Turn a plain knit garment into a stylish garment, easily, quickly and with flair with 150 stitch patterns.

Do you take your inspiration from a berry bush? A picket fence? A river lazily crawling through a valley, a hedge maze? No matter where you find your ideas, Knit Edgings and Trims will help you finish them off.  Picots, appliques and braids. Fringe, tassels and eyelets. They’re all here. This is an indispensible resource, and… the best part is….I have a copy to giveaway. Or, you can get it straight from Interweave: http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Books/Knit-Edgings-Trims.html

Let see, what would the criteria be. First of all, we’ll run this giveaway until the end of November. (by that time I’ll be off of the big boat and back at work). But, I also need your ideas. Recently I made a valiant effort. Valiant! Trust me, it was noble. I however did not succeed. You see, I have a collection. Gasp. Yes, a collection. I collect knitting needles and seem to have amassed a number of circular needles that when strung all together could stretch quite far. But, I have no way of storing them. How do you store your circs? What are your favorite ways of taming these unruly masses? (bonus points for handmade ideas).

Ready… set…. Go (oh, and don’t forget, this book comes from a NON pet-free home).

He’s the town sheriff, straight as an arrow, a local hero and wants her.

What’s the problem? The rogue, buff, biker who stole her heart in high school and never gave it back.

When she accepts the Sheriff’s marriage proposal it sets into motion an intense rivalry, the likes of which this quirky, quaint little town has never seen. Who will come out on top, and who will go down in flames?

What’s a girl to do?????

A nice easy read, and the storyline is intriguing enough to keep you interested with just a bit of graphic romance to spice things up.

Nora Roberts fans will love this book. The Sweethearts Knitting Club, by Lori Wilde.

I’ve always loved Kim’s designs, they’re flirty and fun, like this long cardigan/tunic.  Definitely something to check out!

You can get it from Interweave, here: http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Books/Boutique-Knits.html

Or, leave me a comment telling me about your knitting blog (or your favorite blog if you don’t have your own) and maybe win this book free! As usual, I’ll try to get my puppy to wake up long enough to pick the winner!

Boutique Knits includes:

• Patterns that cover a variety of knitting techniques in varying degrees, including felting, intarsia, Fair Isle, lacework, and cables
• Advice on incorporating non-knitting tools and techniques to transform your knitting to achieve that one-of-a-kind boutique feel: pliers, hammers, a sewing machine, use of millinery techniques, and handsewing techniques.
• Unique adornment inspiration, such as buckles and bolts borrowed from leatherwork close an intricately cabled belt, a chain handle finishes a felted bag with circle pockets, leather lacing dresses up a knitted bag, and grommets finish a half-felted handbag.
• Inspiration from vintage lace, beads, ribbon, and fabric-covered buttons!
• Knitting and felting techniques to create effects like ruffles, shibori-style pleats, and clever shaping.
• And more!

This collection of modern, stylish patterns will inspire beginning and intermediate knitters with its uncommon techniques and materials. Transform your knitting with Boutique Knits!

You’ll want to print this out so you can keep notes and add to this invaluable resource!

Free from Rachelle King of Studio Knits! Thanks Rachelle!

• Understanding Fibers: Compare the rich historic traditions of plant and animal fibers with the fascinating scientific advances in synthesizing fibers.
• Managing Yarn Structure: step-by-step instructions and photographs demonstrate the range of possibilities in yarn, from sturdy plied yarns to playful novelty yarns.
• Practical Uses: learn how to make yarns that precisely match your needs with decision making and planning to create the exact project you want from the beginning.

The Intentional Spinner also includes four projects that demonstrate how handspun can be used in weaving and knitting. The projects explain how to choose material, techniques, and finish the processes.

Blending technical expertise and fascinating lore, The Intentional Spinner is a must-read for every spinner.

Who wants this book? I’ve got one copy to give away, leave a comment telling me why you wanted to start spinning!

Muhahahahah, my little robots…..

This book is awesome, classic. 19 innovative to traditional designs with simple knitting techniques.

16 renowned knitwear designers have contributed to this collection which features easy to follow, step-by-step instructions and material lists for all 19 patterns, ranging from pullovers, cardigans, vests, skirts, wraps and more.

And the best part yet, this copy is free, to the first person to guess what number I’m thinking….

