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By Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
The Grand Rapids Press
I know what you're thinking: "What does Tracey Ullman -- the famous comedian and actress -- know about knitting?"
Well, I haven't had the opportunity to knit with her, but it's clear she knows enough to collaborate with a pro. "Knit 2 Together" (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 168 pages, $27.50) is a fantastic knitting book that Ullman co-authored with knitwear designer Mel Clark.
Ullman met Clark at Wildfiber, Clark's knitting shop in Santa Monica, Calif., and asked her if she'd like to write a book. The result is a collaboration that is wonderful for veteran knitters and rookies alike.
Clark cooked up all 32 patterns while Ullman supplied the star power, humor and newbie knitter perspective. So, relax all you crafty skeptics, Ullman doesn't have to be a knitting expert because she collaborated with one. And readers don't have to be experts either. A "knitting basics" section includes detailed photos that clearly illustrate how to cast on, knit, purl and bind off, so beginners don't have to miss out on the fun.
Clark's designs give readers ample reason to pick up those pointy sticks and retrieve a fantastic yarn from their stash. Likewise, Ullman's humorous knitting bits -- ranging from reports of sex talk at the knit shop table to an outrageous tale of a runaway yarn ball -- can keep folks entertained when it's time to take a break from the stitching.
The patterns include a flirty, vintage inspired "Saucy Apron," a "Tutu Tea Cozy," comfy "House Slippers," and a "Grownup Bonnet," which is essentially a ribbed scarf with a toasty hood attached. The book also includes patterns to make sweaters and hoodies, a stuffed mouse family, a lovely baby cape, a super herringbone "Doctors Bag" purse (large enough to transport knitting and other craft projects with ease), a dress and a simple striped tie that would be fun to stitch for any fiber-tolerant male.
The patterns range from beginner to expert. If you're an expert, skip right to page 136 and get going on the sophisticated "Ponsonby Suit," a tailored jacket and skirt that looks store-bought. And if you want to add a little whimsy to your life, knit the green "Sea Anemone" felted messenger bag complete with 75 orange tentacles hanging off the flap. And if you really want to make a statement, make the "Knit 2 Together Sweater," for two pictured on the cover and go for a stroll with someone dear.
Star power or not, this book is worth checking out.
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Now that I have my CraftSanity podcast up and
running, it's time to join the creative bloggers of
the world and contribute what I can to the to the
creative landscape.
Above is a picture of the "Knitted Babe" I made
during my maternity leave. If you look closely,
you'll notice that one of her eyes is bigger than the
other. She's imperfect and fabulous. You can make a
knitted babe, too. The pattern is in Claire Garland's
book "Knitted Babes. " Claire gave me a "Knitted
Babe" dress pattern to post when I interviewed her
for episode 8. You can can find it on the project's page along with loads
of other free project ideas. Enjoy.
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Have a product you'd like me to check out? Send me an e-mail, and maybe we'll chat about it.
Cordless hot glue is now a crafty reality.
What: ColdHeat Freestyle Cordless Glue Gun
How it works: This glue gun is great because you can use it anywhere without worrying about your proximity to an electric outlet. Powered by a rechargeable battery, it heats up and cools down quickly so you can work fast with a minimized risk of burning yourself between glue applications. There’s also a light on the tip of the gun that allows you to see where you’re gluing. At first I thought this feature was a bit much, but I was grateful to have the extra light when the sun went down and I was still on deadline gluing silk flowers onto a baby cap for my daughter's 6-month photo shoot. (The cap was a prop for an Anne Geddes-inspired shot.)
The only drawback to using this glue gun is the limited battery power. There’s enough juice to keep you gluing for about 45 minutes of continous gluing or 1.5 hours of intermittent gluing. I had to stop my intense gluing fest to recharge the battery, which slowed my creative momentum. However, this situation could have been avoided if I had an extra battery charged up and at the ready. I contacted the company and learned the Cold Heat folks do not sell batteries separately, but plan to eventually. In the meantime, I'm going to have to pace myself.
Cost: $29.95
Where to get it: Available online only. Visit the ColdHeat site for more info.
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Have a product you'd like me to check out? Send me an e-mail, and maybe we'll chat about it.
Want to sample new yarns without buying the whole
skien?
Here's something that can build your stash at a
manageable pace.
What:
The
Yarn of the Month Club
is
a subscription-based yarn sampling program.
How
it works: Each
month four new yarn samples are mailed to your door a
long with a pattern. You won't get enough yarn to
make the pattern, but you'll receive enough to yarn
to make a 4 by 4 swatch or some other mini project
you dream up.
Cost: $7.75
per month
Owned
by: Sara
Lucas, co-author of "Holiday Knits: 25 Great Gifts
From Stockings to Sweaters"
I recently had the delightful experience of sampling
the Yarn of the Month Club
and
got a kick out of being able to test out fun new
yarns. The nice thing about this program is that
you can try out new yarns without having to buy a
whole skein of each variety. This is great for
those who like to swatch, design and make small
projects. Subscribers get access to online
patterns and can participate in online forum
discussions with fellow club members.
If you want to know more, listen in on my brief conversation with Yarn of the Month Club owner and knit pattern designer, Sara Lucas. I plan to interview Sara for the podcast when her next book comes out, so stay tuned for that.
