It's Knitting Time!

New BrooklynTweed Look Book is out. And I want to knit them all...but Bedford is a favorite.

via Brooklyn Tweed

Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders

Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders
by Judith Durant

What a great idea! I have so many sock yarns (61 skeins, the last time I checked) and don't really want to make that many socks. Some of them I bought to make shawls, but even that is a bit excessive. This book has so many great ideas and projects, and best of all, the Barnes & Noble edition I picked up has 5 additional patterns! OK, maybe that's overkill.

I am looking forward to making some wristwarmers, gloves and fingerless mittens as well as scarves and shawls. The baby sweaters are lovely and sock yarns are perfect since they are washable. However, I don't know if I'll be able to part with my yarns, and I don't know of any babies small enough for these sweaters. Doesn't hurt to be prepared!

This book is not on Ravelry...yet.

***** - 5 stars for the projects based on the photos. :-)

New Knitting Books!

So many new knitting books are coming out! It's very exciting, but certainly the field of knitting has changed in the past 8 years...

60 Quick Knits
Great resource for quick projects using just a few skeins of Cascade 220 (or similar worsted weight yarn). The patterns are for scarves, hats, and gloves -- things that take one or two skeins of Cascade 220. A couple of the projects are whimsical mittens and hats for kids. The projects make great winter gifts for men, women, and children.

Knitting 24/7 by Veronik Avery
I've been looking at this book for awhile..it features 30 patterns organized by AM, PM, and Weekend. Most of the projects are small -- socks, scarves, and gloves -- but there are also larger projects: a sweater, skirt, and vest.

The designs feature some colorwork, stitch texture, and lace. None are very radical or avant-garde, just lots of tasteful, classic knits.

Vampire Knits by Genevieve Miller
When I first saw this book, I was skeptical. Were they serious? But the patterns are pretty nice. Although it has ties to the Twilight phenomena and popular vampire culture, the patterns themselves are pretty tame. Lots of lace & romance with a few fun projects suitable for Halloween, including a child's sweater with intarsia fangs and a werewolf hat.

Knit & Wrap by Nathalie Mornu
Yum! This book feature 25 patterns for capelets, cowls and neckwraps. I like it because it has patterns for small quanitites of super bulky yarn. I love super bulky yarn, but it make super bulky sweaters and tends to be expensive and available only in small balls/skeins.

I'm really looking forward to making the shrug with the owl cables...there are also patterns for lighter weight yarns such as Kidsilk Haze. And patterns for yarn from Patons and Caron as well as Rowan. All in all, it has a nice range of smaller projects suitable for gifts.

Little Anne Bronte

I've been reading "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" and really enjoying it! While it isn't as dramatic as "Jane Eyre" or "Wuthering Heights," it makes up for that by being a realistic story of an abusive husband and the lengths his wife goes to escape from him. Helen is a bit of a goody-goody, but still likable. You can empathize with her fears for her son. Her husband is a philandering, alcoholic, controlling man who can be charming if he wants to be. But most of the time he can't be bothered to control any of his behavior. He also has a sadistic streak a mile wide where Helen is concerned.

Why has Anne Bronte been so overlooked? I guess it's because her sisters' books are so emotional and dramatic. Also, the subject matter of "The Tenant" is scandalous for the time it was written. I also plan to read "Agnes Gray." I think Anne was the most practical and down-to-earth of the Brontes. She worked as a governess to supplement the family's income even though she didn't enjoy the work much more than Charlotte or Emily did.

More Reading, Less Knitting

Taking a break from 19th century British books, I've been reading "The Anglo Files," a hilarious, but unflattering picture of the British. I guess I'm also taking a break from my obsession with Canada to indulge my obsession with England.

On the other hand, I have *finally* reached the final ruffle part of the Citron shawl. It should only take another month to finish (I hope not).

Bronte-a-thon

It's supposed to be a Bronte-along, but since I was planning on reading some of their works anyway, and there is such a wealth of "fan fiction" available, it's gotten a little out of hand.

So far, I have read:

• Emily's Ghost
• The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte
• The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte (I guess she had a lot of secrets...)
• Jane Eyre (the graphic novelization)

I am currently reading "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall." I have also started watching "Wuthering Heights" (the Masterpiece Classic version that was on a couple of weeks ago). It differs slightly from the book and I'm finding it difficult to follow.

Reading

Been reading more than knitting or other crafting...mostly some "young readers" books, but they've been very enjoyable. If I could only finish those three books lingering at the top of my Shelfari reading list...

1. Recently finished: Oracles of Delphi Keep - this started slow but now I can't wait for the next installment. Can two orphans and their friends in England keep World War II from destroying the world?
2. Recently finished: McCarthy's Bar - fun read about an Englishman trying to find his inner Irishman. Lots of humor, some a bit mean-spirited.
3. Zipped through: The Lost Art of Gratitude - I love Alexander McCall Smith. His books always have good insight into human nature and are a pleasure to read.
4. Zipped through: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey - Another great series for young readers...this was the second installment.
5. Zipped through: Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat - so cute! Loved it! The bad guys get their just desserts and the rodents save the day. This is also the start of a series.