book reviews

So, in a moment of VAST stupidity, I accidentally deleted ALL of my pictures. So you do not get to see my finished, SEAMED Monica sweater, or my new haircut (maybe tomorrow when im not about to pass out and actually have some makeup on). Instead I want to tell you a story.

A story of a girl and her piggy bank. On a day when the sun was just starting to melt the snow that was on the ground, the girl's partner had a great idea. "Let's take our change to the Pathmark! They have a Coinstar there that will give you PRESENTS and not ask anything in return! It doesn't take a commission." The girl contemplated the long, long walk to the Pathmark, and looked at the melting snow. "Do you think we can make it?" she asked. Stepping carefully, the two made their way the many long blocks to the store, and after hunting high and low, came upon the fabled machine. The girl watched as her partner dumped around $80 into the machine! Eighty dollars! Surely there wasn't that much change in the pig! But lo, there was. But what would she choose as her present? The girl knew with certainty what her own choice would be when it came. With an Amazon gift certificate she could get KNITTING BOOKS. And when her turn came to treat with the machine, she ended up with over THIRTY DOLLARS worth of Amazon credit!!! And thus, she was able to buy herself two brand new books, which she wouldn't have otherwise had. The day they came in the mail was a happy day.
The End.
The moral of the story: sometimes saving can help you spend. Or something like that...



Anyway, YAY. These books have both given me many, many hours of oogling time. I want to knit things from them immediately. I have Wrap Style, and Scarf Style, and I have to say that I think, contrary to most people, Wrap Style is my favorite. But I like Lace Style too.

My favorite projects (linked to examples where easily available) from Lace Style:

1. Like everyone and their mother, I like the Lily of the Valley Shawl by Nancy Bush. I can see this being the wrap I use in my chilly, chilly office.
2. Yes, the Floral Lace Anklets by Evelyn Clark are cute. I may even someday knit them.
3. Pam Allen's Little Silk Shrug is something I'm almost certainly going to make.
4. The Essential Tank Top by Laura Zukaite is also something I'd love to make someday.
5. Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark's Retro Redux Shrug is also something I'm pretty sure is in my future.
6. I love Kathy Zimmerman's Katharine Hepburn Cardigans, but the cropped one hits me right at the top of my gut, and the other one is a little too preppy for me, but they are so pretty on the models.
7. I am seriously tempted by Kat Coyle's Show-Off Ruffled Skirt, but probably won't ever actually make it. It is one of the only knit skirts that looks even remotely wearable though.
8. Nora Gaughan's Lacy Waves Top is really my second favorite garment in this book. I like the color, I like the shaping. I would definitely wear that, if I could manage to actually make it.
9. My favorite though, is last. Veronik Avery's Shetland Shawl Turned Vest. It is adorable. I can see wearing something like that all the time to work, both with suits and on more casual days to class an outfit up a bit. I am certainly going to make this.

There are other things I like in there, but those are the patterns that I would most likely knit or wear. The others are pretty but are not for me.


But I was absolutely blown away by the Fitted Knits book. I haven't really had a chance to read through the whole thing, despite having both books for over two months. But I am still so impressed with the majority of patterns in this book, and I would wear almost all of them. I don't like long tunics much, but if you shortened them to normal length, they would make fine tops. I also don't go in for the long coat look either. But most of the others I love:

1. Split Neckline Cap Sleeved Tee--cute. I would knit it in exactly those colors or perhaps something with purple in it. I love it.
2. Spicy Fitted V-Neck Tee--very flattering, despite being bulky yarn.
3. Crisp Rectangle Tunic Top--not as a tunic.
4. Carie Cropped Flare-Sleeved Cardigan--I may just love the styling in this picture, but that sweater would be something i could wear over a sleeveless dress to my christmas party at work and not worry about being cold.
5. Cropped Cardigan with Leaf Ties--I was sad that they put this pattern in Knitty, since I love it so much, but now everyone gets to enjoy it.
6. Puff-Sleeved Feminine Cardigan--again, something I would wear to work ALL THE TIME.
7. Back To School U-Neck Vest--I love, love, love this vest. I will definitely knit this someday.
8. Key-Hole Neck Blouse with Eyelet Details--I wonder if this would look ok on me. I don't know...
9. Cozy V-Neck Pullover with deep ribbing--This, I know, would be. It is plain; I love it.
10. Textured Tunic with Side Buttons--I think I'm a sucker for those side buttons on sweaters, but I like this one a lot!
11. Call me crazy, but I also really like the Tweedy V-Neck Jacket and Skirt. Would I ever knit this? Probably not, but if I did, I would damn sure wear it. It looks very normal and wearable. And that is awesome, my friends.


