It’s been a busy few weeks since I’ve been home from TNNA. I was SO wiped out and full of pain at the end of my trip, but I’m overjoyed at the positive effect my bike riding has had on my muscle and joint pain. The heat here in Minnesota was terrible last week, but biking 10 miles in the heat works wonders on deep rooted joint and muscle pain.
Having said that, the heat wave’s lifted here in the Twin Cities with my full approval, and to celebrate I rode 25 miles on Saturday and 14 miles Monday.
If I’m not biking, I’m knitting. If I’m not knitting or biking, I’m editing patterns for History on Two Needles or getting swatches together for the online class I’ll be shooting this Summer. Life is extremely busy.
Monday, June 9th, was the last day of my Kickstarter Fundraiser for History on Two Needles, and I’m absolutely overwhelmed with the positive and loving reaction I’ve received from the knitting community (and the micro funding community at large!)
It’s such a boost to have the positive reinforcement, and gives me great push as I work through the details of the book. When I look at all the work that is yet to be done I can get overwhelmed, breaking it down bit by bit makes it easier. Support from friends makes it seem possible!
To celebrate, I’ll be giving away a bunch of great books and items I received at TNNA over the next few weeks. Knitting’s only made better by sharing, and the same is certainly true for books!
(Chrysanthemum frutescens socks)
The Knitter’s Curiosity Cabinet
20 Patterns Inspired by Vintage Botanical Illustrations
by Hunter Hammersen
This is a beautiful book. If you love interesting, repeating patterns and gorgeous photography, this is a book you MUST have.
The inspiration for the book is the Victorian ‘curiosity cabinet’ – repository of interesting little tidbits from the world at large – and botanical drawings of the same period which portray that same enchantment with nature.
There are more sock patterns than anything else, which is absolutely fine. I find the motifs themselves are worth the price of admission (which, I admit, was free for me…) but they’re engaging, fun to knit up (I already cast on a swatch of Chrysanthemum Frutescens just to try out the pattern used in the socks of the same name)
When I read the pattern names I half broke out in a cold sweat with a flashback to a failed botany final; Rubus suberectus, Rosa rubiginosa, Loasa lateritia are just a few of the pattern names that carry the natural history theme through the book.
I was sent this book to review, and before it arrived I idly wondered, “Should I give it away, or should I keep it?”
I’m keeping this one!
But I’m giving a copy away to someone here on my blog – just leave a comment with the name of your favorite floral embellishment; it can be as simple as ‘rosebud’ or as complex as ‘gladiolus caryophyllaceus’, every comment will count and I’ll draw one winner at random on Sunday.
Hmmm… that’s hard to narow the options! In real life I love Gerber Daisies as a cut flower and I love big multi-flowered Hydrangea bushes. But I think I would pick crocus… so small yet so pretty! And they come up early when you’re just dying for a sign of Spring’s coming. My favorite embellishment is floss and ribbon embroidery and I think a hyacinth would be lovely with ribbon for petals and stems and floss french knot centers…
I’ve had my eye on the “Chrysanthemum frutescens socks” pattern since the first time I saw it! Hunter has done it again… what beautiful desings!
I’ll put a plug in for the Columbine, which is a flower with spunk. Every year wild Columbines bloom around my house in the spring, cheering me with a promise of the summer to come. Somehow some large cultivated Columbines have found their way to my gardens as well – the word must be out that they are very welcome around here.
Thanks to you and Hunter for an inspiring giveaway! I have her Silk Road Socks, and it is a marvelous book. This book looks to be at least as good.
Hydrangeas remind me of my grandmother, who had them massed around the base of her house. Moving from the swamps of Houston to the NorthEast I learned to love the first hyacinths poking their heads up, but overall I’d have to say that tulips are my favorite flower. Just simple plain red tulips.
I like tulips, although I haven’t seen them on a pattern yet. There is this one jacket pattern that has vines up the back and pretty leaves on it.
The crocus vernus socks are great.
