The positive reviews of Knits That Breathe keep appearing, much to my delight and everlasting appreciation. Herewith, two more, the first from Jimmy Beans Wool blog post last week,

and the next from Carol Sulcoski’s Black Bunny Fibers blog.

Carol and my friends at Jimmy Beans Wool are among the knitting world folks whose work I most admire. Their creativity and business acumen are qualities I emulate to the best of my ability, and achieve with, at best,  mixed results.

I enjoyed being interviewed for the review by Jimmy Beans… Kristen asked thoughtful questions, most of which were different than those I’ve been asked before.

And when Carol writes one of her “no bull book reviews,” it’s often the final push I need to add a new book to my knitting bookshelf – so I can only hope that those who read her review of Knits That Breathe will be similarly motivated!

Off to enjoy a relaxing Fourth of July weekend, and hope you will do the same! I leave you with several colorful blooms from my recent visit to the Chicago Botanic Gardens that resemble booms – that is, exploding fireworks!

Up for review today is the prolific Visionary author Hunter Hammersen‘s final addition to her Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet trilogy, KCC III:

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with either this self-published book series or with Hunter’s prodigious knitting talent, let this be your introduction. I apologize in advance if this sounds like a girl-crush — but in a way it is.

Hunter is the real deal; a multi-talented designer whose intellectual curiosity  is surpassed only by her wide-ranging creativity. She’d probably say that her ability to keep her finger on the pulse of our knitting community’s zeitgeist is just a bonus.

Taking its theme from curiosity cabinets (holding collections of the marvels of natural science) and history, the patterns in KCC III are inspired by antique marine illustrations that date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Hunter is an inspired sock knitter, and the projects in KCC III showcase that talent. Here are two lovely examples:

Planorbis corneus Sock

Fucus asparagoides Sock

Each sock pattern has a companion project, and these are pretty evenly divided among shawls, hats, and mitts. All are graceful, use only a skein or two of yarn, and are very wearable. Some of my favorites include the delicate Fucus asparagoides Shawl, made from The Plucky Knitter’s Plucky Single:

Each one features yarn that seems to have been spun and dyed specifically for that project, so beautifully do fiber and end product work together.

PELAGIA NOCTILUCA Hat

In addition to the projects themselves is ample evidence of Hunter’s affinity for History with a capital ‘H.’ She shares the history of curiosity cabinets as a cultural trend, describing the artifacts people collected in them hundreds of years ago, and weaves a seamless, fascinating tie-in with the knitting.

Zostera marina mitt

Hunter is a staunch proponent of charted directions for lace, cables, and the like. In fact, there are no written row-by-row instructions for the projects in KCC III. But she facilitates the user-friendliness of her charts – and every pattern in the book includes at least one – with detailed stitch keys and careful explanations of every stitch that might give the chart-phobic knitter pause.

I’ve heard that knitters challenge themselves to get comfortable using charts specifically so they can make Hunter’s patterns, and having seen the effort she makes to keep them accessible, I’m not surprised.

Limneus stagnalis cowl

I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk a bit about production values here. Hunter’s books are, without exception, right at home on the knitter’s bookshelf next to any volume from a major mainstream publisher. In terms of layout and design, photography, and styling, her books are generally more attractive than those from some of the major craft book publishers.

Even details such as paper quality, and whether the cover has a glossy or matte finish, do not go unconsidered. The end results are beautiful, substantial, and uncompromising. All attest to the effort Hunter expends to ensure the quality of her ‘product,’ and make them worth every penny.

Serpula contortuplicata mitt

For the accessory knitter looking for whimsical but wearable projects, for the history and science buff, and for the aesthete who revels in pure beauty for its own sake, The Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet III is a gorgeous capstone to the 3-volume set.

Padina pavonia Sock

Here’s the thing about writing a new knitting book: you work feverishly for months to source the perfect yarn for each project, and stretch your imagination to design all the wonderful, drool-worthy  projects. This is when you keep a little notebook on your bedside table, because inspiration tends to strike in the middle of the night. And your cat gets cranky because she’s not getting enough attention… or so she’d have you believe.

Next, you spend hours and hours with calculator in hand drafting the patterns (and sometimes redrafting them, because of course you want to be inclusive and provide grading for several sizes…). This is when you might want more than one glass of wine with dinner because if you’re not math-oriented, at the end of the day your brain is fried. Distracting yourself with something really pretty is restorative, too.

Then you focus on the book’s physical details like the font, the tech-editing content and style, the layout, and the project photography. You take pride in your work, so you want it all to be perfect. Your name is going right there on the cover, after all! This is when you trust your instincts, and try not to second-guess yourself.

And finally, one day, you get to write this:

Many cases of Knits That Breathe copies are on their way to Amazon this week. It makes me sooo happy to be able to write that last sentence, you can’t imagine. Or maybe you can.

