onward

As I stepped onto the train this afternoon to return home I was looking forward to being able to write about how marvelous it was to spend 24 hours without a coughing fit. Two stops away from where the bus lets me off (yes, I take both train and bus) that all changed and I coughed until I walked in the door. I’m sure the grey rain today hasn’t helped anything but I’d very much like to spend a large chunk of time without coughing. While I’m coughing it leaves me unable to do work and when I’m done I’m tired and just want to curl up and cuddle with Shadow.

Knitting from the Top
by Barbara G. Walker

Barbara Walker writes with a clarity and humor that had me turning pages and feeling that she was sitting across from me and teaching me to knit as I wish my mother had been able to (mom can crochet, not knit). The lessons are sensible and practical and as Walker has said it best “There is a purpose behind this… the purpose is to teach you not just what to do, but why to do it”.

Personally I don’t always like knitting from patterns that tell me exactly what yarn and needles to use, which of the various cast-on methods to use, and spelling out each and every step of the way. I don’t abhor hand holding patterns and more often than not knit them, but I also want to be able to just knit a sweater and have it fit with minimal fuss and intervention between the needles and yarn. Walker generously gives those lessons.

Now if she could only teach me how to warp space/time so I could finish my husband’s top-down, vneck, set-in sleeve, hemmed, and dk-weight birthday sweater before it’s due!

The Knitting Stitch Bible
by Maria Parry-Jones

My exploration of every stitch dictionary I can get my hands on continues. M heard my complaints in the last (beautiful) on she sent and retorted very perfectly with this one. Perhaps you hard my scream of CHARTS!! echoing throughout the lands. Parry-Jones has compiled a very nice example of how charts can be used to advantage in a stitch dictionary. Below each (mostly) clear colour photo is a chart. Following the chart is a name for the pattern and an citation of the yarn used in making the photographed sample (aran-weight cotton) and a summary of stitch information necessary for the pattern (motif of 9 stitches, multiple of 8 stitches + 3). An added bonus for this compilation of knitting stitches is that it’s a very small book, measuring approximately 8.25×7.75×1 in (20.5x17x2.5 cm). If you are looking for a chart-based stitch dictionary of over 250 inspirational ideas, I highly recommend this 256 page book! If however you like to knit from words, you will be very frustrated as there aren’t many included here.

Vegan Lunch Box: 130 Amazing, Animal-free Lunches Kids and Grown-ups Will Love! by Jennifer McCann

This is definitely not just for kids. It includes many tasty ideas that are helping to lift me out of the lunch doldrums and away from being lazy and buying lunch when I’m out.

Oh and another reasons posts were a bit sparse these past few weeks? I may have written a small story again this year. Huh? What’s that about? Please go here for details. Oh you want to read the story? In time. In time.

• Category: books
• Tag: knit