The name Lilium martagon comes to mind. I cross-stitched it many long years ago & remember thinking at the time my embellishment needed embellishing, so I added a few touches of gold metallic floss. After getting it back from the frame shop, I enjoyed it a few days, then gave it away. It was recently gifted back to me as the recipient could no longer keep it. My craft room is now adorned with lilium m. (Sounds like an actress, doesn’t it?) Funny how sometimes what goes around, comes around.
I adore old fashioned roses. The David Austin kind.
There are so many possibilities but if I must pick one, I will say nothing beats a sunflower
I’m particular to the Chrysanthemum Frutescens socks. I made a big,floppy daisy that I felted and sewed it onto a felted knitting bag as an embellishment-though 8 can’t say it was my favorite.
I guess many consider the dandelion a weed, but I love it as a floral embellishment! Thanks for the contest- this book is full of great designs I’d like to make.
I love lavender flowers, they make everything smell so good and purple is my favourite colour 🙂
I love leaves!
I have always loved marigolds. They’re just so sunny and bright. 🙂
How generous — and of course I’d love it! I have
Her Silk Road Socks book and I am sure this next
Book of hers is equally fabulous!
This is an amended post – pls delete my first one ! I forgot
to add my favorite floral embellishment and
have to say rosebud — I’m mad about roses and still
remember people’s reaction when I carried long stem
roses at my wedding instead of a bouquet!
I love the Texas blue bonnets and Indian paint brushes of spring before the summer heat takes it’s toll on my pastures.
I have to say orchids. Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
passion flowers are beautiful!
The book is great.
Rosa gallica damascena; damask rose.
Daylilies, short lived but glorious.
Sweet William Pinks(Dianthus) and Batchelor Buttons(Centaurea cyanus) are my favorites. Wish they weren’t the bunnies favorites too!
Acanthus! William Morris? Alanis Morissette? Acanthus!
I love the narcissus pattern on the Pseudo Narcissus sock!
Pansies are my all time favorite because they’re so dainty and gorgeous when embroidered. But I also have a special place for the Star Of Bethlehem!
I love carnations and I must say the patterns in this book are beautiful!
Violet!
Aquilegia vulgaris. I love this flower.
Huzzah for less pain.
The silvery catkins of pussy willow say ‘spring’ to me.
My nasturtiums just started blooming this week, so they’re my favorite right now. They make a lovely bright orange or yellow embellishment to a green salad and add a yummy peppery flavor to the salad.
Such glorious illustrations-thank you for sharing!
ETA: Sweet peas are my favorite!
I’m not sure about embellishment but pansies and iris are my two favorite flowers….
My all time favorite is the lilac, it brings good childhood memories when I used to pick them and bring them to my mom. And of course, like many, the good old fashioned rose.
We moved and spring brought an astonishing variety of flowers in our b/y.Two of the roses and all four tulips are faves, if forced to choose–they sing together in a big glass vase. Thanks for the info on this book, Annie.
Echinacea purpurea – my favorite flower. drought tolerant, blooms last forever, and the birds eat the seeds in the autumn.
I love acanthus leaves in patterns.
I love the the big blooms and bright colors of Gerbera daisies!
I love tulips in real life, though they can be a bit simple when translated onto paper or a flat knit.
The Rosa Mundi rose, hands down. Love the way the colors appear on the individual petals. Fun to embroider!
Daffodils, first flower of spring. And they have a lovely subtle scent. Lilacs and peonies are right up there on the scent scale too.
My tastes are simple, I guess. In knitting, I’m drawn to any leaf motif.
DAFFODILS! And I’m itching to get to knitting more socks after a few sweaters and many pairs of baby booties!
I love leaves.
Lilac, Lilac, Lilac! Magnolia and Bougainvillea with runners up distinction.
I love lilacs for their fragrance but lily of the valley can be knit as well as smelling lovely.
Calla lillies are my favorite. If only I could figure out how to capture them in yarn….
I love tulips and peonies. And iris and white hydrangeas. But I love to knit leaves….
Vines!
Daisies do it for me! (This book is a pure delight.)
I love leaves, fern fronds, things that swoop and swirl rather than take sharp turns.