Book in review

There have been a variety of reviews for What Else Would Madame Defarge Knit? going up on podcasts and websites.  ​

​I just read this one this morning:

Holity's review ​

As well, editor Heather Ordover was interviewed on the Ready Set Knit podcast for Webs, America's Yarnstore and it went live just this past Saturday.  Here is a link:​

http://media.libsyn.com/media/webs/Show310.mp3

She is on show 310, for those not reading this in real time.  It is also accessed via iTunes podcast platform.​

This week, I am finishing some braiding on Sámi mitten cuffs, taking some pictures and writing an article for BÁIKI The North American Sami Journal.​ Last week was enormously busy with the first week of baseball, opening day for softball, and a multiple meets for track.  All three kids have their own sports for this season!

Track ends this week, and training for the sprint triathlon begins in earnest.  I am so thankful the weather has been cooperating and encouraging us all to get out more!​

I also finished knitting a Quetzalcoatlus dinosaur for the youngest.  I (re)taught him to knit a couple weeks ago.  Just days later we were at a knit shop and he spotted a Knitted Dinosaur book by Tina Barrett.  How is a mom to say no to such a request?  Perhaps I should have, as it quickly evolved into him telling me how and when I would knit ALL the dinosaurs for him!​

I did not agree to that, but we did pick out the colors for his Quetzy, and knitted it up. It has flapped its way into his heart.​

View fullsize

​Quetzalcoatlus

​fluffy wing "feathers"

​Just hangin' out.

​Super Quetzy!

And Now For Something a Bit Defarge-ish

Here, at last, is my sneak peek of the What (Else) Would Madame Defarge Knit? book.  Madame Defarge is a character in Charles Dickens' book Tale of Two Cities who sits beneath the guillotine in France, knitting, knitting, knitting the names of those whom the guillotine killed. Is she a type of the Fates, playing with, and then cutting the yarn of life? Perhaps.  For me, she is an great example of using the art of knitting to tell another tale.​

The Madame Defarge book series, published by Cooperative Press, is a collection of knitting designs inspired by classical literature (beginning with this book).  I have three designs in the book to be released April 2013. More information about the book can be found here. ​Two are similar and are inspired by a certain author who lived in Concord, Massachusetts.  Here are a couple of inspiring shots.  How about this:

​A snippet of a picture from my first design in

What (Else) Would Madame Defarge Knit?​

​And this?

​close-up of first design in 

What (Else) Would Madame Defarge Knit?​

​And, just a little bit of this...?

​close-up of first design in 

What (Else) Would Madame Defarge Knit?​

Since they're related, I will conclude with a few pictures of the second design in the book.  Namely, this:​

​close-up of second design in 

What (Else) Would Madame Defarge Knit?​

​And, last but not least, this!

​close-up of second design in 

What (Else) Would Madame Defarge Knit?​

Isn't it pretty, even in super close-up form?  I can say of this, that they are serviceable , warm, and, in garter stitch, pretty easy.  ​

Can't wait until I can post a picture of the entire project! If you sign up on the email list, you will receive yet another pattern by me in the pre-release emails.​

What (else) Would Madame Defarge Knit?

Release of the upcoming What (else) Would Madame Defarge Knit? is creeping ever closer.  Maybe just three weeks away?​

In keeping with the building excitement, editor and chief-podcast-crafty-lady Heather Ordover has created an email subscription list.  Tied to that list are free patterns, including one from your truly!  ​Click on the words above and a new browser page will open and take you there.

Inside the book itself are many essays and patterns, all based on classical literature.  ​

Not to spoil it, but two of my patterns are first ones out of the gate -- patterns with equal parts inspiration from a certain Massachusetts author, and my Illini great-grandma.  Little teeny snippet of it... in the next post!​