Knitting in Public

(Photo from KnitKnit)

There's a lot going on for knittters this weekend. In addition to The National Needlework Association (TNNA) convention in Columbus, OH, it is Worldwide Knit in Public Day, which, despite its name, is actually two weekend's worth of public knitting events around th world (6/13-6/14 and 6/20- 6/21).

I'm likely to be knitting in public at the airport on my way to Columbus for TNNA. At this trade show we are showcasing all of our knitting titles and also introducing our Fall 09 titles to yarn shop owners and others in the industry.  If you can't be there, but are curious, here's the scoop: For Fall 09, we are publishing Reversible Knitting by Lynne Barr, One More Skein by Leigh Radford, and Knitted Socks East and West by Judy Sumner. To see sample interior spreads, click on the book covers at right.

If you will be at TNNA, you can see all of this in person at the book distributor booths and, if you like, you can meet Kristen Rengren, author of Vintage Baby Knits, and I at our book signings. Here is the schedule:

Saturday, June 13

4PM: Melanie Falick signing Weekend Knitting (new paperback edition) at R&M West Coast booth

4:30PM: Kristen Rengren signing Vintage Baby Knits at Unicorn booth

Sunday, June 14

11AM: Kristen signing Vintage Baby Knits at R&M West Coast booth

11AM: Melanie signing Weekend Knitting at Checkers booth

2:45: Kristen signing Vintage Baby Knits at Checkers booth

STC Craft on Flickr

I am both a craft-book author and craft-book editor, so I can  tell you with authority that there is hardly anything more gratifying to an author or editor than seeing the ways in which our work has inspired others. With that in mind, I am posting to let you know about STC Craft's new Flickr goup. We just started it so it's very small, but, of course, we're hoping a lot of people will join and post photos of projects they have made from the books we publish. To check out the Flickr group, click here. To see all of the books we publish, click on our online catalog at right.

The photo above shows all of the socks in Judy Sumner's book Knitted Socks East and West  spread out on a desk in my office. I just uploaded this image to Flickr. I've also just posted a gallery of images from Knitted Socks East and West here. This book will be released in August (around the time of the amazing Sock Summit).

Weekend Sewing Cover Choices and Heather on TV

The process of creating the Weekend Sewing cover took awhile, but once we had worked through a few challenges, we ended up with a group of very strong choices. When you look at the runner-ups below and the cover we settled on, it's hard to imagine the anxiety that Heather Ross (the author), Brooke Reynolds (the graphic designer), and I (the editor) each experienced along the way.

To see the actual cover and some interior spreads from the book, click on the cover in the margin at right. (Fun fact: That's Brooke, our mulitalented graphic designer, in the tree.) To see a gallery of images from the book, click here. And to see Heather sewing with Martha Stewart, watch her on the Martha Stewart Show next Tuesday, May 19. UPDATE: If you missed the show, watch Haather's segment here.

Sewing Green Cover Choices--The Runner-Ups

When we were working on the cover for Sewing Green by Betz White, we seriously considered two covers: the one we chose and the one of the sewer at the table below. Although I feel sure that we made a good choice, I do miss seeing this pretty image since it didn't make it onto the cover or into the book.

 This one wasn't a serious contender but it is also nice to revsit.

To see the final cover and some pages from the interior, click on the book cover at right (under "Look Inside Our Books"). Or, to see the cover and a sampling of images from the book, click here.

Greetings from Knit Cafe Note Cards on Sale

Perfect for spring or really anytime you want to send a personal note, our beautiful Greetings from Knit Cafe Note Cards are on sale on the Abrams website. Regularly priced at $12.95, they are now only $5 (sale price is shown at checkout). There are 15 (3-7/8" x 5-1/4") notecards, 3 each of the 5 shown below, plus 16 envelopes. Suzan Mischer originally commissioned photographer Judith Gigliotti to take these images for her Los Angeles yarn shop, Knit Cafe.

Knitalong Barn Raising Quilt Fundraiser

(Photo by Michael Crouser from Knitalong)

Larissa Brown, co-author of Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together, has organized a wonderful fundraiser for Doctors without Borders. To participate, all you need to do is knit one sqaure (or more if you like) of the Barn Raising Quilt (shown above) and send it (them) to Larissa by June 9. A team of volunteers will join all of the squares she receives and then auction or raffle off the finished quilts during the Sock Summit in August.  For more information about the fundraiser (including the pattern--if you don't have the book--and a mailing address for the squares), click here.

