Book Review: Entrelac

Whenever a designer comes to the Brooklyn Fiber Arts Guild, I try to purchase the book they are promoting.  Sometimes I purchase it at the event or othertimes I'll get it ahead of time.  This month I am very glad I purchased this one ahead of time.  I've been having such a great time learning to knit entrelac...it was so easy with this book.

So what's the book you ask?  It's Entrelac: The Essential Guide to Interlace Knitting by Rosemary Drysdale.  This book is everything a knitter could ask for in an instructional book.  It's 3-in-1!  First, of course, is the learn to knit entrelac section.  The many many photographs and very simple instructions made this a quick learning experience for me.

Next section- Why, it's a stitch dictionary!  Now that I know how entrelac is accomplished, I can experiement with the many different stitches Rosemary includes in the book.  They give you a chance to take it just a step further and they create some interesting textures.

The last section of course has patterns.  And these aren't just the typical unflattering entrelac sweaters or dishcloths.  Oooohhh no!

There's this amazing grey/black/white vest that I'm dying to make as soon as possible (you know, after all those other UFOs are finished).

There are a couple of patterns that I don't like in here though.  The socks.  They just....well, Rachel from the Guild said it best- no one should knit entrelac socks unless they want to have cankles.  Yea, I'm going to have to agree here.  I do like the

Then there's the Edwardian Coat.  I actually really like the pattern, just not the choice of yarn.  I like the striping on the sleeves and at the waist, but I don't like the way the entrelac squares stripe.  It's just too much for me.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book!  With flying colors!!!  Here a peak at the entrelac I've been working on/learning with since I got the book:

There will be a post on this project at some point in the future...it's made with some very special yarn :o)

Another entrelac project I'm planning?  A leftover sock yarn baby blanket.  Since you'll have lots of ends to weave in either way (as long as you're using different colors at least), might as well use up those odds and ends!  First I have to knit more socks so I have more leftover yarn!

Want to purchase the book?  Here's a direct Amazon link:

Etsy Shop Opening this Week!

So I'm finally buckling down and opening my Etsy shop.  I started developing it forever ago but really have not had the time to actually make anything to sell.  I've made stitch markers and just never photographed them.  Last week I started making some project bags.

It's been pretty cloudy here lately so my pictures are not exactly what I would have wanted, but they show the product well and the colors are pretty close.

For the shop, I'm going to offer products here first with a discount before listing them in the shop.  The following items will be listed in the shop on Friday, but if you purchase them by Thursday here- free shipping!  And who doesn't love free shipping? :o)

First, the project bags:

Kimono Flowers Project Bag

Pink Bunny Project Bag

 And now for the stitch markers

Blue Gems Entwined Stitch Markers

Green Gems Entwined Stitch Markers

Jade Dragons Stitch Markers

Pink Crystal Heart Stitch Markers

Purple Gems Entwined Stitch Markers

To save everyone some viewing time since pictures take quite a while to load on webpages, all of the items are listed in detail on the Products Page of the blog.  There are lots of photos of each of the items.  To see more information, pictures, prices, or to purchase anything, please visit the Products Page on the blog.  Items for sale are first come, first serve.

And remember, the donation incentives for Kayleigh's Krew will be going on until April 30th!

Kayleigh's Krew - Donation Incentives

Donation incentives are here!  I'm starting small and as more donations come through, I'll add more prizes.

Here's how it's going to work.  For every dollar donated, you will have one entry.  Basically, if you donate $10, you have 10 entries.

I'm starting with one prize as of right now.  More are waiting though for when more people donate!  Right now I'm offering up these two items I've made as one prize together.

First, this project bag.  The bag has a deep blue background with a teal print of paisley.  I love paisley :o).

The bag measures about 13 inches wide by 16 inches tall (13 1/2 inches from bottom to drawstring).  In the photos, the bag is holding my Sodera Socks 2 at a time on a 60 inch needle (that's 100 grams of Little Traveler yarn) plus instructions, pens, small notions holder, and a small hand lotion bottle.  There's still plenty of room left too!

The second half of this prize is these matching blue stitch markers.  This set contains 3 small markers and 1 large heart shaped marker.  These kinds of sets are great for working in the round- the one different marker shows the start of your round while the others are great for marking increase/decrease locations or side "seams".

These stitch markers will fit up to a size US 10 (6mm) comfortably and a US 10 1/2 (6.5mm) snuggly.

The Drawing
Kayleigh's Krew will be walking for March for Babies on Sunday, May 1.  Officially, the last day to donate is April 30th.  If donations are allowed to go through on May 1st I will still accept them.  I just don't want to say May 1st just in case donations close the day before the walk.  Don't wait until last minute!  Donate as soon as you can.  The more donations we receive, the more prizes I will add!

After the walk, I will be using the Random Number Generator from Random.org to pick a number.  If you'd like to see what numbers your donations are (and check out your competition!), check out the GoogleDoc.

If enough is raised to meet my goal, I will definitely be raising it!  My goal right now is $100 but I'm really hoping to raise more than that, with everyone's help of course!

To make your donation, please visit my personal fundraising page.  To read a little about Kayleigh, visit the Kayleigh's Krew homepage.  When you donate, make sure you do it though my fundraising page so you cna be entered into the donation incentive drawing.  If you donate through the team's page, it will not show up on my page and I will not be able to enter you into the drawing.  Make sure you leave an email address in your message so that I can contact you if you are a winner!  And don't forget:  all the money from the sales of the Kayleigh Preemie Hat will also be donated to March for Babies through our team!