Books! Books! Books!

Just wanted to share a few good books that I recently picked up and some that have been around for a while.

A great section on types of fiber (cellulose, protein, manufactured) and the science of fibers followed by a myriad of spinning techniques. Judith MacKenzie is great!

The author presents an impressive amount of info on the knitters of the Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers' Co-operative in Alaska along with their beautiful lace patterns. The book also gives a history of native Alaskians and how the Oomingmak knitters helped the economy of their small towns. The book also talks about the musk oxen of Alaska and its exquisite rare fiber, qiviut. (My dear brother brought me two ounces of qiviut yarn along with a pattern for a lace hat from the Oomingmak Co-op in Anchorage...that will be a special knit project :-)

This comprehensive encyclopedia has a great section on dye plants and the dye process. It also has a nice listing of herbs for dyeing. A wealth of information.

Socks, socks, socks along with good descriptions of various cast-ons, increases, decreases, and other basic sock instruction. I want to knit just about every pair in this book.

Like the Oomingmak knitters in the Arctic Lace book shown above, the Swedish Bohus tradition and its 400+ designs allowed women to supplement their income during the depression in the 1930's and help their local economy. The designs presented here are incredible. Along with the beautiful patterns and color work outlined in the book, Wendy Keele explains how the women from southwestern Sweden produced a variety of knitted garments in fine multicolored angora-blend yarns.

Color in Spinning is loaded with info, techniques, and instruction on blending colored fibers with various blending tools, painting roving, and spinning and plying multicolored fibers. Lots of colorful pictures.

More socks! From whimsical to practical. I want to knit all of these too!

This 60-page booklet is a great 'how to' reference. Lot of good information about mordants, various natural dye materials, and dye recipes.

"When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes."
Desiderius Erasmus (a Dutch humanist and theologian: 1466 - 1536)