things by t.

quick as a...

No sooner had I blogged about the Afghans book than I placed an order and just for the sake of it also bought a new sock book. Incorrigable!

must have

Obviously, this is the new must-have book! Browsing Ravelry I found lots of fun afghans/throws. The fact that they're all knit in the same yarn from a certain yarn company doesn't really deter me.

resolution

Ok, I think I may have a really good New Year's resolution this time.

I'm going to knit socks! But since I absolutely abhor knitting with sock needles, I bought a book about knitting socks on circulars - and two at a time, no less!
For inspiration I also bought Cookie A's Sock innovation. The woman is a sock designing genius!
 

hooked on a feeling

Well, it's no secret anymore - I'm crocheting again!

I haven't really tried it properly since I was 10, I think. Back then I used to crochet free-hand and improvise doilies. Nowadays I prefer to use pattern directions, but quite frankly a lot of modern crochet patterns are...um, a little outdated.

I was so happy to finally find these two inspiring publications. 
 
Beyond The Square, 144 Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman
and Crochet Me be Kim Werker.

The first is mostly a technical how-to with 144 different "squares" in a variety of shapes. You can use them either seperately as decoration on something or put them together in an afghan for example.

The second is all about crochet and things you can wear. Even though perhaps inspired by Teva Durham's ventures in crochet, this book contains things you can actually wear. For anyone hesitating about making a crochet garment that is both fashionable and wearable, this book should persuade you.

here!

 
And the book arrived today! Isn't the internet an amazing place?

memories...

 
Or rather, lack of memory. I simply cannot find this old knit and crochet book I bought a few years ago at the old books fair in Stockholm. (The one at the front in the photo.)

So, after a quick search on Antikvariat.net I found the Danish original in a bookshop in Aarhus and ordered it. I just paid and they're sending the book today. Yey for the internet!

go east

I went on a 48-hour cruise to Helsinki this weekend. There was promise of rain, but we had lovely weather all day. For once I didn't buy any yarn, just focused on books and magazines.

 
I always go to Hobboks on Korkeavuorenkatu. This time I found two cookbooks: Piri piri starfish by Tessa Kiros and Cook in Boots by Ravinder Brogal.

At Akateeminen Kirjakauppa I found Interweave Knits and Novita's knitting magazine. The latter contained some really nice models knitted up in Novita yarn. Here is a retro style children's hoodie and a comfortable looking shrug.

 

interesting

Apparently, Vogue Knitting is now called Designer Knitting and has a new website. But...when you type www.designerknittingmag.com in the browser and press Enter there is just a place holder. Over at the old Vogue Knitting site there is no sight of the new issue "Winter 2008/98" that just arrived in the mail. Anyone else really confused?

Edit: Today the Vogue Knitting site has put up a preview of the issue that I just received. Now I'm even more confused. Could it be that "Designer Knitting" is the European name of VK? But why has it been published here already? And why is the website not up?

a good read

 
Two new books arrived the other day. And what wonderful new publications!

The first one is Erika Knight's Men's Knits - a new direction. Finally a book with really nice patterns for men. No Cosby-oversized-loud-acrylic-sweaters! No, this book is full of classic knits and stylish new versions of old classics. Most of the yarn used is quite fine, so no boxy squares in sight! The few knits that call for bulkier yarn are of a more cosy kind, but still with a fitted cut.

The second book is a thin volume of historical knitting patterns from Cornwall, written and researched by Mary Wright. This is a great companion to the classic books by Gladys Thompson and Beth Brown-Reinsel on the same traditional sweaters from the British Isles.

book hunt

I have three books in a series published by Vogue in the 80's, edited by Christina Probert: Cotton and silk, Fair isle and Thick knits (the bottom three). But I just realised there are 3 more books in this series of vintage knits. So now I'm looking for: Classic (yes, that is Andy MacDowell on the cover), Men's and Children's knits (no photo of that last one). Anyone seen them around lately?