the blue blog archives: what i'm reading

How fabulous is Lily Chin? I remember being impressed when I caught her Knitty Gritty episode back in like 2005, called "Tips & Tricks." Well those tips & tricks are all here - plus all the knitting basics - in Lily Chin's Knitting Tips & Tricks: Shortcuts and Techniques Every Knitter Should Know. You will find brilliant tips here, like exactly how much yarn you need for the long tail cast-on (three times the width of your piece plus 10%), the best way to work with ribbon yarn (hang it up like toilet paper so it won't twist while you knit with it), how to make the perfect left-slanting decrease (twist the stitches on the row before by wrapping like Combined knitters do then k2togtbl on the decrease row), and a foolproof way to space buttonholes evenly (evenly mark dots on a strip of waistband elastic and stretch it to fit the buttonband). These little bits of genius are interspersed in what is on it's own already an excellent overall guide to knitting.

When I started knitting, a friend gave me a copy of the old Harmony Guide of Knitting Techniques: Volume 1. It was a slim volume that touched on all the major stages of the knitting process with large, helpful pictures. It was my go-to guide when I was learning, since it was not encyclopedic or chatty, but a bare-bones, just-the-facts-ma'am reference. That volume is now out of print, but if I were starting now, I could totally see myself using Lily Chin's book to the same end. It's much more thorough with a lot more explanation (hooray!), but Lily Chin is no-nonsense: she gets right down to it and tells you all you need to know, no bullshit. And it's in a super handy little format. It's no bigger than your Vicki Square Knitter's Companion but there's so much more in here than in that book! (And - bonus! - for crocheters, she's even put out a companion book of Crochet Tips & Tricks. It'll be a must-have for any future crocheting projects of mine, I can tell you!)

Thanks to all my sewing for wee one (with Pink Fig and Oliver & S patterns), I am proud to say that I skipped Wendy Mullin's first book, Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe. It's a great intro to home sewing and approaches the topic with the same sort of demystifying, you-can-do-it attitude that was in Amy Karol's awesome book, Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew. And whenever I feel ready to make something like pants for myself, I'll be sure to try out some Built by Wendy patterns (maybe then I'll get the Sew U book), but for now, what really mystifies me, what I'd really like a course on, is sewing with knit fabrics and using my mega-intimidating serger.

Enter Sew U Home Stretch: The Built by Wendy Guide to Sewing Knit Fabrics, Wendy Mullin's second book all about sewing those scary-seeming knits. She says making projects with knits is easy, easier in fact than making things in woven fabrics, in part because stretchy fabric means there's no closures like buttons and zippers to deal with. Yes! I hate putting in closures. They're like seaming a knitting project: that last step that is totally fiddly, seems to take nearly as much time as the rest of the project, and has a disproportional impact on how good the final piece looks - no pressure! The only difference is that I'm good at seaming knitting projects; sewing in zippers and making buttonholes, not so much. So none of that sounds good to me! The book starts by going through the most important stitches the serger makes and tells you when you'll need to use each one. This is precisely what my owner's manual does not do. It's all super technical, giving me just as much detail about the never used stitches as the two or three I'll be using and putting everything in a multi-page chart translated into four languages. Uh, not so handy actually, thanks (danke, gracias, and merci). Wendy also explains how to sew knit fabrics with a standard machine for the majority of sewers out there who don't have sergers (well, I could have used that info before I got a serger!). Then she offers a quick and easy guide to the different sorts of treatments knit fabrics will need, in particular different hems and different neck finishings like ribbing, and finally there's patterns, like a t-shirt. A what?! I can make a t-shirt?!?! Well, sign me up for that! I'll be keeping this book right by my serger and - alert: new year's resolution, right here - together we will make a t-shirt!

I've just started Iceland: Land of the Sagas co-authored by Jon Krakauer (the Into Thin Air Everest Disaster book dude). It's a beautiful book about Iceland and the authors' tours of its unique and spectacular landscapes. I've kinda had a little crush on Iceland ever since we started taking our yearly trip to visit the in-laws in Germany via Iceland Air. It's pretty neat what with geysers, lava fields, glaciers and freaking fabulous knitted sweaters. So when hubby and I started thinking about taking a trip - just the two of us - for our tenth wedding anniversary (coming up in just a few weeks!), the first place we thought of was Iceland. We never had a honeymoon and we never travel anywhere without the kids. (We go out to dinner, alone, on our anniversary and the in-laws have often given us two days in Germany for a kid-free mini-vacation, but that's it for us until the next year.) So this year, for our tenth, we're getting greedy and planning a week-long trip to Iceland! We won't go until the summer - the in-laws will be doing the kid-sitting in Germany - so we haven't made any plans just yet. We're still in the exciting, we're-really-going-to-do-this stage. Any suggestions??

