Tuesday Ten: Ten Books I'd Like to Own

Sorry I'm late tonight. Here's your Tuesday Ten.

KnitPicks had their summer book sale recently, but I skipped it because I was trying to save up money for the (now canceled) yarn crawl and for my next trip to California.

I'm not as pattern crazy as I used to be when I was little, so I'm pickier about the books I purchase. I love flipping through them at the bookstore and checking them out from the library, but I usually want something I'll refer to again and again before I actually buy. Here are 10 books I'd love to add to my collection.


1. More Big Girl Knits by Jillian Moreno and Amy Singer - I already havet the original Big Girl Knits, and I have knit the Cherry Bomb tank. This one has even more advice and several promising patterns. Besides wanting to support all things plus size and all things Amy Singer, I want to knit the Susie Hoodie, which looks a lot like A Cardigan for Arwen.


2. Son of Stitch 'n Bitch by Debbie Stoller - I've missed two chances to meet Debbie Stoller. Once I made the mistake of asking my boss for the day off to see her in Tampa when I lived in Florida. My boss wouldn't let me, even though I had plenty of vacation days, and ended up losing some of them because I didn't take them. Everyone who hears that story tells me I shouldn't have asked, and just called in sick. But that's what I get for trying to do the right thing. (Not that I'm bitter.)

Anyway...

The other was time stupid. When she was at Hill Country Weavers, I didn't open the e-mail about it until it was over.

At any rate, the Stitch 'n Bitch series has helped set the tone for knitting today. They have great patterns, great tutorials and interesting cultural tidbits. Son of Stitch 'n Bitch has some background about the history of men and knitting, and I really want to knit the double knit argyle scarf on the cover.


3. The Yarn Lover's Guide to Hand Dyeing by Linda La Belle - I've been looking for a good reference for hand dying. I almost bought this one, Along with More Big Girl Knits, at the KnitPicks book sale. After listening to the review on KnitPicks and flipping through it at the bookstore, I was sold.



4. The Knitter's Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes - From the good folks at Knitter's Review, this book incorporates all the same close detail to fiber and construction that is discussed in the website, and gives an overall view of fiber and yarn.


5. ColorSense: Creative Color Combinations for Crafters by Susan Levin - Another area where I want to learn more is color theory. I'm looking for more resource, especially related to knitting, crochet and fiber in general.


6. Knit with Beads: Stunning Shawls and Wraps by Scarlett Taylor - This is another book that I want after hearing the KnitPicks review. According to the review, this books goes into great detail about the different techniques for working with beads. I have a couple of ideas involving beads, and I think this book would help.


7. Intertwined by Lexi Boeger - I'm borrowing this book from the library right now, and I want to own it. There's so much good information and inspiration. I was sold after reading about the yarn spun to represent Reagan's trickle down economics. It was designed to be knit from the top down, so the top is white and sparkling and the bottom is dark and dirty. I love this stuff!


8. The New Knitting Stitch Library by Lesley Stanfield - I've already checked this one out of the library twice, and I want to check it out again. There's a lot of great stitches in that book.


9. Aran Sweater Design by Janet Szabo - I was really inspired by the Stash and Burn interview with Janet Szabo. Her accounts of the swatching that goes into her designs inspired me to swatch every Sunday. (Although I need to get back on track with that now that the Ravelympics are over.) According to the KnitPicks review, this book goes into great detail, not just about the cables, but how they work together.


10. A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker - This is the grandmama of all stitch dictionaries. Walker's stitch treasuries are almost a religion. The Walker Treasury Project is dedicated to preserving and sharing her work. Eventually I plan to get this one, along with A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, Charted Knitting Designs: A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns and A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns.