Two New Books!
My Sister Knits has not one but two books we want you to know about!
The first one is Patty Lyons’ Knitting Bag of Tricks. It is as useful for experienced knitters as it is for beginners! This book is actually mind-blowing!
Patty wants us to know the ‘why’ of things, not simply the ‘how’. When we only match something we’re learning (think increases, cabling without a needle, short rows, magic loop, etc.) when we do it again, we often need to look it up. This is because we don’t understand the why of it; we haven’t learned it, we merely matched it.
In the first part of this book, Patty explains the fundamentals of knitting and stitch formation in a delightful way. It made me aware of things I’d never thought about before and it is fascinating!!
Patty shows us how to fix all sorts of knitting issues. I say ‘shows’ because there are terrific technical drawings and funny illustrations throughout the book. Have you ever dropped a cast on stitch? She shows us how to fix that. She gives us yet another way to calculate the amount of yarn needed for a long tail cast on; I haven’t tried it yet but I’m eager to! How about binding off that last stitch in the round so it looks like a seamless continuation of stitches? Or perfectly understanding increases and decreases? But wait, there’s more! Tons more!
Every knitter who is interested in a deeper understanding of the whys and hows of knitting needs this book! I plan to keep mine near me when I’m knitting to allow me to refer to it often. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
The other book we want you to know about is Dee Hardwicke’s The Knitted Fabric, published by Laine Publishing so we know it is high quality and beautiful. This book is full of rather unusual colorwork designs based around three themes: Butterfly, Garden City, and Homecoming. There are unique garments, accessories, and items for your home. Dee’s designs are intricate and beautiful. When you make one, you will most likely feel as if you’ve created a masterpiece!
Dee lives in the Welsh countryside. She studied painting and sculpture and is passionate about adding joy and color to everyday life. Her handknit designs are taken directly from her own watercolors, many of which are included in the book.
We invite you into the shop to sit, enjoy a hot beverage, and dip into these books!
Happy knitting,
