July 2009

Review: New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One

by --Deb 07.28.2009
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Suppose you wanted to take a fresh look at sock knitting, and come up with a new approach to a basic shape that has been around for centuries. The human foot hasn’t changed all that much, and knitting itself has been more or less consistent for a couple centuries now. So, barring new techniques like Magic Loop and short-row heels … how much “new” can there be?

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Review: Start Spinning The Video

by --Deb 07.25.2009
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The DVDs–there are two in the package–are basically a spinning lesson from Maggie Casey (author of the companion book) to Eunny Jang, with just a few thousand of their closest friends watching over their shoulders.

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New Warm Weather Poll

by --Deb 07.12.2009
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New poll on the front page–is the warm weather affecting your knitting choices?

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Review: Socks from the Toe Up

by --Deb 07.12.2009
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I don’t honestly know what took me so long to get this book. I love Wendy’s blog, liked her last book, have met and even interviewed her … why would I possibly dawdle about buying her book devoted to toe-up socks? Especially when they’re my personal favorite style of socks?

Yeah. I don’t know, either. Because I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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Review: Romantic Hand Knits

by --Deb 07.09.2009
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I wanted to love this book. I admire Annie Modesitt, and love her Knitting Heretic book. Her patterns are creative and clever, and … this book just didn’t do it for me.

It’s lush. It’s beautiful. The photographs are rich and evocative while still giving a good look at the actual knits (a huge, huge point in its favor). And, with a title like “Romantic Knits,” it’s not like I was expecting a book full of practical sweaters, or cute little cardigans to throw on for a chilly day.

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Review: Arctic Lace

by --Deb 07.05.2009
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Now, this is not a glossy, glamorous, slick book. The photos are black-and-white, and it’s got a very basic kind of feel. It’s not trying to woo you with atmospheric photos and lush backgrounds. Instead, it’s showing you what really counts–the knitting, and the people who make it (and the musk ox who grow the fiber).

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Review: Classic Knits

by --Deb 07.01.2009
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Ooh, I liked this book. Marianne Isager has a reputation for doing ethnic-inspired knitwear (like her recent Japanese book, or her Africa book of a few years ago), but they don’t always appeal to me personally.

This one, though? Classy and classic. The sweaters in this book look like they’re easily wearable, without being too “ethnic,” or too “creative” and yet they are creative.

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