The wait has seemed long – and to someone not known for her patience, I’ll admit the wait has seemed impossibly long. But at last, it’s nearly over. Several additional cases of Knits That Breathe are on their way to me so I can send out copies to those of you have waited so patiently.

I have a feeling the postal carrier and I are about to become very good friends!

As we slog into Chicago’s typical hot and sticky summer weather, I’m getting wonderful use out of the sample knits from Knits That Breathe. Local yarn company/indie dying wizard Beth at Lorna’s Laces put up photos on Facebook today of the designs using her yarns; the luxurious silk and bamboo blend Pearl,

and the wool and high-tech Outlast blend, Sportmate.

Now that my recent spate of house guests have all scattered to their respective homes around the country, I’m getting back to work. I’ve begun to ship hard copies of Knits That Breathe to the very patient folks who pre-ordered their copies here. It’s quite a process – and a new one to me – but as I get comfortable with the various steps, it’s going more and more smoothly.

Quite soon, Amazon should be shipping out copies ordered there, and the LYS owners who placed orders at TNNA should receive their shipments around the end of June. Lots of time yet for summer knits, so I look forward to seeing the finished projects popping up on Ravelry!

After waiting far longer than I would have liked, I finally planted the summer garden out on our balcony a couple of weeks ago. Now that the plants have settled in and seem happy in their containers, they’re ready for a few close-ups.

Trader Joe’s hibiscus is positively ravishing! The plants’ glossy emerald green leaves set the stage for the daily appearance of fresh vibrant blooms that appear in time to brighten every morning as I sip my first cup of coffee in their company.

Must admit I’m a sucker for spotty, veiny leaves… not sure I want to know what this says about me, other than the variegation resonates. Perhaps these dramatic plants remind me of the infinite variety we have in yarn colors these days.

As soon as my tender young basil plants put out some flowers, I’m dying to try a yummy-sounding iced tea recipe that my friend Hunter recently posted on her blog.

Of course, Hunter has far more exciting news these days. Her newest book, Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet Volume III is out! I’ll be reviewing it next week, so come on back soon, y’hear?

This is for those of you who’ve procrastinated about ordering your copy of Knits That Breathe: 12 Breezy Projects To Keep You Cool. I know how it is; it always seems like there’s plenty of time… and then suddenly, time runs out.

But now, you’re excited about the project photos you’re seeing up on Ravelry and you just want to start knitting already! And I understand, really I do.

The pre-order special offer of 10% off the combined purchase of both hard copy and digital download has been extended through this Saturday, June 21st. That means you can still have both for $39.50 (plus shipping of the hard copy). Your patience has been rewarded.

It seems only fair, since the shipment of books took its time arriving, and has only now reached port. Pre-ordered copies will be available to ship quite soon – wish I could be more specific than that!

Thank you for your understanding!

It’s been mentioned on Facebook, but until now I haven’t brought it up here; I’ve had a torn rotator cuff since the beginning of this year. I managed to do it at the gym, in spite of my careful attention to form and my complete lack of competitive or show-off behaviors.

How did this happen, you ask? Why, lifting weights, of course. The household’s power-napping fur ball doesn’t understand I’d want to lift anything heavier than a bite-sized piece of chicken.

I took a few weeks off, then went back to the gym and, paying even more attention to careful form and lifting even lighter weights, I pulled it all over again. And despite several months of physical therapy and exercises, it really doesn’t feel much better. Not even with liberal applications of this well-known, expert-endorsed icing treatment:

The physical therapist made me promise that as soon as the samples for my next knitting book were complete, I’d take a full month’s hiatus from knitting. You read that right – a full month. Now halfway into that month, my suffering is silent but profound (get out your violins…).

Knitting is like breathing to me, I’ve come to realize. It’s difficult to wait on any line without knitting a few rows to make the wait go faster. Long car trips with no knitting to make the miles speed by? Boring. Watching TV at night without knitting in hand seems pointless, no matter how enjoyable the program. And no soporific knitting before I turn out the bedside light at night? Insomnia!

To her credit, the household fur ball keeps me honest, fixing me with her unblinking yellow eyes as if to say, “Don’t even think about it!”

But I can still think about knitting. And I certainly do.

Sketches of ideas for future submissions? Check.

Perusal of my knitting books to “refine” the collection? Check.

Fondling my yarn stash under the pretext of tidying and sorting? Check.

But to be honest, halfway into my self-imposed knitting moratorium, I’m feeling just a wee bit prickly.

To hear my podcast interview on Yarn Thing with Marly Bird, and our discussion of the projects, fibers, and inspiration for Knits That Breathe, just click on her name above. Read the show notes here for all my pertinent data.

Marly is an interviewer’s interviewer. She puts her guests completely at ease (at least, this one certainly was!), and asks thoughtful questions that keep the conversation going effortlessly.

