Introduction

So, what is Knitting Scholar all about?

Very simple–book reviews. Mainly, knitting book reviews, although there will be some spinning books in here from time to time, or some books on color or design, maybe even crochet … all that is still to be seen.

The current plan, too, is to stick to actual books, but even that may change if I decide I want to review magazines. Because, of course, there’s a fine line dividing some of them. The Rowan magazine, for example, is almost a book, and do Debbie Bliss’s collections count as patterns? Or magazines? There are arguments to be made for both sides, which means–so far as I’m concerned–that it could go either way. But for now, I’m defining “books” as “something you can buy at your local book shop.” Not the kind of thing you need to go to a yarn shop for.

What makes me qualified to write knitting reviews that you can trust?

I know, it’s an important question. The two biggest points in my favor? I’ve been knitting for over 20 years, since college, and I’m a voracious reader. I love books, I love knitting, and I love books about knitting. So there’s that.

But I’m also an inquisitive knitter. I love learning about the craft, and thinking about things in new ways, which makes me crave the books that explore the outer limits of the actual technique of knitting. The history of Aran sweaters. The different techniques of color work. Collections of obscure knit stitches. Stories that inspire me to try new things. Patterns that make me stop and say, “Ooh, how clever/lovely/amazing.” I dabble with design a bit, too, so while I’m nothing like a professional designer, I can appreciate the way a perfectly constructed sleeve fits into sweater, or the calculated way a ruffle drapes just so over a cuff.

All of which ties into my knitting library. Last time I checked, I had something like 126 knitting books sitting on my shelves, along with dozens more about spinning, color, crochet, embroidery, quilting, sewing, dyeing. I can’t seem to help myself–when I love something, I want to read about it. And if I’m going to read about it, why not share my thoughts with you? I mean, anything that gives me an excuse to read more books about knitting has to be good, right? And since I’ve been reading about knitting for over two decades now, I’m pretty well informed about what makes a knitting book a good knitting book.

If you want to see what kind of things I knit, you can visit my blog over at Chappysmom.com.