Ashley book of knots copyright

Sadly, it’s extremely hefty price

has put it out of our budget.

BUT, recently, my husband

felt a sudden urge to drop

into our favorite second hand store.

He practically swallowed his teeth

when he saw this book in the shop for $5!

Needless to say, he bought it

on the spot!

When he brought it home,

I squealed with glee and

threw my arms around him in delight.

As I have been browsing through it, looking at the line drawings of the knots, I’ve been impressed with how much the knots look like Celtic interlaces, and also like cable knitting.

I love the chatty nature of Clifford Ashley’s narrative and explanations. It feels very ‘blog-like’, which is so charming, and I think somewhat unique, given that this book was written 65 years ago.

There are a ton of knots in the book. Some of them are so daunting that I doubt if I will ever take the time to learn how to make them.  Other knots look like they’d make fabulous jewelry.

There are thousands of diagrams, illustrations and line drawings in the book. The diagrams and illustrations are clear and precise. The line drawings are enchanting and charming, and give a glimpse of a world that has vanished.

It’s a lovely book- a true treasure.  I am so thrilled that my husband listened to his intuition. Bless his heart!

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

copyright Sixth and Spring Books

What constitutes a good hat?

Ah! Well….

now that

depends on

so many things….

First of all,

if you’re a

knitter,

then a good hat

is one you

knitted yourself.

A good hat is fun to knit.

And what makes it fun to knit?

Lots of things: Great design- meaning that there is  a sense of adventure in combining the sculptural, textural and color elements of the hat.

Whimsy is important too, in winter hats- Winter is bleak to miserable at times, so a good hat can punctuate the grey dreariness and hold the bitter cold at bay.

That’s a lot to ask of a hat…. luckily, Cathy Carron has come through with flying colors in her new book:

hattitude: Knits for every mood, published by Sixth and Spring Books. (ordering info)

There are 40 hats in the book, with levels of difficulty ranging from beginner to expert knitting.

The styles are diverse- there are headbands, hoods, toques, cloches, fedoras, berets, caps, tams and even a headscarf.

The approaches vary from nostalgic and retro to oh so hip. There are hats in ‘hattitude’ that are definitely only for the young, and there are hats that are great for all ages.

So, whether you are a very adventurous knitter or prefer to stay with more traditional approaches…. you’ll find it all in ‘hattitude’.

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

copyright Vogue Knitting Sixth&Spring Books

From the beginning of time,

people have wrapped themselves

in simple shapes -

probably first in flattened hides,

and then in twisted, twined and

woven lengths of cloth.

They kept themselves warm

and they also created ceremonial

garb with these simple shapes.

Today, shawls still create a sense of

refuge, comfort and drama.

Shawls have never gone out of style.

This book will help to make sure that they don’t!

Vogue Knitting’s new book: Shawls and Wraps is a gorgeous book (but, what else would you expect from Vogue Knitting?) filled with shawls and wraps of every description- from quick and easy basic shawls to complex masterpieces of intricate lacework or exquisite colorplay.

This collection of superb designs for shawls and wraps  will become an enduring legacy- they really won’t go out of style and  some of the shawls will most assuredly become heirlooms.

The shawls and wraps in the book will look great on virtually any figure shape or size. How often can you say that about a garment?

There are a huge range of techniques used in VK Shawls and Wraps. I love that- it turns the book into a treasure chest of learning curves.

This is a compendium of 40 designs that were originally published in Vogue Knitting magazine- what a bargain to get them all in one book! To order the book,  click this link: Sixth&Spring (no profit in my giving the link).

Legal note: The publisher supplied me with a review copy of the book. I only post reviews of books that I like, because, as an author and designer myself, I KNOW how much effort goes into creating a book, so I have absolutely no interest in posting a negative review.

If I don’t like a book or a product, I simply won’t post about it. It leads to painful conversations sometimes, in having to explain that, but, like my mom always said: If you can’t say somethin’ nice, don’t say nuthin’ at all!

So, if you wonder why I seem to only write rave reviews, this is why.  If I write about it, it’s because I like it. In this case, I write about it because I love it. And, there you have it.

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

copyright Sixth and Spring books

Are you familiar with Kristin Nicolas’s work?

Check out her website: Kristin

And, now, prepare yourself for a treat!

Color by Kristin: How to design your own beautiful knits

by Kristin Nicholas has just been released and it is gorgeous beyond belief!

It’s a gloriously, deliciously inspiring book by master knitter and designer, Kristin Nicholas.

Do yourself a favour and buy yourself a copy of this book- call it a holiday present for yourself, because you’ll be transported by the beauty of the photographs. That’s a very inexpensive holiday, isn’t it? Open the book, get swept away? Sounds good to me!

Besides, you will want to make almost everything in the book as gifts for your loved ones, and okay, you’re going to want to make at least 3/4 of them for yourself, too….

