Books
New and Noteworthy: The Books of October
Dear Ann,
Is it really October? It’s been in the 80s (F) in New York. We’re sweaty. We’re clammy. We’re annoyed. Where is our Sweater Weather? Why can’t I wear my battered corduroy jacket? It is long past time for the annual hibernation of the upper arms.
The publishers know it’s October. They are piling on the knitting books. If I’ve missed any, please let me know. Let’s jump in, and pretend it’s October weather.
(As always, there are a few books in here that I missed when they were published before October. Feel free to shout out other good books!)
Slow Knitting
Slow Knitting: A Journey from Sheep to Skein to Stitch, by Hannah Thiessen (October 10, 2017, Abrams). It’s no secret that we love this one. We’re even giving out a free sample pattern from this gorgeous book.
The Mitten Handbook
The Mitten Handbook: Knitting Recipes to Make Your Own by Mary Scott Huff (October 10, 2017, Abrams).
Knit Mitts: Your Hand-y Guide to Knitting Mittens & Gloves
Knit Mitts: Your Hand-y Guide to Knitting Mittens & Gloves by Kate Atherley (October 26, 2017, Interweave). (We can’t mention Kate Atherley without linking to the incredible pattern she just published: The Wild One.)
AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary
AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary: 200 Modern Knitting Motifs by Andrea Rangel (August 2017, Interweave).
Dimensional Tuck Knitting
Dimensional Tuck Knitting: An Innovative Technique for Creating Surface Design by Tracy Purtscher (September 2017, Sixth & Spring).
Silk Road Socks
Silk Road Socks: Socks Inspired by Oriental Rugs by Hunter Hammerson (August 2017, Pantsville Press).
(Ann, tell the truth: are you sure you are not writing under the nom de plume Hunter Hammerson? I could swear these are your feet on your rug. I know you like to keep busy, but this is ridiculous.)
Knitting Traditions
Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible
Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible: 260 Exquisite Patterns by Hitomi Shida (October 10, 2017, Tuttle). This book is on fire—number 1 in knitting! Such imaginative stitch motifs.
More Traditional Dutch Ganseys
More Traditional Dutch Ganseys: 65 Classic Sweaters to Knit from 55 Fishing Villages by Stella Ruhe (September 2017, Search Press). The sequel to Dutch Traditional Ganseys: Sweaters from 40 Villages (2014).
Lithuanian Knitting
The Art of Lithuanian Knitting: 25 Traditional Patterns and the People, Places and History That Inspire Them by Donna Druchunas and June L. Hall (September 2017, Trafalgar Square).
Cozy, Crafty Homes
The Maker
The Maker: Crafting a Unique Space by Tamara Maynes (September 2017, Abrams). Irresistible eye candy (I couldn’t stop turning the gorgeous pages) and ambitious DIY projects across many handcrafts, including Jacqueline Fink’s large-scale knitting, and other textiles.
A Well-Crafted Home
A Well-Crafted Home: Inspiration and 60 Projects for Personalizing Your Space by Janet Crowther (September 2017, Clarkson Potter). I haven’t seen this one yet, but it keeps popping up on knitters’ Instagram posts. I’m intrigued.
Phew! I’m pretty sure this is the biggest month for knitting/crafting books, even taking into account that there are a few September books on the list. Get thee to a bookstore and have a wallow!
Love,
Kay
Thanks for a great list of books! I know you also enjoy audio books while you are knitting. I just wanted to recommend Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (think the author is Gail Honeyman). I just finished listening to it the second time. This time with my husband, who loved it as much as I did. He even wants to send a letter to the narrator because he thought she was so fantastic with all of the different voices. It is a lovely story and not what you expect at the beginning. It was one of those rare books that only seems to come along once every few years and then you keep trying to find another to fill that void. Enjoy if you haven’t already read it!
I just listened to Elinor Oliphant and thoroughly loved it!!
This is the author’s first book.She is Scottish.I thoroughly enjoyed and would also highly recommend it.May I ask who is narrating the audio book?
Thanks Gerri! I just put a hold on it at the library. Kay, if it makes you feel any better, we are still close to 90 and seriously humid here in NOLA. Everyone is getting pretty crabby at this point and I am beginning to doubt that I will ever need the AYOT hat we are working on this month. We are supposed to cool down in October so the trick or treaters do not all melt in their costumes. At this rate, the Pete the Dragon costume I am pulling together for my daughter will have to be a surfer girl instead and I will never be able to wear my Jane Austen meets steampunk costume to our annual mommy “go to lunch in the French Quarter en masse in costume and then pick your child up at school in the costume so they have something to talk about in therapy when they grow up” Halloween soirée.
Debb, I would definitely do the audio version! It really added a lot of enjoyment to the story. Hope you like it.
I am already the delighted owner of Silk Road Socks and I want to make every single sock!
The unseasonably warm weather is the worst – my sweaters are sad, I am sad. I have been checking the forecast for Rhinebeck and as of right now, it will be going up into the 70s! My husband said to me – it doesn’t matter if it’s 100 degrees, we will still be wearing our Rhinebeck sweaters! Just ordered Slow Knitting – can’t wait to dig in.
A Japanese stitch book marketed for the US? and available on Amazon for under $17 …. off to order. THANK YOU for the information!!!
If the weather ever cools off in NY/NJ then it may spark a “pick up your knitting” instead of “sit at the sewing machine” fire that I need. Or this book may just do the trick ….
Link to free sample pattern doesn’t seem to be working. Links to Amazon.
Fixed it, thank you Sandy!
Wow! So excited for all of these books! Thanks for the heads up… We’re waiting for Sweater Weather in Chicago too. People were swimming in Lake Michigan this past weekend and not in the “I’m a Polar Bear” way. Does Global Warming mean we can wear white shoes after Labor Day? Asking for a friend.
LOL @ “annual hibernation of the upper arms”
How real — but also, how funny. I love your gift of words.
The Japanese stitch dictionary just landed on my doorstep this morning, and it is breathtaking! Making a cup of tea so I can relax and enjoy…
Thank you for this wonderful variety of books. I think it’s time to order one….or three. So very tempting!
I got dimensional tuck knitting and I love it.
I thought I was on a book diet. Not now. Adding more books to the neverending list 🙂
Swimming against the tide here, because I am enjoying this last burst of beautiful weather immensely. Here in Michigan I was so sad when we slipped down into the 50s and even 40s in August, so I was glad to return to more seasonable temps. It’s just so relaxing to have the windows open and to be able to walk outside without a jacket. Winter will come soon enough and stay far to long. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, says I
I just ordered the Japanese Stitch Bible – I have a modest collection of Japanese books and magazines — this looks like just the decoder ring I need! I’ve knit the famous Am Kamin sweater, with lots of help from the interweb. Looking forward to its arrival – thanks for the suggestion!
I would like to recommend ‘Shetland’, the new knitting/crochet book by Marie Wallin. The location photography is simply stunning and the patterns equally so.
I was watching her post about it to Instagram with massive hearts eyes, but I did wonder about construction. If you have it, can you tell me if the patterns are written flat or in the round for things like cardigans? I love Marie Wallin so much but she has that dreadful Rowan habit of knitting colorwork flat.
Love the sweet print you included at the top of the post. Can you tell us the artist and name of piece please?
Thank you Mary Ellen, forgot to include the attribution:
IMAGE: LOUISE TIFFANY, READING, LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY, PASTEL ON BUFF-COLORED WOVE PAPER, 1888, METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART.