She's back. Madame Therese Defarge, a character in the book A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, worked the names of the condemned into her knitting as she sat near the ever-active revolutionary guillotines. But Dickens never described what Madame Defarge was knitting. As in the beloved first volume in this series, this book brings together a host of knitting (and weaving ) talent to imagine what their favorite fictional characters would knit and wear. From Tristan and Iseult to Jane Bennet to Miss Marple, characters from many of your most-loved classic books finally get the knitwear they deserve."
Friends, Romans, yarn lovers: lend us your ears. For this third installment in the much-loved What Would Madame Defarge Knit? series, Heather Ordover again brings you an eclectic and beautiful collection of knitting and crochet designs inspired by great literature. This time, the focus is all on the Bard. Whether it's a necklace fit for Cleopatra, a bed jacket to soothe Lady Macbeth's tormented soul, or yellow-gartered stockings worthy of Malvolio, these designs cleverly tap into Shakespeare's writings. As in the other books in this series, each contributor has written an illuminating essay that talks about how the Bard inspired their design. These are such knits as dreams are made on.
Purl and stitch: Empowering, healing, and reconnecting us to each other and ourselves In a fractured world plagued by anxiety and loneliness, knitting is coming to the rescue of people from all walks of life. Economist and lifelong knitter Loretta Napoleoni unveils the hidden power of the purl and stitch mantra: an essential tool for the survival of our species, a means for women to influence history, a soothing activity to calm us, and a powerful metaphor of life. This book is a voyage through our history following the yarn of social, economic and political changes - from ancient Egypt and Peru to modern Mongolia, from the spinning bees of the American Revolution to the knitting spies of World War II, and from the hippies' rejection of consumerism to yarnbombing protests against climate change. For the author it is also a personal journey of discovery and salvation, drawing on the wisdom her grandmother passed along as they knit together. Revealing recent discoveries in neuroscience, The Power of Knitting offers proof of the healing powers of knitting on our bodies and minds. Breaking through societal barriers, even nursing broken hearts, and helping to advance cutting-edge science, knitting is still a valuable instrument for navigating our daily lives. As a bonus, the book includes patterns for ten simple yet iconic projects that reflect the creative, empowering spirit of knitting, with complete instructions.
This book collects 25 fantastic patterns for socks inspired by knitting traditions from around the world. Patterns from top designers including Star Athena, Beth Brown-Reinsel, Candace Eisner Strick, Chrissy Gardiner, Janel Laidman and Anna Zilboorg are featured, along with an introduction from Nancy Bush, author of Folk Socks.
A collection of essays about the transformative power of knitting from 27 contemporary authors, including Ann Patchett, Barbara Kingsolver, John Dufresne, and Joyce Maynard.
As some knitters craft mittens and sweaters, others find themselves taking flight into the realm of art. Some become true fiber artists, creating exhibition-quality quilts and sweaters and shawls, yarn mobiles and sculptures and gigantic abstract installations. An exploration of art knitting, this book profiles eighteen of the most prominent and intriguing practitioners of this craft-turned-art. Karen Searle, herself a recognized fiber artist, examines the works and inspirations of each of these knit artists. Numerous photographs illustrate each profile, documenting these artists’ work and at the same time offering inspiration to those who might transcend the purely practical aspect of knitting. Among the artists encountered here are such nationally known knitters as movement founder Katharine Cobey, Carolyn Halliday, Debbie New, Lisa Anne Auerbach, Lindsay Obermayer, Kathryn Alexander, and others.
The year is 3015... The polar ice caps have melted and the deserts expanded, leaving the Earth a seared, crusty Hell. Meanwhile, nuclear fallout has blocked out the sun, plunging the world into a new ice age. (Yes, at the same time.) The question on your mind? "What should I knit? " Doomsday Knits is a collection of garments and accessories inspired by the post-apocalyptic genre of film, literature, and fashion. These cutting-edge fashion pieces are just as at home in your closet today as they will be in the dystopian wastelands of tomorrow.
This reference provides a full history of hand knitting by tracing the development and refinement of the craft. With special attention to the social aspects of knitting, it examines the changes in tools and techniques within different regions. Examined in detail are the history of European knitting before 1500, knitting in Britain from Henry VIII to the Commonwealth, from the Restoration to 1835, during the 19th century, and during World War I and after. Further explorations consider local traditions in the British Isles, knitting as practiced east of the Adriatic, and developments in the Americas. Absorbing reading for knitters and nonknitters alike, this book also defines knitting in relation to other yarn crafts such as crochet and nalbinding and offers a historical glossary and a transcription of the earliest known English knitting pattern.