Free-Range Knitter: The Yarn Harlot Writes Again
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Andrews McMeel
$16.99 [Hardcover]

Let's imagine you've never heard of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. The moniker "Yarn Harlot" means nothing to you. You don't know about her reputation as a funny writer, a skilled knitter, and world famous. You've just picked this book up and are wondering what it's about.

It's about knitters and knitting, but not in a way you've ever read before. There's a lot in here to enjoy, but my favorite chapters were the essays about individual knitters. Stephanie's examinations of the physical maneuvers each knitter performs to create knitted fabric lead her to fascinating observations on the unique character of each knitter. I have a leg up here, since I know several of the knitters she writes about, and I can assure you her observations are keen, enlightening and tender.

Phat Fiber Sampler
by Phat Fiber and a variety of independent artisans
$33.00 including shipping in the US
[international shipping costs a little more]

Nothing can make me turn into a little girl more quickly than a box overflowing with fiber and goodies and sparkly things, so when the latest Phat Fiber Sampler arrived in the Knitty mailbox, I was giddy.

What is this thing? It's a desktop-dictionary-sized box, filled with almost anything you can imagine. Handmade knitting needles. Spinnable fiber and roving. Small skeins of hand-dyed yarn of every description. Note cards. Stitch markers. Hand balm. Patterns. Soap, even! Lots of coupons for future purchases from the different businesses, too. Two different months' boxes are shown at left. The only thing I'd like to see that's not there? More non-wool stuff for folks like me. Turns out July's upcoming box is planned to be a non-wool box! Love that.

Why buy one? Because it's really nice to be able to touch and feel [even spin or knit with!] each product before deciding which one you want more of. The products in the box vary month to month, as do the contributors. To get a box, sign up for their mailing list. Around the middle of the month, you'll get a message telling you orders are open, and then all you have to do is get there and purchase yours before they're all gone.

AS

Country Weekend Knits
by Madeline Weston
St. Martin's Griffin
$24.95
SR: 34 - 50

Intended for the curious and adventurous knitter, this book is a terrific combination of history and patterns.

For 20 years, Madeline Weston ran a knitwear shop in central London, selling the best traditional handmade knitwear she could source from all over Britain. In this book, she's gathered 25 handknit designs, inspired by those great British classics: ganseys, Arans, Fair Isle and Shetland lace.

The designs lean towards the traditional in both look and construction, but the fit and the details make them entirely relevant for today. These are neither slavish reproductions of antique garments, nor unwearable trendy modernizations.

Mother-Daughter Knits: 30 Designs to Flatter and Fit
by Sally Melville + Caddy Melville Ledbetter
Potter Craft
$29.95 [Hardcover]
SR = 29 - 54 [one oversized sweater to 60"]

Who is that lovely brunette on the left side of the cover of this book? It's Caddy Melville Ledbetter, the daughter of one of our modern knitting heroes, Sally Melville. And in this book, we learn that Caddy can not only knit, but design knitwear!

Their styles are very different, but you can tell they're family. Caddy leans toward clothing that has a slightly younger feel; Sally's clothes are always classic, but this collection brings an updated, fresh approach that's a delight to see.

A to Z of Knitting: The Ultimate Guide for the Beginner to Advanced Knitter
by Sue Gardner
Martingale
$18.99 [spiral-bound]

A book chock full of knitting techniques: stitches, short rows, buttonholes, beaded knitting, texture, and color work -- all shown in detailed step-by-step photographs.

A bonus that I haven’t seen in other technique books is discussion of left-hand and right-hand yarn holds (not left-handed knitting), and two different needle holds. A great resource.

JM

Handknit Heroes
by Stephanie Bryant, Marc Olivent, Erssie Major
$5.50 for a single copy
$20 for a subscription (US & Canada)

It’s got story and some knitting, with promises of more to come. This comic works as a comic and is a really enjoyable read -- infinitely better than some knitting romances I've tried to read.

