Eclectic Closet Litblog, Book Reviews & Knitting Designs

A litblog dedicated to book reviews/recommendations, as well as literary and publishing news. Now enhanced with knitting designs.

BOOK REVIEW: Every Mother is a Daughter by Perri Klass & Sheila Solomon Klass

May12

What is it that makes the bond between mother and daughter so different from any other relationship? Is it the shared experiences? Or is it as Perri Klass and Sheila Solomon Klass contend in their book Every Mother is a Daughter: the neverending quest for success, inner peace, and a really clean kitchen (recipes and knitting patterns included) that every mother is also a daughter?

Klass and Solomon Klass have collaborated to write this engaging exploration of their relationship and the extent to which each has mirrored the life of their own mother. Both are published authors with distinct voices that fit well in a collaborative effort. Klass, a pediatrician, has a column in Knitter’s Magazine as well as writing non-fiction and fiction books. Solomon Klass is a retired English professor who writes fiction for adults and children.

Every Mother is a Daughter explores the stereotypes of gender and roles, especially as they pertain to the all-important role of feeding a family. Solomon Klass, raised in New York during the depression by Orthodox Jewish parents whose marriage was full of bitterness and conflict, internalized many of her mother’s fanatical beliefs about women’s roles. Escaping the bleakness of her silent childhood home right after high school, Solomon Klass carried many of her mother’s admonishments into her own marriage: men were not allowed in the kitchen; dinner must contain a starch, a green vegetable, a protein, and a fruit; and women should get dressed immediately upon rising.

Klass, born in Trinidad but raised in New Jersey, gently teases her mother for her quirks while marveling at her bravery and independence. While Klass deviates from her mother’s frugality and insistance on home cooked meals (dinners are often eaten out), she has carried on her mother’s legacy in raising strong and independent children, while working full-time herself.

Reflecting on all stages of their lives, Klass and Solomon Klass create a memoir written in two voices, the most compelling being the section on “Becoming a Mother, Becoming a Grandmother.” Solomon Klass writes so meaningfully on sharing the birth experience with her daughter that the experience stays with the reader for days.

As Solomon Klass states “this whole book is really about lives so blended as to be inseparable.” Perhaps that is all anyone wants, a relationship with their Mother that is so positive that all their lives are blended, not just childhood. Every Mother is a Daughter is a loving testament to the powerful bond between mother and daughter.

See the review as it is posted at Armchair Interviews: Every Mother is a Daughter.

BOOK REVIEW: Morehouse Farm Merino Knits by Margrit Lohrer

May9

In the sea of recently published knitting books, Morehouse Farm Merino Knits: more than 40 farm-fresh designs quickly separates itself from the flock with its opening line: “Morehouse Farm began with a voodoo chicken.” An opening like that is difficult to live up to but while the patterns that Margrit Lohrer offers are simple, the book itself and its reasons for such simple patterns hold up admirably to that first sentence.

Morehouse Farm is well known for the sumptuous merino yarn they produce. This collection was designed by Lohrer to highlight the inherent beauty of merino yarn by designing to play to its strengths. Merino is one of the oldest breeds of sheep and has the finest wool, due to its tightly crimped and springy nature, making for finer, softer, and itch-free garmets. As Lohrer states about these patterns: “None of the patterns are particularly challenging, but all will yield attractive and functional knitted items…The patterns in this book are a starting point. Be creative…Knit what you want, the way you want it to look, feel, and wear.”

The patterns are divided into five sections: home, lace, children, accessories and sweaters. While Lohrer does specify which of her yarns to use for each pattern, weight and gauge information is provided so that knitters can substitute other yarn as desired. The patterns, while basic, are great foundation pieces that will provide years of knitting and leave room for individual creativity.

Lohrer’s introduction, scrumptious photos and in-depth details about Morehouse Farm make Morehouse Farm Merino Knits a worthwhile addition to any knitter’s library.

See the review as it is posted at Armchair Interviews – Morehouse Farm Merino Knits.

Knitting Book Reviews – Master List

April15

This is a list of the knitting books I’ve reviewed to date. They cover a wide range of topics and “categories” of knitting books. If you have a knitting related book you think is a must have of every knitter, or the best look at a topic, please leave a note in the comments here and I’ll try and review it.