The designs range in difficulty from entry level right up to advanced level knitting. There is everything from the world’s neatest knitted slippers (The Shepherd socks- ohhhhhhhhhhh I have to find time to knit some of those……..)

Recently, I asked Kristin a few questions about her work.

Here are my questions in green and  her responses:

I suppose it is the need to be creative. Somehow, someway, I try to be creative every day. It isn’t always about knitting or textiles. Some days it may be taking photos for my blog, cooking a good meal, rearranging stuff, sewing a shirt or pants. I think it is the act of creation that I like the most (including writing blog posts and photographing things for my blog).

I like to work on big projects that take a long time (i.e. a book, redecorating a house). Even though it seems that no progress is being made, eventually the whole thing is done and it is time to start something else. A book is a very cool thing because you have something that you can hold in your hand. I can look at it and say “I made that” and it feels good (usually).

2] What do you feel is the most delicious thing that is capturing your attention for future design work?

I am still in a color crazed knitting mood at the moment. I have people asking me to do my old stand-by’s “cabled designs but I am resisting. I am so much loving the color thing. I can’t get enough of mixing colors together whether it be striping, Fair-Isling, embroidering or painting my house.

3] Do you have any stumbling blocks in your work that tend to trip you up? AND- are there any ’saving graces’ that get you out of design dilemmas?

Procrastination – that is my worst stumbling block. I leave everything to the last minute and then panic about the deadline.

As for Saving Grace – Deadlines!

If I didn’t have a deadline, I never would get anything done.

4] Does where you live have an impact on you as a designer?

I live on a sheep farm in rural New England about two hours from Boston and 3 hours from New York City. It surely isn’t the fashion capital of the world. Our house is very old (for the US, that is). It was built in 1751 and parts of it are rather drafty and down-right cold. All winter long, the three of us are covered in woolens – sweaters, hats, afghans, throws, winter wooly coats, hats, mittens, gloves. You get the picture.

There is also about 6 months of gray when all the leaves are off the trees, there is snow, rain, or sleet outside. Our dirt road is made of a gravel in a neutral gray color. All winter long I have to find color other places. Color makes me feel happy and safe and warm. My family and I are surrounded with color everywhere we look and we all love it. And so, that is why I knit with color all winter long.

5] You are obviously passionate about color. What else do you savor and focus on in your design work?

I live on a farm at the end of a dirt road and natural materials abound. I like working with natural fibers whether they are wool, cashmere, mohair, alpaca, and cotton in my fiber/knitting/embroidery life.

But in my other life (my husband and I are sheep farmers), I love all the natural materials including seeds, the dirt, sunflowers, hay, leaves, raw dirty fleece. I love how natural things feel and sound when you work with them or just plain observe them – snapping twigs, leaves crunching underfoot, corn shucks twisting and folding, the wind whipping through the trees. I like to do flower arranging, gardening, interior decorating and use authentic things in those works.

(A couple of Christmases ago I did a tutorial on my blog on little birch houses and I still get numerous hits from it each week.)

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

super finishing techniques for crocheters by Betty Barnden

I absolutely LOVE

‘Super Finishing

Techniques for

Crocheters:

Inspiration, projects

and more for

finishing crochet projects

with style’ by

Betty Barnden

published by

St. Martin’s Griffin.

This book is just plain fabulous. Don’t be fooled by the title- there is just so much more than just finishing techniques in this book.

It’s really a source book of  creative potential that will give crocheters the opportunity to take their crochet to a whole new level.

There are construction techniques, collars, pockets, motifs, edgings, fastenings, creative touches, trims, alternative approaches that will inspire leaps of creativity, and tons of ways of making adaptations.

There are also some basic designs that Ms Barnden shows how to make one of a kind by putting together the wonderful stuff she compiled in previous chapters. This is just all totally yummy!

Super Finishing Techniques for Crocheters is one of those books that is destined to become a treasured companion for crocheters of all skill levels.  It’s amazing that sparkles don’t tumble out of the pages when you pick it up and thumb through it.

Do I love this book? Absolutely! Do I give it the total thumbs up? Absolutely.  It’s a good ‘un.  Top of the charts for this one.

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

paper yarn copyright St Martin's Griffin

Paper Yarn:

24 Creative Projects

to make

using a variety

of techniques

by Uta Donath,

Eva Hauck,

Petra Hoffman

and Claudia Huboi,

published by

St Martin’s Griffin.

I had no idea that there are so many paper yarns available on the marketplace! I REALLY need to find explore this more!

The projects are made using a wide variety of techniques:  weaving, crochet, knitting, sewing, wrapping, kumihimo, braiding and decoupage.

I love the shoulder bag that uses woven bands in combination with felt. Yum.

And, the box with woven sections and interspersed with unwound paper yarn is delicious, too.

There are all manner of really neat projects, from fashion accessories to home decor items.

The techniques are diverse and inviting, and are well explained, often with low cost options for making the projects.