On the new books front, I’m loving Betty Salpekar’s Solefull Socks: Knitting From the Ground Up. Betty and I met at a Visionaries self-publishing workshop earlier this year, and I was enchanted when I took a look at her book.

And what a gorgeous book it is. In a large format hardcover, Solefull Socks contains beautiful, tempting photographs of the projects, painstakingly detailed charts and diagrams, explanations of the sock architecture, and useful tips and hints to make your own journey into Solefull sock-knitting as enjoyable as possible.

Betty has completely re-imagined sock-knitting, devising a method that should please even the most sock-averse knitter. Her technique builds up from the sole, wrapping the sock around the wearer’s foot and up from there.

But make no mistake; this is not like any other toe-up sock knitting you’ve read about. In fact, it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before in the world of socks. Amazingly, Betty’s invention lends itself equally well to lace that traverses the foot and ankle:

and colorwork, such as this diamond pattern:

as well as textured stitches:

It seems that no matter what pattern one incorporates into this technique, the end result will be wearable, comfortable, and attractive on the foot. This is a book worth seeking out and adding to your knitting library, whether or not you consider yourself a sock knitter. The technique is so unusual, yet so practical and visually appealing, that every adventurous, curious knitter will want to give it a try. I know I will!

Tune in tomorrow to hear my podcast interview with Marly Bird on her Yarn Thing:

Really excited about this one – I met Marly at a recent trade event (TNNA), and she’s absolutely delightful! Not to mention, I love her logo! So charming:

Sometimes I like to pretend that I have a long, lean, and elegant figure. For those occasions, I need a garment that perpetuates the fantasy successfully enough that it becomes a temporary reality. That’s when I pull Zephyr off the closet shelf and shimmy its silky softness over my head and shoulders.

Other times I just want to stride out into the world without a purse. For me, going purse-less is a bit of a novelty. Not that I carry one of those gigantic designer bags. You know the ones I mean; they’re so big the bearer could easily run away from home with nothing but that bag’s contents in hand.

No, not me. I prefer a tiny, cross-body bag that holds the essentials and nothing else. Still, there are times when even my littlest cross-body bag seems like an imposition. And for those times, I want pockets. That’s also when I pull out Zephyr.

On really hot days when I need to exude an attitude of organized competence (oh, and not sweat my way through meetings), I reach for Zephyr with its delicate lace motifs, short sleeves, and the subtle sheen of its silk and bamboo fiber to keep me comfortable. The cool touch of this fabric against my skin works wonders.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Lorna’s Laces Pearl yarn for this project. It was a lovely choice…the teal, aquamarine, forest, and emerald variegation in the color #1111, The Skyway, mimics the ebb and flow of waves on Lake Michigan on a windy day.

Sumptuous and special, the 51% silk/49% bamboo blend offers the sheen of silk and the wonderful soft drape of bamboo. Available in Lorna’s Laces’ entire palette, it’s a treat – and with 220 yds. per skein, only a few skeins are needed to make Zephyr your own.

For those of you who don’t know this, I have a daughter who lives in NYC. She just had a birthday, and since we hadn’t seen each other since last Christmas I was overdue for a Dose of Daughter.

Last Friday, I was up at 3:30 am to catch my flight – and freely admit I’d stagger out of bed that insanely early only for someone I love. I stayed over at my uptown sister’s informal B & B, otherwise known as a very comfortable couch.

The early flight meant that my daughter and I had an extra whole day to visit, and she was kind enough to take Friday off from work so we could really enjoy ourselves. And by “enjoy,” I mean mostly shopping and eating, though not necessarily in that order. Dinner at Hotel Chantelle on the Lower East Side included this duck pâté with all the fixins.

Saturday was absolutely gorgeous – sunny, 70s, and breezy. Exactly what a day in late spring should be like. Perfect for a guided tour of my girl’s new neighborhood (she’s moving in early June) as well as a trip to Brooklyn for a visit to Smorgasburg – an artisanal food fair held every weekend in Williamsburg. In other words, more eating.

In the midst of Williamsburg’s beanie-wearing crowd of twenty-something hipsters, I felt ostentatiously uncool.  But my lack of urban hipster cred did nothing to impair my appetite. 🙂

And Sunday gave us more sunny skies, inspiring a walk with my daughter around the reservoir in Central Park.

I had a bit of a thing going for the Central Park bridges that lead to an outer path. Each one was different, and each one had its own wealth of beautiful, graceful design details.

After the exercise, it felt a bit less gluttonous to go to my sister’s apartment for brunch, even though she made a french toast casserole that was as decadent as it was delicious. Got to see my niece and nephew, a rare occurrence but a happy one.

Then back to the airport and home by dinner time. It was a lovely – and much needed – break from my routines.