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wooh ... it sure has been a long time since I last posted (and about that, sorry! It has been hideous here, but I am not making any more excuses -- I will try to fit in at least a weekly blog from now on!).

Lemme see, what have I been doing?

I got a few new knitting books, so that's what the next few blog posts will be about.

I got "One Ball Knits: Gifts" because I am often lured in by a pretty skein of yarn, buy one ball (so as to break the spell of the pretty yarn) and then realize that I have no idea what to knit from it. There are a lot of lonely single skeins around my home, and I want to declutter! And if I end up with a few nifty things for me, or a nice Christmas present in the process, all the more reason to have the book!

I own a couple of books that feature patterns for knits from one skein or ball or yarn ... and to be frank, most of them feature quite a few patterns that make me think "why would anyone ever knit that?". So I was a bit worried that this book would have a bunch of those kinds of patterns ... it has one or two patterns that make me think that (but really, its a personal taste thing ... I am not one to use knitting as a table accessory, and its unlikely I will use starch! And the idea of covering a vase with a knitted slipcover doesn't do anything for me either, but again, it is a personal taste thing!).

Overall, I really like the book ... it has a section that talks about the importance of handmade gifts (which warmed my heart - I love to make and receive handmade gifts :) ), as well as a section that talks about yarn weights, knitting techniques and tools you will need for the projects ... and one of the tools is a conversion chart for knitting needles sizes (US and metric) -- I am always looking for one!

Then there are the patterns! The patterns really, really excited me! All sorts of useful items to make and give -- coasters, tea cosy, hot water bottle cover, pillows, an earflap hat, scarf, gloves, and a bunch of felted projects (laptop bag, slippers, knitting needle roll) and the most adorable baby sweater I've seen in a long time :)

The book jacket promises "20 stylish designs made with one single ball, skein, hank or spool" ... and I can definitely see myself knitting 15 - 18 of the 20 patterns provided. The yarns used are all common ones that people to pick up - Noro, Blue Sky Alpaca, Crystal Palace Panda Cotton, Brown Sheep Lambs Pride, Bernat satin Sport, Berrocco Comfort, Patons Classic Wool, Brown Sheep Nature Spun and BS Nature Spun Worsted, Austerman Step Classic Sock, Lion Brand Baby Soft ... all of these yarns are common in stashes, or easy to substitute -- and the authors provide yardage and weight for substitution yarns for every pattern!! So very helpful! :)

I can see that this book will be used a lot ... it is a good find!