Vintage Baby Knits: More Than 40 Heirloom Patterns from the 1920s to the 1950s
by Kristen Rengren 
Stewart, Tabori and Chang
$27.50 [Hardcover]

Thank you Kristen Rengren for saving me from trying to figure out all those vintage baby pattern that I’ve been collecting for years. I know it’s knitting and I know it’s English but they never made a lot of sense to me.

40ish baby patterns translated into knittable English and made from actual, found-in-yarn-store yarns. The patterns are literally classic in style and substance, originally designed and knit before everything was quick and easy.

Knitting In the Sun: 32 Projects for Warm Weather
by Kristi Porter
Wiley Publishing
$22.99
SR= 28-58 inches

I admit, as much as I love to knit, I’m guilty of putting it away when the warm weather starts. The idea of carting around wool in the humidity of a Michigan summer does not appeal to me. Knitting in the Sun may have changed my mind about my lack of a summer hobby.  Yes, it has garments made from traditional summer yarns like cotton and linen for you hot-region knitters. Kicky bathing suit in a cotton/lycra blend – check.  Luscious bamboo tank top with cooling lace panels – check.  What about the wool or alpaca? Consider a reversible lacy tunic top knit from sock yarn on large needles or a cozy oversize cardigan from an alpaca/soy silk blend that is lightweight enough to carry with you everywhere you go during the busy summer months.

Whimsical Little Knits
by Ysolda Teague
£12.00 printed + digital
£10.00 digital only

I'm obviously fond of Ysolda's work, so I was pleased for her when I heard she was self-publishing a book of patterns. When my copy arrived, I found myself instantly adding Ishbel [a half-stockinette, half-lace shawl] to my must-knit list -- and I quickly finished the piece. Love it.

I also love this little book. The photos are of the quality we expect from Ysolda -- clear and crisp, showing important pattern details. The charts are clear and I found absolutely no issues when knitting the Ishbel pattern -- clear and straightforward.

The patterns included in the book will cover your head, shoulders and toes of all ages, and there are a few little friends to knit as well.

The charm of the book can be summed up by the inside cover: a pre-printed bookplate that reads "This book belongs to" and a space to write your name. Which I've already done, since I have much more to knit from within its pages.

AS

The Swift
by Tom Bihn, with help from the readers of Knitty
indigo ballistic nylon and other colors in either ballistic nylon or cordura : $80
cork: $120

In 2005, Knitty held a contest and asked for feedback on the perfect knitting bag. What resulted 18 months later was The Swift, also named by Knitty readers.

The geniuses behind this bag are the people of Tom Bihn [yes, there really is a Tom Bihn in charge of the company, and he's a super-nice guy, too]. They make bags of every description, all famous for their quality, durability and function. The Swift is no exception.

The bag is well-sized with shoulder straps that aren't so long that you can't carry the bag in your hand [unless you are wee]. The closure, as requested by Knitty readers, is not a yarn catcher -- it's a button loop system that lets you close the bag loosely, tighter or really snug. It sits nicely at your side if you knit, or you can do as Paul does, and hang it off the arm of your chair.

Inside, that's where the Tom Bihn genius really shines. First, there are two quite-large clear pockets, one on each side, that close with a zipper. Perfect for notions, pens, patterns, or purse-type stuff if this becomes a combo bag. There are two rings attached to the bag, and these are fabulous. Why? Because the yarn Stuff Sack [shown at right and included with every Swift] can clip on to one and your keys can clip on to the other.

At left, you see Miko knitting with the Swift on her shoulder, and her yarn supply in the Stuff Sack, which is clipped into the Swift, but hanging outside for convenience. There are many more storage options you can get at Tom Bihn that will clip into the bag -- things like zipper pouches for DPNs or mini-wallets for just the essentials like a few bills, some coins and a card or two. There are so many ways to make the Swift your own that I'm going to direct you to the Swift Flickr group to get an eyeful of examples. You'll find tons of pics of the bags by knitters from all over, in a variety of colors, and from just about every angle.

The original Swift comes in ballistic nylon [smooth and slightly shiny] or cordura [matte and a little textured]. We have found that the cordura tends to attract pet hair, so if you're a cat or dog person, you might want to go with the ballistic fabric.

Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting: Celebrating the Gift of Knitting with 24 Beautiful Patterns
by Lorna Miser
Watson-Guptill
$24.95 [hardcover]
SR=32 – 60 inches

This collection of knitting patterns is actually a spiritual journey very much like The Five People You Meet in Heaven. In it, Lorna tells stories about people and events that touched her life. The theme of the stories is that we should treasure the people who help us and find the blessings that come from good times and bad.

Each story is the inspiration for a pattern, and I could tell the patterns are meaningful inspirations, designed with care to honor the person or event. The patterns are beautiful and range from baby clothes, toys, sweaters, accessories and even a pattern to make your own knitting needles out of dowels and polymer clay.

Amigurumi Knits
by Hansi Singh
Creative Publishing International
$19.99

Amigurumi is not just about crochet. In this book, the creator of Hansigurumi patterns collects some of the most amazing creatures ever knitted.

Along with each detailed pattern is a story about the original creature. Read about the Black-Devil Anglerfish and shudder, just a little. Sea stars, praying mantis, all sorts of backyard insects and -- my favorite -- the Jackalope. A section at the front gives tips to help you get the right kind of fabric. A fabulous book.

AS

One Ball Knits Purses: 20 Stylish Handbags Made with a Single Ball, Skein, Hank, or Spool
by Fatema Habibur-Rahman, Khadija Habibur-Rahman, Hajera Habibur-Rahman
Watson-Guptill
$18.95

What could be more fabulous than purses made from just one ball of yarn? How about the fact that professional finishings and hardware are readily available and you can use them to make these purses look like you got them at an expensive boutique.

The patterns range from clutches and evening bags to satchels and totes. The beginning of the book has easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations of the techniques used in assembling and decorating them. Each purse pattern has detailed instructions on where to find the hardware, how to knit and assemble the purse.  It even has the pattern and sewing instructions for the fabric linings. 

Teach Yourself VISUALLY Hand-Dyeing 
by Barbara Parry
Wiley Publishing
$21.99

I’ve just started to play with dyeing yarn and fiber and this book nearly made my head explode with all of the information in it.

Barbara Parry owns Foxfire Fibre and has been dyeing gorgeous yarn and fiber for a long time. Don’t believe me? Go look: foxfirefiber.com, gorgeous, no?

She covers yarn and fiber dyeing,. She covers wooly and cellulose fiber dyeing, kool-aid and acid dyes, color, equipment, preparation, safety, overdyeing, and here’s where my brain overloaded -- 17 techniques of applying dye to yarn or fiber.

Everything is shown in photos, and the book has a --hooray! -- lay flat so you can work with it binding.

JM

Yarn Bowl
by KnitWitch
$30-$45

Yes, this bowl is beautiful, but it’s the details that make it a really useful tool. It has weight; it doesn’t tip. It has felt on the bottom so it won’t scratch or slide across the floor. The yarn notch is cut deeply and at the right angle to hold the yarn in place without trapping it.

Most importantly, it is as smooth as the proverbial baby’s bum. Outside, inside, and all the way into the bottom of the notch, my merino tencel single ply did not catch or snag at any time.

JM

Nicky Epstein Knitting in Tuscany
by Nicky Epstein
Sixth & Spring Books
$19.95  [hardcover]

Clearly Nicky Epstein loves Italy and this book reads like an ode to the country in general and Tuscany in particular. She shops, eats, drinks and knits all over the region and any knitter that picks up this book gets to come along through photographs and very specific recommendations sprinkled through the book.

There are 16 patterns in the book inspired by Tuscany --wraps, sweaters and home décor, all in Nicky’s signature whimsical style.

CKI

Triangle Tote
by Tilli Tomas
Base 11" x 14"
Bag height without strap 11.5"
Base to top of strap 23
$88 on sale @$45

This bag was given to me to test drive at the big knitting trade show last June. Why haven't I written the review until now? Because it instantly became part of my bag repertoire so quickly that I almost forgot it was a review bag!

This bag is, honestly, gorgeous. Made of two layers of a thick cotton -- the outside and the inside are different colors, which looks great -- it's substantial but not too heavy. Mine has a chino-ish olive cotton on the outside and bright fuschia twill as the lining. Stronger than you can imagine. In fact, this bag went into instant use as my Yarn Roundtable bag, which means I pack it full of the yarn and at least 10 lbs of door-prize books I take to the monthly events. Every month, without fail, people commented on how much they liked it.