So really that is it, and I'm too tired to look up links for the second book, but I think that one is definitely the winner 11-9, and I love the shaping guide that is included more than the tips on lace knitting. I don't care to ever really create my own lace, but I'm certainly going to need help fitting my knits to my own unique form.

Next up, I attempt to take more pictures without deleting them! I talk about sock knitting! I start a dolly! Right now, I'm going to bed to await Spanky's call and work a couple more rows on this damn blanket. It is never going to end. Never. The charm of the cotton yarn is wearing off. It sheds, people.

Happy Birthday to Me

So yesterday was my 35th birthday. Spanky not being here, I was resigned to spending a quiet day just going about my business, celebrating by going out to lunch with friends that I don't see very often, but my sweetheart saw to it that the day wouldn't get overlooked.



The B and the A were already missing at this point. I had been having a meeting with my assistant when another assistant ushered a delivery man into my office with the two bags of cupcakes. After he left, I realized what had happened. COOL. I like cupcakes but am not a big fan of the cake cake. And I really don't like buttercream frosting. It is totally gross. And my Spanky kept looking til she found a bakery that didn't use the buttercream (or maybe that just offered an alternative) and also delivered. God, I love that woman.

So, I had cupcakes. Then later, I did go out to dinner with my friends. Presents: a Wonder Woman magnet for my office door, some MORE treats, chocolate, and a $25 gift certificate to Knit New York!!! YAY. So I'm going over there as soon as I can make it, to get those Knit Klips and also whatever else I can spend it on. YIPPEE. My assistant also gave me a card, my aunt, who really shouldn't be giving me presents any more, sent me ten dollars to "buy myself and Spanky a cup of coffee to celebrate". Isn't that sweet? I love her.

And then later, I went to meet my knitting group for our bi-weekly knit-in at Beechwood. I'm so glad that people actually came! They even brought wine to celebrate, and Beth brought her swift and ball winder! I'd never actually used one myself. I've had balls wound for me in yarn stores but not too many and I never actally paid much attention to it. Now that I'm buying yarn that comes in hanks, I have been thinking more and more about getting my own, so I really appreciated the opportunity to see and use Beth's up close. Check out these awesome balls (and my other beer from the conference--next year it is in Ogden, UT):



HOT. I'm so getting a ball-winder next time I can find one of those 50% off Jo-Ann coupons. Anyway, that was a great way to close out my birthday, although I did miss all the sex that I probably would have been having otherwise. HA. No, really... Yarn porn just isn't the same thing.

ANYWAY. That yarn is the Blue Sky Organic Cotton in Sage, and the blanket in progress is the expanded version of the baby blanket from Natural Knits. The baby shower is next Wednesday. I'm pretty sure I'll be done by then. It isn't a hard knit, and the wonderful softness of the yarn makes it fun, even though it is relatively simple. Between finishing this and seaming Monica, I'm going to be all ready to start the toys that I have to knit for the next babies. I am going to make a robot and a dolly from the Jess Hutchinson toy book. Those should be fun knits, and I'm only using stash yarn for them, so YAY for that too. Dare I look past those projects? I have to finish the second sock memories sock, and then what else? Do I start more socks? Can I start the Clementine shawlette? The possibilities are endless. And it will probably be June by then, and someone else will have carelessly gotten pregnant by then. It never ends...

I'm back! YAY.

Whew. That last trip this past week was a doozy. I'm glad it is over. No I didn't get any yarn. No, I didn't have any free time. Yes, I did get beer! Oh and speaking of beer, I think I'm going to have one now...

Ah. That's better. So, you ask, what have I been working on? WELL. Things have kind of moved on a bit from when I took the photos, but I think you can get an idea.

1. Swatches for Warm Up America from Harlot yarn

Remember, everyone got a ball of Paton's Soy Wool Stripes from the Yarn Harlot's Represent event, and I did a swatch but didn't have any scissors, so brought the ball home with me and promised to do some better ones and send them in.

Before/After:

Before: boring stockinette swatch, a little too small. After: stitch patterns! Greatly increased size!

Both stitch patterns are from the piece of paper given out at the event from Warm Up America. I think the one that is in the back is called "Shadow Triangles" and the one in the front (which is finished now) is called "Squares" but is really just basket weave. I don't know why I picked this up again recently. It was kind of a palate cleanser between harder things. Plus, I just wanted to get that ball out of my knitting basket. I don't think I have enough yarn left to finish another one, so I think I'll just keep the rest of the ball for a felted flower or something later. I think two squares is good enough karma. The yarn itself is silky and smooth, but splits easily and has this tendency to almost felt to itself, which results in these little puffs of fluff being generated by the friction of the ball unraveling. It is most annoying. I can't see making anything bigger than a scarf with this stuff, and really don't think I'll be using it any time soon, even though I do love the colorway with all the pinks and brown.