* The Natural Knitter: how to choose, use, and knit natural fibers from alpaca to yak – Barbara Albright

* Knitting Classic Style – Véronik Avery

* Pretty in Punk – Alyce Benevides & Jacqueline Milles

* The Knitter’s Guide to Yarn Cocktails – Anastasia Blaes and Kelly Wilson

* The Best of Interweave Knits – ed. by Ann Budd

* Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave – Ann Budd and Anne Merrow

* Twinkle’s Big City Knits: 31 chunky-chic designs – Wenlan Chia

* Knitting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time – Betty Christiansen

* KnitKnacks: Much Ado About Knitting – introduction by Kari Cornell

* Home Knits: Luxurious Handknits for Every Room of the House – Suss Cousins

* Suss Design Essentials – Suss Cousins

* Pretty Knits – edited by Susan Cropper

* The Northampton Wools Knitting Book: the Store Patterns – Linda A. Daniels

* Mother of Purl: Friends, Fun, and Fabulous Designs at Hollywood’s Knitting Circle – Edith Eig

* Inspired Cable Knits: 20 Creative Designs for Making Sweaters and Accessories – Fiona Ellis

* Inspired Fair Isle Knits: 20 creative designs inspired by the elements – Fiona Ellis

* Knitting Beyond the Edge – Nicky Epstein

* Knitting Never Felt Better – Nicky Epstein

* Nicky Epstein’s Knitted Flowers – Nicky Epstein

* Kaffe Knits Again – Kaffe Fassett

* Mason-Dixon Knitting – Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne

* Knitting Nature: 39 Designs Inspired by Patterns in Nature – Norah Gaughan

* Indigo Knits – Jane Gottelier

* Andean Inspired Knits: Designs in Luxurious Alpaca – Helen Hamann

* Knitting Little Luxuries – Louisa Harding

* Miss Bea’s Seaside – Louisa Harding

* Natural Knits for Babies and Moms – Louisa Harding

* Knitty Gritty Knits – Vickie Howell

* Wendy Knits – Wendy D. Johnson

* Runway Knits: 30 Fashion-Forward Designs – Berta Karapetyan

* Every Mother is a Daughter: the neverending quest for success, inner peace, and a really clean kitchen (recipes and knitting patterns included)– Perri Klass & Sheila Solomon Klass

* Classic Knits & Glamour Knits – Erika Knight

* knit.101 – editors of knit.1 magazine

* The Yarn Lover’s Guide to Hand Dyeing – Linda Labelle

* Knits from a Painter’s Palette: modular masterpieces in handpainted yarn – Maie Landra

* New Ideas for Today’s Knitting – Jean Leinhauser & Rita Weiss

* Andean Folk Knits: Great Designs from Peru, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador & Bolivia – Marcia Lewandowski

* Naughty Needles – Nikol Lohr

* Morehouse Farm Merino Knits: more than 40 farm-fresh designs – Margrit Lohrer

* Knitting Color – Brendon Mably

* The Elegant Knitter – Gina Macris

* Nature Babies – Tara Jon Manning

* Knits Three Ways – Melissa Matthay

* Knitting Lingerie Style – Joan McGowan-Michael

* The Museum of Kitschy Stitches: a Gallery of Notorious Knits – Stitchy McYarnpants

* Greetings from Knit Café – Suzan Mischer

* Romantic Hand Knits: 26 Flirtatious Designs that Flatter Your Figure – Annie Modesitt

* Big Girl Knits: 25 Big, Bold Projects Shaped for Real Women with Real Curves – Jillian Morena & Amy R. Singer

* Luxury Knitting: the Ultimate Guide to Exquisite Yarns Cashmere ? Merino ? Silk – Linda Morse

* Knitting Memories – edited by Lela Nargi

* Knitting Through It – edited by Lela Nargi

* Spin to Knit: the Knitter’s Guide to Making Yarn – Shannon Okey

* The Knitter’s Book of Yarn – Clara Parkes

* Field Guide to Knitting – Jackie Pawlowski

* Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off – Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

* Knitting Rules! The Yarn Harlot’s Bag of Knitting Tricks – Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

* Crazy Aunt Purl’s Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair – Laurie Perry

* knitspeak: an A to Z guide to the language of knitting patterns – Andrea Berman Price

* Punk Knits – Share Ross

* Lacy Little Knits – Iris Schreier

* No Sheep for You – Amy R. Singer

* Victorian Lace Today – Jane Sowerby

* Knitting for Him – Martin Storey & Wendy Baker

* Knitting America – Susan Strawn

* Lion Brand Yarn Vintage Styles for Today: more than 50 patterns to knit and crochet – edited by Nancy J. Thomas and Charlotte J. Quiggle

* Expectant Little Knits – Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott

* Knit 2 Together: Patterns and Stories for Serious Knitting Fun – Tracey Ullman & Mel Clark

* The Best of Vogue® Knitting – by editors of Vogue® Knitting magazine

* The Vogue® Knitting Stitchionary Volume Three: Color Knitting by editors of Vogue® Knitting magazine

BOOK REVIEW: Mother of Purl by Edith Eig

April13


There has been a resurgence in the popularity of knitting, driven by celebrities who stepped into the spotlight, needles and yarn in hand. An increasing number of glitterati have taken up the craft, knitting on sets and even appearing, yarn in hand, in movies and TV shows. No longer an activity only for little old ladies, knitting has come a long way, thanks in part to Edith Eig, knitting guru to the stars.

