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  • Book Review: Astounding Knits!

    Book Review: Astounding Knits!

    I have a friend who knits tree cozies. It’s true. I am a self-professed slow knitter, so I can’t imagine ever knitting a sweater for a tree, especially since I’ve never even completed one for myself. But there’s something that is wonderfully, secretly anarchist about these public displays of truly odd knitting that makes them wonderful. And, you know what? I honestly wish sometimes that I could knit fast enough to make this kind of knitting worth my time. It’s fun! Wonderful, and rebellious. I only wish I could.

    So imagine my delight when I discovered this book last week: Astounding Knits!: 101 Spectacular Knitted Creations and Daring Feats. It is a compendium of all that is good, and weird, and a little twisted, about knitting.

    Imagine the biggest, I mean BIGGEST, pink bunny in the world. Or colorwork sweaters so small they could fit on the tip of your fingers. A human heart made of lace, or a complete skeleton. Ever wanted a motorcycle cozy? How about a superhero costume?

    The author, Lela Nargi, has written several other books that are interesting collections of thoughts and experiences of other knitters. I’ve listened to the audiobooks and I’ve loved them. This book is something like an extension of the theme. Who knew there were so many crazy and wonderful things that one could do with knitting? Surely I consider myself to be a creative person. But, my mind would never have gone to a place where I would have thought it would be fun to knit tea cozies in the shape of houses of infamous murder scenes. Or knitted sushi? Who thinks of that stuff?

    This book isn’t a knitting book. It’s a book about knits, and the people who make them. It’s fun. It’s odd. And totally inspiring. It’s only around 10 dollars for this wonderful little book, and next time I go to knit group, I’m bringing it with me. I’m sure it will provide loads of entertainment.

    Would I recommend this book? Absolutely. Every knitter needs inspiration like this in his or her library. Any time I feel like I’m in a knitting rut, I’ll be sure to pull this one off the shelf and flip through a few of the projects. It’s sure to keep my knitting on its toes.

    And, if ever I do decide to knit a tree cozy? I’ll look here first for inspiration.

  • Book Review: Knit This Doll

    Book Review: Knit This Doll

    I just received the book, “Knit This Doll!: A Step-by-Step Guide to Knitting Your Own Customizable Amigurumi Doll” after waiting almost 6 months for the publication date. I love dolls! And I was intrigued by what this book would have to offer. After paging through the whole book I can say that I think I’m really going to like it!

    The book starts with the basic formula for making the dolls. It talks about yarn choices, and other materials needed. After giving you the basic layout of how to knit a doll, the majority of the book goes into how to knit the numerous variations that will create the various parts, including feet and legs (or shoe and pants style), numerous clothing and sweater/body styles, and tips for doing various hairstyles and facial expressions, using a variety of materials. Overall these seem like quick little knits, perfect for using up small bits of yarn, odd little buttons and various other things.

    The book takes a mix-and-match approach to body parts, clothing styles, and accessories, such that the design possibilities are practically endless. The book even includes such details as whether or not to knit individual fingers, separate clothing pieces, and a variety of shapes that could easily turn your doll into an animal, or even a mermaid.

    Me? I’d probably be interested in creating knitted amigurumi dolls of people I know. I’d probably start with someone wearing purple sneakers, a long denim skirt, a hoodie, and purple bangs sticking out from under a rasta hat.

    Hmmm… I wonder if that sounds like anybody I know?

    I almost can’t wait to start, except there’s this shawl… back to that–tomorrow.

  • Books for Playtime Knitting

    Yesterday I received a package from Knit Picks. While it contained no yarn (this time!), I confess that I caved on the last day of their big book sale. I think I went a little nuts. Over the next few entries I will talk a bit about the books I got and what I like about them.

    First up is Knitted Finger Puppets: 34 Easy-to-Make Toys, by Meg Leach. I’ve been on this kick lately where I’ve been wanting to make teeny, quick, little knitted things, and these projects just about fit the bill. I can’t wait to make some of these. There are enough animal designs to create an entire finger puppet zoo, a Christmas-themed set starring Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Some characters that will enable one to act out the stories from several fairy tales, and a whole circus set. I can’t wait to make some of these! They really do look so fun!


    Next up is Knitted Toys: 25 Fresh and Fabulous Designs, by Zoe Mellor. I love this lady’s books! The items in here are all so cute. I wish I had had this book years ago when my daughter was younger, because I think she would have liked to play with a lot of the things in this book. I especially love the Dress Up Dolly and the Knitted Snake. But the Kitty Pyjama Bag is also adorable, and maybe if I can get up the gumption this year I’ll make that one for one of my young nieces.

    In knitting news this week, I frogged my giant mitered square that has been in my knitting purse for the last three months. It was huge, for one thing, and it was on needles that were too small. Noro Kureyon on 4’s? I am a loose knitter, so when I knit a hat this is what I would usually use since I prefer very warm, tightly knit hats. But the square was coming out feeling a bit like a horse blanket. And that wasn’t what I was going for! So I started over, with half as many stitches and size 8 needles instead. I think I’m going to like it much better. I’ll try to post pics tomorrow.

    Happy Friday! Ciao for now.

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