[small aside: HI, I'm sitting here watching Dancing with the Stars and that Leila Ali is HOT. Oh. My. God. Sigh!]

2. Ok, I've been working on Monica for my neice, since I owe her a poncho that may not ever happen (seriously, every little girl needs a poncho once, no matter what YOU may think of their fashion savvy). Anyway, I got both sides done:



I measured and measured, and I STILL think one side ended up a bit shorter than the other. ARGH. So I blocked them out, as you can see in the picture. I used the measuring tape and made absolutely sure that they were the exactly the same measurements when I pinned them out. I've since taken the pins out and held them together and what? ONE SIDE IS STILL BIGGER. So, I've not started to seam them yet. I want to get some of those knit klips first, because I think I'm going to need them to hold everything even while I seam it up. Luckily, on their website, they say that the klips are available at Knit NY, and I have to go over to that side of town anyway to get Spanky some Kiehl's products and get my hair cut, so I'll probably be seaming it this weekend.

Other than that, I started another baby blanket from Natural Knits with the Organic Blue Sky cotton, in Sage, and it is SOFT and I love the green. I'm going to use three whole balls of the cotton on the blanket in an effort to make it bigger this time. I hope it works! This stuff is so soft, I totally recommend it for bulkier baby stuff.

That's all I have tonight. I am failing miserably at Turn off your TV Week, but I guess that was a foregone conclusion anyway. When I get home from work, I don't have much energy to do anything else, and if I want to knit, there isn't much else to do. I have been listening to Villette, by Charlotte Bronte, on LibriVox though, and it is way more addictive than I thought it would be. I am about 6 chapters in, and I can't wait to see what happens to her after she goes to London.

Anyway, this Dancing with the Stars is addictive also. I don't even care who wins, I just like watching the dancing. That Billy Ray Cyrus is growing on me too. I love his hair cut. I love how his kids come to watch him perform. But really, I think Leila is the best. I like her teeth.

some thoughts on the Harlot

So, after a loooong day at work, preparing for my trip to MN, I didn't know whether I should go to the Yarn Harlot's "Represent" book launch or not. I really wanted to participate in more of the whole hoopla day, because it sounded fun, but with the trip and my new assistant just starting, I couldn't call out of work. Instead, at the end of that grueling day, I called Spanky and asked her whether she thought I should go. I saw the Harlot at the Knit Out, so I wasn't going just to see her. I was just really curious about whether or not she could get 750 knitters to actually show up. Spanky said I should go, and that she'd see me afterward. I asked the one person at work who I know knits and doesn't commute in from Jersey (so wouldn't need to make a commuter train) to go with me, but she had other plans, so I went by myself.

And then I saw the line at the book stand and couldn't figure out if I had to buy a book to get in, and so I went to get cash, but when I got back, there was no line so I just got one of the buttons and a seat in the back. I didn't actually buy a book until afterward. I know this probably sounds like sacriledge, but I don't actually enjoy her books too much. I love the blog, but I find the books to be more hype than substance. I guess I'm not much for the knitting humor in large doses. I like reading about her family and what she's knitting more than I like reading about the foibles of knitting itself, I guess is what it is. Still, now I have three of them anyway. After she started talking about how much money she raised for Doctors without Borders, I felt bad for being there and not getting one, so I bought it. And I'm enjoying it so far. It is cute! I like all the art. I don't know how many more she can churn out though, without repeating herself. I guess we'll see.

The bohus was amazing. I wish I'd at least gotten a sharp picture! The bit with her husband was really touching as well. And her speech was really great. The part that got me thinking the most was when she started talking about how many people had blogs, and about how open and accepting the knitting community is. And then she asked how many people felt that knitting increased their self-confidence. I wish I felt more of that. I actually think knitting as a skill has given me something to look forward to every day. I love to knit. I love to create something out of nothing, and be able to wow people at work with cool baby clothes at these interminable baby showers, and to give well thought out presents to people in my life. But knitting as a community just makes me feel like I'm the new kid back in high school where everyone's already formed their cliques. I feel uncomfortable in the yarn stores where everyone looks up from the cafe to size you up, I also feel uncomfortable around groups of knitters who already know each other. Im not a naturally gregarious person. And what I've found is that too many knitters together can start to feel like a competition. Maybe it is just New York. Everything is a competition here. Who has the best (cheapest) apartment, who has the best clothes, who is the one whose second career as an artist/writer/actress/singer/comedian is taking off the most... Who can do the hardest knitting skills, and who has the best blog.