Eig is the owner of La Knitterie Parisienne, the knitting shop now famous for its celebrity clientele based in Studio City, California. For ten years, she has been dispensing advice, teaching knitting neophytes and helping individuals create the “perfect” sweater. More recently, she hosts Knit One, Purl Two on DIY and HGTV. Mother of Purl: friends, fun, and fabulous designs at Hollywood’s knitting circle is her recently released entry into the increasingly crowded knitting market.

With so many new knitting books hitting the shelves each month, how does a discriminating hobbyist which is worthy? This reader assesses each on three categories: technical information, patterns and entertainment value, before deciding to take the plunge.

How does Mother of Purl fare in analysis? Eig provides solid instruction to take the beginning knitter through the stages of learning this craft rather than teaching experienced knitters new skills. She shares interesting tidbits about teaching celebrities knitting basics, which should help put novices at ease, and explains the variety of equipment needed to get off on the appropriate hand-knit, sock-clad foot.

Mother of Purl begins its pattern section with the ubiquitous scarf patterns; however, these aren’t just any scarves. Readers are invited to knit up the “Very Sex and the City” scarf that Eig gave to the cast after they wrapped the show or to create the scarf knit by Scarlet Johannson in Lost in Translation. The rest of the patterns include a little bit of everything – ponchos, afghans, sweaters and suits. The yarns Eig recommends for these projects are mainly novelty and/or very expensive, and would be difficult to locate in a basic craft store.

Anyone who enjoys celebrity gossip will love this book. If constant name-dropping is not your cup of tea, then you will want to skip Eig’s offering, as the celebrity references are sprinkled liberally among the 240 pages. While this may not be the knitting book for everyone, Mother of Purl will have your fingers itching to pick up some decadent yarn and head out for a night of stitching with some knitting friends. She has truly captured the community spirit present at knitting circles throughout the world.

See the review as it is posted at Curled Up with a Good Book – Mother of Purl

BOOK REVIEW: Inspired Cable Knits by Fiona Ellis

April7


Fiona Ellis’ debut knitting book Inspired Cable Knits: 20 Creative Designs for Making Sweaters and Accessories is a work of art that is aimed at both novice and experienced knitters. More than just a collection of sweaters, this beautiful book takes the reader through Ellis’ creative process, lifting designs and textures found in the natural world and translating them into cable patterns. Inspired Cable Knits features very clear charts, as well as written instructions for those who prefer not to work from stitch charts.

Cables, for anyone who may be wondering, are the knitting stitches featured on traditional cream-coloured Aran, or Irish, sweaters. Highly textured stitches, they are created by moving stitches in front of, or behind each other.

Divided into four sections; change, nature, energy and time, each highlights a different theme that Ellis has incorporated into her designs. The section that called out to me most strongly is the one labeled “inspired by time”, which focuses on the value of slowing down. Ellis took the classic garments that are worn over and over and took elements of these, giving them modern twists.

Cable knits are my favourite type of knitting and Fiona Ellis obviously has a feeling for them as well as she states in her introduction that “I love their crunchy, nubbly textures.” The traveling stitches require close attention as they build a complex, highly textured piece of fabric. Most likely the fascination for me is in the mathematics required to accomplish this type of knitting. What is interesting is that these are the same characteristics that make many knitters throw their hands up in horror.

Ellis believes that all knitters will benefit from the journey exploring cable knits and that the focus required leads to a contemplative state of knitting and mindfulness of the entire process and organic nature of knitting. To assist knitters in achieving this goal, she has included a “mindfulness” pointer with each pattern to engage the knitter’s mind in the process of creativity.

Inspired Cable Knits
is a beautiful book will provide many hours of pleasurable browsing and dreaming of future projects. I know my copy won’t languish long before I pick up the needles to cast on a project taken from its pages.

See the review as it is posted at Armchair Interviews – Inspired Cable Knits.

Errata for Inspired Cable Knits may be found here.