Kristen Rengren, author of Vintage Baby Knits, on Book Tour

It's time to start celebrating the release of the ultra-adorable Vintage Baby Knits. It will begin to hit stores in the next few weeks and to mark the event author Kristen Rengren is going on tour. The schedule is below and on our master events calendar (click on Upcoming Events at top right). Of course, Kristen is hoping to meet lots of you during her travels--she'll have many of the 40+ projects from the book with her and I guarantee that you will be charmed. To follow Kristen's progress once the tour starts, check out her blog here or follow her on Twitter (username: retroknit). To see a few photos from the book, click here. To see a few sample pages, click on the book cover in the right-hand margin.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Knitty City (New York, NY)

Book signing & trunk show: 6-8pm

208 W. 79th St.

212-787-5896

www.knittycity.com

 

Friday, April 24, 2009

Purl Soho (New York, NY)

Book signing & trunk show: 4–7pm

137 Sullivan St.

212-420-8796

www.purlsoho.com

 

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Stitches South – Atlanta, GA

Book signing: 1-1:30pm

The Yarn Barn of Kansas: Booths 107 - 109 - 111 - 113 - 206 - 208 - 210 - 212

Renaissance Waverly Hotel & Cobb Galleria Centre

Two Galleria Parkway

1-800-237-7099

http://www.knittinguniverse.com/flash/events/Eventportalsouth.php

 

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Stitches South (Atlanta, GA)

Book signing: 2-3pm

The Fine Needle - Booths 327 & 329

(see address above)

 

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Stitch DC (Washington, DC)

Book signing & trunk show: Time TBD

731 8th St., SE

202-544.8900

www.stitchdc.com

 

Friday, May 1, 2009

Loop Yarn (Philadelphia, PA)

Book signing & trunk show:  5–7pm

1914 South St.

Philadelphia PA 19146

215-893-9939/ 877-893-9939

www.loopyarn.com

 

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival (West Friendship, MD)

Book signing: 1-2pm

Cloverhill Yarn Shop - Main Building, Booths D2 & D3

Howard County Fairgrounds

2210 Fairground Rd.

410-788-7262

www.cloverhillyarn.com

 

Also on May 2, listen to Kristen on the WEBS Podcast.

http://www.yarn.com/Podcasts

 

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

Book signing: 11am-noon

The Fold - Barn 3, Booth 18

(see address above)

 

Thursday, May 7, 2009

WEBS Yarn Shop (Northampton, MA)

Book signing & trunk show: 6-7:30pm

75 Service Center Rd.

1-800-367-9327

www.yarn.com

 

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Kaleidoscope Yarns (Essex Junction, VT)

Book signing & trunk show: 1-3pm

15 Pearl St.

802-288-9200

www.kyarns.com

 

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Porter Square Books (Boston, MA)

Book signing & trunk show: 1-3pm

25 White St.

617-491-2220

www.portersquarebooks.com

 

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Lettuce Knit (Toronto, ON)

Book signing & trunk show: 6-9pm

70 Nassau St.

Toronto, Ontario

416-203-9970

www.lettuceknit.com

 

Friday, May 15, 2009

Loopy Yarns (Chicago, IL)

Book signing & trunk show: 5-9pm

47 W. Polk St.

312-583-9276

www.loopyyarns.com

 

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Threadbear Fiber Arts (Lansing, MI)

Book signing & trunk show: 1–4pm

319 S Waverly Rd.

517-703-9276

www.threadbearfiberarts.com

 

Betz White, Author of Sewing Green, On Blog Tour

NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO ENTER THE T-SHIRT AND BOOK GIVEAWAY, SCROLL DOWN TWO POSTS.

Betz White, author of Sewing Green, will be making her way around the blogosphere for the next few weeks. We hope you will join her. To see a gallery of some of the images from Sewing Green, click here. To see some interior spreads, click on the book's cover in the right-hand margin.