Along the wide sides, there are two big pockets, large enough to hold a magazine or pattern. On the short sides, smaller pockets stitched vertically to hold needles or pens or anything tall and thin. No pockets on the inside, but then again -- the bag is reversible. I like the pockets on the outside myself.

You can easily wear it over your shoulder [especially if it's not full of books] but it's also a good length to carry in your hands. It would easily hold an entire sweater or even an afghan in progress AND all the yarn.

At a recent Roundtable, someone spilled coffee on the outside of my bag and I was not happy. I laid it in my biggest sink, washed it with cold water and some gentle soap and the coffee stain came right out. So maybe the surface is scotchgarded...it certainly behaves like it is! I wouldn't put this bag in the washer or dryer, but the handwashing worked fine and I hung it to dry.

Yup, I love this bag and would wholeheartedly recommend it to any fellow bag freak, knitter or not!

AS

Simply Needlefelt: 20 Easy and Elegant Designs
by Jayne Emerson
Interweave Press
$24.95

A book full of small projects for the beginning needle felter. A host of needle felting techniques are covered: appliqué, 3-D, weaves & braids, reverse, effects and needle felting knits.

Each technique has a project and most projects have a gallery to show alternate designs. The projects are uncomplicated yet stylish, using felt as the entire piece or as an accent.

JM

Knee-sel
by Nancy's Knit Knacks
$29.95 for either size
Small for leg circumferences 16" to 25"
Large for leg circumferences 24" to 33"
Available in solid navy blue

Like many knitters, I collect gadgets. Lots of gadgets. Some are more useful than others, and some turn out not to be useful at all. The Knee-sel is definitely in the useful category. It comes in two sizes,
(14" to 25" and 24" to 33") and has a Velcro strap that holds it securely around your thigh. There is also a handy little slot on the side for your pen or scissors. The patterns are held in a flap in the front so that they are easy to read without having to look away from your knitting. The time saved, not to mention an absolute lack of neck strain from turning to read charts on the table beside you, is invaluable. It does tend to attract cat hair [especially if you have a at that likes to lie down on your patterns] but it comes off easily with a damp towel or lint remover brush.

Handknit Heroes Issue #2
by Stephanie Bryant, Marc Plivent, H.E. Wintermute
Mortaine Publishing
$5.50

When last we saw our heroes….oh wait, I can’t give it away if you haven’t started reading yet! 

This chapter builds on the first one. The characters get more depth. They get to fight crime and there’s a very interesting interaction with the twins and their Mom. This time the knitting pattern is The Net of Justice Bag.

My 10-year-old sometime knitter sums it up this way "Mom, it’s better than the first one. It’s sorta creepy, but exciting. More knitting, too."

JM

Lauren Bag
by Lantern Moon
12”h x 16”w x 5”d
$40.00

After a week of using the Lantern Moon Lauren bag, I can say I love it. I’ve used the bag as a knitting bag. I was a little worried about the seagrass, thinking it might come apart but it's been just fine. It’s very well made and it has a nice black cotton quilted lining and wooden handles.

There are two inside pockets that can hold small things. I can easily fit a medium and small Go Knit pouch inside with whatever patterns I need to go with those projects.

The bag stays upright when I am knitting so the yarn flows without any obstructions. If there was anything I could change about the bag there is only one thing. I would prefer if it had some sort of closure to it – a zippered top or snap. When the bag's empty, it collapses into a nice flat pancake, easy to store.

RR

The Harmony Guides: Colorwork Stitches: 250 Designs to Knit
by Sharon Brant
Interweave Press
$22.95

This is the latest in the Harmony Stitch Pattern reprint series, with stitch patterns chosen by Sharon Brant of Rowan fame.

The colorwork patterns are smallish, mostly for borders, or to be repeats. There is a nice alphabet, both upper and lower case letters. If you are looking to add just a little color to your summer knitting projects, or try your hand at intarsia, this is a great book for you.

