Tag Archives: books

Bluestockings, by Kate Davies & Nicole Pohl.

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An intriguing new book arrived at the shop not long ago, along with Inkling – let’s look inside Bluestockings, by Kate Davies and Nicole Pohl!

Bluestockings is a book of history as well as knitting patterns, a celebration of the group of eighteenth-century learned women known as the Bluestockings in prose, images, and handknit socks.

Scholars, dyers, curators, and other experts have brought their perspectives to this book, making it a rich and intriguing read on the history of socks and stockings, as well as the lives and work of the Bluestockings.

The knitting patterns are varied in technique and style, from stripes and stranded colorwork to texture and lace.

Look for Bluestockings ($25) here at the shop, or order it online for local pickup or shipping!

Knit Hats with Woolly Wormhead.

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Woolly Wormhead’s new book is here!

Knit Hats with Woolly Wormhead is a collection of 22 hat patterns for all ages from a designer who self identifies as a Hat Architect. Her designs are innovative, surprising, and fun to knit – Anne is a big fan!

Woolly Wormhead has dedicated her entire knitwear design career to hats, exploring the possibilities of texture and construction with whimsical style.

Malabrigo Caprino + “Azula”

We may not have exactly the yarns shown in her pattern photos, but there are so many good substitutions on our shelves – here are some yarn and pattern pairings I came up with while paging through the book!

Swans Island All American Sport + “Joyce”

Baa Ram Ewe Winterburn DK + “Staggered”

Fyberspates Vivacious 4ply + “Infilare”

Kelbourne Woolens Lucky Tweed + “Turbine”

Along with inspiring and intriguing patterns, Knit Hats with Woolly Wormhead features tutorials on special techniques and sage advice on hat fit and styling.

Knit Hats with Woolly Wormhead is $24.95; swing by to pick up a copy or order online for local pickup or shipping!

Book Sale!

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Local Yarn Store Day is coming up, and we’re celebrating all week long with a Book Sale!

All in-stock books and magazines are 25% off from April 13 – 17, making this a great time to indulge in an exciting new publication, or pick up an older title that escaped notice the first time around – we have an awful lot of books to choose from!

Browse some of the latest and most popular publications below:

… and so much more! Place orders by phone or online for local pickup or shipping; we’ll take 25% all in-stock books and magazines ordered now through April 17. We’re more than happy to check our supply for any titles not listed here, just ask us – thanks for helping us make room for new books and magazines!

 

A reminder: all sales are final on discounted items; there will be no exchanges or returns. Thanks!

Strands of Joy, by Anna Johanna.

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Anna Johanna’s Strands of Joy is here!

This beautifully produced hardcover book boasts 20 fresh colorwork patterns, worked seamlessly from the top down.

Laine is the publisher, known for the lush photography of their popular knitting and lifestyle magazine, which we were thrilled to welcome back with a new issue in December.

Johanna uses a variety of yarns throughout this collection for different effects – from sturdy solids to subtle heathers, from painterly hand-dyes to self-stripers.

Anne fell in love with “Lehto” (below) long before Strands of Joy arrived, and by the time she could hold the book in her hands, she was already picking out yarn to make it – can’t wait to show you what she’s considering, but it’s not landing at our shop until mid-March… stay tuned!

Strands of Joy is $45 – Order online for local pickup here at the shop or USPS Priority Mail shipping.

Knitting Needles & Chopsticks, by Marianne Isager and Jens Rahbek Hansen.

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Marianne Isager’s new book is another intriguing mix of recipes and knitting patterns, like Eat & Knit before it. Let’s take a peek inside Knitting Needles & Chopsticks!

Knitting Needles & Chopsticks is a collaboration with Danish-Japanese chef Jens Rahbek Hansen, featuring Japanese recipes along with scarves and shawls knit with all manner of Isager yarns.

We keep many Isager yarns in stock here at the shop, though not every single one – ask us and we’ll help connect you with the yarn you’re looking for or a good substitute.

Isager is known for combining yarns to create interesting color and fiber blends, and the “Sapporo” scarf/wrap is a great example.

