Sunday, March 22, 2009

Heirloom Afghans by Judy Crow

Published 2009

Over 50 new afghan designs, using worsted weight, sport or baby yarn. Chapters include Legacy Lace, Antique Edgings, Estate Jewel Tones, Old-time Pineapples and Filets, Generations of Baby, Forever Quilts and Hope Chest treasures. Skill level Easy to Intermediate

Hot-Water Bottle Covers by Chrissie Day

Published 2009

On a cold night, nothing’s more comforting than a hot-water bottle—but a cozy cover is essential if you don’t want to burn your toes! Anyone who has a boring, naked “hottie”—or who simply enjoys making small, imaginative crafts—will love these projects. They have practical and fun designs, make great gifts, and are perfect for using up those odd balls of yarn.

Every member of the family will want one!

Mother-Daughter Knits : 30 Designs to Flatter and Fit

Published 2009

Knit to flatter and fit!

It sounds simple. But if every knitter knew how to do it, the unflattering sweater and the top that doesn’t fit would be things of the past. Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in, and knitwear designer Sally Melville knows why: too many knitters choose the wrong pattern for their shape and size!

After decades of teaching, designing, and writing about knitting, Sally Melville knows how to customize knitting patterns to fit a wide variety of body types perfectly. With a little planning and subtle alterations, you can make a garment that is just right for you! In Mother-Daughter Knits, Sally shares this knowledge for the first time. Together with her daughter, fellow knitwear designer Caddy Melville Ledbetter, Sally demystifies the process of picking the right pattern and modifying it to your body’s advantage. Whether you’re a beginning or experienced knitter, young or mature, an hourglass or a triangle, Sally and Caddy have you covered!

The authors have designed 30 customizable garments for women of all shapes, heights, and ages, including:

• a slimming Jackie Kennedy—style Camelot coat,
• a reversible tank top with a scoop neck,
• a Jane Austen—inspired jacket with an empire waist,
• a flirty top that enhances feminine curves.

With fascinating insight, practical advice, and patterns for both classic and avant-garde tastes, Mother-Daughter Knits just might be the most useful guide a knitter could have–whether she’s young or just young at heart.

100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet : A Collection of Beautiful Blooms for Embellishing Garments, Accessories, and More by Lesley Stanfield

Published 2009

100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet showcases a lush bouquet of blossoms perfect for embellishing your favorite clothing or accessories. As a finishing touch for all your handmade garments or a great pick-me-up for a vintage find, these lovely blooms are the perfect way to use up scraps of yarn or try out interesting new yarns.
Breeze through this gorgeous collection featuring a colorful palette of simple spiraling roses, saucer-sized poppies, delicate lilacs, an assortment of vegetables, and more. All are shown full-size and in scale and is complete with stitched leaves and embroidered stems. Each flower has full instructions, yarn requirements, and a suggested skill level. An additional section serves as a refresher course with basic techniques and provides inspiration for embellishing your finished flowers with beads, buttons, and sequins. You can also learn how to use the flowers in a range of fun projects, from customizing clothing and accessories, to decorating gift-wrapped packages.
This book will inspire all knitters and crocheters to pick up their needles and start creating their own beautiful blooms.

Wild Tea Cosies: 24 Step-By-Step Patterns by Loani Prior

Published 2009

This collection of mind-boggling tea cozy designs will motivate knitters everywhere to create their craziest fantasies and most psychedelic imaginings, all in the name of keeping tea warm. Each of the sculptural projects—inspired by everything from flowering gardens and geometric shapes to coral reefs and scrumptious food—has simple, straightforward instructions and patterns. Gorgeous photographs illustrate the design details of the tea cozies, which are knitted and crocheted in easily-accessibly eight-ply wool. Filled with tips and techniques as well as ideas for individualizing each creation with glamorous wools, feathers, buttons, or any other decoration, this guide is sure to inspire.

Big Book of Beautiful Afghans: 30 Gorgeous Projects by Connie Ellison

Published 2009

The choices are endless in this big book of beautiful afghans for you to crochet. Skill levels range from Beginner and Easy to Intermediate. Materials needed include a variety of yarns from size 10 thread all the way to bulky weight and hooks from F to N. There's something for everyone in this fabulous pattern book.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Fiber Gathering: Knit, Crochet, Spin, and Dye More Than 25 Projects Inspired by America's Festivals by Joanne Seiff

Published 2009

Fiber Gathering offers readers a sampling of the rich fiber heritage of the US. From East to West, author Joanne Seiff whisks readers through ten festivals that highlight the various themes, sizes, and flavors of American fiber fairs. This book features a rich mixture of photos, essays, ideas, and patterns that guide readers through each festival. Whether purchased as an actual souvenir or as armchair travel, there’s a chance for knitters to bring a little of the festival home, through more than twenty-five patterns; with fourteen knitting projects, four spinning projects, three crochet designs, two felting projects, two shepherd/spinning how-tos, and one traditional rug-hooking tutorial.
Festivals featured in the book include:

  • Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
  • New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival (3,000 attendees in '08)
  • Missouri’s Heart of America Sheep Show and Wool Festival
  • Estes Park Wool Market (CO)
  • Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon
  • Michigan Fiber Festival
  • TN State Fair Fleece Auction and Spinning Competition (Nashville)
  • New York State Sheep and Wool Festival (Rhinebeck, NY)
  • The Wool Festival at Taos (New Mexico)
  • SAFF, Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival in Asheville, NC.

Iris Schreier's Reversible Knits: Creative Techniques for Knitting Both Sides Right by Iris Schreier

Published 2009 This appears to be the same book I posted earlier but with a different cover...

