled throughout the book!

If you are looking for simple, elegant and beautiful patterns this is the book you want!

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided.

Bookish Thursday: Fun Upcycled Bags!

Denise — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:49:00 +0000

Got an umbrella with a broken handle? A pair of pants with a hole in the knee? An old out of style suit? A bunch of plastic shopping bags?

Don’t throw them out! Turn them into some great bags!!!

Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags by Faith and Justina Blakeney is a fun book full of great recycling and upcyling ideas to make bags out of just about anything!

The directions are clear and easy to follow. They have included a lot of great illustrations to help with constructing the bags!

Peppered throughout this book are bio’s of other bag designers who use interesting recycled materials to create designer bags!

Overall this is a terrific book. If you are interested in making neat unique bags you will love it!

Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Bookish Thursday: 400 Knitting Stitches

Denise — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:54:00 +0000

400 Knitting Stitches: A Complete Dictionary of Essential Stitch Patterns is the latest stitch dictionary offering by Potter Craft. As any typical stitch dictionary it includes sections on Knit-Purl Stitches, Crossed Stitches and Cables, Lace Stitches, and your knitting basics as well.

What sets this stitch dictionary apart is that it also includes sections one Double Stitches, Slipped Stitches and Cast off Stitches which you don’t always see.

The other feature that sets this dictionary apart from others is that it includes a chart for every stitch. This makes it easy to follow for those, like me, who prefer a chart over written directions on occasion.

Over all this is an excellent stitch dictionary, and I would recommend it as a great go to book. The photos are clear, the directions concise and easy to follow. The charts are a great feature!

The only complaint I have is that it is missing what pretty much every stitch dictionary I have come across so far is also missing.. a good index that lists the stitches by name! When I am looking for a stitch pattern I would love to be able to flip to the back and look it up and hone right in on it and get going with my needles, rather than searching for the pattern I need! But since this feature is missing in most of them I will just browse.. on occasion I find something even better that way!

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was sent to the author from the publisher.

Bookish Thursday: Hat Heads!

Denise — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:33:14 +0000

First let me say.. I love this book! Next let me say.. I LOVE THIS BOOK!

ok.. did I say I LOVE THIS BOOK?
oops I guess I did. Today’s book is HatHeads: 1 Man + 2 Knitting Needles = 50 Fun Hat Designs by Trond Anfinnsen, Aka the KNITKID (which is so much easier to pronounce.)

This is a super fun volume, that one would not necessarily buy for the patterns.. but for the stories! Trond went all around and knit hats to give to the people in his town of Stavenger, Norway. Now these were not just random hats, they were specifically designed and knit for that person. in the end he designed, knit, and gave away over 200 hats. An amazing feat! He chose his 50 favourite hats and stories for this book.

I read quite a few of them, I have not yet worked through them all. Every one left me with a smile! I was smiling from the moment I opened this book for quite some time after I put it down! it is DELIGHTFUL!

The patterns all stem from a basic hat pattern and are all interesting and unique in their own right. If you need a had for someone you can flip through the pages of the book, find a matching person and knit up their hat! It’s pretty cool!

Bookish Thursday: Kanzashi is Blooming all Over my House!

Denise — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:04:00 +0000

First let me say, I ‘know’ the author of the book today.. Diane Gilleland, fondly known as Sister Diane. At least we have had an ongoing online friendship since she interviewed Isela and I a couple years ago for her podcast! (what fun!)

Since then I have definitely followed her blog and chatted it up with her here and there on Twitter and etc!

So I am especially excited to have a copy of her new book!! (since she has finally caught up with me ya know..)

Kanzashi in Bloom: 20 Simple Fold-and-Sew Projects to Wear and Give is a stunningly beautiful book!!

These flowers look so beautiful and intricate! They look difficult to make, but that is totally not the case!

A few folds, a few snips, and a few stitches throw in a little hot glue action and you have yourself a beautiful flower!

See:

Diane includes some very clear written directions for making the flowers and projects. Along with the written directions are terrific photos of each step, reminiscent of the Japanese craft book style!

All in all this is one book that I would highly recommend! It is certainly staying on my shelf! Sorry!! There are only two improvements I would make.. Make this craft less addicting!! Grr, can’t do it. Make the book spiral bound.. hmm.. I might be able to do that.. (they do that at Kinkos right?)

I did make a special flower to give away.

The stray Pinewood Derby wheel was in my button box! And being the mother of boys, naturally I had a little bit of checkered flag fabric hanging about.. so.. that is how this pin came to be.

If you would like to win it, for yourself, or for someone else, leave me a comment on this post telling what color flowers you would make !! I will draw a winner on Monday after noon!