This story stars the mysterious Miller family: mom’s working on a secret project, and the twins are teenagers with super powers. It starts off slowly, but that’s the point of a series. I was glad that the first issue was a tease - including the tantalizing glimpse of knitting, just laying the groundwork for the issues to come. The artwork suits the mood of the story perfectly, dark and shadowy. 

The second issue is due any time, and each issue will feature a knitting project(s). This one has a hooded scarf worn by one of the twins designed by Erssie Major.

JM

Traveluxe Knitting & Crochet Clutch
by Offhand Designs
$60.00
5” H x 10 ” W x 1”D closed
Opens to 10"H x 20"W

There are two things in life that I'm passionate about: first, supporting the heroic work done by women around the world to help improve their lives and the lives of their families, and second, getting rid of clutter....Okay, so they might not seem to be completely equivalent passions, but there you are. I contain multitudes.

The nice thing is, this particular organizational clutch makes me feel warm and fuzzy about all of it. It is soft. It is beautiful. It is knit-friendly (no velcro, the only zipper is inside the folds of the clutch and far from snaggability -- plus it's a very pretty zipper).

The clutch is much larger on the inside than you think it is and has a lovely variety of pocket sizes hidden within. A large flap across the top of the case makes sure nothing falls out when it's closed. It holds so, so much; so many of the things and trinkets I love having at my fingertips.

Making Mathematics with Needlework
by Sarah-Marie Belcastro, Carolyn Yackel
A K Peters, Ltd.
$35.00 [hardcover]

This one-of-a-kind book takes a truly mathematical approach to crafting -- and a truly crafty approach to mathematics.

It's designed for both the curious crafter and the mathematician/mathematics educator -- although not for the faint-of-heart of either stripe.

There are ten chapters, each offering a project, a discussion of the mathematical implications and connections, and notes for educators to take these ideas into the classroom.

Sock Innovation: Knitting Techniques & Patterns for One-of-a-Kind Socks
by Cookie A
Interweave Press
$22.95

The new Cookie A sock book is a real treat for adventurous sock knitters. It has fifteen sock designs, all featuring Cookie A's trademark clever patterning. All but one of the designs are for intermediate or advanced knitters, but there's one clever sock rendered only in combinations of knits and purls that's accessible to even the newest socks-worker.

The book also offers insight into how she creates her fabulous designs, and provides guidelines on how to create your own. She discusses how to take a stitch pattern and apply it to a sock design: how to calculate and place repeats for ease of working and maximum visual effect, how to convert flat patterns to be worked in the round and vice versa, how to chart patterns and manage complex all-over patterning.

The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques
by Margaret Radcliffe
Storey Publishing
$29.95 [Hardcover]

Color makes my head hurt.  Really.  I can handle discussions about primary & secondary colors.  Even tertiary colors don't bother me much, but start talking about hues, tints, and tones and I can feel the blood vessels in my brain expand.  It was with much trepidation that I approached this book.

This is not a book about color knitting -- but rather a book about how to insert color into your knitting in a way that makes you feel comfortable.  The first [mercifully short] chapter deals with color basics and yes, there's information about hues, tints, and tones that didn't induce a migraine and actually helped me understand it all better.  The rest of the book is broken into sections on working with color in different ways: Stripes, Pattern Stitches, Multicolor Yarns, Stranded Knitting, and Intarsia.

Double-pointed needles
by Signature Needle Arts
$45.00 for set of 4, $55 for set of 5

Love love love. I love these needles.

Lightweight and super strong, they are both smooth enough to allow fast stitching, but also grippy enough to hold onto the slipperiest of yarns.

How do they manage this? The first half inch of each needle, where you make your stitches, is super smooth, but the center of each needle has been engraved with super fine ridges that you can just feel with your fingertip. These grooves grip your yarn, so the needles won't come flying out of your knitting at inopportune moments.

The needles come in 4, 5, 6 and 8 inch lengths. The 4" needles have one end as the stiletto point, and the other end blunt, so you don't stab your palms as you knit.

