Stitching in the Stacks: A Review

Stitching in the Stacks: Librarian-Inspired Knits, edited by Sarah Barbour, begins with a foreword by Jessamyn West. No, not the author Jessamyn West, who has been dead for thirty years, but the very-much-alive librarian Jessamyn West. (Full disclosure: I've had some online interaction with Jessamyn West, as she and I are both longtime active members of the MetaFilter community, which she also used to moderate.) Her foreword speaks of how difficult it can be for a librarian to keep her or his body temperature at a comfortable level in a library, where there are many staff and visitors as well as the books and the server to consider, and says that it is for this reason that the twinset is such a librarian cliché. I can believe it, especially when I consider that the branch of the Toronto Public Library nearest to me, which is a tiny storefront, has its checkout desk set so close to the front door that I feel guilty whenever I enter or exit the library in hot or cold weather. Those at the desk get another blast of hot or cold air whenever the door opens, and it's constantly being opened. The librarians who sit there are always properly sweatered in cold weather. Jessamyn West also writes that a lot of librarians knit. Again, this is no surprise given that the librarians at my local library all knit, and that knitters are generally a very literate and literary crowd. And given all the librarian memes and stereotypes (at least ten of which occur to me immediately), a librarian-themed collection of knitting patterns seems like a great idea. It has a lot of scope and is sure to find an appreciative audience of book-loving knitters.

And speaking of book-loving knitters, I have an e-copy of this book to give away. Visit this blog's Facebook page before Sunday, December 14th at 10 pm EST for a chance to win a copy of Stitching in the Stacks.

Let's take a look at the 28 patterns in this book now.

Belle Greene Shawl. This shawl was named after Belle da Costa Greene, a librarian who was instrumental in creating what is now known as the Morgan Library and Museum, and who sounds so fascinating I'm adding her to my list of subjects to read up on. This shawl, which is lovely, uses two lace patterns that were popular in the Gilded Age when Belle began her career.

Hypatia. This top was named after the last librarian of the Great Library of Alexandria. I like the openwork texture, and this item would make a useful summer cover up. The cropped length isn't for every woman, but it would be a simple matter to lengthen it.

Man of Letters. This vest was named for Ben Franklin, founder of America's first lending library. I'm divided on this one. I very much like the letter motif, but don't care much for the shaping, which looks a little odd and unfinished, and I can't imagine even the most sartorially liberal men of my acquaintance wearing this piece. I think I'd be mostly like to use this pattern by borrowing the letter charts to combine with the style used in another pattern.

Ranganathan's Mitts. These mitts are named for and inspired by S.R. Ranganathan, a librarian and mathematician whose Five Laws of Library Science are considered basic principles of modern library science. Two of the laws appears on the back of these fingerless mitts, which have a clean, striking design, are well-shaped, can be knitted in either a male or female version, and also lend themselves to filing and shelving. Very probably S.R. Ranganathan would have approved. In a sidebar, the book also offers a helpful article on incorporating typography into knitwear.

Carnegie Vest. This vest, of course, is named for Andrew Carnegie, a self-educated and very wealthy man who used his self-made fortune to found many public libraries in the United States. I quite like this vest, which is a modern take on a classic men's look. One can make basic stripes look new and interesting by varying the width of the stripes and using a great colourway, and that's what's been done here.

Book Woman Jacket. Very much like this design, which was named in honour of the Pack Horse Librarian Project, the U.S. government's solution to creating jobs for women and getting books into rural areas during the thirties and forties. The idea of a horseback-riding librarian sounds like something out of a John Wayne movie — if the Duke had ever been smart or cool enough to match wits with a librarian. This jacket is very well-shaped (love the sit of the collar), has great texture, and looks like it would look well worn open, which tends to be a problem with double-breasted styles. Do make sure you knit it the right size for the intended wearing, as seeing it pull open a little as it does on this model detracts somewhat.

Gotham City Twinset. This twinset is named after fictional librarian Barbara Gordon, AKA Batgirl. I'm liking the concept of a short-sleeved pullover with a matching capelet, but I don't know if I like this particular example. The proportions used here don't work together all that well and the resulting look with its two horizontal lines isn't too flattering.

Ms. Paroo sweater. This design was named for Marian Paroo, the librarian from The Music Man. Not a fan of this one. The pockets and the gathered sleeves give it a fussy, frumpy look.

Bunny Watson. This piece designed as an homage to Katherine Hepburn's role in the 1957 movie Desk Set. I like the vest, which is well-shaped and has a nice design touch in the form of a half-belt in the back, and I can definitely see Katharine Hepburn wearing it. For a role, that is, because in real life Kate Hepburn never gave a damn about looking well-dressed.

Aurora Teagarden skirt. This skirt was named for the librarian and heroine of Charlaine Harris's mystery novels. It's a lovely and very wearable skirt. This particular colour scheme isn't doing it for me but I am enjoying imagining this piece in all the many other colour schemes that would suit it.





Mystery Novel Cover. If you've been wanting to try illusion knitting, this design might be both the perfect starter project and a good way to tell the rowdy group at the library study table next to yours to pipe down a little.

Name of the Rose Vest. This piece bears the name of the Umberto Eco mystery novel about a mad, book-eating monk, and this vest is intended to be a modern take on the monk's habit, with cabled detailing meant to reference the Book of Kells. I do like the cabled detailing, but this needs better shaping and detailing.

Party Girl. This pretty, lacy snood is named for the 1996 movie, Party Girl. Is the snood coming back? [Checks Ravelry's pattern database.] Hmm, seems like it might be back already, and I am not against it as it does seem to look fetching on some women. Not on me, alas. If I put one of these on I'd look like a high school cafeteria lunch lady of the meanest and most miserable order.

Dewey Decimal Hat. This hat features the Dewey decimal number for knitting (746.43, as if you didn't know!). Super cute idea, and a cute little cap.

Jessamyn Mitts. These mitts, as you might have guessed, are inspired by Jessamyn West (again, the one who is alive and a librarian and wrote the foreword, not the dead one). They're good design. The ribbed cuffs fit well and the detail on the back of the hands is pretty and interesting.

Oranges and Peaches shawl. This pretty spiral shawl's name references a (hopefully apocryphal?) story of the reference librarian who is trying to help a student find a requested book, Orange and Peaches, for his biology class. Now you get to play reference librarian for a minute and see if you can figure out what the title is supposed to be. Buy the Stitching in the Stacks book if you get stuck, as it has the answer.

Nancy Pearl Mitts. These mitts are named after another librarian, Nancy Pearl, who wrote the Book Lust series, is a regular commentator on NPR and has her own local television show. The mitts are very pleasant looking with a good shape and nice lace work.

Metadata Scarf and Cowl. This scarf and cowl again references the Dewey decimal number for knitting by coordinating its rows of colour to the numbers in 746.43. The result is a colour scheme that works well and has a pleasing texture.

Old Reed. This skirt uses the Reed College colours to pay tribute to its Gothic library. Can't say I care for this design. The pleats are too thick to lie well and pleats that don't sit right are terribly unflattering.

Open Book Cardigan. Very attractive cardigan. The texture's great and I especially like how nicely finished the edges are.

LOC Bookweight. This item was designed as a tool to keep books open. I'd rather use whatever's lying about on my desk than something like this, which would be another item to keep tidy and clean.

Study Session. An attractive pencil case for grown ups.

Coffee Press Cozy. This cozy features both the Dewey decimal number for coffee and the Library of Congress classification and will help keep the librarian in your life caffeinated. I love the colours used here.

Stereotypical. This is a pretty eyeglass case, but I don't find soft glass cases very practical as they leave spectacles vulnerable to being smashed. I'd want to adapt this to fit over a hard-sided eyeglass case.

Bibliort bookmark. I've always rather liked finding odd little things in library books that were left behind by previous readers, but I never knew those old bus tickets, receipts, cryptic post-it notes, shopping lists, and bookmarks had a name: bibliorts. This design is supposed to be a garter belt, supposedly left behind by a previous reader, which will leave one imagining the back story and wondering if there was a hip flask to go with it. It is a very fun idea, if a little too obtrusive a bookmark for me.

Ex Libris. Lovely and very witty cover for an e-reader.

Athena's Bookends. These are very prettily designed, but not terribly practical. Bookends need to be dusted regularly, and these would have to be washed several times a year.

Bookworm. How adorable is this bookwork? Every library should have one.

Green Gables Knits: A Review

This past November 30th was L.M. Montgomery's 140th birthday, and it reminded me that though I've previously done a L.M. Montgomery-related knitting post, I never did get around to reviewing Joanna Johnson's Green Gables Knits, which has been published since. So let's have a look at the patterns in it now.

This is Anne's Carpet Bag, which, as Montgomery fans will immediately realizes, is a tribute to the carpet bag in which Anne carried all her "worldly goods" as she travelled from the orphanage in Nova Scotia to Green Gables in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. It's a nice-looking bag with a good shape, and I love those handles. The colourway is not that attractive, but then of course it's been chosen to resemble something Anne might have carried. As a Montgomery devotee and general nitpicker, I will just comment that Anne should not have had a suitcase in the cover photo, as seen above. She arrived at Green Gables with only the carpetbag.

Anne's Sweater. I don't recall a single reference in any of the Anne books of Anne ever wearing a sweater (with the possible exception of the Christmas she received an ugly magenta sweater from Aunt Mary Maria Blythe in Anne of Ingleside), so this sweater is not directly referencing the text. But it's a nice open front cardigan and does look somewhat like a modern take on something Anne might have worn at some point in her life, especially in the Edwardian period of her life.