Bookish Thursday: A N-ewe Book by Clara Parkes Coming Soon!

Denise — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:54:00 +0000

There is a fun little quiz in honor of Clara Parkes upcoming book The Knitter�s Book of Wool,

Looks to be another great volume from Clara! Looking forward to it coming out this fall!

Bookish Thursday: Felt Frenzy!

Denise — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:59:28 +0000

When I received that big bag of felt a while back I had some ideas for it, but I needed more!! Enter two great books:

Feltique: Techniques and Projects for Wet Felting, Needle Felting, Fulling, and Working with Commercial Felt by Nikola Davidson and Brookelynn Morris is chock full of beautiful craft projects for all kinds of felt. I like this because there are projects for me to use that commercial felt (namely those really cool necklaces on the cover! LOVE THEM!) and there are wet felting and needle felting ideas for my daughter.. she likes needle felting! There are also alot of recycled sweater projects. I love grabbing those thrift store sweaters!

The second book is just as fun! Felt Furnishings by Anne Kyyro Quinn has 25 accessories for your home!

If you like contemporary design and accessories, then this book is for you. All the designs are gorgeous! From pillows, to curtains and wall hangings and actual furniture pieces, this book has it all! The directions are clear and easy, and precise! (you know I need that!)

Hmm� I might have to get some more felt!

Bookish Thursday: Small Projects for Summer Knits!

Denise — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:48:00 +0000

The weather is heating up. Well, at least it sure was hot in Texas.. And so it�s a good time of year to start thinking about small projects that are portable and small for summer knitting!

Traditionally this means socks. They are great for travel, knitting small and portable, but not everyone is into socks! (I am a case in point!) For some a shawl is the favourite travel knitting project, but let�s face it they do get big, and they are usually made of wool, so they get hot as well!

So what to do?

Perhaps these books can give you some ideas!

First up is One Ball Knits Purses by Fatema, Khadija and Hajera Habibur-Rahman.

I am very excited about this book because I have quite the collection of bag handles hanging about! Each one of them a different style, and some antique. This book has a bag for EVERY ONE of them!

With the one skein approach I can also clear out those odd balls of yarn I have languishing in my stash!

Then there are the bags that I just want to knit so I HAVE to get the handles! Like this one:

All in all this book is full of fast, easy, fun projects that are sure to appeal to all. I know I will be making at least 3 of these this summer! Join me?

Next up is The Best-Dressed Knitted Bear by Emma King. This book is full of adorable bears and cute little outfits for them to wear!

The book is categorized into three groups: simple, intermediate, and complex; each with two sizes of bear: small and large. This means there is a bear in there for any level of knitter!

The outfits are absolutely adorable! From pirates to graduates, princesses and fairies, there is sure to be a bear there for someone you love to knit for!

Not only are these bears great small projects for summer, but they would make great charity knits as well!

The last book of the day is Knitted Babes by Clare Garland. I have been meaning to get this book for a while and I am glad I did! The characters that fill this book are adorable and fun! And it also give you a chance to do a little sewing to make their outfits! Mix and match and have a good time creating looks for them! What more could a girl want?

Bookish Thursday: Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting

Denise — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:09:23 +0000

Today�s book is by someone I consider one of the guardian angels God has brought into my life. If it weren�t for Lorna Miser suggesting me to the publisher, I would not have gotten my book deal. So thanks Lorna!

It is so natural that Lorna should have written a book about faith and knitting.. it is so very HER!� Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting is a book full of reflections on life and faith and knitting as experienced through Lorna�s eyes. Every pattern comes from a story from Lorna�s life. I have to say, every story is just so very beautiful. When I opened this book and started reading I simply could not put it down. Touching and poignant many of them left me with tears in my eyes.. a good thing.. and a smile on my face.

It�s a keeper!

Bookish Thursday: Mother-Daughter Knits

Denise — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:34:34 +0000

When the book Mother-Daughter Knits: 30 Designs to Flatter and Fit by Sally Melville and Caddy Melville Ledbetter arrived a few days ago I have to say I was most super delighted! It is AWSOME!!! Generally my rule of thumb for buying any knitting book or magazine is that I want to knit at least 3 patterns in it. This book far exceeds that!

In this book Sally Melville teams up with her daughter to bring some classic patterns that flatter and fit women of all ages, sizes and shapes, as well as some innovative, yet simple new designs. There is also a section on how to choose the right pattern for your personal shape, and customize it to fit you to a tee!

Sprinkled in amongst the patterns and how to�s are some fun mother-daughter anecdotes, that are touching and delightful.

