Knitting Safari Goes to the Library

I love reading as much as I love to knit.  Getting lost in a story while working rows of stockinette or garter is always a joy, and if a project is too complicated to turn pages as I turn rows, I turn on an audiobook.  I especially enjoy books, usually reference, that relate to spinning, knitting, and crochet.

 

A couple weeks ago, I dug out my library card from the hidden depths of my wallet and drove to my local library after work.  

Boy, that brought back memories.  I had been going to that branch since the 4th grade.  I remember how my orthodontist was located right across the street, and after every tedious (and occasionally excruciating) visit my mom would let me check out a video or two to enjoy over the weekend (these were the days before Netflix, don't you know).  I remember gathering research material for school projects in the kid's section, and hours spent planning for classes years later when I was in college.  

I waltzed through the nonfiction shelves and narrowed in on my target.  Books on knitting, crochet, and yarn stuff in general were all there waiting for me.  It was time to explore.  I browsed the stitch dictionaries and pondered pattern books, occasionally having to stifle my laughter at the now comically outdated specimens featuring overused novelty yarns.  

After collecting a stack that would have made Hermione Granger circa The Philosopher's Stone proud, I plopped myself down to sort through the possibilities, and welcomed six books into my life for six weeks (I have since renewed my checkout). 

So for fun, here's what I'm reading and why I chose these particular titles.  In no particular order, we have:  

Knitting from the Center Out, by Daniel Yuhas; published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang, New York

After completing the main design (up to round 100 if I'm not mistaken) for Bethany Kok's Shipwreck Shawl (Knitty link, Ravelry link), I discovered that no, double-ended needles, magic loop techniques, and simple ring casting on are not scary.  In fact, once you learn to tread the waters, they're actually incredibly fun!  Mr. Yuhas' book breaks down all the different shapes that can be knit in the round (from tubes to flat circles to ruffles), and how to go about achieving those shapes.  That way, not only can you learn the patterns in the book, you can branch out and design your own patterns.  Projects include hats, socks, shawls and blankets, and much more.  Look out socks, shawls, and teddy bears, here I come!

Fiber Gathering... by Joanne Seiff; published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.

 

Ever since I had become truly serious about knitting and crochet, which was soon after I had first learned cables and stepped into an actual LYS (local yarn shop, for the uninitiated), I had longed to go to a fiber festival.  I had heard endlessly about this event known as "Rhinebeck," and wondered if there could be anything like it on my coast.  While not quite up to the level of the New York State Sheep And Wool Festival (and that is why they shorten it to the name of the town in which it's held), I went to my first fiber fiesta last year in Vista, CA.  Just a quick drive from my house, I was able to arrive at the start, shop around, learn to spin cotton, pet baby alpacas, and come back home in time to get to work!  I absolutely loved it, and I am counting down the weeks until this year's fiesta. 

Ms. Seiff organizes her chapters by region--Northeast, South, Midwest, and West--with each chapter focusing on a major festival. She includes major features at that particular festival, fun patterns, and new techniques for every type of fiber artist.  You can even read up on how to clean a fleece--sweet!

Respect the Spindle, by Abby Franquemont; published by Interweave Press

 

The spinning wheel has been a popular Chekhov's gun in fairy tales.  You know:  Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, and probably more that I haven't heard of.  But the wheel is really a fairly recent invention when you think of it.  The hand spindle, on the other hand, has been around as long as textiles have been around.  Also, while in the aforementioned stores and others like them the wheel is viewed as a rather oppressive and imprisoning device, spindles are perfect for on-the-go work (I can't tell you how many times I've carted my spinning-in-progress to work, in the car, in my handbag, etc.).  Ms. Franquemont reflects on her experiences growing up in Peru and learning to spin with the local girls her age, gives a brief history of spinning in general, and covers everything the beginner needs to know about the craft.    You can geek out over the rotational physics, make your own spindle, learn to turn fiber into yarn, and enjoy projects at the end of the book designed for your own handspun yarn! 

This is one of my favorite resources, and actually the second time checking it out of the library.  I might just break down and buy this one.

Knit the Sky, by Lea Redmond; published by Storey Publishing

 

With a whimsical title, Knit the Sky is contemplative, clever, and has projects that give you quite unique results.  Not sure what colors to put in those striped socks?  A gumball machine can help with that.  Get to know your new neighbors, and knit a cowl with stripes to match the houses on your block.  Ms. Redmond takes ordinary life experiences and creates an extraordinary knitting project from it.  I am head-over-heels in love with this concept!  One of my family's favorite expressions is "it's the little things," and this book creates big--might I add, occasionally functional mementos from everyday, and not-so-everyday moments.  Every idea easily translates to other projects, and the possibilities are as endless as the sky.

No Sheep For You, by Amy R. Singer; published by Interweave Press

Amy Singer is among my favorite people in the knitting world.  She's the editor of online magazine Knitty.com, and she is the author of the very first knitting book I ever picked up, entitled Knit Wit.  (I bought it at a book fair in the 7th or 8th grade, and it is still a proud part of my crafting library.)  Something else to note:  Ms. Singer is allergic to probably the most popular fiber for knitting:  wool.  Hence the creation of this book.  In No Sheep For You, adorned with a very cheeky cover photo, she discusses silk, cotton and other plant-based fibers, and synthetic sources; their production, their properties and how they compare to wool and other animal fibers, and even how to dissect and analyze a skein of yarn (needless to say, one that you have already paid for).  And, did I mention, the patterns are incredible!  No-wool socks?  Yes, please!    There's even a cable-knit pullover in cotton!  COTTON!  I was drawn to this book because of the fact that wool is not a feasible fiber for most of the year in my region.  I love the softness and cushyness of wool and other wool-like animal fibers, but when wool weather only makes an appearance a month or two out of the year, it's hard to cozy up to it.  This book is a great resource for all your non-wool knitting needs!

Spinning, Dyeing, and Weaving (Self-Sufficiency series), by Penny Walsh; published by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

 

To some, making a hand woven or knit something-or-other from absolute scratch--that is, starting with the raw materials then processing, spinning, and dyeing it one's own self before working it into a final product--is a little too extreme.  For others, it's a happily accepted challenge; they know just what they're getting and where it came from.   Between these two sides of the spectrum, I fall somewhere in the middle.  I originally checked this one out for another perspective on handspinning different materials.  And then looking at the title and reading a little more thoroughly, the dye bug hit me.  I'm a sucker for pretty colors, and an entire section (and heck,it's even in part of the title) of Ms. Walsh's book shows how to source and prepare natural colors, and make sure they last on whatever natural fiber you choose.  Before that, however, there's an entire section on fiber sources--both animal and plant, one on prepping the fiber, and another on spinning it.  Finally, after dyeing, there's the weaving.  Weaving has crossed my radar before, especially on Ravelry, but I had never really given it much thought until now.  Working at a loom didn't much appeal to me.  After all, I like being able to take projects with me to enjoy during breaks at work or during down time when I travel.  But each time I look at what other people have made, the urge gets harder and harder to resist.  Ms. Walsh's guide in this section of her book makes it easy for a weaving newbie to get started, even giving directions for making a loom of your own--even a mini-sized version to cart along with you!  She gives info on loom types, setting it up, different weaving styles, and finishing techniques.  Looks like I'm ready to take on a new hobby...

As I keep going to the library and different booksellers, I can't wait to see what other books I find, whether they spin a new perspective on a current fiber arts favorite (get it?) or lead me in a new direction, and I can't wait to share more with all of you.  

Until next time,

Alex

P.S.  Have any books on knitting, crochet, or other fiber arts that you've enjoyed?  Share them in the comments below!