One quibble: I wish that they had given the manufacturer’s name and source for the ’school loom’ that is used in several of the projects. (It’s not Schacht’s School Loom, which could have been used for the projects, though)

The loom that they call a ’school loom’ is a frame style loom that has a magic heddle similar to the ones made by Goodwood Looms.

If you are spinning your own paper yarn (see this LINK for a tutorial on how to spin paper yarn) or have found some out in the world, then this book will inspire you to try out some fun ways of working with it.

(And, of course, many of the projects would work beautifully in other yarns, too).

My policy on Hankering for Yarn is that I only write about things I like.  I like this book.  Thumbs up.

(But I think that a section on how to make your own paper yarn would have been a valuable addition to it).

(Legal disclosure: Review copy supplied by St Martin’s Griffin Press).

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I have had this wonderful

book since my student days.

Long ago and far away,

a friend said to me:

“I just bought a book

that I think you’ll like

but I don’t much.

Wanna trade?’

I took one look, snatched it from

her hands and clutched it to

my heart.

Books have come and gone from my book shelves, but this one is not going to be leaving my collection.

photo by Noreen Crone-Findlay copyright

I can’t find the original

date of publication for

this wonderful compendium

of needlework techniques,

but it looks to me like

it was published first

in the late 19th C or early

20th C.

If you enjoy investigating

historical needlework

techniques, then you will

love this book.

When I am researching an obscure or unusual needlework technique, this book is my first choice to dive into. It’s a delicious collection of  ‘what is’ and ‘how to’s. ‘

Want to learn about Wallachian Borders? Assisi work? Damask Darning? You guessed it…. check out The Complete Encyclopedia of Needlework.  The only problem is, you’ll end up spending hours reading  and reading, as one fascinating nugget of needlework history unfolds after another…..

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

Quilt of Belonging-The Invitation Project copyright

My dear friend pulled this incredible book

out of her bag and asked:

Have you seen this?

Quilt of Belonging-

The Invitation Project

by

Esther Bryan

and friends,

published by

Boston Mills Press

2005

is a spectacular book

that chronicles the creation

of a 263 block tapestry

of needlework techniques

made by people

who have immigrated to Canada as well as the many numbers of indigenous peoples who were here before immigrations began.

Esther Bryan is a fiber artist who conceived of this dazzling project and co-ordinated the vast number of people who were integral to creating the Quilt of Belonging. She tracked down an immigrant artist (who had moved to Canada) from every possible country in the world, and then invited them to express their culture by making a block that reflected their home country and roots. She also asked people from each of the indigenous aboriginal cultures do the same thing. Even cultures that have gone extinct are represented.

The book is just incredible, with a page devoted to each block in the gigantic quilt, with the story of the maker of the block, and a beautiful full color photo of each block.

The techniques are spectacularly diverse and masterfully executed. It is dazzling!

This is a reference encyclopedia of the needlework techniques of Planet Earth!

There is also a lovely website for the Quilt of Belonging, where you can see photos and also there’s a youtube video:

(youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4di1ftfa28)

It’s breathtakingly beautiful- what a treasure!

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

Interweave's Compendium of Finishing Techniques by Naomi McEneely copyright

Interweave’s Compendium of Finishing Techniques (Crochet, Embroidery, Knitting, Knotting, Weaving)

by Naomi McEneely is one of those keester-izing books.

First of all, it’s beautifully assembled.

Inside the hardcover is a coil bound book

that lays perfectly flat wherever you open it.

The illustrations are beautiful,

the photographs are great.

Ms McEneely has put together a

fascinating collection of finishing techniques

that is timeless and an essential

reference book for any fiber artist

or yarncentric crafter of any and all descriptions.

And, she’s written it beautifully.

The title says it all.

She has researched all kinds of ways of finishing crochet, knitting, woven and embroidered pieces in almost every way imaginable.

This book is a treat to schmooze through because you’ll have light bulbs going off all over the place!  Your ‘aha’ moments will be stacking up like yarnie little building blocks.

Ms McEneely is good. She is better/best and this book rocks. Do I love it? Oh yes! Will you learn heaps of useful stuff from it? You bet.

Post from: Hankering for Yarn

So, writing a review of this book is really easy for me, because I absolutely love Kirsten Glasbrook’s book: Tapestry Weaving. It’s published  by Search Press and is a real keeper.

copyright Kirsten Glasbrook, Search Press

Ms Glasbrook teaches all the

basics of tapestry weaving,

with beautiful photographs

of each element .

As well, there is

a totally gorgeous

gallery of her

spectacular  tapestries.

I love her  use of color,

and the recurring motifs in

her work.

She writes in a pleasant and generous manner and I suspect that she’d be  a real treat to take a workshop from.

There are lots of books out there on tapestry weaving, but this one is tops on my list.  So, if you’re interested in tapestry weaving, then this is certainly a book that you will want to explore.

Happy weaving!

Post from: Hankering for Yarn