There are so many must knits in this book for me..

Call me a geek girl.. but this one is quite Star Trek-y don�t you think? I love it!

Cute and simple and springy!

I like this one too!! very nice..

Those are some of my favourites there are many more.. and another item I can�t show you cause I want to secretly knit it up for my own daughter!!

This book will not disappoint! And that�s not just the cold medicine talking!

Bookish Thursday: The Expectant Knitter

Denise — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:05:44 +0000

First let�s get this out of the way.. NO I am not an Expectant Knitter.. heheh

Ok. There now, on to the book.

The Expectant Knitter: 30 Designs for Baby and Your Growing Family by Marie Connolly is chock full of great knits for baby, momma, big sister and brother and even doggie brothers!! I took this book to my knitting guild meeting and there were many oohs and aaahs over it.

Some of my favourites are the Baby Racer Sweater and Leggings.. naturally as the mom of 3 boys! my other two favs are the Shawl Sweater.. which is a great knit for before and after baby, and the Big Sister Sweater..

ADORABLE! I want one my size!

All in all this is a great book, lovely photos and clear instructions.. and hey there are even week by week pregnancy tips! My only wish is that she had included something for Dad! The poor guy is left out..

Bookish Thursday: Knitting for Your Teddy Bear!

Denise — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:21:09 +0000

I love today’s book, for a very specific reason: It teaches you something! Yep.. and darn it all, it involves MATH! Yikes.. yep who knew I would like a book that teaches math! Hey as a former teacher, home schooling mom, and sometimes knitting instructor yes this book appeals to me for that reason!

Knits for Bears to Wear: More than 20 Fun, Knit-to-Fit Fashions for All Teddies and Toys Including 18-Inch Dolls by Amy O’Neill Houck, is a great little book! For anyone with a teddy bear collection, or with 18 inch dolls this book is a great find. Or, if you are like me and have a little guy who has a favourite stuffed dog who could use a sweater, this book is for you!

Like I said above this book teaches you something. Each pattern is customized for the size of your stuffed friend or doll by you! Yes. You! Amy provides a little “customizing sidebar’ for each of the projects. You knit up a swatch, pop in the measurements of your toy, and the gauge of your swatch and off you go to a custom fit item for your toy! So rather than blindly following a pattern you learn a bit about customizing! Done in a small way, you can then apply these nice skills to bigger projects down the road! Nothing wrong with that!

Over all the designs are adorable, so if you do choose to simply follow the patterns as written you can’t go wrong.

I might just get ambitious and try to make a matching hoodie for my little guy and his little stuffed doggie. We shall see.. I have a few projects in the works so it’ll have to wait till at least May..

And coming soon (out May 5th) is also The Best-Dressed Knitted Bear: Dozens of Patterns for Teddy Bears, Bear Costumes, and Accessories by Emma King, It looks good too, I’ll let ya know!

Bookish Thursday: Noro! Noro! Noro!

Denise — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:55:11 +0000

If you are a Noro-phile then today’s book review is definitely for you!

One of Potter Craft’s latest is all Noro all the time, and it’s very nice!

Knitting Noro: The Magic of Knitting with Hand-Dyed Yarns By Jane Ellison, explores the many wonders of one of the knitter’s favorite yarns Noro. There is nothing like Noro, that mysterious self striping yarn that comes in many flavors and colors! From basic wool to cashmere and silk Noro offers it all, and this book explores the many looks you can produce when using this lovely yarn!

The book is broken up into some basic shapes, tank tops, the chunky cardigan, fitted cardigan, pullover, classic jackets, and wraps. They take these basic forms and spice them up, using different stitches, lengths and techniques to show off the yarn.

This book is a great book for the beginner, who is looking to move into the sweater realm. You can go simple to start and then ramp it up for a totally different look. And one of the great things about Noro is even if you make the same sweater as your friend.. they will have a totally different look! So I see this book as a great knit along volume as well!

Move over Knitting Ninja!

Denise — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:10:13 +0000

WAY back I showed you an online comic that featured me as the Knitting Ninja.. wielding knitting needles rather than nunchucks off I went into adventure.. Well now there is a new.. REAL.. comic in town:

Coming soon to a knitting shop near you is Handknit Heroes. I was a lucky duck and got an advanced copy! It’s not bad! Not bad at all.. the story line looks promising and every issue will have a knitting pattern included for an item featured in the comic. This issue has a hooded scarf with pockets worn by the lead character, Ana.

The publishers of Handknit Heros are looking for submissions for future designs and also planning a contest for knitters to design a mask for Ana. A hero has to keep her identity secret eh?