You can buy the needles in sets of 4 or 5, depending on your preference, or individually, in case you drop one down the back of the sofa. Well worth the price, these are now my favorite sock needles.

KW

Sew What! Bags: 18 Pattern-Free Projects You Can Customize to Fit Your Needs
by Lexie Barnes
Storey Publishing
$16.95 [Hardcover over spiral binding]

An entire book of stress-free, pattern-free bags to sew from the creative brain of Lexie Barnes. From tiny pouches to tailored messenger bags the instructions are clear. She manages to keep even the most complex bag to only 8 steps, easy enough to tempt this only sometime sewer to make almost everything in the book.

Pay attention to the section on choosing and combining fabrics. Lexie’s years of experience running her bag company, lexiebarnes, make this information invaluable.

And yes, she includes a list of great places to get cool fabric, like the ones she uses in the book.

JM

Socks from the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits
by Wendy D. Johnson
Potter Craft
$22.95

The woman behind the WendyKnits name and blog has written a lovely book about socks. Especially lovely because the patterns are all toe-up, my favorite kind.

Though Wendy may be best known for her basic toe-up sock pattern, this book goes far beyond. Five different toe options, three different heels and the reasons when each one should be used. Wendy also provides three basic toe-up sock patterns, and invites you to add your own stitch patterns to create a unique design.

She also provides 23 fully designed pretty-but-simple patterns in a variety of styles from lace to cable to gansey, all easy enough for new sock knitters to take on and finish with confidence. Bonus: sock patterns designed for sportweight yarn, when your knitting time is short. Happily, every pattern is offered in at least 2 sizes, and in some cases 3 or 4.

AS

Color Style: Innovative to Traditional, 17 Inspired Designs to Knit
by Pam Allen, Ann Budd
Interweave Press
$24.95

If you're a new knitter, or just new to colorwork, a book with a lot of detailed information on how to do every type of colorwork is essential. Color Style is every bit as good as the previous "Style" books and contains lots of "how-to" pictures and tips on the color techniques.  However, the surprising way these techniques are used or combined will make experienced knitters like me want this book as a "must have" addition to their library, too. 

All, and I mean ALL, of the bases are covered here from Fair Isle and intarsia to slip stitch and mosaic. From stripes, the easiest of all techniques, to needlefelting and steeks, which give plenty of experienced knitters the chills. An astonishing variety for such a slim book!

For a brand new knitter or an experienced hand, even a simple striped sweater takes on a whole new level of excitement when a variegated thick and thin yarn is paired with a solid yarn like in Cecily Glowik's Striped Raglan. The colors pop and shimmer creating a beautiful pullover that is so much more than boring stripes.

KG

Ethnic Knitting Exploration: Lithuania, Iceland, and Ireland
by Donna Druchunas
Nomad Press
$23.95

With her usual keen eye for detail and understanding that not everyone learns the same way, Donna Druchunas takes us on a knitting trip inside out and all around the sweaters of Lithuania, Iceland and Ireland.

She breaks down and explains the unique sweater shapes and constructions of sweaters from these areas - saddle shoulders, raglans and yoke construction. She offers explanation on the the embellishments of these sweaters - colorwork, intarsia and cables. She gives us 3 patterns for each country, an accessory/starter pattern, and two sweater patterns -- a pullover and a cardigan -- each traditional-looking and traditionally constructed.

All of her patterns are givne three different ways, you the knitter get to choose what works with your brain on that given knitting day. You can choose between a Visual Plan - fill in the blanks, do the math on the fly; a Planning Worksheet - measure and figure stitch counts before you start knitting and knit on the fly; Step by Step Project Sheet - using the numbers from the Planning Work Sheet a hand holding walk through of the project. It’s so smart, giving knitters tools that make sense to them.

