Bibliography
Here is a slightly snarky bibliography in 3 parts. I will continue to add to this as time goes by and I read more books
Part 1 – Books that are about knitting/spinning
Part 2 – Books that mention knitting/spinning
Part 3 – Other books that I happen to find interesting.
Part 1
Gibson-Roberts, Priscilla and Deborah Robson. Knitting in the Old Way. Fort Collins: Nomad, 2004. This is not a book of pretty pictures. This is a book full of information and a great place for people with imagination to jump off from. It has designs and techniques from a variety of places and cultures to pick and choose from.
Gardiner, Kay and Ann Shyne. Mason Dixon Knitting. New York: Potter Craft, 2006. Great pictures, fabulous patterns (really, I want to knit every single one, even the curtain), and hilarious prose.
Hansel, Alison. Charmed Knits. Wiley, 2007. This is a nice pattern book with some good solid patterns, but lots of stripes.
Taylor, Kathleen. Yarns to Dye for. Loveland: Interweave, 2005. This is a great how-to book on how to make self patterning yarn.
Vogue Knitting eds, Vogue Knitting. New York: Sixth & Spring, 2002. If you only own one book this is the one to own. This has a little bit of everything, perfect for the beginner or the expert.
Vogel, Lynne. The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook. Colorado: Interweave, 2002. I love this book. It has great ideas on dying, spinning and sock knitting, three of my favorite things. I learned to “handpaint” roving using this book (and a class by Lynne herself).
Singer, Amy R. No Sheep for You. Colorado: Interweave, 2007. Written with wit and clarity, this book is a great guide for all those non-wooly fibers, with a great treatise on why swatching is really a good thing and some patterns.
Part 2
Gabaldon, Diana. Voyager. New York: Random House, 1994. In which a character named Jenny is found knitting woolen stocking in 1765.
Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. New York: Random House, 2003. In which a healer knits as she waits by her patient. There is also a dragon and rider.
Rankin, Ian. Let it Bleed. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996. In which Detective Inspector John Rebus who must drink copiously to sleep finds a yarn shop and has a moment of peace, while in the middle of an investigation of murder and suicide.
Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. New York: Scholastic, 1997. A book in which Hagrid, a half giant, knits what looks like a giant yellow circus tent on a train and hand knit sweaters are given as Christmas gifts, among other things.
Part 3
Codell, Esme Raji. Educating Esme, Diary of a Teacher’s First Year. North Carolina: Algonquin Books, 1999. This book is pretty self explainitory. I bought this book (at full price) on a whim once and have been so glad I did. It is a harsh look at the world of teaching written with compassion.
Gabaldon, Diana. Dragonfly in Amber. New York: Random House, 1992. The continuing adventures of Jamie and Claire, still waiting for some mention of spinning, but a great story all the same. Make sure you have the next book in the series at hand when you finish
