The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater


Book Description

The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater is a memoir about life truths learned through crafting. People who craft know things. They know how to transform piles of yarn into sweaters and scarves. They know that some items, like woolen bikini tops, are better left unknit. They know that making a hat for a newborn baby isn’t just about crafting something small but appreciating the beginnings of life, which sometimes helps make peace with the endings. They know that if you knit your boyfriend a sweater, your relationship will most likely be over before the last stitch. Alanna Okun knows that crafting keeps her anxiety at bay. She knows that no one will ever be as good a knitting teacher as her beloved grandmother. And she knows that even when we can’t control anything else, we can at least control the sticks, string, and fabric right in front of us. Okun lays herself bare and takes readers into the parts of themselves they often keep hidden. Yet at the same time she finds humor in the daily indignities all crafters must face (like when you catch the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome and can’t possibly finish the second in a pair). Okun has written a book that will speak to anyone who has said to themselves, or to everyone within earshot, “I made that.”




Son of Stitch 'n Bitch


Book Description

Debbie Stoller knows that at least half the projects women knit are intended for the men in their lives. She also knows that knitting for a boyfriend or husband or father is full of pitfalls. The answer Son of Stitch 'N Bitch, the hip, smart knitter's guide to knitting for men. A "knitting superstar" (San Francisco Chronicle) and author of the New York Times bestselling Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook and other Stitch 'N Bitch books, Debbie Stoller combines fashion savvy with uncommon knitting sense. Here's how to get the right sweater measurement (because size definitely matters)—and why never to bring him along to pick out the yarn. Why "what's your favorite color" is a dangerous question—and how you can't go wrong with luxury yarns for even the most rugged of boyfriends. Best of all, here are 45 edgy, hipster patterns that are guy-vetted and approved, many designed by male master-knitters or women with men as design partners. Here's the Night & Day double-sided Brooklyn Bridge scarf. The Biker Boy sweater with a patch on the shoulder to protect against messenger bag wear and tear. Lucky Socks—think rat pack at the casino. Skull Isle Cap & Mitts. The Ernie sweater. Hangover Helpers—stuffed plush "beermeister" and "whiskey bottle" pillows. The Retropolitan Cardigan, with a geek-chic take on Mr. Rogers. Plus Man Hands (fingerless gloves), a Hackie Sack Hoodie, Pinup Girl Illusion scarf (oh, behave!), and more.




The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater


Book Description

Every knitter knows that as soon as you start making your boyfriend a sweater, he will be out the door before you're done. But as Alanna Okun has learned, these life lessons are not limited to the curse of the boyfriend sweater. Like millions of women, Okun finds joy and solace in crafting. And she has also found some essentials truths. Starting from when her grandmother first taught her to knit, crafting has been a part of her life, and her family's. Some people like to fish. Some like to play music. Or run. Okun likes to make things. Knitting, crocheting, sewing, decoupage - you name it, Okun has tried it, and even if she turned out to be not very good at it, she found it was good for her.In a world that shows itself impervious to our need for order and logic, crafting allows Okun to feel a sense of control - even if it's simply by making a piece of felt do what she wants it to. Crafting has helped keep her severe anxiety at bay, made a scary first apartment more hospitable, helped her heal from a broken heart. When Okun has two good friends die within a year of each other, it is crafting that helps her find hope again. The art and physicality of making things, whether it's nerdy embroidery or warm mittens, has helped her cope with life's internal trauma.In beautiful prose that belies her youth, Okun's essays about art, craft, and mental health will resonate with creative people no matter their medium, and no matter the troubles in their hearts. We can all relate to the need to fix what's inside by keeping our hands busy.




Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting


Book Description

A collection of essays about the transformative power of knitting from 27 contemporary authors, including Ann Patchett, Barbara Kingsolver, John Dufresne, and Joyce Maynard.




