Unique Jewelry Books

This is an amazingly creative book.  While there are many titles that tell one how to use pricey beads and ready-made ornaments, this book elevates often humble ingredients to designer jewelry status.  Bobby pins--really!  The bobby pin collar necklace alone would be worth the price of the book.  Even if you have many jewelry books already, I'll guarantee you want this one.

I received an advance digital review copy of this book through NetGalley.  The book was published April 15, 2015.  You can order it now.

While waiting for The Jewelry Recipe Book to arrive, check out Priscilla Bead Work Book as well.  This is book is available for immediate download on ClickBank.

Jane Austen Knits!

I finally broke down and bought a copy of  The Best of Jane Austen Knits: 27 Regency-Inspired Designs.

There are so many lovely Spencers, shawls, and even men's items that I am hard-pressed to decide what to do first.  I may begin with a baby hat, since I have a new nephew on the way and hopefully an adopted grandchild soon.  Perhaps one of the shawls could be re-engineered as a baby blanket, too.  When I decide, I will let y'all know, O.K.?

Historical information about Jane Austen and the Regency period is interspersed with excellent photographs, charts,and patterns for period-inspired garments that a modern knitter would wear. 

Latest Articles on Knitting

I have a few new articles that might interest blog readers:

Really Hideous Knitting is a reminder that just because something can be knit, doesn't mean it should.

In Resources for Serious Technical Knitters I offer some books and sites I have found helpful in taking my knitting to the next level, and the next...

Finally, I read and reviewed Winter Knitting, an excellent book for lovers of Norwegian or Fair Isle knits.

Fun Crocheted Hats for a Friend

I crafted these hats by adapting patterns I found through Ravelry.  The doll hats are sized for American Girl-type dolls.  This was quick, relaxing crochet.

For more crochet fun, check out some of my articles on HubPages:

Teaching Children to Crochet

Easy Crocheted Socks

Knits Men Want: A Book Review

Bruce confirms what I have often suspected about men and knits. As a mother of 3 sons and wife to a professor, I can say "amen" to his facts about knitting for men.  Men know what they like and are cool with wearing the same basic style for a lifetime.

While my girls would wear many of my experiments, the boys would refuse anything even remotely cute or scratchy or tight or loose or hot...

The patterns in the book are just the things real men will wear. I look forward to using them all.  

Building with Blocks--for Knitters

I have never been disappointed by a Nicky Epstein book and Knitting Block by Block is no exception.  From basic blocks to framed blocks to colorwork, cables, and more, this book has more blocks than most knitters could ever use.  Chapters are organized by technique/style so knitters can go directly to their favorites. (I went straight to the Creative Colorwork chapter.)

Project instructions are included, so knitters can design their own garments and accessories by selecting some blocks and assembling them per Nicky’s instructions.  This is like a make-a-mix cookbook for knitters.

An especially convenient feature: color thumbnails of all the blocks at the back of the book.  Copy the pages, cut out the blocks, and try them out on the assembly diagrams in the instructions.  Nicky Epstein thinks of everything!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Winter is a Great Reason to Knit

Why knit in the winter?  There are plenty of reasons besides the simple fact that it makes those cold, dreary days go by faster.

Knitting adds color

Gray skies and gray snow could get you down. Alternatively, you could get some colorful wool and knit striped socks in a riot of springtime colors. You could knit a bouquet of flowers on an intarsia sweater. You could even gather all your odds and ends to create patchwork afghan squares or use up small scraps in my Waste Not slip stitch scarf pattern.

Knitting adds warmth

Warm bodies and hearts by knitting some projects for charity. Whether you make lap robes for a convalescent center or hats for a homeless shelter, your efforts will show love to somebody who may need comfort. Spend those dark winter evenings indoors making a batch of warmth for those in need. Make sure your own family has a good supply of warm hats, mittens, and scarves, too.

Knitting also helps you keep your hands warm. Wooden needles stay warmer than aluminum needles, so use them for your winter knitting projects. Large projects such as sweaters and afghans will even keep your lap warm. Try to plan for making large projects in the winter rather than waiting till summer vacation's sweltering days.

Knitting adds life

While animals are hibernating and plants are dormant, your knitting is creating something that is growing and changing. Why wait until spring to bring new things "to life?" The calming, almost meditative rhythm of knitting is a perfect accompaniment while you daydream about planting your spring garden or filling your pool. Knitting may make the winter pass by so fast that you wish for an extra week or two for finishing a project!

Knitting Ideas: Divergent Scarves and Movie Fan Knitting