Books For Knitters, Both Young, And Well, Younger!

2 books have recently stumbled down my path, found their way into my life, and deposited themselves on my coffee table. Here’s what I found:

Knitty Kitty is an engaging tale, written by David Elliot, complete with gorgeous illustrations, by Christopher Denise, about a Kitty who, well, knits! The scarves, mittens and hats she makes for her kittens end up being used for something else, but no matter, they manage to stay warm anyway. And… the patterns for them are included! You’ll have to see for yourself how these mischevious kittens use their hats, mittens and scarves, and how mama keeps them warm anyway.

This is a nice hardcover book, suitable for your toddler’s coffee table!
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Shear Spirit is a book for every knitter. It seriously made me want to go hug a lamb! The subtitle is Ten Fiber Farms, Twenty Patterns, and Miles of Yarn. (It should read.. Miles of “Droolable” Yarn). I couldn’t put this book down. Not only are the Fiber Farms showcased, but their owners too. It’s nice to read about the “behind the scenes people who make this stuff happen”, the REAL people. The people who feed and care for their animals and who shear, work with rovings, spin, dye, knit, felt, and weave with the fibers. And love it. There are lambs, alpacas, even yaks in this book, but I think my personal favorite is the Icelandic sheep. From farms all over the USA, these stories and patterns will have you out hugging your fiber animals! This book’s description includes “A visual journey to America’s fiber farms and ranches plus a rich inside look at the challenging but rewarding lives of the people who have devoted their lives to harvesting and spinning fleece into yarn.” It’s truly inspiring to get to know others, if only through print and pictures, who’s lives revolve around the fiber animals we love.

Shear Spirit is written by Joan Tapper with photography by Gale Zucker.

Next Pattern:

Sometimes I feel like knitters get intimidated to try new things because they think they need to start with a big project. Your first time working in the round doesn’t need to be a sock, and your first colorwork doesn’t need to be a sweater, for example. You can find little projects that use the skills you want to learn to build your confidence before you move on to something that requires more time commitment.

This adorable knit bunny, for example.

The colorwork bunny from Knit Picks was designed by Amy Munson and is a kind of bowling pin shaped bunny complete with a knit hat, contrasting inner ears and a little stranded colorwork on its body. Note that the ears are attached the the hat not the bunny, but you could stitch them to the bunny if you’d rather.

It’s worked from the bottom up and also has a tiny pompom tail you can’t see in the picture but it’s a really cute touch. There are a variety of little fair isle patterns to choose from to make the best bunny for you.

The bunny comes out about 8 inches tall (or just over 20 cm) and use several colors to complete the colorwork, depending on the design you choose.

You can purchase the pattern by itself from Knit Picks, or make a kit that includes sport weight yarn in all the colors you need for your creation. There are gray and brown options for the main body of the bunny, but of course if you’re using your own yarn you can make it whatever color you like.

Once you’ve tried colorwork (maybe also working in the round and shaping if those are skills you haven’t used before) in a little project like this you’ll be ready to take on something bigger in no time.

Check out the pattern on Knit Picks.

[Photo: Knit Picks]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?