JM

Simple Style: 19 Innovative to Traditional Designs with Simple Knitting Techniques
by Ann Budd
Interweave Press
$24.95
SR sweaters = 21.5-56
SR skirts = 28-45.5

My mother always said she preferred making pies to cakes, because when you’re finished baking a pie, you’re finished. When you finish baking a cake, you still have to frost it.

That’s how I feel about a lot of my knitting. When you finish knitting socks, you pull them on. When you finish knitting a sweater, you still have to seam it, put on button bands or edgings and then block it.  I approached Simple Style with these things in mind and imagine my surprise when I found it full of designs that you can pull on almost as soon as you finish the knitting!  My favorite even allows me to escape buttonholes completely by using a hook-and-eye closure – brilliant! 

French Girl Knits: Innovative Techniques, Romantic Details, and Feminine Designs
by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes
Interweave Press
$24.95
SR = 32.5 - 49"

This is an amazing book to add to your knitting library especially if you love cute little sexy sweaters. There is something for everyone in this book, some super sexy lacy numbers to some more modest style t-shirt style sweaters and little cardigans.

There is a handy glossary of stitches in the back with the basic illustrated how to's, as well as tips on how to do bottom up construction, how to set in sleeves, and other shaping details that a new knitter may not know how to do.

The Intentional Spinner: A Holistic Approach to Making Yarn
by Judith MacKenzie McCuin
Interweave Press
$26.95

Of course it’s good! What did you expect? Judith MacKenzie-McCuin + Interweave = spinny goodness.

This book is a mini-class with Judith minus the asides and question asking. She goes over all of the fiber basics thoroughly, but the meat of the book, of course, is the how-to spinning portion.

Worsted, woolen and everything in between, as well as fiber choice and fiber prep for each style of spinning, are covered in detail with so many photos that I’m sure -- if I cut them apart -- I could make a wee Judith flip book.

Color Blending Kits
by Inspiration Fibers
5 oz $17.50

Are you color shy when it comes to combining color in your spinning? These kits from Inspiration Fibers can give you the practice and confidence you need to strike out and combine colors on your own.

Color Blending Kits are made up of 2 2.5-oz braids in  coordinated colorways. Spinners are encouraged to spin the colors simply -- spin each colorway as single and ply together -- or in a more blended style, stripping the rovings and combining the colors as fiber, and blending the colors in spinning rather than plying.

Kits are offered in BFL and Targhee, soft, smooshy and easy to spin, so you have no technical spinning worries as you experiment with color.

Either path you choose, you’ll never look at all the colors in your stash the same way again!

JM

Sit and Spin! The Spinner’s Guide to Creating Smart, Sturdy, Outrageous Art Yarns!
by Jacey Boggs
Insubordiknit
DVD: $40

It's a no-holds-barred art yarn frolic accompanied by psychedelic musical interludes.

And it's a comprehensive class in creating the art yarns of your dreams with Jacey Boggs of insubordiknit.com. Actually it’s better than a class (except you can’t ask questions) because you go at your own pace, replaying and slow mo-ing when you need it.

This is not a beginning spinning video. You need to know how to spin and control a even single, on purpose, before you attempt art yarn.

Jacey teaches 15 different art yarns including core spinning, beehives, tornadoes, halos, and trapping objects, each type building on the technique or techniques that came before it.

Fiber Gathering: Knit, Crochet, Spin, and Dye More than 20 Projects Inspired by America's Festivals
by Joanne Seiff
Wiley
$27.99 [hardcover]

Do not have your computer and credit card near you as you read through this book. I wandered to travel websites more than once, just to see how much it would cost to go to Taos or Estes Park, Maryland and Rhinebeck.

This book is a gorgeous travelogue to the large fiber festivals in the US. If you have been, it’s like looking at and reading a yearbook, with fond memories all around. If you’ve never been, you’ll start planning to go. The details provided are so intriguing, everything except where to stay and what to buy, and the photos are lush.

There are 25 projects honoring the people and the festivals and a short section on starting your own fiber festival.

JM