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Above left to right: Rag Boa from Alabama Stitch Book and Luxe Neck Warmer from Knit 2 Together.
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Above left to right: Filigree from Knitting New Mittens & Gloves (instructions also included for shorter/quicker version) and Fringe from Knitting New Scarves.
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Above left to right: Kelly's Pincushions from Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts and Flower Washcloths from Weekend Knitting.
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Above left to right: Wide S-Hook Bracelet from Hardwear (almost everything in this book can be made in less than an hour for less than $15) and Felted Rings from AlterKnits Felt (these rings take less than 20 minutes to finish).
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Above left to right: Printed Notebooks from Printing by Hand and Flower Coasters from Zakka Sewing.
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Above left to right: Arm Bag from Save this Shirt and Snack-Wrapper Wallet from AlternaCrafts.
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Above left to right: Felt Needle Case from Kids' Embroidery and Neck Cozy from Kids Crochet.
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Above left to right: Meathead Hat from Knitalong (sizing provided for adults also) and Knitted Ornaments from Handknit Holidays.
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Above left to right: Sunflower Tam and Nautilus Poncho from Knitting Nature (I've wanted to make the Nautilus since the first time I saw it).
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Above left to right: Fishnet Knee-Highs and Silk Slip from Knitting Lingerie Style (note that the top of the slip is knitted and the bottom is fabric). NOTE: To see a gallery of selected images from the books featured here and others, see the Gallery listings at right.
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Knitted Home Furnishings in the NYT--and AlterKnits Felt
Check out this article in today's New York Times.
The reporter Tim McKeough interviewed Joelle Hoverson, the creative force behind Purl and Purl Patchwork and the Purl Bee as well as author of STC's Last-Minute Knitted Gifts and Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts, about burgeoning interest in knitted furnishings and accessories, both conventional items like blankets and more unusual ones like ottomans and rugs.
Right away I started thinking about the home dec projects in Leigh Radford's new book AlterKnits Felt, including the ottoman and pillow, chairs, and rug below.
To see more projects from Leigh's book, click here.
Knitalong Cover - Runner-Ups
Larissa Brown, coauthor with Martin John Brown, of Knitalong, mentioned on her blog the other day that she had been looking at the runner-up covers I have been posting and wondered if there had been any other Knitalong covers considered that she hadn't seen. For that book, we didn't seriously consider a lot of different options. We had two single-image covers that we liked but we didn't think either of them communicated enough about the book's content to work. Here they are (the second one was cut so early in the process that we didn't even begin to think about a back cover):
To see a gallery of images from Knitalong and the final grid cover, click here.
Happy Halloween
When Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave's children were small, she made her first paper costumes for them. Today she is world reknowned for her interpretations of fashion in paper. Something to think about as you're putting the finishing touches on your Halloween costumes tonight. (All photos from Paper Illusions: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave)
Alabama Stitch Book / More Covers (and Back Covers)
I go into most of our cover meetings with a strong opinion about which of the covers I'm presenting for a particular title I like best. For Alabama Stitch Book by Natalie Chanin, I actually had several favorites. Here are two of the covers we considered (with their corresponding back covers). All graphic design and photography by Robert Rausch.
To see a gallery of images from Alabama Stitch Book and the final cover, click here.
The Gentle Art of Domesticity - Grapefruit Cover
This is one of the my favorite covers that wasn't chosen for the American edition of The Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane Brocket; it was created by graphic designer Alissa Faden Click here to see a gallery of images from Gentle Art's interior as well as the cover that Alissa designed that was chosen. And visit Jane's blog to see the British cover (and the cover to Jane's other new book Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer).
Custom Knits -- Deleted Scenes/Covers
Click here to see a gallery of images from the book and the the cover that "won."
Printing by Hand - Deleted "Scenes"
We work with wonderful graphic designers on STC Craft books. After we send them photographs and sample copy (often a year or more before a book actually goes on sale), they design sample spreads. And once we've approved those, they generally work through 4 passes--over the course of many months--during which time the design and text are refined. Inevitably, there are times when we are unable to use a few of the most beautiful spreads. When I suggested to Brooke Reynolds, the graphic designer of Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin (photographs by Thayer Gowdy), that we share some of those deleted "scenes," she jumped at the opportunity and sent me these spreads.
This is the original table of contents. Each circle shows a snippet of the artwork Lena designed for a project in the book.
This is the original introduction to chapter one. We ended up cutting it to 1 page because we were short on space.
We didn't have room for the photo of Lena working on the artwork for the Cafe Apron, but we did use the photo of her drawing pad in the section of Chapter 1 about transforming a design idea into artwork for printing.
To see more of what Brooke is up to, check out her new blog. And, while you're at it, check out Thayer's new blog too.
Everything Zakka Sewing
Here at STC Craft we're thrilled to celebrate the publication of Zakka Sewing by Therese Laskey and Chika Mori. To see a gallery of images from the book, click here. To read a Q & A with Chika Mori, click here. To read a Q & A with Therese Laskey, click here. And, for a limited time, to download free instructions for the adorable Squirrel Tea Cozy on the cover, click here.