Oh, it's all so thrilling it makes me want to do crazy things like read sagas. Or make a t-shirt. Or seam my cardigan while knitting it. Or learn Icelandic.

posted by alison at 5:07 pm | in blogging about reading about knitting

Comments

I got the Sew U Home Stretch book last year with the intention of making my own t-shirts. Hasn't happened just yet!

Posted by: Michelle at January 16, 2010 5:52 PM

Yeah, I'd really like a copy of Lily Chin's book, but couldn't justify buying "yet another" book of tips right now!

And, Iceland? Very cool!

Posted by: --Deb at January 16, 2010 7:07 PM

hi! I´m a longtime reader of your blog, but haven´t commented before. cool that you´re coming over here for your belated honeymoon. please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. and, if I may say so, I´m sure you won´t be disappointed, Iceland is truly a fabulous country.
best wishes from Iceland
Frida

Posted by: Fríða at January 16, 2010 8:41 PM

my uncle was a huge man. he couldnt find t-shirts to fit that were long enough to cover his flabby belly. so my mom's friend drafted a pattern, and i used it for years to make custom t-shirts for him. i never used a serger, just my 55 year-old Pfaff with a slight zigzag stitch to help the stitches stretch. he loved those shirts, and i loved making them for him. it was my way of performing service for someone when i didnt have much money. i would also recommend books and patterns by Kwik-Sew to learn how to sew with knits. i bought the Sewing for Infants and Toddlers book with master pattern fifteen years ago when my daughter was born, and i sewed all her clothes. t-shirts and leggings, tank tops and shorts, dresses with diaper cover/panties, even her winter coats. good luck and happy sewing!

Posted by: Tola at January 17, 2010 12:33 AM

How cool that you're going to Iceland! My icelandic hubby and our daughter just came back after spending the newyear with family, and celebrating his sisters wedding. It is truly a strange country, and you're being very smart going there over the summer. Just don't expect summer temperatures :P

If you're fond of horseback riding that is a great way to see some of the landscape. If you feel safer in a car there are many places you can hire a jeep for a few days, and explore the wilderness. Driving across the highlands from south to north is a great experience. However, the definition of roads is not the same in Iceland as in the rest of the world... :)

Mï¿½vatn is one of my favourite places in Iceland. It's magical!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BDvatn

And look at this super cool Lopi t-shirt that my hubby brought back to me from his trip:
http://heleneh.sprayblogg.no/1262940502_ikke_akkurat_tskjorte.html

Posted by: Helene at January 17, 2010 6:36 AM

Like Frida I'm a long time reader but haven't commented before.

You have to get your hands on some Icelandic wool while here and both she and I should be able to direct you to some places you'd be interested in.

If you're interested I'm sure we could either arrange a Knit Night for you to attend, or if you happen to be here on the first Thursday of the month there's a very LARGE monthly Knit Cafe then.

Don't hesitate to get in touch if there's anything on your mind.

Ella

Posted by: Ella at January 17, 2010 8:24 AM

When we had our swimming pool I sewed swimsuits for the family on my serger. I second the Kwik-Sew pattern recommendation. Great for basic knitted garments that you can embellish.

How cool is it that you have 2 readers from Iceland who have piped up offering to make your belated honeymoon wonderful? I wish I were going too just to go to the knit nights. And pet the Icelandic wool, too, of course.

Posted by: Barbara at January 17, 2010 1:14 PM

Your Iceland trip sounds fabulous. While we technically had a honeymoon, it didn't feel like one. We stayed home for a week. Your trip to Iceland sounds fantastic!

Posted by: Seanna Lea at January 17, 2010 1:14 PM

Sewing with knits is much easier than you think. I made myself a T shirt many years ago. The only thing I remember is that, with a regular machine, you need to use a flexible stitch like a zig zag or a fancy version of one. I recently (well in September for my BD) got a serger & am at a loss how to approach it. My partner (who bought me the serger for my BD) bought me a couple of serger books for Christmas (think it's a hint?). One of them looks very good - simple step by step instructions for someone who has no idea of how to use a serger & several cute small projects to make that teach the basics. It is on another floor of the house but, if you are interested, I can get the title for you. I went to Hancock Fabrics Friday & they had a flier about serger classes that they are going to have but they are on Monday evenings (a day I try never to miss working out) from 7-9 pm. The store is about 12 miles away & it would be through rush hour traffic also. So that doesn't seem like a possiblity. I have the email addy of the instructor so maybe I'll see if she has any other classes scheduled (I'm hoping for a weekend.) Sometimes my inability to drive is a real hassle.