Here, two lace weight yarns are held together – Japansk Bomuld, a unique cotton tape, and Alpaca 1, a fuzzy alpaca yarn. I’m intrigued by the combination, which sounds like a balance of cool and warm – the perfect accessory for early spring.

Knitting Needles & Chopsticks is $21.95; order online for local pickup or shipping via USPS Priority Mail!

Norah Gaughan’s Twisted Stitch Sourcebook.

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Norah Gaughan’s new book is here! Let’s look inside her Twisted Stitch Sourcebook.

In this book, designer Norah Gaughan introduces over 125 twisted stitch patterns with both written and charted instructions.

I’m a huge fan of stitch dictionaries like this one, with its lovingly-photographed swatches, detailed notes and numbers, and guidance for creating original designs.

There are patterns for twisted stitch garments, too, if design isn’t your thing – this one shines in Brooklyn Tweed Peerie, whose tight twist makes for excellent stitch definition.

Norah Gaughan’s Twisted Stitch Sourcebook is $29.99 – Order online for local pickup or shipping!

Ready Set Raglan.

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Ready Set Raglan is here!

This new book from Pom Pom Press is all about raglan-sleeve pullovers, complete with patterns, tutorials, and inspiring modifications.

It’s a follow-up to Pom Pom’s excellent beginner book, Knit How, and invites improving knitters to take another step forward in their knitting skills.

The patterns are beautiful in their simplicity, which also makes them a blank slate for modifications – the section on “Variations and Adjustments” will see you through different sleeve and body lengths, necklines, and more, while the “Exploring Color” chapter covers stripes, marling, and color combinations.

Any knitters on your list this holiday season? Ready Set Raglan makes an excellent gift. Copies are $26.50 each – order online for local pickup or shipping!

Fair Isle Weekend, by Mary Jane Mucklestone.

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It’s been a long wait, but Mary Jane Mucklestone’s new book has finally arrived!
In Fair Isle Weekend, Mary Jane Mucklestone takes us on a virtual trip to Shetland. This beautifully produced hardcover book features 8 colorwork designs, a steeking tutorial, and a few essays on life and knitting traditions in Shetland.
Laine is the publisher, known for their popular knitting and lifestyle magazine, which we’re delighted will be back with a new issue in December. Mucklestone’s designs are shown clearly in tantalizing photographs that highlight the knitterly details as much as the striking landscape.
Fair Isle Weekend is $42.95 and available for local pickup here at the shop or USPS Priority Mail shipping (an additional $8). Order online to get a copy for yourself or a colorwork-loving friend – inspiring knitting books make excellent gifts!

Back in stock: Knit How.

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We’re delighted to have our very favorite learn-to-knit book back in stock – Pom Pom’s Knit How!

Since we’ve all been encouraged to stay home during the pandemic, we’ve noticed an increase in new knitters, looking to dig into a new hobby. Knit How is a fresh book for knitters just getting started, one that’s as enticing and beautifully designed as books and magazines for more experienced knitters.

It begins with the fundamentals of knitting: casting on, knitting, purling, and binding off. The instructions are friendly and the photos and illustrations are clear, and helpful tips are sprinkled throughout.

From there, the book guides knitters through 10 patterns, each of which introduces a new technique, like increasing and decreasing, working in the round, cables, and lace.

Know someone seeking a new pastime? Knit How makes an excellent gift. Copies are $26.50 each – order online for local pickup or shipping!

Custom Shawls.

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We welcomed a new book to our teacart this week – let’s take a peek inside Custom Shawls, by Kate Atherly and Kim McBrien Evans!

As the title suggests, Custom Shawls is a book about design, a resource that encourages knitters to create their own special shawls and gives them the tools to do so.

 

Custom Shawls introduces a variety of shawl shapes and stitch patterns, along with guidance on how to combine them for a finished piece that perfectly suits the yarn at hand.

Yarn itself is an important factor in shawl design, of course, and Atherly and McBrien Evans spend time discussing fiber, gauge, color, and yarn construction, showing how each of these variables affects the knit fabric.

Custom Shawls is $27.50; order online for local pickup or shipping via USPS Priority Mail!