I look forward to getting more issues of Handknit Heros and seeing where it goes!

Congrats to Stephanie Bryant and the crew on this great new venture!!

HEY! Who Forgot to Tell me!!??

Denise — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:29:53 +0000

That this:

Knit Two By Kate Jacobs

Was out! Azia spotted it at the bookstore today!

Good girl.. Didn’t get it.. but I will! Unfortunately it hasn’t hit the iTunes store yet!

I have this now:

Casting Spells By Barbara Bretton

To keep me busy till then! Since my Mother got it for me for Christmas!! Thanks!

Bookish Thursday: Shibori Knits

Denise — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:32:59 +0000

We all know what felting is.. taking an item made from wool, or another pure animal hair fiber (most of them felt) and throwing it in the washer and shrinking it up.. ON PURPOSE.. this sometimes of course happens by accident when the unobservant throws a wool sweater in the wash and shrinks it down a size that might fit your toddler but is too stiff to be worn!

I love how Gina Wilde, the author of Shibori Knits: The Art of Exquisite Felted Knits puts it.. “Felted shibori knitting is a spectacular collision of chance and happy accident, where the precision of knitting meets the magic of shape resist felting.”

The idea for this book came about when a ‘happy accident’ befell the author. She accidentally felted her daughter’s hand warmers which were made mainly of a silk merino blend (feltable) and a silk yarn cuff.. the result was a felted hand part and a nicely ruffled un-felted cuff!

Shibori Knits takes you through the process of basic shibori, an art form that came out of Japan. Basically it is knitting pieces out of a feltable yarn and then using objects such as marbles and wrapping your finished piece around these things securing them in place and then felting away! The results are spectacular!

Then the author moves beyond basic technique and mixes feltable and un-feltable fibers together in the same piece. Sometimes for decoration, sometimes for shaping.

I sure wish I had a. been knitting and b. had this book when my kids were born.. I would have had one of these:

This is a wonderful primer on the art of shibori, chock full of tips and tricks that any knitter can use! And even if you are not a needle knitter, I would highly recommend getting a hold of this book as an inspiration! Pick it up at the library or see if you can borrow it from a knitting buddy if needle knits aren’t your ‘sport’ though .. I will warn you, you will probably end up wanting a copy for yourself!

On another note: I just bought my first Japanese knitting book.. (notice how I say first?) I will tell you all about it next week with some tips on how to use Japanese knitting books, since it looks like I have some learning to do too!

Bookish Thursday: Sweater Renewal

Denise — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:44:06 +0000

Wow for some reason I keep thinking it is Friday! I must want the weekend to come faster so I can have some crafting time, and boy does this week’s book give me some ideas!!

Sweater Renewal: Felting Knits into New Sweaters and Accessories by Sharon Franco Rothschild is a volume full of sweater recycling ideas! Combining felting wool sweaters with embroidery, knitting, crochet and other crafts to make one of a kind projects that are sure to turn heads!

I for one am very glad that I have recently learned to crochet because I want to make this:

and this…

and these too!

I’ll have to scour the racks at my local Salvation Army thrift store (they have 50% off family days on Wednesday!) and find just the right sweater! In the past I have bought thrift store sweaters to recycle them by unraveling them, but Sweater Renewal has me looking at them in a whole new way!

I could totally see getting a sweater, felting it, using a hole punch to put holes at regular intervals and popping it onto a knitting loom to embellish it and change it into something new! Couldn’t you?

And perhaps.. just maybe.. one of my husband’s sweaters might ‘accidentally’ get run through the wash.. oops dear.. well look we can always make the best of it.. heheh

Only kidding!!

Look out next week for a review of Shibori Knits yep.. more felting knits on purpose with beautiful results!!

Bookish Thursday: Little Cakes from the Whimsical Bakehouse

Denise — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:15:27 +0000

Today on Bookish Thursday is another great cookbook! I have had this one for a while and it’s a good one!

Little Cakes from the Whimsical Bakehouse: Cupcakes, Small Cakes, Muffins, and Other Mini Treats by Kaye Hansen and Liv Hansen is chock full of the cutest, tastey-ist mini cakes I have ever seen!

These recipes make me want to throw a bunch of parties just so I have and excuse to make them all!

Ever since we got back from Hawaii I have been craving Beard Papa’s cream puffs these cream puff nests should fit the bill!

What summer party would be complete without a day at the beach cake?

Or with strawberries and blueberries abounding these shortcakes would be a perfect treat for the Fourth of July!

And best of all! Ice cream that doesn’t melt!!

Excuse me.. I think I need to go add a few items to my grocery list!