Ready… Set…. Go!

Best-selling author and avid knitter Debbie Macomber wants you to know that your knitting can make a difference! Her Charity Guide for Knitters will acquaint you with exciting ways your hobby can bring comfort and dignity to individuals in need. Eighteen easy-to-intermediate patterns are included for knit blankets, sweaters, socks, hats, mittens, slippers, vests, and a helmet liner.
Featured national charities include Binky Patrol, Children in Common, Christmas at Sea, Newborns in Need, Operation Helmet Liner, Phillip’s Wish, Project Linus, Santa Train, Snuggles Project, Warm Up America!, and Warm Woolies. Tips are also given for helping local chemotherapy patients, nursing home residents, and prison ministries.

Available from Leisure Arts, here: http://www.leisurearts.com/items/4803/Knit-Along-With-Debbie-Macomber-Charity/c/Macomber/sc/Knitting%20Books/s/newest/default.aspx

Here’s the deal. One of my daughters found a sweater she wanted me to knit for her in one of the recent Interweave magazines. She wants it a “bluey-charcoaley” (yes, her terms) color. I didn’t have enough of any blue, or charcoal in my stash but you know what I do have enough of? Off white 100% alpaca in a sport weight. Perfect. Not only do I not have to buy yarn for this project but I get to learn about dyeing yarn also. So.

Any advice on dyeing alpaca??? Leave me a comment, and then…

As a giveaway, I’ve come across a copy of Hat Heads, by Trond Anfinnsen, aka KnitKid. The subtitle of this book is 1 Man + 2 Knitting Needles = 50 Fun Hat Designs.

And these are fun. Colors, Solids and Patterns. Designs, motifs and words. Yes, words! Knitted into the hats. Too cool.  And, to top it off, you get tips for designing your own one-of-a-kind hat in case you don’t like any that are featured. But come on, there are 50 hats to choose from! Even green ones!

This book combines one knitter, one photographer, and 800 hours of knitting! `Trond also shares another sort of warmth, with stories of the family, friends, and neighbors who inspired these 50 favorite hats.

Need some quick gifts? Hats are quick, easy, fun and well, easy and fun! Give it a try, but don’t forget to help me out with my “Dyeing of the Alpaca” project!

This is what I want, I might even trade my next few breaths for it:

30 years of great patterns. 30 years of their most popular designs, and 80 photographs!

Rowan — a name synonymous with quality. Originating in England in 1980, Rowan has achieved world-class status for its fine knitting yarns as well as its knitting publications and classic fashion patterns.

A 30-year retrospective. Rowan’s Greatest Knits brings you 30 of its most popular knitwear patterns from the 80s through today — all in one big, beautiful book. Here, you’ll also be treated to 80 stunning color photographs from the original pages of Rowan magazine.

Classic knit patterns. With clearly written instructions, knitters of all skill levels can reproduce these enduringly beautiful patterns for knitted sweaters, vests, scarves, mittens and socks. Patterns include helpful yarn replacement suggestions.

Inspiration from top designers. Some of today’s leading designers have partnered with Rowan to produce outstanding knitwear. Kaffe Fassett, known for his brilliant designs and use of vibrant color, wrote the introduction to this book. And the works of Jean Moss, Sasha Kagan, and Annabel Fox, among others, are also featured.

This book is truly a “keeper”. It’s perfect for anyone who loves to knit and enjoys creating classic fashions with style.

<swoon…> I knew you’d want it too. Here’s the link to get your own directly from Taunton Press: http://store.taunton.com/onlinestore/item/rowans-greatest-knits-kate-buller-071298.html

Must. Go. Knit!

Fair Isle, intarsia and slip stitch, or use a combination, this book will encourage you to create your own masterpieces. A Design Notebook chapter details the fundamental ways to incorporate color into knitting. Clear explanations and helpful tips for the most frequently used c0lorwork techniques.

Even if you’re a beginning knitter, this book shows easy ways to achieve colorful effects in your knitting.

Go here to order: http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Books/Color-Style.html

What? You want it free? Ok! I can do that! I have one copy to give away. Let’s go with a randomly picked (by my puppy, of course) comment about your experiences with using color in your knitting!