As an aside, can I just say how impressed I am with this photo? The pansy on this old book very possibly references the Pansy books mentioned in Anne of Green Gables (the Avonlea students read a Pansy book out loud to each other during recesses), Pansy being the pseudonym of Isabella Alden, who was a popular and prolific author of didactic fiction. That pansy on the book could be a coincidence of course, but I'm guessing it was an intentional reference, and if so that is some high level metatextual photography, so kudos for that.

Diana's Hat. Diana is described as wearing a "jaunty fur cap" in Anne of Green Gables, but that's not to say she mightn't have worn something similar to this cute cap at some point.

Gilbert's Scarf. We're on surer sartorial ground with this scarf of Gilbert's, as it looks like something he might well have worn. It's a handsome article with good texture.

Marilla's Apron. A carefully finished design, if perhaps more frivolous than anything Marilla might have worn. The lace pattern used here is almost too pretty for an apron. I'd be inclined to turn this into a skirt.

Matthew's Vest. Classic menswear design.

Miss Stacy's Shawl. A modern take on the capelet that will look well over many a contemporary outfit.

Rachel's Table Runner. Because you know Mrs. Rachel Lynde's immaculate house would have had the requisite supply of fancywork table linen as well as all those "cotton warp quilts". I can't imagine ever using something like this, but it is pretty enough.

Let it Snow Men

For today's post I've selected a number of snowman-themed knitting patterns. I do this partly in honour of my sister, who is Christmas crazy and especially likes snowman stuff. One of the items I bought for her for Christmas this year was a snowman clock, which plays a few measures of a Christmas carol every time it strikes the hour. (One does have the option of turning the carols off, and the clock automatically turns off the carols between midnight and 5 a.m.) I expect she'll either love it or hate it, which is a win either way. Anyway, let's have a look at the knitted snowman goodness I've picked out.

The above photo is of the Snowman Pillow, by Brenda K. B. Anderson. It's a free pattern.

This is the Snowman Tammy, designed by Sandra Jäger. It's well shaped and well charted. The pattern is available for €2.99(EUR). There is also a beanie version of this design.

This is the SnoBuddy Family, by Chris de Longpré. This little Snow family is weighted with beans so as to sit reliably upright, and they're guaranteed to get through the holiday season without a single brawl or spiked egg nog hangover. This pattern is available for $8.00(USD).

Update: I've made this little snow family myself, as a present for my sister. I used glass marbles to weight them instead of beans.

This is the Snowman Stocking, by Bernat Design Studio. It's guaranteed to stretch out so as to hold more Christmas goodies. It's a free pattern.

If you like the thought of snow that magically disappears without having to be shovelled, the Snowman Illusion Mittens, designed by Margit Sage, might be for you. This pattern is available for $1.99(USD).

These are the Snowmen Pot Holders, by Marilyn Wallace. It's a free pattern, and the outline design works so well it almost seems a shame to use it on mere pot holders. I'd be inclined to use the design to make pillows or a child's sweater.

The Snowman Hat for an Ice Princess, by Ewenique Yarns, is so cute it makes me smile. It would be perfect for a child. This pattern is available for $5.00(USD).

This snowman comes with his own little ice cave. The Snowman Diorama Ornament pattern, designed by Katie Startzman, is available for $4.50(USD).

I absolutely love this Mr. Abominable pattern, by Katie Boyette. You can hug him and love him and squeeze him and love him and he will be your very own and you can call him George! This pattern is available for $6.00(USD).

Outlandish Knits

So I finally got around to watching the time travel adventure/romance Starz series Outlander. I'd been reluctant to watch it because I've read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon (though only as far as a Breath of Snow and Ashes, as I found every book less compelling than the last and the whole "Jamie and Claire are both irresistibly attractive to every other character in the book and are having mind-blowing sex for the 3,348nd time on the nearest reasonably flat surface" thing was getting really old). I also don't usually care for filmed versions of books I've read. I'd rather watch something new than a simplified rehash of something I've already read. But then I ended up deciding I should watch the series in order to write about it for this blog because I saw so many online references to the knitwear.

I must say I enjoyed the show on the whole. It's been a long time since I read the books so the discrepancies didn't bother me too much. (A friend of mine who is an obsessive fan of the books says she can't watch the series at all though she has tried numerous times.) The show is beautifully produced and quite well cast and well acted on the whole. And then there is oh-so-much knitwear, which was fun to see, if not period accurate. In the show, time-travelling Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser, played by Catriona Balfe, sports a series of elegant dresses topped with knitted cowls, shrugs, shawls, and armwarmers, all in wools of natural hues and mostly knitted out of bulky weight yarn on large gauge needles. I know practically nothing of eighteenth century textiles and fashions but I had my suspicions about the authenticity of the costume design and especially of its knitted elements. I thought it quite astonishing that Castle Leoch should have a (for that time) very extensive and perfectly fitted wardrobe on hand for their unusually tall guest, and I thought it unlikely that big needle knit cowls and shrugs were a style seen at all at the time. It turns out that I was correct in this, and there were many more inaccuracies that I hadn't the knowledge to pick up on.

