By Clara Parkes of Knitter’s Review fame.
I’ve been trying to think of what I can write that will give this book justice. I’m not sure that I write well enough to really explain the love I feel for this book. Yes, I had a tiny part in the designing of a few things and that does certainly make it special but it is a wonderful book even if my designs were not there. The book had passed around to all the family and I was putting it onto the bookshelf for safe keeping (If I leave books out that I’m reading they often become coasters and that’s not a good thing). Anyway, as I put it on the bookshelf I was thinking this is my most prized book, and I have several OOP gems.
There have been other fantastic reports on this book
Crafting Jen
Adrian who has 2 awesome designs in there.
And Clara’s thoughts on THE Book
The book really is a gift to all knitters. It’s so well thought out and has so much information. I’m reading through it but it’s going to be one of those books that you can read several times and get more out of each time. It’s got invaluable information on yarn choices. In the patterns sections it gives you examples of patterns for the yarns you have.
The designs are fantastic too. Clara put together an amazing group of designers for her book. Of which, I’m humble to have been one of them. There were 2 designs that I have had yarn to make since the book wasn’t even in editing stage yet. I spun some yarn to make Adrian’s double thick mittens (although now that I want to cast on, I can’t find it) and after finishing one sock in my pattern:
The Guernsey socks, I bought the yarn so I could have a pair for myself. I never started them. I’m notorious for only making one of a pattern but eventually I will make this sock again. I so love it. This is the original “swatch” for it when I was coming up with the right cable pattern:
I could go on about all the patterns in the book and I’d want to take photos of them all. Really there isn’t a stinker in it. I have just a couple more of my designs that I want to mention:
This one was a joy to work on with Clara. It was her vision that really was the driving force in this:
This one used my Spunky yarn:
And this vest is something I had in my head forever. It doesn’t show but the cabling goes around the back of the neck. I love the little design features like that:
I promise the next post will be about things like Rhinebeck and pretty spinning wheels.
October 24th, 2007 at 8:51 am
By the Shopping Cart of Amazon - it will be mine!!!
October 24th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Must have this book!
October 24th, 2007 at 9:40 am
mwah
many many congrats. It was a joy to see your stuff.
October 24th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Yay patterns! They look fantastic! There is no other feeling better than seeing your things in a book
October 24th, 2007 at 9:52 am
I was at the book authors tent at the totally wrong time - they we all out to lunch (story of my life
but I did get a chance to flip through it and was totally surprised by the patterns. I had heard so much about the yarny part that I did not even realize there was patterns. Duh! I love the vest of yours.
At the beginning of the new month this book is mine. I hate that darn word budget
October 24th, 2007 at 9:58 am
Love the cable socks and vest - definitely need to make both.
I’ll be ordering this for the shop ASAP. Congrats!!
October 24th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I so need to get this book!
October 24th, 2007 at 10:31 am
i was lucky enough to get to the author’s tent early and to get a copy signed by clara parkes. (i may have to have you and adrian sign it some day too). i just started reading it (yes, i’ll be reading it cover to cover) but so far i love it. i have a slew of “knitting” books — but this book has so much info in it that it can’t help but make me a better knitter (and spinner). and your designs are great. congratulations!
October 24th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Ooh, I wasn’t going to buy this book, but now I think I might!
October 24th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Well there’s another book to add to my bookshelf. any suggestions on where its available for purchase.
October 24th, 2007 at 11:31 am
I just read Adrian’s post about this book. Between the two of you, it’s taking all of my will power not to feign sick so I can go to the bookstore RIGHT NOW!
October 24th, 2007 at 11:46 am
My copy of THE BOOK OF YARN arrived two days ago. Agreed, it’s a wonderful book!
October 24th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Congratulations! It’s all beautiful and I have added the book to my Amazon wishlist. I do the same thing with any flat thing in my house. Coaster!
October 24th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Oh, great, another book I can’t live without. And this one’s even in English.
Wheel pix, please.
October 24th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Congrats! The book looks fantastic.
October 24th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
i LOVE that vest! the only mod i’d make when i knit it (sorry, but i can’t help but make mods….) is have the cables alternate rather than line up. i even bought roving from Liberty Ridge with this vest in mind!!!!!!!!!
show us the wheel, lady!
October 24th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
After you mentioned it the other day, I flipped through it at Barnes & Noble, and agree that it’s a really good resource. I have it on order now.
Wheel, wheel, wheel.
October 24th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
I bought it from Clara at Rhinebeck where she was wearing the pink angora sweater and loved both the book and the sweater seperately until I realized the sweater was from the book! All the patterns you did for it are wonderful, especially the XOXO vest which I’ve added to my must knit asap list [I even have the yarn!].
October 24th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Amy, that sounds like a good book to start for a knitter who doesn’t spin.
And you have been tagged
See my blog for the details 