Summertime KAL and Book Group Picks

Summertime KAL and Book Group Picks

Book Group Titles

So far this year we’ve read The Woman Behind Little Women, The Bolter and Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.

May 15th: The Heroine’s Bookshelf

I love, love, love this book!

It’s a little gem. Each chapter is devoted to a life lesson the author learned from a particular favorite book. We learn about each writer's life & specific book, then Blakemore gently intersperses bits about her own life into the narrative to demonstrate how this book enriched her life.

My favorite elements were learning about each writer. I had no idea that L.M. Montgomery suffered so from depression or actually didn't die of heart failure, but took her own life. How Collette's heroine shared many similarities to her own life; the tragic last years of Nora Zeale Hurston's life, and just how secretive Margaret Mitchell was about her writing. Each chapter ends with lovely little bullet points on "when to read this book" and other "literary sisters" to read. This is a great way to explore new authors, or revisit favorite authors from years gone by.

A fantastic, absolutely charming gift for any well-read woman.  This type of book gets lost in that in big bookstores but here I’ll always have shelf space and a stack. I love it that much.

Next title for Jun 12th:

Chrysalis: Maria Sibylla Merian and the Secrets of Metamorphosis

Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) was a 17th century painter-naturalist who specialized in studying the “metamorphosis” of butterflies and insects. From the age of thirteen she collected worms and insects to study and document their life cycle (much to the dismay of her mother), then she published her works in gorgeous books as an adult.

It’s rare to discover a successful female artist in this time period, but a self-taught female naturalist is an even rarer bird. This was the era that believed bugs and caterpillars spontaneously emerged from mud. All except Maria . . . she knew better. This biography explores this fascinating women who was way ahead of her time in terms of scientific discoveries and entrepreneurial endeavors.

 

She’s been a favorite of mine for years and I was thrilled when this book was published. Very little is out there about Merian (unless you can read German or Russian) so this is a welcome addition to my library. I devoured it and look forward to re-reading it for our June Book Group. It’s well-written in an accessible style that paints a vivid portrait of Merian and her at times unconventional life (teenage naturalist, successful painter/printmaker, business woman, divorcee, explorer).

 

Knitting for Japan

March found me obsessively checking updates on the situation in Japan. Weeks later it still feels like a dream. Of course now it’s fallen off the headlines as the media’s attention has moved on to next story. But I can’t forget. Sitting in the shop I wondered how can I do something . . anything to help (besides quickly placing reorders for more Noro yarns for the shop). Thanks to the Mason-Dixon gal I’ve got an idea. Let’s have a knit-along.

I’m officially launching a Summertime Mitered Crosses Blanket Knit-Along. Kay Gardiner designed a new pattern especially to help raise funds for Mercy Corps and the Japanese desperately needing emergency relief right now. You can purchase directly from their website via paypal for $5, or head over to Ravelry to buy it, then queue it up.

I downloaded the pattern and of course immediately cast on. It’s a simple hybrid of mitered squares and log-cabin technique. Any size yarn will do – even sock yarn for a smaller baby sized version. It’s also nicely portable – perfect for knitting during hot summer months. You knit up a pile of squares and assemble later.

Each square takes about 1/2 a ball (55yds) of Noro Kureyon and double that for the border color (100yds). A full sized blanket (10-12 squares 40x52”) takes about 6-5 balls Noro Kureyon and 1000-1200 yds of border color. But it’s easily sized down for a smaller, lap blanket size.

I love how it looks with an assortment of Kureyon color ways. Using the same background color unifies the whole. If you don’t have enough of any single color then just make fewer squares. Or how about felting them into a bag placemats? The pattern yields endless possibilities.

It’s now the #1 pattern on Ravelry with over 300 in progress.   A few of my favorites: LarissaBrown, knitpenny KayGardiner & lily. There’s also a whole Ravelry Mitered Crosses Group - an excellent place to get tips and tricks.  It’s a great way to bust some stash and knit some solidarity with our Pacific neighbors across the ocean.

Recently someone from Mercy Corps actually contacted Kay to find out why she keeps making regular weekly contributions. Needless to say they were stunned to hear that a knitting pattern has generated $13,000 in donations in just six weeks. Never underestimate the power of needles and yarn!

So dig through your stash and drop by on Sundays this summer to knit along with me.