There is much internet conversation on this topic (such as this Ravelry thread), in which fashion history buffs are getting their replica stays in a twist over all the anachronisms in the Outlander costumes. Eighteenth-century knitting was usually done to a very fine gauge, unless it was an item that was to be felted. And not only are cowls and shrugs quite a recent style innovation, it's possible that even the knitted shawl, as we know it, did not exist at the time. Also, it seems not all yarn was undyed in the eighteenth century as natural dyes were commonly used to achieve such colours as glaring yellows, vivid reds, and denim-like blues, so not all of Claire's knitted accessories would have been dun-coloured. However, the costume designer for Outlander, Terry Dresbach, is not a fashion historian and, according to Buzzfeed writer Alanna Okun, she had approximately seven weeks to prepare all the costumes for the show. Given those limitations it's to her credit that she met her deadline with attractive costumes that are even as accurate as they are. I've heard it said that in the movie business (as in many arenas) when it comes to having things done fast, inexpensively, and well, you'll have to pick two attributes, as you cannot have all three.

At any rate, to get down to discussing possible Outlander-themed knitting that knitting watchers of the show can do, there are always two directions for a knitter to take when making items inspired by a TV show or movie: one can replicate the specific patterns worn by the onscreen characters, or one can draw inspiration from the show in a more abstract sense and design something completely new. I'm not seeing much of the latter kind of Outlander-inspired design, at least not yet, though I am in hopes that we'll get a magazine or book of Outlander-inspired patterns at some point. Meanwhile, it's entirely possible to knit oneself replicas of the knitwear worn in the series. The upside of dressing Claire Randall Fraser in twenty-first century knits is that her accessories are quite wearable for today. Despite the historical inaccuracies there has been a lot of online clamour about the Outlander knits, with knitters demanding patterns for the items Claire and the other Outlander characters wore. And since most of the knits worn in the shoes are simple, big gauge patterns, some knitters have obligingly providing unofficial replica patterns for those who want them.





You can make a simple striped garter shawl like the one Claire is wearing in the top photo with the When In Scotland pattern depicted below,
designed by Rilana Riley-Munson. It's a free pattern.






The Outlander Pattern for Claire's Cowl, written by Shelli Westcott, is a very close match to the one worn by Claire, and will actually look much better worn with contemporary clothing because it won't be jarringly anachronistic as it is onscreen. It's a free pattern.

I don't personally find the Outlander knits to be inspiring, as those dead easy chunky knits are very much not my preferred style of knitting, either to make or wear, but Geillis Duncan's cape, as seen above, came closest to arousing my interest. Unfortunately the show never gave us a better look at it than this.





If you fancy the little capelet Claire wears in the photo above, this Outlander inspired Rose Coloured Capelet, designed by Ravelry user Furlaine, is a very good replica of it. This pattern is available for C$4.00(CAD).

The cabled armwarmers Claire is wearing in the top photo are a close match to the Outlander Cabled Wristers, designed by Jenifer Spock-Rank. This pattern is available for $1.99(USD).

The cowl Claire is wearing is especially hilariously out of synch in terms of the kind of spun yarn that would have been available in 1743. At this distance, it looks almost like a fur neckpiece, but it is indeed knitted from yarn, which I've seen identified online as Louisa Harding's Luzia. But then perhaps Castle Leoch housekeeper Mrs. Fitzgibbons has a stash of Luzia put away in the garret. As Claire said herself, Mrs. Fitz is a wonder.

ETA: It appears this cowl was actually knitted out mink yarn. I'm trying to do a little research on this because it seems there weren't minks in Scotland in the eighteenth century. There was fur trade, but what I am trying to find out is how likely was it that anyone was spinning yarn from what would have been very expensive imported minks at that time? Wouldn't they have been used as skins? And again... cowls didn't exist back then.

I had to include this even though I don't like knitted dishcloths. This Outlander Je Suis Prest Thistle Cloth pattern, designed by Alli Barrett, and available for $2.00(USD), features the Fraser clan motto "Je Suis Prest" (in English, "I am ready"). As an aside, it's interesting how many Scottish clan mottos declare readiness or preparedness. My own surname, Rae, is Scottish, and the Rae family motto is "In Omnia Promptus", or "Ready for Everything". It's probably understandable given that these mottos were originally war cries. These days, at least for those of us fortunate enough to be living in area that isn't war-torn, they can be a way to motivate yourself to do the dishes.