 Monday 4/6 True Up

Q&A, giveaway

Tuesday 4/7 U-Handbag

Review, giveaway

Wednesday 4/8 Craftzine

Sandwich wraps, giveaway, and Q&A

Thursday 4/9 This Love Forever

Furoshiki, giveaway

Friday 4/10 Knotions

Thrift shop savvy for knits, giveaway

Monday 4/13 Craftypod

Review and giveaway

Tuesday 4/14 Crafting A Green World

Review and giveaway

Wednesday 4/15 Freshly Blended

Review and giveaway

Thursday 4/16 Etsy Storque

Announcement of Etsy Lab Tyvek project

Friday 4/17 Make Grow Gather

Q&A with photos , giveaway

Tuesday 4/21 Philly Etsy

Review, Q&A,  giveaway

Wednesday 4/22 Whip Up

Applique tips and tricks, giveaway

Thursday 4/23 Wardrobe Refashion

Thrift shop savvy for sewing, giveaway

Monday 4/27 Morsbags

Review and giveaway

Tuesday 4/28 Heart Handmade

Inspiration and ideas, giveaway

Wednesday 4/29 House on Hill Road

Eco-friendly lunch, giveaway

Thursday 4/30 Craft Sanity

Q & A, giveaway

April Classes at Lena Corwin's Studio

NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO ENTER THE T-SHIRT AND BOOK GIVEAWAY, SCROLL DOWN TO NEXT POST.

Lena Corwin, author of Printing by Hand, just let me know that there are a few open spots in the April workshops at her Fort Greene, Brooklyn, studio. They both sound great so if you live anywhere near Fort Greene, I encourage you to treat yourself and sign up. The basic information is below. To ask questions or sign up, email Lena directly (lena(at)lenacorwin.com).

April Textile Stamping Class (Beginner Level)
Learn to print allover patterns on tote bags, cloth napkins, fabric yardage (and more) using handmade stamps.
Four 1-1/2 hour sessions
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Tuesdays, April 7, 14, 21, 28

April Sewing Tunic/Dress Workshop with Cal Patch (Intermediate Level)
Students must arrive at class with pieces already cut out and marked for the Simplicity 3964 Built by Wendy pattern, as this can take up to 2 hours and it will be otherwise impossible to finish in the allotted time. Lunch provided!

See the pattern here.

One 5 hour workshop
11am – 4pm
Sunday April 19th
(There will also be a 1 hour finishing class on Mon April 20th at 6pm, if needed.)

 

Win a T-Shirt and a Book

The HBO Shop in New York City recently commissioned Natalie Chanin, author of Alabama Stitch Book, to design a special collection of “Alabama Chanin for HBO” limited-edition, embellished T-shirts. Each design is one-of-a-kind, handmade, and recycled from previous HBO® collections featuring logos and key themes from hit programs like Entourage®, True BloodSM, Flight of the ConchordsSM, Sex & the City® and The Sopranos®.

Available starting April 8 at the HBO Shop in New York City (1100 6th Ave. at 42nd St.; 212-512-SHOP), the collection includes men’s and women’s T-shirts with Natalie’s signature hand-stitching, embroidery and appliqué details. As a Special Offer for our readers, STC Craft is excited to have the T-shirt shown above to give away along with one STC Craft book. To enter, before noon on April 7 EST, leave a message in the Comments section with the following information:

--Tell us about a craft project you are planning to make, are currently working on, or have recently completed.

--Tell us the title of the STC Craft book that you would like us to send you along with the T-shirt above if your name is selected? (To see our online catalog, click here. To see galleries of images from many of our books, including Alabama Stitch Book, click on the titles you're interested in at right.)

--Optional: Tell us the name of your favorite HBO show.

On April 8, we'll pick one person at random from the list of responses and send that person the T-shirt shown above (a woman's size medium) and the book requested.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Weekend Knitting Cover Story

When my book Weekend Knitting was first published in 2003, this was its cover.

It stayed that way until it was released a few weeks ago in paperback with this cover.

Honestly, I like both of these choices. But there was another cover that I rallied for in both hardcover and paperback. It wasn't chosen either time, so I figured I'd share it here.

Thanks to Susi Oberhelman and Ericka McConnell for providing the beautiful graphic design and photography, respectively. What a pleasure to have so many wonderful choices! Thanks also to Deborah Newton, who designed the Garter-Cuff Fingerless Gloves in the photo on the hardcover, and to Pam Allen, who designed the Farmer's Market Bag in the photo on the paperback, and to our lovely models. To see a sampling of images from inside the book, click here. To see a few interior pages, click on the small book cover image at right.

