LoopyKnits

Forget trick-or-treating (well, except for snorkling up the bite-size Snicker bars from your children’s candy bags). Just get on over to your local knit shop or bookstore to treat yourself to a sleek new knitting book. Here’s what’s new this month:

• Glam Knits: 25 Designs for Luxe Yarns by Stefanie Japel (Paperback - Oct 29, 2008)

(Note: This was blogged in advance; by now, there may be more new knitting books coming out this month. - cb)

Just a quick update — look for this new knitting guide to hit bookstores this month:

• Picture Perfect Knits by Chronicle Books LLC Staff (Paperback - Sep 1, 2008)

Now aren’t you glad you stopped by?

(Note: This was blogged in advance; by now, there may be more new knitting books coming out this month. - cb)

Oh, August. I’m already smiling at you because it’s back-to-school time and my children are at big changing points in their lives; one is starting her last year of elementary school, and the other is starting her first year of college. (That, plus I get to do a whole lotta shopping for school supplies; although I hate the crowds, I do love to sift through all the stacks of papers and pencils and other crisp goodies piled on the shelves.) And now, dear August, you deepen my shile by bringing me new knitting books to ponder. Aren’t you thoughtful! Love you, August!

Here’s what’s hitting the bookstores this month:

• The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting: Learn to Knit with More Than 30 Cool, Easy Patterns by Nancy Queen and Mary Ellen O’Connell (Paperback - Aug 5, 2008)
• Shibori Knits: The Art of Exquisite Felted Knits by Gina Wilde (Hardcover - Aug 26, 2008)

(Note: This was blogged in advance; by now, there may be more new knitting books coming out this month. - cb)

See these nifty knitted toys, art projects, and “for the hell of it” knits:

• Heart, brain, and guts in delicately fuzzy yarn
• Wonder Woman costume
• Weird knitted body suits in ads
• Polka-dotted hot water bottle cover
• Adorable felted wool jewelry

This site has gathered a handful of cool knitting projects that celebrate all you love about video games: http://www.ripten.com/2008/02/03/improve-your-hand-eye-coordination-with-nine-knit-game-projects/

My favorite: the Magnetic Katamari Ball.

Knittistas, you’ll want to check out the Starving Crafter blog. The site gathers info on the latest contests for artists, crafters, designers, and makers. You got the knitting chops to compete?

Yeah, I thought you did.