Coltrane on Coltrane


Book Description

Coltrane on Coltrane includes every known Coltrane interview, many in new transcriptions, and several previously unpublished; articles, reminiscences, and liner notes that rely on interviews; and some of Coltrane's personal writings and correspondence [Publisher description].




100 Knits


Book Description

Interweave's biggest pattern collection ever! 100 Knits makes a gorgeous gift for any knitter. Page after page of knitting patterns are at your fingertips with 100 Knits, giving you a nearly endless supply of projects you'll be excited to cast on. From hats to shawls, cardigans to tanks and tees, explore a massive variety of Interweave's most popular knitting patterns all in one source! In this ultimate knitting pattern collection you'll discover: • Expansive collection of Interweave's most coveted knitted sweater patterns together for the first time. • From shawls, scarves and cowls, to socks and hats, you'll be covered head to toe in our trendiest accessory patterns. • Endless inspiration for your next knit with over 500 pages of patterns. Never be without a knitting pattern again with 100 Knits!




Knitting Comfortably


Book Description

Modern knitters are faced with greater risk of musculoskeletal injury than knitters of a generation ago. This book explores risk factors that impact knitters' productivity, efficiency, and safety. Strategies for reducing risk of injury including early intervention and prevention are discussed. Methods for increased knitting efficiency and productivity are also explained.




Boyfriend Sweaters


Book Description

Perfect for Him. Perfect for Her. Everyone wants the perfect cozy sweater. One they can dress up or down. It should be simple enough for him, yet stylish and flattering for her. Rediscover the boyfriend sweater, a versatile garment that both guys and girls will fall head over heels for. Knitwear designer Bruce Weinstein has reinvented the classic boyfriend sweater with 19 ultra-comfortable projects designed to work on both men and women. Knit up a luxurious cardigan perfect for any important occasion, a varsity pullover with his-and-her initials, or one of four soft and sophisticated texture-rich scarves for you or him. Throughout, you’ll find tips to adapt each pattern, alter the proportions, and choose yarns to make the look more masculine or feminine. Plus, learn 19 knitting techniques you’ve always wanted to master, including brioche stitch, reversible cables, and Fair Isle, as well as seaming techniques to give your projects a professional finish. Whether you’re knitting for yourself or for the man in your life, these gorgeous projects are sure to be classics you’ll wear—or borrow—for years to come.




Sweater Quest


Book Description

"I knit so I don’t kill people" —bumper sticker spotted at Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival For Adrienne Martini, and countless others, knitting is the linchpin of sanity. As a working mother of two, Martini wanted a challenge that would make her feel in charge. So she decided to make the Holy Grail of sweaters—her own Mary Tudor, whose mind-numbingly gorgeous pattern is so complicated to knit that its mere mention can hush a roomful of experienced knitters. Created by reclusive designer Alice Starmore, the Mary Tudor can be found only in a rare, out-of-print book of Fair Isle–style patterns, Tudor Roses, and requires a discontinued, irreplaceable yarn. The sweater, Martini explains, "is a knitter’s Mount Everest, our curse, and our compulsion. I want one more than I can begin to tell you." And so she took on the challenge: one year, two needles, and countless knits and purls to conquer Mary Tudor while also taking care of her two kids, two cats, two jobs, and (thankfully) one husband—without unraveling in the process. Along the way, Adrienne investigates the tangled origins of the coveted pattern, inquires into the nature of artistic creation, and details her quest to buy supplies on the knitting black market. As she tries not to pull out her hair along with rows gone wrong, Martini gets guidance from some knitterati, who offer invaluable inspiration as she conquers her fear of Fair Isle. A wooly Julie and Julia, this epic yarn celebrates the profound joys of creating—and aspiring to—remarkable achievements.




Great Knit Sweaters for Guys Big & Small


Book Description

Guys want their knits to be warm and comfortable--and to look good, too! If you love to knit for the men in your life, this book will help you meet those requirements with style.