Zimmermania

Did you know there is a blog called Zimmermania?  This is a blog dedicated to all of the 'unventings' of Elizabeth Zimmermann, or EZ.

The latest post is regarding the new book, Knit One Knit All, which is full of Elizabeth's garter stitch designs.  I love the hat on the cover, the Chambered Nautilus Tam.  That is the first project from this book that I am going to be knitting!  There are lots of other great patterns; if you are an EZ fan, I recommend adding this book to your knitting library!

Knit Simple Fall 2011

Hot off the press!  The latest issue just came today!

Lots of stuff to win with this issue.  To name a couple, you can win a cover kit, which is some Shepherd Bulky from Lorna's Laces to knit the beanie designed by Faith Hale.

Win some Kool-Aid, a skein of yarn and some Eucalan wash along with a neck warmer pattern to dye your own yarn!  I absolutely love dying yarn with Kool-Aid!  I have done this a number of times; it's so much fun, and you don't have to worry about any hazardous chemicals while dying.

You can also win Tulip's Carry C interchangeable needle set. The set has eleven pairs of bamboo needle tips (US sizes 3-13) with the cables.

Q and A with Jil Eaton - Instructions on how to knit a stitch in the row below.  Her answer contains instructions for knitting the Bee Stitch, which is a very lovely stitch.

Lots of gorgeous patterns, including:

• Turtleneck Cowl designed by  Lori Steinberg and knit with Artyarns' Supermerino
• Hooded Cardigan for a college bound (or not!)  girl, designed by John Brinegar and knit with Montana by Tahki Yarns/Tahki Stacy Charles
• Men's Hoodie for the college bound (or not) guy, designed by Dorcas Sokolow and knit with Berroco's Vintage Chunky

There are also some patterns that combine crochet and knit, such as  a beret designed by Patty Nance and knit with Northampton by Valley Yarns  (I have some of this in my stash to make a cabled blanket designed by Melissa Leapman, and it's very nice yarn!)

If you are interested in dying yarn with Kool-Aid, here is a video demonstrating the process:

If you would like to learn the Bee Stitch, you can find the written pattern HERE, and below is a video demonstrating this stitch

Sapphires-N-Purls Podcast: Episode 11

Episode 11 is up and running.  You can find links to the magazines I talk about in the magazine tab at the top of the blog, with the exception of the Baby Knits Collection.  I couldn't find a link anywhere for this magazine, sorry.

The Books:
Power Cables by Lily Chin
The Gossamer Webs Design Collection: Three Orenburg Shawls to Knit by Galina Khmeleva
Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls by Martha Waterman
Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd

The Yarn:
Butterfly Super 10 Mercerized Cotton Yarn from Mouzakis
Sublime Bamboo Pearls DK Yarn
Araucania Azapa  (And I say that I don't know what the colors are of this yarn, because there is just a number on the tag... color names are given on Jimmy Bean's website.  Duh!)
Cascade Ultra Pima 

The Cool Knitting Tools:
Addi Turbo Circular Stitch Holders
Susan Bates Handi Tool

New EZ Book: Knit One Knit All

I don't know how this one slipped past my "New Knitting Book Radar", but it did.

This is a book of unpublished patterns from Elizabeth Zimmermann - all done in garter stitch! Just released in May of this year, patterns include sweaters, vests, hats, baby items, sideways gloves, jackets, knitted clogs and lots more.

I love the hat on the cover!!!  I have some yarn that I have been wanting to make a hat with, but haven't been able to find a pattern that I liked, or that seems appropriate for the yarn.  I think this one on the cover is "it"!  I have also been thinking of knitting myself a vest, so another reason for getting this book.  And I was just talking to my sister the other day about knitted clogs.  I'd say this book is definitely what I have been waiting for and didn't even know it.  I didn't think twice about ordering this when I saw it this morning.

If you are an EZ fan, you may want to add this book to your library.  I will review it once I have it in my grubby little hands, so be sure to come back in a couple of weeks.  Yay!