what the what?

I've been a busy little crafting bee - I really, truly have. But troubles at home mean I'm unable to update my blog with pictures of stuff I've actually made.
Our phone is busted.
We switched service providers in the fall & there have been tons of trouble ever since -now it's affecting our internet & I'm stuck with nothing.

But this morning, after a bunch of exasperated sighs I think I talked them into giving us a break on our next bill. That doesn't help me when I'm desperate to show everyone my very first pair of knit socks and the progress I've made on Susannah's Shrug, and a picture of me wearing my brand new Erica Weiner Necklace (I got the scissors necklace - they really open & close!)

No, that's when credit on our next bill or sending a technician to our house on Saturday really does nothing to help me now - when I want to show you pictures!

It does, however, open the door for me to do some nerdy knitting book reviews. I'll most likely be unemployed in the upcoming weeks so I've been stocking up on books while I still have the luxury of buying them at a discount.

Knitting Nature by Nora Gaughan is one hot piece of knitting action. I'm sure that when I go to knit one of the delicious patterns from this that I'll find most of the pages stuck together. it's that great. The book is divided up into sections of patterns inspired by nature. Hexagons, spirals, waves, etc. The photography is stunning & the text is so clearly written I'm sure an experienced beginner would be able to get through some of these patterns.







Mason-Dixon Knitting by Kaye Gardiner and Ann Meador Shayne is an incredibly high priced book that has the most beautiful little treasures inside that you soon forget you paid so much for it. (well, it was easy for me to forget since I sort of got it for free...but seriously, I'd pay good money for this! even almost full price!) I've been a big fan of their blog for a long time now & was thrilled at the news that a book was being released. Knit Log cabin quilt? Yes! spiraly rug? Yes *please!* hilarious stories of why they thought to knit a lacy window covering? And how! Delightful! These woman have a zest for life, love their craft, and encourage you to forge your own way in the world of knitting & crafting & I wish everyone had a little of their spirit in them.



Home by Debbie Bliss is sitting on my bookshelf, waiting to be cracked into & the pages marked with stickies simply because the key to my heart lays within the well worn pattern of the bedsheets of my youth - the blanket on the cover of the book is it *exactly* & I want to knit it in giant panels that will cover every single wall in my apartment. Besides the awesome blanket pattern there's a bunch of other lovely things in here & Debbie Bliss is kind of like the Fannie Farmer of knitting - so you can't really go wrong.






and lastly but not leastly...
Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee.
Is it possible to have a totally platonic knitting crush on someone? Is it possible to wonder what they're doing throughout the day.....? Because Ever since I found her blog & then especially after I read her Yarn Harlot Book I've been giving major mad props to Stephanie. I even once heard myself give a Reading Rainbow style review to a customer. And Knitting Rules! Is no different - jammed with tips & techniques and hilarious knitting stories I have this on my bedside table & I want to start a Stephanie Pearl-McPhee fanclub. I want to make a film adaptation of her blog! of her books! I want to be her for Halloween!