The subtitle is “A Holistic Approach to Making Yarn.” Now, I don’t claim to be an expert in holistic anything, so I’m not entirely sure where that came from, but what I can tell you is that this is one of the most in-depth books on spinning I’ve seen in a long time.

Knitters like to embellish things. And while you can knit flowers to attach to a hat or a bag, you can also crochet them … and if you do, this is the book you’ll want to have nearby. After all, crocheting is sometimes faster than knitting, and there’s no denying that you can do things with one that you can’t do with the other, so why limit yourself?

The point is that Jane Sowerby took these vague if authentic patterns and reinterpreted them for us modern knitters who barely have time to knit, much less to think.

The best part, though, is that even though the 21st century is rife in clutter, stress, and jam-packed schedules, these lovely lace patterns–almost entirely shawls–can let us recapture part of the serenity and slower pace of the Victorian past.

It’s time for a new poll on the front page, but my mind’s a blank … So, I’ll as YOU. What question do you think I should ask??

Except for the occasional stitch pattern, or as a way of making invisible increases, I have never looked at the knit-one-below stitch as anything but an oddity, something rare. I never thought about how I could really USE it.

Luckily, there are knitters who think about these things. (This is something I used to have time for, but now rely on others.) Because, this is very clever stuff. A whole new way to create your knitted fabric AND to do 2-color knitting without having to ever strand any yarn along the back.

The author opens this book by saying:
I had found a place that made sense, one that elevated the ordinary into art: the perfectly mounded, Rubenesque aubergines glistening in the sun at midday market, the precisely decorated shop windows displaying petite children’s shoes, classic shaving brushes, and frilly seed packets. I began to understand more fully what could be done with very little. The French were masters of an art that had nothing to do with money and everything to do with an appreciation of the small, lovely moments in life.” (emphasis mine)
Welcome to French Girl Knits, a book that tries to live up to that elusive ideal of French Chic.

This book has some nice, basic patterns to it. Nothing wild or crazy–no jester hats or quirky, misshapen kinds of things that look they were thrown together at the last minute. NICE patterns.

The best, most fun part of this book is the “Yarn Pairings.” Swatch after swatch after swatch of two different yarns knit together–just so you can see what the possibilities look like. There are two swatches for every combination. One, with both strands held together and knitted in stockinette stitch, and Two, knit in alternating garter stitch ridges. The yarns used vary in size, fiber, and texture, so there’s a lot of variety in the samples you’re looking at–boucle, ribbon yarns, cotton, silk, wool, smooth, rough … they’re all in there.

Back in high school, I had a geometry teacher who, as an assignment, made us all build 3-dimensional models out of little pieces of cardstock cut into spheres … like a geodesic dome. As much as I hated struggling with the glue and paper, the concept of the construction intrigued me.

Who knew you could do the same kind of thing with yarn?

It’s time for Knitting Scholar’s report card … come tell me how I’m doing in the new poll!

Is it really the end of the year, already?

It’s hard to believe it went so fast!
Let’s review what we’ve accomplished since this blog launched in August, shall we?

If you’re looking for a 365-page calendar of knitting stitches and patterns, this is not the one you want. But if you want one with clever quips and entertaining observations, you’ll enjoy this one.

How can you not love a book like this? It’s got everything. History. Beautiful patterns. Great stitches. Lovely pictures. Good writing.

But, you probably want details.