What a winning combination: celebrated author Iris Schreier, 24 exquisite projects, and dozens of in-demand techniques that result in garments that look great on both sides. Using knit/purl, two-color, double knitting, cable, lace, and modular knitting methods, Iris creates beautiful shrugs, shawls, scarves, throws, hats, socks, and more. Some of the items actually have different looks on the front and back while others simply show the same clean, finished fabric throughout. Iris walks novices through all the essentials, then shares modern adaptations of classic stitches, illuminated by photos of hand-knitted swatches. As a bonus, there’s a super-handy yarn substitution chart and an appendix with extra variations for advanced knitters. Knitters of all skill levels can now achieve true “revers-atility”!

Pints and Purls: Portable Projects for the Social Knitter by Collins, Libby Bruce

Published 2009

Recipes for tasty cocktails and delicious hors d'oeuvres are not the only things that you'll find in Pints and Purls. For the social knitter who likes to have one drink (or a few!), there are a variety of portable projects such as drink cozies and soft scarves that feature simple-to-follow patterns, plus tips and tricks for fixing mistakes should you have a bit too much while knitting. The pocket size and quick-to-knit projects are perfect for the knitter on the go.

Greetings from Knit Cafe by Suzan Mischer

Published 2009

When former CBS vice president Suzan Mischer decided to open a knitting store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, she wanted to create a place where people could gather, slow down, and talk (as well as buy supplies). The result was Knit Cafe, a sleek yet homey neighborhood yarn store in one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world.
This fabulous shop—and its unique spirit—are celebrated in Greetings from Knit Cafe, now available in an updated paperback edition. Colorful and chic, the book offers 30 of Knit Cafe’s most dazzling patterns for "California-style" projects ranging from hiking socks to a bikini to a "red carpet" gown. It also features stories about how the celebrated store came to be and how its eclectic clientele came to shape it. Even a few favorite recipes from regular customers are included. Knitters nationwide will enjoy Knit Cafe’s California spirit and join its eclectic circle of devotees.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Directions For Knitting Socks And Stockings (1883) by E. Lewis

Published 2009

Revised And Adapted For Use In Elementary Schools.

Humm, wonder what that means???

Ethnic Knitting Exploration : Lithuania, Iceland, and Ireland

Published 2009

Donna Druchunas extends readers' knowledge of traditional knitting designs and techniques, presented in step-by-step fashion. Working as she did in Ethnic Knitting Discovery, she covers three new regions and more complicated structures, including raglan, yoke, and saddle-shoulder sweaters. Each section includes a small introductory project that familiarizes knitters with the skills, followed by pullover sweaters that apply them. A supplementary chapter shows how to adapt pullover designs to make cardigans.

More Beaded Purses Lessons in Knitting Techniques by Nancy Seven Van Der Puy

Published 2009

Knitted Comfort for the Sole by Lena Maikon Volchok

Published 2009

This creative collection of footwear includes a wide variety of socks, slippers, and leg warmers. The designer has captured a compelling mix of traditional styling with a flair for the unexpected. A wide range of yarn weights and textures are used to produce a thoughtful grouping of 22 intriguing designs.

Iris Schreier's Reversible Knits: Creative Techniques for Knitting Both Sides Right by Iris Schreier

Published 2009

What a winning combination: celebrated author Iris Schreier, 24 exquisite projects, and dozens of in-demand techniques that result in garments that look great on both sides. Using knit/purl, two-color, double knitting, cable, lace, and modular knitting methods, Iris creates beautiful shrugs, shawls, scarves, throws, hats, socks, and more. Some of the items actually have different looks on the front and back while others simply show the same clean, finished fabric throughout. Iris walks novices through all the essentials, then shares modern adaptations of classic stitches, illuminated by photos of hand-knitted swatches. As a bonus, there’s a super-handy yarn substitution chart and an appendix with extra variations for advanced knitters. Knitters of all skill levels can now achieve true “revers-atility”!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Knitting and Tea: 25 Classic Knits and the Teas That Inspired Them by Jane Gottelier, Patrick Gottelier

Published 2009

Crisp lace table linens.
Tinkling silver spoons on saucers.
The billowing steam of freshly-brewed tea.
Skeins of fine yarn on delicate needles.

Knitting and Tea brings together these two hallowed traditions in all their beauty, charm, and poise. The author takes you on a journey from the lush tea plantations of Sri Lanka to the tearooms in the United Kingdom to explore the intertwining history of these two passions. The luxurious photographs of each location entice you to sit and sample the delectable teatime recipes included and to knit designs that evoke classic elegance. From a stately Cricket Sweater to lovely Tea Cozies, an embellished Cupcake Cardigan, and timeless Argyle Socks, the author shows you how knitting and tea can go hand-in-hand anywhere.

Simple Style: 19 Innovative to Traditional Designs with Simple Knitting Techniques by Ann Budd

Published 2009

Contemporary garments that celebrate stunning results without complicated techniques are the focus of this collection. Step-by-step instructions, thorough materials lists, and a design notebook cover the ways to maximize style while simplifying knitting and finishing techniques. Requiring only a basic understanding of knitting, this guide is packed with clever design ideas such as innovative edgings, a well-placed band of color or texture, an unexpected yarn, and creative constructions that minimize seams or customize personal fit.

Tops and Toes : A Whimsical Collection to Delight Hat and Sock Knitters by Kara Gott Warner

Published 2009

This title will inspire and excite you to get those needles moving! You'll be impressed by the variety of patterns for babies, kids and adults that are simple and enticing for knitters of every level. A world of excitement to be found in these compact creations. We've selected a variety of designs to excite sock fanatics, as well as an assortment of colorful caps to keep those eager hands busy for hours to come!