Book Review - The Workshop Book of Knitting

My mom teaches at an elementary school, and sometimes their library has book sales to get rid of some older books and make room for new. My mom, being so thoughtful, picked up this gem just for me!

The Workshop Book of Knitting! This book was written in 1973 by Miss von Wartburg, who was a knitting instructor who ran a workshop for kids in NYC. (Sidenote: Anyone feel sorry for the author? I mean was her childhood horrible with that name? Ursula von WARTBURG? Yikes. OK back to the review!)

It is really interesting to compare the way knitting was described and taught by her at the time compared with the kids' knitting book that I bought in 2005 from which I taught myself. Overall I am able to understand it, but there are some things that were either funny, or just interesting in how they ordered/taught things. I am going to now post some of my favorite quotes, along with my comments. Enjoy!

"Hand-spun yarn has a quality all its own. It is uneven and bumpy in spots, which gives it a unique charm not found in machine-made yarn"

Uhh I could think of some people who might be highly offended by that statement! I know a lot of handspun CAN be bumpy and uneven but there is plenty of beautiful almost-perfect looking handspun out there. Sheesh :)

(In the "Winding Yarn" section:) "Make a Surprise Ball for someone. Wind candies and little trinkets into a knitting ball. The knitter will be delighted when the surprised fall out as the ball of yarn unwinds.

Hmmm not sure about that. What if the "trinkets" got tangled up in the yarn? Or the candy melted because the person you gave it to didn't knit with it for a year or two? Wait ew that would probably invite bugs to come live in your yarn! Ewwww!

"Knitting needles are made of either plastic or aluminum"

If those were the only choices I feel deeply sorry for the people of the 70s! :)

(From the "Other Helpful Tools" checklist:) Handkerchief, man's size, for wrapping delicate knitting

What, I need a handkerchief? Where do I even buy one these days??? lol

When they get to the actual instructions about stitches and knitting, they start off with "The Plain Stitch" which I am reading to just mean the front of a regular knitted stitch. They call the backside the "Purl stitch" which makes sense. It's just interesting they have names for each side of a stockinette stitch.

OK last part I need to quote in entirety, because it is funny to me!

"How to Take Care of Your Knitting"

1. Store your knitting tools and materials in a box such as a shoe box, and keep light-colored knitting wrapped up in a handkerchief or dishtowel.
2. Don't let the ball of wool roll around on the floor while you are knitting.
3. Wash your hands with soap and water before starting to knit. Also wash them if they become moist and sticky while knitting.
4. Do not rest your elbows on a table while knitting. Sit back in your chair and relax.
5. Make it a habit to finish the row or round before putting your knitting away.
6. When you put your knitting away, place one needle over the other and wrap yarn around the needles so the stitches won't slide off.
7. Make your workplace a happy place to be. Tidy up around you. Work with good light on your knitting.

Whew... Um anyone else break about all of those rules every time you knit??? Or is it just me? :-)

First FOs of 2009

9 days into the year and already I am on a roll!!!!!

Due to the large amount of babies I have heard will be born this year, I thought I'd get a jump on my baby knitting.

Booties:


MORE booties:


Yes, they are the same yarn and same pattern... the pattern I have made before. I included the holes so I can put cute I-cord ties in them, but my plan is to wait until I hear the sexes of the babies and then I can make either a pink or blue cord. That way I got some knitting done ahead of time, but at the same time they can be gender-personalized!

On the needles:

A commissioned project.... my first! My best bud Megan (who was my maid of honor at my wedding) found a picture of a really cute turtleneck shrug online and asked if I could make it for her. I was excited to try, so I researched and found the pattern in the book Scarf Style. Megan, being so awesome, not only bought me the book but also bought all the yarn needed for the project! (She and I picked out some Knitpicks Swish Superwash in colors Black & Bok Choy)

Here is my current progress.... one sleeve done!

It looks skinny but its all 3x3 rib and its soooo stretchy and awesome! :-)

YAY!!!!

I got my copy of Mason-Dixon Knitting: Outside the Lines!



Lets just say I have DEVOURED it and have already read it cover to cover....and it's GREAT! (What did you expect! I loved the first book!) I already want to knit literally EVERYTHING in the book. I love knitting books like that!!!!!



The pictures are gorgeous, the patterns seem to be very well written & explained... the new ideas and creative things are amazing! I mean, look at this COAT!



I would have said a knitted coat would just look like a big sweater but that definitely looks like a COAT! I want one! lol

And this BAG... zomg... i would have to learn how to felt AND duplicate stitch but I totally think it would be worth it to have that. I love it.




Anyway, enough gushing... I am going to cast on some cabled fingerless gloves for one of my friends :) Have a great weekend!

P.S. Bridal shower #2 tomorrow with my fiance's family! I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blanket progress

Today I made a lot of progress on my baby blanket! I am almost done with the third skein, woot. It is looking really good and feels soft.



No other progress knitting wise... I did buy Itty Bitty Hats finally, after coveting it for awhile... I love almost all of the hats and plan on making some of them soon, there are a lot of new babies lately. Must be something in the water, as Cynthia has said ;-)

The weather is cooling off... YAY! I love sweatshirt and jeans season. I will probably be wearing nothing but that for awhile lol. I hope the mosquitos die off soon though, they have been crazy bad lately. I went over to my parents the other day, and my dad wanted to show me this cool mushroom that was growing in the grass, and he said "OK, we have to run". I thought he was kidding but the mosquitos really were so bad that we had to jog out to see it and then jog back. Crazy!

So many babies...

OK well the 2007 baby knitting is just beginning... I hope I can get everything I want done before all the babies being born this fall/winter are born!

Here is a Fetching inspired hat that I modified to use Rowan Cashsoft on size 6 dpns:


I love the yarn, obviously I just started but so far so good. I need to have it done by next Thursday. I have plenty of time!

Then I get to decide what I am knitting next... perhaps something from my new book! :D

book and blankie

Lookie what came in the mail yesterday!!!


Woo hoo baby knitting! There are several cute sweaters in this book that I want to make... I better get busy!

Steady progress on the baby blanket, I made it through one skein already!