An (entirely self-directed) Education

My blog post days usually begin with a speedy perusal of the blogs on my list (see lower sidebar), which I have recently revamped to include only blogs that inspire me both for their beauty and for their really good use of words (i.e. masterful writing). It's a growing list, to be sure. I am giving myself time to become a regular reader of this short list before I add more. This is just a part of an ongoing quest for knowledge. My formal education is in English and music, not in fashion design nor any of the visual arts nor in fiber production. However, these are the subjects that I now find myself soaking up on a regular basis.

I want to show you some of the amazing books and magazines that have been helping me lately.

Mostly library books, unfortunately. Bottom to top, we see first The Principals of Knitting. This makes about the third time I have checked this "textbook" out of the main library here in town. If only I could find one to buy for less than 250 bucks, I could study it at leisure. I call it a textbook because, as you can see from the size of it, it could certainly be the text of study for an entire course on knitting. Some ancillaries would be Vogue Knitting's "Ultimate Knitting Book," Barbara G. Walker's Treasuries, Montse Stanley's Knitter's Handbook, and many others. Let me know what books you think should be added to this list of college-course-worthy study.

The next couple of books up are all about garment construction, whether for the study of ethnic garments or for period costume. Then you see a book that I just had to buy recently, and that's saying a lot since I am really working on a tight budget these days. Nancy Marchant's book Knitting Brioche is packed with beautiful projects for learning this intriguing form of knitting. Here--read Clara Parkes' review if you don't believe me. I recently made a brioche hat (badly) and have started another one to try and grasp this technique. I'll show you those efforts in another post.

Just on top of that book is a beautiful magazine that I have passed over many times at the newsstand because I mistakenly assumed that it was just a sewing mag. So wrong I was! Selvedge is not only a feast for all types of fiber enthusiasts, it is very artfully done. Very inspiring. I'm trying to find room in my budget for a subscription.

Then at last you see on top of the pile a couple of books about hand sewing, garment construction, and the like. I am trying to give myself a little instruction in these things in order to design better hand knits. So much to learn.

Meanwhile, I'd better get back to work on trying to finish up my Global Cable Coat. I am on the second sleeve, which is the last part. I figure I have at least eight hours of knitting ahead of me, but I get to spend those hours with the fragrant, rustic Irish wool of Kerry Woollen Mills. Nice.

Thanks for the comments last time! Drop me a note and let me know of any other books and periodicals I should be studying. I'm not comfortable unless there are stacks of them "junking up the place."