On My Bookshelf: Pop Knitting

A shorter version of  this book review was originally published in Knit Edge magazine, issue #2. The review copy was purchased at full retail price. As a member of the Powell's Books Partner Program, I receive a 7.5% commission on referrals.

Pop Knitting: Bold Motifs Using Color & Stitch

Pop Knitting: Bold Motifs Using Color & Stitch

Britt-Marie Christoffersson

Interweave Press

With decades of experience in design, textiles, and knitting, Britt-Marie Christoffersson offers up 200+ pages of striking examples of using basic knitting techniques to create eye-popping textures, color patterns, and embellishments. It’s a wonderful way for experienced knitters to reconsider the possibilities of knitting, and an exceptional way for less experienced knitters to explore how simple techniques like slipped stitches, casting on, binding off, and knitting in different directions can create interesting fabrics. 

Instructions are provided for each stitch pattern in written form, accompanied by color photographs. A few of the stitch patterns are also shown worked up as cardigans, and a very simple cardigan template and brief instructions on how to use stitch pattern swatches to calculate a garment are provided. Knitters may find additional books such as Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns handy for finding ways to use the stitch patterns to make wearable pieces.

 Many of the stitch patterns are time-consuming and will leave the knitter with a lot of loose ends to weave in and tidy up. They are also excellent ways to use up small amounts of yarns, with striking results. 

On My Bookshelf: Curvy Girl Crochet

This book review was originally published in Knit Edge magazine, issue #2. A review copy was provided by the publisher. As a member of the Powell's Books Partner Program, I receive a 7.5% commission on referrals.

 Curvy Girl Crochet: 25 Patterns that Fit and Flatter, by Mary Beth Temple

Curvy Girl Crochet goes beyond just offering patterns in larger sizes, offering tips and techniques for altering patterns to fit your body the way you want them to. The first two chapters focus on the groundwork: how to take your measurements accurately (tip: don’t use an old tape measure), how to assess yarns and patterns, and how best to make changes. The patterns include an entire wardrobe of sweaters, accessories scaled up for larger proportions, and something for every season. The Wrapt Top, a cropped lace wrap, could be a lovely accent in warm weather, while the basic, very customizable Progressive Tunic can be worn on its own or as a layering piece all year long. While the patterns may not all look like they come from the same wardrobe (and that’s intentional), yarn and color choices along with adaptations can open up a lot of possibilities. Is the Traditional Cloak too bold for you in bright blue- purple? An earthy tweed could give it a more classic countryside appeal. Looking through Ravelry projects to see how other crocheters have re-imagined the patterns is going to be a lot of fun!

Ravelry: Curvy Girl Crochet

On My Bookshelf: Clever Crocheted Accessories

This book review originally appeared in Knit Edge magazine, issue #2. The review copy was purchased at full retail price. As a member of the Powell's Books Partner Program, I receive a 7.5% commission on referrals.

 Clever Crocheted Accessories: 25 Quick Weekend Projects, edited by Brett Bara

The 25 patterns in this book range from a sparkly beaded cocktail ring (Dazzling Ring by Kazekobo) to thick, warm, cabled men’s socks (Hiking Socks by Kim Kotary) to a colorful floral motif bag (Amazing Motif Bag by Regina Rioux) - all cleverly constructed and great ways to explore crochet techniques and stitch patterns you may not be familiar with. For example, the Saturday Beret by Ellen Gormley, featured on the cover, is a visual head-turner that uses Bruges lace techniques to create a chunky texture, and the Chunky Capelet by Doris Chan employs broomstick lace. There a lot of great gift ideas here, including hats for men. 

Ravelry: Clever Crocheted Accessories

Clever Crocheted Accessories: 25 Quick Weekend Projects
by Brett Bara (edt)

On My Bookshelf: Crochet with Color

Japanese crochet books are renowned for having beautiful photographs, clear schematics, and well-presented charts, making it possible for crocheters who don't read Japanese to still use the patterns successfully. Crochet with Color, an English translation of a Japanese book, makes it even easier for English readers.  

 Crochet with Color: 25 Contemporary Projects for the Yarn Lover, by Kazuko Ryokai

With a brief introduction to yarn weights (the chart provided is from the Craft Yarn Council of America - www.YarnStandards.com), gauge, how to read a crochet chart, and illustrations showing what each symbol used means (for example, the illustration for the chain stitch symbol shows a hook pulling a loop through a chain), crocheters who are comfortable reading charts and have a CYCA rated Easy or Intermediate skill level may be able to jump right in and get started. 

Yarns are not specified by brand; each pattern lists a quantity and weight [ex. 49 yards (20 g) of aran-weight (#4 medium) merino wool in blue]. While it can't be guaranteed that the reader can make exact matches for every project, a quick skim through Knit Picks and through WEBS suggests to me that crocheters should be able to find close matches without too much trouble online, and taking the book to a craft store or yarn shop could make color and texture matching even easier. 

ISBN-10: 1-4403-2033-0

ISBN-13: 978-1-4403-2033-0

Originally pubished in 2008 as Kirei Iro No Knit Zakka by Shufunotomo Co., Ltd., this book has been translated by Miho Atsumi (World Book Media) and published in the US by North Light Books. The Ravelry database has 9 patterns listed, under the book title Zakka in Pretty Colors. I'm not sure how much it differs from the English translation (there's at least one pattern in the Ravelry database that I don't see in Crochet with Color, but that could be an editor's error). 

A quick peek into Crochet with Color from M.K. Carroll on Vimeo.

As a member of the Powell's Books Partner Program, I receive a 7.5% commission on referrals.  

Reading Homeward Bound and eating sauerkraut

Homemade sauerkraut 

Although Emily Matchar's book Homeward Bound had been on my radar for a bit, it was Kim Werker's post "I'm an unnatural mother." that got me to move past the preview on my iPad and buy the book. 

Today is one of my "work from home" days, where I set up my laptop and iPad on the small dining table (covered by a cross-stitched tablecloth I bought via Etsy), and multi-task, doing paid work alongside things I enjoy that can get done in the background or during short breaks. Today's plans include finishing up a spreadsheet, revising some writing, reviewing a book proposal, pickling a bag of eggplant, making a batch of jelly, and deciding what to do with a batch of jam that turned out bland and oddly gritty. I had coffee and a green smoothie for breakfast, then tasted a batch of homemade sauerkraut (after I took a photo and Instagram'd it, of course). 

Kim has been putting out some great writing that has been pushing me to think and challenge myself and how I present myself on social media. The #nogloss challenge, for example, which was interesting to do not just because of how uncomfortable I felt posting a photo of my home office desk, and how I felt the need to defend myself somehow by pointing out that the desks I share in other workspaces are much tidier, but also because that seemed to be a common feeling. In some very real ways, giving you a tidied up version is my job, and in some very real ways, giving you a tidied up version is part of a larger problem. I'm only a couple of chapters in so far, but I can see that Homeward Bound is likely to push me to think about things I'd rather gloss over. 

The sauerkraut is pretty good, a mix of green cabbage, red cabbage, lacinato kale, and carrot. It's a bit bland - could have used more time to ferment, or some dill or caraway seeds, perhaps. There's another batch bubbling quietly in my office right now, this one with juniper berries, green onion, and beet shreds in addition to the cabbages and carrot. 

Homeward Bound: Why Women Are Embracing the New Domesticity
by Emily Matchar

As a member of the Powell's Books Partner Program, I receive a 7.5% commission on referrals.