Twinkle's Big City Knits


Book Description

The founder of Twinkle, a successful designer line of clothing, shares 31 patterns for stylish, chunky knits that are sweet, sophisticated, and quick to make. Chunky yarns have never had a reputation for looking stylish--until now, as these whimsical and hip pieces demonstrate.




Twinkle's Weekend Knits


Book Description

Known for transforming bold, chunky yarns into delicate, body-shaping pieces, Chia again shares her signature style in 20 inspired patterns that are perfect for weekend knitting and for wearing any time.




Twinkle's Town & Country Knits


Book Description

Twinkle's Town & Country Knits whisks knitters to picturesque locations such as the California coast and the farms of New England - the influences for this set of Chia's signature garments - and offers 30 designs unified by their chic, classic silhouettes. From the Pacifica Cardigan (a sky-blue sweater with feather-edging openwork) to the Santa Lucia Skirt (a long, coral-and-pink skirt with wavy stripes) to the Bookbrowser s Sweater (a bright-pink, long-sleeved sweater with a bobble front and split fold-over neck), the projects suggest a town and country lifestyle, with a charming, witty touch that one expects from Twinkle collections. The patterns feature the attention to shaping and the innovative approach to large-gauge knitting that Twinkle is famous for, along with easy-to-follow directions.




Vanishing Fleece


Book Description

The renowned knitter shares her year-long adventure through America’s colorful, fascinating—and slowly disappearing—wool industry. Join Clara Parkes as she ventures across the country to meet the shepherds, dyers, and countless workers without whom our knitting needles would be empty, our mills idle, and our feet woefully cold. Along the way, she encounters a flock of Saxon Merino sheep in upstate New York, tours a scouring plant in Texas, visits a steamy Maine dyehouse, helps sort freshly shorn wool on a working farm, and learns how wool fleece is measured, baled, shipped, and turned into skeins. In pursuit of the perfect yarn, Parkes describes a brush with the dangers of opening a bale (they can explode), and her adventures from Maine to Wisconsin (“the most knitterly state”) and back again. By the end of the book, you’ll be ready to set aside the backyard chickens and add a flock of sheep instead.




Brioche Knitting for Beginners and Beyond


Book Description

Discover a Gorgeous New World of Texture and Color Get ready to knit like you never have before with this incredible, comprehensive guide to brioche knitting from expert designer and brioche authority Lesley Anne Robinson. For any knitter who has ever been intrigued by the colorful designs and luxurious texture of brioche, but too intimidated to pick up their needles and cast on, let Lesley’s cheerful, encouraging voice walk you through this exciting technique step by step. Featuring a treasure trove of tips, tricks and technical knowledge, as well as 16 stunning patterns, this book will have you feeling confident creating the fun vertical stripes and exquisite texture this popular technique is famous for. Best of all, each pattern not only functions as a lovely knit piece but also as a specific lesson in brioche mastery. From squishy one- and two-color hats and cowls, to eye-catching three-color shawls and sweaters, you’ll create striking knitwear while learning an exciting new skill. So grab that yarn you’ve been saving for a special project, and dive into the beautiful world of brioche!




Twinkle, Twinkle, Social Media Star


Book Description

Follow Baby Bear in this modern fairy tale as she learns the life-changing magic of social media selfies, shares, post, tweets and more. Becoming a super star social media influencer isn't easy, but with helpful advice from classic nursery tale characters, Baby Bear is sure to make it big. This delightfully illustrated, rhyming parody for adults offers a humorous take on the world of social media.




The Humane Gardener


Book Description

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.




How to Knit in the Woods


Book Description

Featuring 20 outdoor-friendly knitting projects, How to Knit in the Woods is every crafty person's indispensable guide to creativity in the open air. Full of advice on how to choose quick-drying yarns and other outdoor-friendly materials, and how to knot on the go, this is not your mother's knitting book.Projects range from easy to intermediate and include such gems as a waterproof cardigan, a campfire cushion and marshmallow pot holders.




AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary


Book Description

Break the rules. Knit outside the lines! AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary takes an unexpected look at stranded colorwork with 200 new motifs. These unique colorwork charts are perfect for the creative knitter looking to break away from the ordinary. Derived from graphic design elements, these fresh, fun motifs include everything from geometric mountains, waves, and spirals to modern bikes, skulls, and sheep. Dive into color knitting with confidence with a section on reading charts, working floats, and choosing colors. Learn how stranded colorwork can be used in design with five accompanying projects including mitts, cowls, and sweaters. AlterKnit Stitch Dictionary is the perfect gift for knitters looking for fun pattern ideas or new stitches. Get inspired to break the rules and use your imagination to modify, deconstruct, and combine motifs to create your own unique designs.




On the Trail of the Jackalope


Book Description

The never-before-told story of the horned rabbit—the myths, the hoaxes, and the entirely real scientific breakthroughs it has inspired—and how it became a cultural touchstone of the American West. Just what is a jackalope? Purported to be part jackrabbit and part antelope, the jackalope began as a local joke concocted by two young brothers in a small Wyoming town during the Great Depression. Their creation quickly spread around the U.S., where it now regularly appears as innumerable forms of kitsch—wall mounts, postcards, keychains, coffee mugs, shot glasses, and so on. A vast body of folk narratives has carried the jackalope’s fame around the world to inspire art, music, film, even erotica! Although the jackalope is an invention of the imagination, it is nevertheless connected to actual horned rabbits, which exist in nature and have for centuries been collected and studied by naturalists. Around the time the two young boys were creating the first jackalope in Wyoming, Dr. Richard Shope was making his first breakthrough about the cause of the horns: a virus. When the virus that causes rabbits to grow “horns” (a keratinous carcinoma) was first genetically sequenced in 1984, oncologists were able to use that genetic information to make remarkable, field-changing advances in the development of anti-viral cancer therapies. The most important of these is the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical and other cancers. Today, jackalopes are literally helping us cure cancer. For fans of David Quammen’s The Song of the Dodo, Jon Mooallem’s Wild Ones, or Jeff Meldrum's Sasquatch, Michael P. Branch's remarkable On the Trail of the Jackalope is an entertaining and enlightening road trip through the heart of America.