Judy's Socks
We're working on a sock book with Judy Sumner. She has been sending the socks to me in batches for months now. Recently, I arranged all of them on a desk in my office for a meeting with a photographer. Later on when I commented to Judy about how beautiful I thought they looked, she mentioned that she had never actually seen all of them in one place. So, here's a photo I took that day--for Judy's enjoyment and yours.
Heather's New Blog
Check out Heather Ross's new blog. In addition to being a wonderfully talented fabric and clothing designer and illustrator whose book, Weekend Sewing, we'll be publishing in the beginning of 2009, Heather is also a great storyteller (which you'll find out right away when you start reading her blog), cook, and friend. On more than one occasion she's actually made me lunch and brought it to me at the office. And then there was the Italian truffle she dropped off for me as a surprise . . . and this sweet illustration, which arrived in my e-mailbox after I told her a story about my mood one weekend.
STC Craft Online Catalogue
For a long time I've wanted to include the STC Craft catalog on this blog but couldn't figure out how to do that with my meager technical skills. Then one day last week, Julia Coblentz, our marketing director, suggested that I post it as a pdf download. So simple and so obvious. Click on "Online Catalogue" at top right to check it out. Thanks, Julia, for your idea. And thanks to Christopher Blank, our web marketing manager, for sending the files for me to post so quickly.
Meet Lena
I met Lena Corwin about 5 years ago when Kelli Ronci suggested that she illustrate her book Kids Crochet. Since then, I've met so many people that know Lena that I wonder if everyone is somehow connected to her in that strange way that everyone is somehow connected to Kevin Bacon. I'm excited to report that Lena's first book, Printing by Hand, is hitting bookstores this week. I've posted a Q&A with Lena here. And a gallery of images from the book here.
Happy Summer!
Ground Cloth/Pup Tent and Pillow from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross (coming early next spring from STC Craft)
The Big Mitten Give
These are the Alternating Current mittens from Knitting New Mittens & Gloves by Robin Melanson. Recently I knit the fingerless version. Given how quick and easy they are to make and how warm they are, I think they make a great charity project.
We're giving away the pattern here. We have one request: If you download the pattern, please knit a pair for someone in need. And pass the word. Thanks!
Hooked on Hand-Sewing
Today I read on Natalie Chanin's blog that there is a Flickr site for projects from her book, Alabama Stitch Book, so I decided to photograph my Reverse-Applique Bandana to post there (and here). Here is the front of it.
And the front along with some of the equally appealing back.
I also made the Book Cover (which I posted about here back in December) and the Reverse-Appplique Swing Skirt minus the reverse applique), but a good photo is TK (editor-speak for "to come").
I am totally hooked on hand-sewing. It reminds me of knitting in that it's creative, tactile, relaxing, and portable, and it's, of course, so satisfying to look at your project when you're done and know that you made it with your own hands.
Sometimes my job as the editorial director of STC Craft feels overwhelming (that's part of why before today I hadn't posted in a long time). And sometimes my job feels very gratifying, for example, when I see projects people are inspired to make from our books, like those on the Alabama Stitch Book Flickr site.
Fingerless Mitts for On-the-Go Knitting
I find fingerless mitts irresistible. And this pattern -- called Alternating Current -- from Knitting New Mittens & Gloves by Robin Melanson is perfect when I need a quick fix. Requiring only a minimal amount of focus, they're also a good project to work on while commuting or sitting through kids' sports' practices and games, music lessons, etc.
The pair shown here--knitted in a yarn called GGH Aspen from my stash -- took me only about one soccer practice and two guitar lessons to complete. The pattern also includes instructions for the rest of the hand (to make a traditional mitten) and for a removable cuff/bracelet for embellishment. I have another pair in chartreuse on the needles.
My Meathead Hat
I finished my Meathead Hat from Knitalong this afternoon -- it took less than two hours cast on to bind off. After I took this photograph, I remembered that I was supposed to put an embellishment on it (at least that's what the pattern says to do). I decided to skip that step and, instead, fiddled with the eraser tool in PhotoShop to create some decoration/scribble-scrabble. which was quick and fun (just like knitting the hat).
Meet Natalie
I vividly recall the day nearly three years ago that Natalie Chanin, author of Alabama Stitch Book: Projects and Stories Celebrating Hand-Sewing, Quilting, and Embroidery for Contemporary Sustainable Style and founder and head designer of Alabama Chanin, came to my office to discuss her book proposal. I think we became friends in the first five minutes. Click here to read a recent Q&A with her about her commitment to sustainable design, her motivation for writing her book, and her decision to return to her hometown of Florence, Alabama, after living around the world. Click here to see a selection of projects from her book.
Knitalong
To read about our new book Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together by Larissa Brown and Martin John Brown, click here.
To see a gallery of some of the 20 projects in Knitalong, click here.
To read a Q&A with the authors, click here.
To download our Knitalong Kit, a guide for individuals who are considering organizing their own knitalongs, click here.
(Photo above courtesy of Library of Congress/from Knitalong Chapter 1: Hanging Out)