Knitting is obviously "where it's at" – centuries of craft, and the most recent revival started as a fad craze a few years ago has gained great strength and welcomed many new hobbyists. I am one of the many knitters who learned to knit within the last five years, and I think it is pretty obvious (the blog, the incessant knitting, etc.) that I am head-over-heels in love. This is not a short-lived love either… I will undoubtedly die with knitting needles in my hands… and sock yarn…
I spent the majority of my Wednesday (my day off from work) churning out my final project for my summer term graduate class, Media Services. Our assignment was to make a webpage with multimedia elements surrounding a theme. I knew once I saw the assignment that I would do my project about knitting (Prof said it could be about anything!)… I made a video, and some animated .gif images, and these step-by-step tutorials.
Me. Knitting. Durrow.
It took a few shots to get this right – I had to slow things down considerably for Kris to snap these pictures over my shoulder. I hold my yarn in my left hand. I throw. I basically learned to knit at a 30-minute class at the craft store, and then taught myself the rest from books and from observing others both online and at knitting meetups. I think every one of us has a special hybridized knitting style, and this is mine. I am not sure about all of the technical stuff, or if I am doing this in a weird way, but this works for me, so I will stick to it. There is not a "wrong" way to knit, right?
Me. Purling. Durrow.
I wish I had learned to knit earlier, but that probably would have required me to put my book down! I used to read dozens of books a year, and now, not so much. It is not something I am particularly proud of, but it is a reality. I miss reading, but not enough to put my needles down for a night. Of course, reading about knitting, well, that is a different story.
I was catching up on Lisa Shobhana's blog, My Life in Stitches, one that I have enjoyed since my early blogging days.
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I have read about her design process, her knitting deadlines, and yesterday, she unveiled the cover of her new book, Yarnplay: Colorful Techniques And Projects for the Creative Knitter. I think I can judge this book by its cover! Look at the lovely cover sweater! I can't wait to see more. Congratulations, Lisa!! |
And where there is one new fall knitting book, there are 20 more… some of the ones that caught my eye? Yeah, it was the subversive titles that really got me!
Knitting + Pseudo-sexual Innuendos = Memorable Book Titles
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Knitting With Balls looks pretty darn good. I love to knit sweaters for Kris (like the current Durrow knit, by the brilliant Jodi), but there are not many sweaters that we can both agree on – hopefully this book will help us out. (The one on the cover may pass the Kris-test!) It was written by Michael, another DC-area knitter, and a friend of my friend, Jenna. Too bad I have not had the chance to meet him yet, maybe at the book signing?
…And Not Tonight Darling, I'm Knitting? Well, the title made me laugh… but I was rolling my eyes at the same time. I don't know what else to say… without being too snarky.
Not quite as subversive, but an interesting and humorous title nonetheless: Never Knit Your Man a Sweater (Unless You've Got the Ring). Not sure if it is just men's patterns, but I will flip through it at the book store when it hits the shelves.
Any knitting books that you are looking forward to this autumn/winter?
amy Says:
August 11th, 2006 at 9:18 am
Arctic Lace looks cool (pun intended).
Maybe the photos are in black & white or maybe all the items are knit with grey yarn? Which would be all right because it looks like grey is going to be a major color this fall/winter.
Hi Amy & All…. the photos in the book are in black and white. Most of the projects were made in natural-colored qiviut, which is taupe. Qiviut also comes in some beautiful dyed colors now. I’ve recently added a page of sources for the yarn and spinning fiber to my website: http://sheeptoshawl.com/qiviut.html
Donna Druchunas (author of Arctic Lace)
[...] 1. I first learnt to knit when I was about 4 or 5 on my grandmother’s knee. I wasn’t very good at it but fondly remember sitting on her knee and she manipulated my tiny hands around the needles and yarn. 2. I did some knitting at school. I made one granny square after about 10 weeks and I was pleased as punch. That granny square became part of a hot water bottle cover which was sent to a local old people’s home. 3. I took up knitting again about 6 or 7 years ago but had to buy a book to teach myself all over again as I’d forgotten how to do things. I used a Patons knitting guide which looked like it hadn’t been updated since the 50s. 4. I recently changed the way that I purl after seeing a tutorial that Lolly made. 5. My heels are a lot neater now. 6. I’m trying to not have too many FOs on the go at one time. 7. I do suffer from Second Sock Syndrome but I just made a pair where I knitted a bit of each in turn so I didn’t really have that much to knit on the second sock which I really enjoyed. 8. I think I’m going to have to get a second set of DPNs in Size 1 if I carry on doing that. 9. I’m now addicted to socks – thanks to Chris. 10. I like socks because they are small and easy to carry around and it is amusing to watch people who are fascinated by the tiny needles! [...]