More Good Books and a Few Knits

Hi, Knitters,
I have some more books to chat about briefly today and then at the end I have a couple of knits to update you on.... so here we go!

I started reading Coop by Michael Perry a long time ago, I believe it was on one of our trips to Door County at the end of the summer. I loved reading this book but got sidelined by work so I never quite finished it. Well, now I have finished it and I think it is touching, funny, and at times poignant. Clearly Michael Perry is a masterful writer and story teller. I recommend this book if you like to read about real life adventures from childhood to adulthood told through a wonderful use of language. It is a compelling read. A bonus for me, Michael Perry grew up and lives in Wisconsin (he is my same age, too) which makes things all the more familiar.

Click here to find out more about Coop.

Here is the description from Amazon:
Living in a ramshackle Wisconsin farmhouse—faced with thirty-seven acres of fallen fences and overgrown fields, and informed by his pregnant wife that she intends to deliver their baby at home—Michael Perry plumbs his unorthodox childhood for clues to how to proceed as a farmer, a husband, and a father. Whether he's remembering his younger days—when his city-bred parents took in sixty or so foster children while running a sheep and dairy farm—or describing what it's like to be bitten in the butt while wrestling a pig, Perry flourishes in his trademark humor. But he also writes from the quieter corners of his heart, chronicling experiences as joyful as the birth of his child and as devastating as the death of a dear friend.

I received a review copy of Sock Yarn Studio not too long ago. If you are looking for top-notch ways to knit with your sock yarn stash or you really enjoy working with fingering weight yarn, this book is just the thing for you. The author, Carol J. Sulcoski, designs many of the projects along with other many famous knitters making this a collection to keep and use over and over again. Really, this is a great book that I will use for years to come.

Click here for more information on Sock Yarn Studio.

Click here to see the projects on Ravelry. You'll be impressed!

Here is the description from amazon:
Knitting socks and knitting with hand-painted yarns are two hot trends. But what are knitters to do with leftover sock yarn? Or when they burn out on knitting socks? Sock Yarn Studio comes to the rescue with a delightful mix of projects--from one-skein hats, mittens, and scarves to multi-skein wraps, sweaters, and more--created with fingering or sport-weight sock yarns. And there's plenty of helpful advice for selecting yarns and knitting smart with tricky hand-paints and self-patterning yarns.

This is another fantastic book I recently received for review and I couldn't be more enthusiastic about recommending it to you. I am a longtime admirer of Kaffe Fassett and I know I've written about this many times in the past. Honestly, after reading about half of this new book, Dreaming in Color, An Autobiography, I can't tell you what a fascinating life Kaffe Fassett has had so far. I had no idea of his rich and varied history. Kaffe Fassett has paved the way for knitters, designers, artists and especially knitting books as we know them today. He is an incredibly important figure in our knitting history. As knitters we owe him so much recognition.

This book is a gorgeous coffee table treasure but it so much more than the vibrant photos, it is a moving and interesting autobiography and I am so glad it has been published. What a treat to read, hold, soak in and enjoy.

Click here to find out more about Dreaming in Color.

TC was thrilled when this huge coffee table book filled with a feast of puppies showed up a couple of weeks ago. It was sent to us by Stewart, Tabori & Chang publishing company. TC could not stop looking through the pages with non-stop sighs of awwws and oooohs in tow. It was fun to see her reaction. She took it over to show her little neighbor friend and she told me her friend was crazy over the book, too. They spent a long time looking and talking about each and every page. This is a treat of a book for any and all puppy lovers.

The book is just what it says in the title, Puppyhood, Life Size Portraits of Puppies at 6 Weeks Old. The photography is amazing and the subject couldn't be any sweeter.

Click here to see more about Puppyhood by J. Nichole Smith.

Here is the description from amazon:
Puppyhood showcases adorable puppies in life-size photographs taken at six weeks old. The book itself is oversize at 13 by 11 inches, allowing enough space to bring each of these little ones to life. Twenty-five breeds are captured in engaging photographs, showing all the details that make puppies so irresistible, from their pink bellies to their tiny teeth, soft ears, and oversize paws. The book features the most popular breeds, including the French bulldog, Labrador, golden retriever, and Parson Russell Terrier. Puppyhood is a unique gift book for dog lovers everywhere.

Now for some brief knitting updates, I have about 10 people test knitting my Waiting for Winter mitten pattern. I've already gotten some feedback and am waiting for more. It isn't the most exciting pattern (a mitten and fingerless mitts pattern for a worsted weight yarn in three sizes, small, medium and large) but who doesn't need a clearly written basic worsted mitten pattern? I sure do and that's why I wrote it.

It's nothing fancy but it's going to be a good one.

This pattern will be available after Thanksgiving so you'll have plenty of time to whip up some Waiting for Winter mittens for the holidays ahead.

I am also having several knitters test knit my pattern for the Tiny Pullover Sweater and Cardigan. I have gotten some great feedback on this already and so this pattern will be available after Thanksgiving as well.

Stay tuned if interested.

For those of you who don't celebrate Thanksgiving, it is at the end of next week.

For my own personal knitting, after I steeked the Calligraphy Cardigan I have made some progress on the button band. This cardigan is no small feat with tons of stockinette stitch and ribbing, two of my favorite things to wear. I think it is going to become a favorite for sure.

Oh, and on this chilly fall morning I pulled on my handknit sock and lo and behold..... 

best, susie