Book Review: Follow the Flock

Humans and animals have grown up together and influenced each other in ways obvious and less so. Sally Coulthard explores the connections between sheep and people throughout history in her book Follow the Flock: How Sheep Shaped Civilization.

The book is a collection of stories about how sheep and humans have helped each other, including theories about how and when sheep were originally domesticated, the importance of felted wool for many nomadic people, the rise of the woolen industry in Britain, the origin of iconic sweaters, how sheep helped protect people from anthrax and more.

Maybe it doesn’t sound super interesting, but it actually is a fun read that will make you appreciate our animal friends even more. As if sheep weren’t already great enough for giving us fleece and meat!

It’s an entertaining and enlightening read that knitters and natural history lovers are sure to enjoy.

About the book: 320 pages, hardcover, published 2021 by Pegasus Books. Suggested retail price $27.95

Next Pattern:

The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]

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