Book Review: Nordic Knitting Traditions

I bought Susan Anderson Freed's book, Nordic Knitting Traditions, on a whim a few weeks ago, when I needed to add something to my Amazon cart to get free shipping (of course, when you put in something that would have cost the same amount as shipping the one item you were originally buying, is free shipping really free? That is probably a blog entry for a different day, however!) - it wasn't listed on Ravelry yet and it had just been released earlier this month. It's safe to say I had no expectations going in, I literally just thought "oh, cool, a new colorwork book!" and checked out.

I don't have any dedicated fair isle books, so I can't say I have a frame of reference, but here are the things I really like about this book: first, the graphic design is stellar. It's a beautiful book to flip through. Each chapter's graphics are color-coded, and there are delightful line drawings that appear throughout the book as well. The book assumes you know the basics of knitting and has a small section at the beginning to share stranded knitting tips and tricks. Each chapter begins with the full pattern to make the accessory and a thorough explanation of the construction elements you'll be using in the process, immediately followed with charts and additional instructions for use in the basic pattern. There are even more technique tips at the beginning of each section to help you make successful hats, mittens, gloves and socks.

Nordic Socks
image © Practical Publishing

Many of the motifs are repeated throughout the book. On the one hand, that means you can make coordinating accessories quite easily; on the other hand, it does make it feel like there are fewer than the 25 designs proclaimed on the cover. I do believe in quality over quantity, however, and in that respect this book does deliver. All of the charts are in full color and at a reasonable size for following along; they also include a photo of the knitted swatch for reference. Overall, the information is thoughtfully presented; time will tell if the patterns are well-written, though at first glance they do appear to be quite comprehensive!

If you take the time to read the introduction, you'll learn that the designs are based on tradtional motifs that Susan has transformed, making the original base design almost unrecognizable. You'll also learn that many of the patterns are named after the author's chemotherapy nurses; what Susan doesn't say is that many of the items pictured in the book were knit by the author during her chemotherapy sessions (you'll have to read the "acknowledgments" in the back. Another interesting fact hidden in the back of the book: the designs in this book were inspired by the bird carvings of her late father, Don Anderson. How much would I love to see these original carvings?!

This prompted me to seek out Susan's other work. Turns out she her first book, Colorwork Creations, also features some colorwork stunners (perhaps also based on her late father's carvings?). It's now on my Amazon.com wish list! In my ~~stalking~~ research, I also learned that Susan is semi-local (residing in central Illinois) and has given workshops in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Here's hoping she has a speedy recovery and is up for teaching more classes in-state, because I'd love to sign up!

Click here to purchase Nordic Knitting Traditions on Amazon!

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n

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