So I'd have to say, I don't know that being a knitter has actually increased my self confidence, but building my knitting skills certainly has. I still have a long way to go, but I'm enjoying the challenge, and doing it at my own pace, and that spirit of taking on impossible tasks and doing them well is what the Yarn Harlot is all about. So I'm glad I went and supported that book launch, and The Gathering. I have to say, it was the biggest launch I've ever been to, and I was gratified to be able to go back to work the next day and show my blurry pictures to the co-worker who didn't believe that the launch would be as big as all that. So maybe I am a Harlot groupie after all.



I'm sure this has already been said a million times, but everyone there got a ball of yarn and some size 8 straight needles. That right there is my swatch I was supposed to turn in, but I didn't have any scissors, and just couldn't bring myself to ask anyone for the use of theirs. I know. It's me. I know this, and I still couldn't. Anyway, it is also too small, so I did pledge that I would knit the whole thing into swatches for Warm Up America, and just mail them in once I get a chance. It is in my knitting basket, so I remember to do it. I didn't just toss it into the stash.

Tomorrow, what I've been knitting. I know you're all psyched.

where to begin?

I'm back. It takes me about a week, usually, to recover from these business trips. This one was compounded by the fact that Spanky took a job in Florida to help out a friend, and since I have to travel in another week and a half again, she took Stella to her mother's house, so I've been alone at home with just the cats for company. It has taken a bit of getting used to, rattling around in the apartment by myself. Spanky will be gone until the summertime. She's taken jobs away before, and it is hard, but you get used to it. But this time, I don't even have the sweet puppy to love on. So it's taken me a little extra time to recover, but I have, to the point where I can function normally again. It is just a little lonely.

First of all, I want to thank Pamela at Flint Knits for her Minneapolis yarn store recommendations in the comments to my last post. I did actually go to Depth of Field, because hampered by the lack of a car, that was the easiest one to get to. It was a lovely, lovely store. It is near the west bank campus of UMN, and between appointments I had some extra time and despite wearing heels, I walked over just to get a look around. It is big, for one thing. I liked the fact that the pattern books were laid out near the yarn that went with them. I also think they had a great selection of yarn. I came away with this:


I originally wanted to get this dark blue color, but they only had two skeins. I'm planning to make the Clementine Shawlette from IK with it, so I needed three. I really love this dark brown though (color 135, chestnut), and I think it will match a lot in my wardrobe, so I bought it. It is sooo soft. I really love everything I've tried by Blue Sky so far. I know I'm not supposed to be buying yarn but this was vacation yarn, and surely that doesn't count. Especially since it is for a specific project.

I also picked up these:


Actually, I didn't get the Paton's book from Minneapolis. That one I ordered in a fit after I saw yet someone else working on the Urban Aran sweater (I'm pretty sure it was this one... scroll down--it's beautiful.). I had wanted to get this booklet a long time ago, but I guess at the time, I thought I would never use it, or that I didn't have enough skill yet, so I never ordered it. Recently, I started to worry that it would go out of print and I wouldn't be able to find it later when I actually would use it, so I ordered it.

The other two books, I got at Depth of Field. The Whiskey book I had also been thinking about for a long time. I fell in love with this sweater:


(sorry for the glare--my bad photography rears its head again)
They had been using this sweater in the ads for Whiskey yarn for a while, and I kept falling in love with it every time. But the yarn stores here don't make a big deal over the pattern books. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but it is generally harder to find them around here. You have to ask where they are in the stores, and then the store may or may not have what you want. So when I just found it sitting there with all the yarn, I pounced. I would have bought all the yarn for that sweater too, but my suitcase was already busting at the seams. The other sweaters are really cool too. I am pretty sure that I like the one on the cover as well, but it is a little hard to tell without a clear shot of the front.

The Cleckheaton book I bought because it has some really good basic sweater patterns in it. These are two of my favorites, although I love them all:


All in all, it was a successful yarn-store-exploring trip. The next trip is to Frederick, MD, and I'm riding with someone from another company who is also working the conference, so I don't think we're going to have time to scope out yarn stores (she's not a knitter), but on the plus side, I will have 4 hrs in the car of knitting time!

I have so much more to talk about--the Harlot's trip (no, I'm not going to recap it again, but I did have some thoughts about her speech), my current knitting, books I got right before I left (long story), and future projects, but I am also going to try to post more this week since I DO have the time now after all. I also have some films to review (The Prestige and The Illusionist). Next up, I'm getting Devil's Playground, Secret Things, and just for fun, Must Love Dogs. YAY. I'm so glad to be back.