JM

The Expectant Knitter: 30 Designs for Baby and Your Growing Family
by Marie Connolly
Potter Craft
$27.50 [hardcover]

This is a baby knit book with a twist -- it’s also a pregnancy companion. The chapters are broken down by the three trimesters of pregnancy. Along with several patterns, each section contains a weekly planner for that trimester containing advice and information on a variety of topics including diet, growing baby and general pregnancy woes.

In amongst the patterns there are also interesting topics on diapers, naming the baby and packing your hospital bag. While this is by no means a complete pregnancy week-by-week guide it is a fun way to knit through your pregnancy.

Feltique: Techniques and Projects for Wet Felting, Needle Felting, Fulling, and Working with Commercial Felt
by Nikola Davidson , Brookelynn Morris
Potter Craft
$27.50 [hardcover]

Holy moly, this is a spectacular number and array of felt patterns.

Most felting techniques are represented here, wet felting, needle felting, felted knitting, even working with commercial felt (like the necklace on the cover). There aren’t a lot of how-to’s for the most beginning of felters, but felters with just a tiny bit of experience will take off running through the patterns in this book.

There is a huge amount of creativity in the patterns in this book; It’s full of the type of patterns that come from minds and hands that are truly passionate about their craft. Even if you aren’t a felter, take a peek inside. It will inspire you, no matter what your craft.

JM

Japanese Inspired Knits
by Marianne Isager
Interweave Press
$22.95
SR=33–54 inches

This is not a book of translated patterns from Japanese knitting books. This is a book of original patterns inspired by Japan via the creative brain of Danish designer Marianne Isager. The shaping and construction of the garments are from the Danish side of the designer’s brain, mitred squares, shadow knitting, single-piece construction, not an extraneous or fussy bit to be found. 

For each garment, Isanger, who lives part of the year in Japan, chooses an image that is symbolic to her for each month of the year and layers her interpretation throughout her design.

JM

Goat’s Milk Soap and Wool Scrub
by Plum Run Farm and Dairy
Soap: 3.5oz $4.00 , 5.5oz and are $6.00
Wool scrub: $9

Creamy and fragrant, these soaps are made with goat milk and olive oil. The balance between moisture and creamy is just right. After washing my hands didn’t have that tight, dry soapy feeling, but still felt clean, not sticky. The essential oils in the soap (my favorite is lavender) left my whole bathroom smelling yummy.

Plum Run also offers a wool scrub [above]. A goat’s milk soap wrapped in felt -- a perfect fibery way to exfoliate in the shower!

JM

Iris Schreier's Reversible Knits: Creative Techniques for Knitting Both Sides Right 
by Iris Schreier
Lark Books,
22.95 [hardcover]

Iris Schreier gives us 23 airy and feminine accessory patterns with which to explore 6 reversible knitting techniques. The patterns are quick to knit, and following her trademark style, look complex but are not.

The directions for the reversible techniques are good, but  the directions for double knitting are a real stand out. Double knitting is a technique that is daunting to many knitters. The directions in this book are clear and even discuss how to fix mistakes.

JM

Spin Control:
Techniques for Spinning the Yarns You Want
by Amy King
Interweave Press
$22.95

The key word to this packed-to-the-gills spinning book is in the subtitle: You. This book is truly about spinning yarn that you want to make and use.

Amy King presents spinning instruction without even a whiff of 'my way or the highway'. Her approach is 'you want this?- then do this, but hey, try this too'. Because Amy is a dyer, the parts of the book about spinning variegated fiber are particularly brilliant – she shows the effects of particular predrafting styles and plying on color. She explains techniques casually, zero intimidation.

You can have this book at your wheel while you try things from it, with no need to let them percolate through your brain or look up terms. It’s easy, it’s all good, and that’s the way spinning should be.

JM

The Original Spinning Wheel Cup Holder
by FBN Plastics
$25

A necessity for every spinner -- a cup holder for your spinning wheel! Why stop spinning to get a drink?  A coffee in the morning, an adult beverage later in the day, all just a short reach away. 

They are made of thick plastic, sturdy, nearly unbreakable. You do not have to drill or alter your wheel in any way to install the cup holder. Currently there are models that fit Journey Wheel, Schacht, Majacraft, Ashford, Kromski, Louet, Jensen, with more on the way.

Happy, happy summer spinning!

JM