Reading about Knitting

Life update: We drove our daughter down to move into the dorms last Friday at UCLA! Last week was a whirlwind of activity, so not a lot of crafting was done, but we were able to get all of the things accomplished and packed that we needed to in order for a successful move-in weekend for Georgia. We stayed in L.A. Friday night and had breakfast on campus with her, and walked around a bit before heading back home. She says she’s loving her room so far and had already unpacked and put everything away the afternoon we arrived.

Another thing I have been working on is a test knit for a designer I haven’t tested or edited for before. Once I am given the go-ahead to share what I’ve been working on I’ll make sure to post photos and talk about the project. From my understanding there aren’t others testing the pattern, but I’m not completely sure about that. I hope to have it completed in two weeks.

Now, on to reading about knitting! My favorite aunt came to town this weekend to go to an annual craft vendor fair held here every year. Normally Dan and I attend with my mom, but we were still on the road home while the event was going on, so we instead drove over to mom’s to have dinner and hang out with my parents and aunt. Now, about a year ago I convinced my aunt to take up knitting, and she dove right in. Her first project was a brilliant blanket pattern in which you create 12 squares, each with different techniques, then seam them together. It was such a smart first project, as it teaches everything from knits and purls to lace and cables. I can’t say enough how much fun it has been getting to chat with her about all things knitting, especially since she is so similar to how I am in regards to devouring the technical aspects of the craft.

So when she was here this past weekend she gifted me a DELIGHTFUL book by Patty Lyons. She sent me a text earlier in the week with a photo of the book asking if I’d read it, to which I replied that I had not, and I thought I would look it up in our library’s system, as my aunt said it was very insightful. So now, not only do I not have to find copy at my library, but I am about a third of my way through reading it and am just loving it!

As someone who really thrives with technical information, but also appreciates wit and a little bit of self-deprecation, this book is perfection. Patty’s descriptions of how we can improve aspects of our knitting more easily when we understand what we are actually doing structurally are so spot-on that I have audibly said “OF COURSE” on more than one occasion. You might think that a book dealing with so much technical stuff that it might read like a car’s user manual, but you would be mistaken. The humor peppered throughout the book is perfect, some of which pokes fun at knitting in the most refreshing way. Another big plus: she offers us so much information but in a humble “I made these mistakes so you don’t have to” way. It’s been an utter delight so far, and even though I’m not finished reading it yet, I already know this will be a go-to in my reference library.

Have you ready anything in the knitting genre that you would consider a lifeline to your progress? If so I’d love to hear about it. And if not, but something like that sounds right up your alley, I highly recommend Patty Lyons’ Knitting Bag of Tricks