BOOK REVIEW: Big Girl Knits: 25 Big, Bold Projects Shaped for Real Women with Real Curves by Jillian Moreno & Amy Singer

March7

After many years of waiting, a knitting book geared to plus-sized knitters has arrived. Jillian Moreno, knit-wear designer for Acme Knitting Company, and Amy Singer, editor of Knitty.com and regular columnist for Interweave Knits, have created Big Girl Knits: 25 Big, Bold Projects Shaped for Real Women with Real Curves. This book is both a style guide and a pattern manual, collecting knit-wear patterns designed by twenty-one leading knitwear designers, specifically with the fashion-conscious, curve-endowed woman in mind.

What sets this knitting book apart is the style guide that comprises the first fifth of the book. Designed to help women with curves learn the best way to dress their body by determining which of the three “Bs” best describe their body type: boobs, belly or butt. Using cleverly designed icons, each pattern in the latter part of the book is coded with appropriate icons, making it easy to determine at a glance if a pattern works with your body type. Each body type is then broken down and the best necklines, shaping and sweater lengths for each is described.

If the authors had stopped there, this would have been purely a helpful guide with some great patterns; however they took the style guide a step further by outlining yarn types and weights that flatter bodies with curves – including gauge guidelines. An extremely helpful section on accurate measuring and pattern adaptation is also included, to help plus-size knitters overcome their fear of approaching their own bodies with a measuring tape. Altogether this invaluable style guide makes Big Girl Knits an indispensable aid and a must-have for every knitter’s reference section.

The patterns themselves are fashionable, practical and incredibly flattering. Arranged in chapters by pattern category, the designers have not forgotten some of the fashion essentials. Patterns are included for a wide range of tops and coats but also yoga pants, four types of skirts, socks and wraps. Having only seen the uncorrected proof of the book, I look forward to getting a better look at the knitted details in the colour pictures.

See the review as it appears at Armchair Interviews – Big Girl Knits. And don’t forget to visit the book’s website.

BOOK REVIEW: Knitting Rules! The Yarn Harlot’s Bag of Knitting Tricks by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

February19


This spring will see the publication of several new knitting books from knit “bloggers”. Knitting Rules! The Yarn Harlot’s Bag of Knitting Tricks is the third volume from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, best known for her knitting blog “The Yarn Harlot”. This new work features her trademark wit and light-hearted view on a much beloved pastime, although sadly it features none of her infamous open letters to her collection of yarn, known only as “The Stash”.

Pearl-McPhee’s first two books, At Knit’s End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much and Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter are very reminiscent of her blog. With Knitting Rules! The Yarn Harlot’s Bag of Knitting Tricks she moves into new territory and provides a comprehensive look at the foundations of knitting. There are a few basic patterns included but more than that, this book offers advice/recommendations on everything from picking the appropriate needles for knitting in movie theatres, to what to stock in your knitting bag (and why you should have one in the first place), to choosing a spouse.

Her irreverent style is a delight for anyone with true knitting passion – “I can think of several times in my own life when knitting kept me from slapping some fool upside the head” – yet her tone can soften to write glowingly about our addiction, speaking about fiber the way others talk about a lover. The power of knit bloggers to influence a wide audience was evidenced again recently with Pearl-McPhee’s creation of the 2006 Knitting Olympics, possibly the largest ever knit-a-long, with more than 4,000 knitters around the world participating on teams designed to coincide with the Torino Winter Olympics. She expected a handful of knitters to join her and her friends and suddenly this viral experiment took on a life of its own – receiving publicity in a wide variety of media outlets including NPR and a variety of print publications.

Part reference book, part how-to manual, part tribute, and part beginner’s manual, this essential book is a must purchase for every level of knitter. Think of it as your own personal knitting guru or new best friend.

See the review as it appears at Armchair Interviews – Knitting Rules!.

Knitting Rules!

February15

I’m so excited that I have been jumping around my apartment for the last few minutes. Sitting against my door when I arrived home today was the bound proof of Yarn Harlot’s new book (to review). I think Olympic Knitting might take back seat to this for a few days – I read the first few pages and was laughing so loudly that I startled the cat. I also discovered a new mantra to live by:

“If you find a non-knitter who thinks what you do is clever, beautiful, and artistic, who never asks for knitted stuff but wears it with pride when you give it to him or her, and will help you carry home a whole fleece or a stack of stitch dictionaries without once implying that you might want to get a grip – marry that person.” From Knitting Rules! The Yarn Harlot Unravels the Mysteries of Swatching, Stashing, Ribbing and Rolling to Free Your Inner Knitter.

Thank you Stephanie, for making it all so clear. Stay tuned for my review sometime next week.

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