Posted by: Donna at January 17, 2010 5:00 PM

My husband and I never had a honeymoon and we never go anywhere without our kids! But on our 10th anniversary...we took a trip to Iceland!!! We loved it and had a fantastic time!

Posted by: elizabeth at January 19, 2010 9:22 AM

My recommendation for you (and your children!): The "Moomintroll" series by Icelandic writer, Tove Jansson. They're available in English and are fabulous and funny. I think I might have seen them at Brookline Booksmith recently.

Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport at January 19, 2010 10:03 AM

Oh, Iceland is fantastic! I recommend visiting Akureyri. The botanic gardens there are really neat. And make sure you're ready to go swimming! The swimming pools are fabulous (and relatively cheap).

We backpacked the Laugavegur http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laugavegur , and loved the experience. Though that would eat up a huge chunk of your week.

Posted by: Elizabeth at January 20, 2010 3:57 PM

What a splendid idea to spend some time in Iceland this summer! You will like it and there's so much to do, 24 hours, won't get dark ;-)
As the two Icelanders before me pointed out there's a huge knit event each first Thursday of the month. However, I am sure, every Icelandic knitter would be thrilled to arrange a knit meeting just for/with you!
And apart from that Iceland is cool - sewing your own T-shirts.. how cool is that!
Lastly, don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions concerning your trip to Iceland.

PS./@Mary K.: Tove Jansson is Finnish not Icelandic (a Finland-Swede to be precise), but her Moomins are over-cute nevertheless and definitely a good recommodation for anyone, young and old.

Posted by: carola at January 21, 2010 3:53 AM

You know, I began to reconsider right after I posted, since one of the books is called "Finn Family Moomintroll." But the series was given to me 45 years ago by an Icelandic friend who claimed that Jansson was also Icelandic - thanks for the correction.

Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport at January 21, 2010 9:17 AM

Hi-

I've lurked on your blog for awhile now (fellow sewing junkie and knitter too), but I want to comment about your exciting Iceland trip. We have a dvd that features Iceland and it's beautiful scenery that we bought b/c dh has a crazy dream about taking our 5 kids sailing all over the world. (We don't sail!) Anyway, Ice Blink is about a family who now lives in Maine that sailed to Iceland and spent time there on one of their adventures. They have a website, so you can google. Have fun planning and thanks for your sewing/knitting blog!

Posted by: Lisen at January 22, 2010 6:41 PM

My husband and I went to Iceland for our honeymoon 4.5 years ago and loved it! The great thing is that you can really see alot in a week. We rented a car (similar cost as here) and drove the Ring Road around the country. It being October then we didn't get to go inland much or a glacier tour, which would have been wonderful. I recommend a day trip on the Golden Circle (stops at several places- google it), a stop at the National Park and the Myvatn area (several things in close proximity). And just for your information, these are the places we stayed overnight (so you can get an idea of daily travel distance)- Hafnarfordur, Vik, Hofn, Raykjahlid (Myvatn), Stadur (although I would recommend stopping earlier in Akuryri instead) and then Reykjevik (and the Blue lagoon the day of our flight out). any questions, feel free to email me:)

Posted by: Lisa at January 22, 2010 9:12 PM

I will be going to Iceland this summer with my family and have gotten lots of great recommendations from the "Iceland" group on Ravelry. My family does not realize I have an entire parallel knitting itinerary planned for our trip!

I am jeannekal on Ravelry.

Thanks for your blog, it is one of my favorite stops!

Posted by: Jeanne at January 24, 2010 9:26 PM

Thanks everyone for your fabulous advice and suggestions for the Iceland trip! I'll probably contact several of you for more details. Hooray! :)

Posted by: ALISON at January 26, 2010 12:03 PM

Marilyn Van Kepple's English translations (along with the original) lace shawl Icelandic books from Schoolhouse Press www.schoolhousepress.com would be good background, too!

Posted by: Nancy at January 27, 2010 3:43 PM