Magazine 46 offers forty-eight knit and crocheted designs, garments and accessories, for women and men. Also available are eight designs for children 11 to 16 years old. You can get it from Colorful Stitches, here:

https://www.colorful-stitches.com:443/store/DisplayProduct.php?sku=Rowan46&name=Rowan+Magazine+46

And the patterns!  Gorgeous patterns, not just for handpaints, but for any yarns.

Tips for avoiding splotching and pooling. Ideas for choosing patterns that complement the yarns and guidelines for understanding how the colors in a sock work together! – Funny story….. I’m soooooo not the person who cares if my socks pool, or splotch or even match. It just doesn’t matter to me, but this last pair of socks I knitted are I.D.E.N.T.I.C.A.L!!  Of course I’m taking credit for this, but between you and me, I knit until I was happy with how long the cuff was (toe up patterns and I are bff!), and then just started with the toe on the next one. No amount of planning could replicate this freak of nature, but they match. And I don’t care! Who’da thunk??

Anyway, tell me about your sock horror stories, I’ll send an email to everyone who comments and as usual, the first one to respond back to me with their mailing address gets this awesome book!

And if you don’t win the book, you can buy it at Interweave Press, here: http://www.interweavestore.com/store/p/2274-Knitting-Socks-with-Handpainted-Yarn.aspx

They even have a few hurt copies at a discount, but hurry!

Need some criteria here….. ok, how about this….. your favorite needles!

Mine? Well, thanks for asking. I almost always knit with circulars. Why? Because my old arthritic hands and wrists from years and years of farming feel better when the weight of the knitting rests on my lap and not supported by my hands and wrists at the end of a large needle. So, unless I’m doing something that requires double points (yes, I’ve tried the Magic Loop and 2 Circular needle methods, prefer the double points) I’m all about the circular needles! I have the Denise set that I love, but also some bamboo circs which are awesome.

Yours? What are your favorite needles and why? A copy of this book depends on it!

Oh, and you can get a copy of this book, if you don’t win it here, published by Interweave Press, here: http://www.knitpicks.com/French+Girl+Knits_BD31105.html

Step 1: The Revered Gauge Swatch! Yes, you have to knit a swatch.

• What if I don’t want to?
• Tough, knit the swatch.
• Is there any way to NOT knit the swatch?
• Just knit the swatch, you’ll thank me later.
• But I don’t like to knit swatches.
• Knit. The. Swatch.
• Fine!

So, swatch is knitted. Now what. Augh! Gasp! Being one of the most mathematically challenged people on the planet I’m being assaulted with this word: “Calculate”. Of all things! Seriously, what was I thinking?

Ok, I can do this. So calculate I did (not without a calculator, that would just be dumb!) and calculate is what I continue to do. Figure out based on “The Swatch” how many stitches to cast on, how many to increase, how many rows to knit, how many decreases, then finally getting to the fun part, the 2 color design…. how many repeats I need of said design. I’m ready for a nap at this point, but we must persevere!

Based on a previously made promise to myself to knit from my stash and to handknit an item for each grandchild’s birthday this year, I decided to do matching (sort of) sweaters for my twin granddaughters. The 2 color designs in one will be birds and flowers from the Lithuanian section of Donna’s book. The other sweater, in the same colors, will be a snowflake or star design from the same Lithuanian designs. And, since they’re not identical (the sweaters, not the girls, the girls ARE identical, but I can tell them apart cause I’m a good grandma…..) that really means that I’m not knitting the same sweater twice, right? At least I only had to measure one of them!

So, here’s what’s done so far, in a Phildar acrylic, worsted weight, stashed, lovely purply heather yarn. 13″ from waist to underarm, ready for the next step.

This has been a fun experiment, so far, I’ll keep you informed as I journey through this frontier unknown to me (that of knitting without a pattern of specific items – slippers and dishcloths don’t count).

Who knows, when this is all said and done, Donna may have converted me to a Unpatterned Knitter! That would be awesome! Imagine the freedom! But there is still the swatch issue and that word that strikes fear in the hearts of mathematically challenged knitters everywhere: CALCULATE!!

Take heart, if I can do it, so can you! Give it a try,  this awesome book is available here: http://www.amazon.com/Ethnic-Knitting-Exploration-Lithuania-Iceland/dp/0966828992/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240504793&sr=1-1