Workshops with Alabama Stitch Book Author Natalie Chanin

I was one of the lucky participants in Natalie Chanin's first workshop in Florence, Alabama, last July, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. I learned a lot, laughed a lot, ate great food, and made new friends--and ever since I have been thoroughly enjoying hand-stitching the dress and corset I started there (photos to come soon). And now Natalie has released her new workshop schedule for the months to come. If there's any way you can attend one, I heartily encourage you. For more information about what you will learn, the schedule, fees, logistics, and the fantastic time you are sure to have, click here.

Sewing, Cooking, and Community: Workshops with Natalie Chanin

April 4, 2009 / 9am - 3:30pm

The Firehouse, 604 East 11th Street, New York, NY

April 25, 2009 / 9am - 3:30pm

LiteBOX Gallery, 2825 Second Ave., South, Birmingham, AL

May 9, 2009, 9am - 3:30pm

Fanny's House of Music, 1101 Holly St., Nashville, TN

May 30, 2009 / 9am - 3:30pm

The Edible Schoolyard Kitchen, 1781 Rose St., Berkeley, CA

August 7-9, 2009

Weekend Workshop at The Factory, Florence, AL

November 6-8, 2009

Weekend Workshop at The Factory, Florence, AL

For a really lovely overview of the weekend workshop experience from Amisha of Heavenly Days, click here. To see projects from Natalie's book, Alabama Stitch Book, click here.

Blog Fest with Weekend Sewing Author Heather Ross

Learn all about Heather and her new book Weekend Sewing during her trip around the blogosphere. To see inside Weekend Sewing, click on the book cover in the right-hand margin; to see a small gallery of images from the book, click here.

Monday, 3/9: Make, Grow, Gather

Interview with tales and pics of young Heather growing up in Vermont.

Wednesday, 3/11: Heart Handmade

A day in the life of Heather Ross, and a chance to win a free book.

Thursday, 3/12: Disdressed

Q & A? Expose? Find out!

Friday, 3/ 13: Freshly Blended

A fresh review of Heather and Weekend Sewing.

Monday, 3/16: Whip-up

Illustrated sewing demo – learn fun tricks!

Tuesday, 3/17: House on Hill Rd.

Erin shows off her lovely finished projects from the book, and asks Heather about her inspiration 

for each.

Wednesday, 3/18: Belle Epoque

Fit and style. Know what you sew, win a book! – Part 1.

Thursday, 3/19: True Up

Fabric design - process and inspiration - Part 1. Win a book.

Friday, 3/20: Charm City Craft Mafia

Heather burns rubber heading to signings in DC and Baltimore, with the Charm City Craft Mafia in hot pursuit! Win a book (or a pair of cement shoes).

Monday, 3/23: Philly Etsy Team blog

On the road again...this time to a sewing weekend at Spool in Philly. The Street Team investigates, and throws the book at a lucky winner!

Wednesday, 3/25: Knotions

Fit and style. Know what you sew, and win a book! – Part 2

Thursday, 3/26: Cathy of California

Heather discusses her old school inspirations and aesthetic!

Monday, 3/30: Wardrobe Re-fashion

Spring into DIY fashion, win a book!

Tuesday, 3/31: Thisisloveforever

Fabric design - Process and inspiration with fabric giveaway - Part 2

Wednesday, 4/1: Craftypod

Book review and giveaway...no April Fool’s joke!

Tuesday, 4/7: Etsy’s The Storque

How-Tuesday! Virtual project demo from the Etsy Headquarters!

A Weekend Sewing Challenge

Heather Ross is hosting a fun, creative contest to celebrate the publication of Weekend Sewing, and the release of Far Far Away, her latest fabric line. Check out the contest on Heather's blog here. If you'd like to see a gallery of images from Weekend Sewing, click here. If you'd like to see a few sample pages (including the full Introduction), click here. Good luck! (I can't wait to see the wardrobes you dream up.)

Alabama Chanin Songbirds at Fashion Week

Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin introduced her newest extraordinary collection-- called Songbirds--last week in New York.

 

 

To read what the media is saying about Natalie and Songbirds, click here and here. If you'd like to make your very own Alabama Chanin clothing, check out Alabama Stitch Book (I was working on my corset while watching the Academy Awards last night). To see a gallery of images from the book, click here. Now I have to get back to editing Natalie's second book, which STC Craft will publish next Spring.