Get Thee to a Bookstore!

... or to your LYS, but you really, really need to buy this book, which is now available:


In the interest of full disclosure, I must say that the three people involved in this book - Lisa, Carol, and Laura - are friends of mine (Lisa taught me to knit, as a matter of fact). They are great, funny, smart women, who happen to be amazing knitters and designers as well.

So maybe I am prejudiced. Though not necessarily.

You see, I would be likely to buy their book no matter what, since I know and like each of them.

BUT - about two weeks ago, I stopped at Rosie's for something, and Lisa had her advance copy sitting on one of the tables. So I browsed through it while I was there, and I can truthfully say that even if I never had known that the three people involved had ever existed, I would be buying the book.

The designs are both interesting and modern-looking; there are different types of things, not only sweaters, or scarves, etc.; Interweave Press has made it a visually appealing book; the designs are ones that will not look weird or dated in five years or more, so though modern interpretations, they are classic ideas; and, I think the patterns will appeal to a broad range of knitters.

At this time, I don't know if there will be any parties or book signings in the Philadelphia area or anyplace to celebrate the book's publication, but whether or not there are, get thee to a book/yarn store, and treat yourself to a copy! I really think you'll be happy with it.

And speaking of books ...

I found out over the weekend that the Yarn Harlot will be at the Philadelphia Book Fair on Sunday, May 18! How cool is that? Sadly, I have already made a commitment to volunteer at another event on that day that doesn't end until 12 noon, right when her program begins. So I may not have the chance to see her, which is disappointing.

I was mentioning this to a knitting acquaintance, and she nearly had a coronary that I was not going to drop everything to go - "How can you put anything else ahead of such an opportunity?? Are you crazy??"

Now, let me say that I do enjoy Stephanie's blog, and I think it would be fun to go and hear her, and maybe even get to say hi in person. (Here I will also confess to never having read any of her books. Just have never gotten around to it. Oh the knitterly shame.) However, I made my other commitment a couple of months ago, and I'm not going to back out now. Like I said, I'm disappointed, but in the grand scheme of things I am likely to survive. And I sincerely doubt that no one else will show up ...

Also, speaking of that wacky Samuel Pepys ...

Oh, except I wasn't, was I? No matter, I saw a link in Paper Cuts to Pepys diary, now online. Take a look, it's really interesting. I don't know as much about Pepys as I probably should, but it is somehow reassuring to know that on April 29, 1665, he was hoping to get a better night's sleep, since he had "committed forty blotts and blurrs in my letter..." Some things never change, do they?