Book Reviews: Crafting/Knitting

Book Reviews: Crafting/Knitting

Intro...

Why I picked it: I declared 2014 a year to nest, and have read some amazing books leaving me inspired with the hope to discover more.

Synopsis: As spinners, knitters, and weavers know, the characteristics of fleece -- its structure, grease content, and fiber diameter -- vary widely depending on the breed of sheep the fleece comes from. These factors are crucial when you're deciding how to spin your fleece and use your finished yarn. In this comprehensive reference, Beth Smith presents a thorough overview of 21 sheep breeds, including each breed's characteristics and history, a photo of the animal and its locks, the best methods for washing its fleece, and specific techniques for preparing, spinning, and finishing the fleece. You'll discover how to select the fleece that is best for your project and how to spin exactly the yarn you need.

Quick Take:

Rating: 3 stars
Source: review copy (Netgalley)

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The Handmade Marketplace: thoughts...

Synopsis: Since its original publication in 2010, Kari Chapin's The Handmade Marketplace has inspired thousands of crafters around the world to find the courage and know-how they need to make money -- and even to make a full-time living -- from doing what they love best. Now, this best-selling guide has been completely revised and updated to include solid information on the latest on-line and social media opportunities for sales and marketing, as well as fresh advice and invaluable tips from successful crafters and artists. With Kari Chapin at your side, you can live a more creative life and enjoy a lucrative career at the same time.


Rating: 3 stars
Source: NetGalley

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Book Review: Great Little Gifts to Knit

Book Review: Great Little Gifts to Knit

Why I picked it: Learning to read the language of knitting has opened my horizons to the art of 'making'. 

Synopsis: Today's knitters are avid—and busy. Although they love to knit for friends and family, and enjoy trying out new patterns and stitch techniques, they're constantly faced with the challenge of finding enough time to complete their projects.  

Great Little Gifts to Knit solves this problem. Jean Moss, author of Sweet Shawlettes, has designed 30 fun, fresh, beautiful patterns that incorporate traditional knitting techniques from all over the world: from Fair Isle and Aran knits to Peruvian intarsia patterns and Japanese shadow knitting techniques.

Beautiful, clever, and, most of all, quick to knit, these projects offer knitters a chance to learn and experiment with new techniques—all in projects that can be made in less than a weekend.

Quick Take: Take one step into my workspace, and you will find yourself surrounded with skeins of yarns, supplies, patterns, bookshelves and my desk.  I'm enjoying making small items, knowing the difficulty and challenge can be high for me.

This book is filled with lovely projects, of the thirty included I'm planning to make several.  I'm quite excited to make the mittens in the photo; the hat and socks are must make items for me.

Rating: 4 stars
Source: review copy (Netgalley)

A funny moment: The World Traveler came home this week, pleased so see my progress... he looked at a pattern sitting next to the mittens I'm making and said 'are you cheating?'

 I asked what he meant and he thought I invented everything I make! {funny}

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