In-Depth Review of Knitting Yarn

Knitter's Review
August 6, 2009

Finding a good pattern for a knitted gift can be as tricky as finding a ready-made gift at a store—if not trickier. You want something interesting, attractive, and original. But you also want something you can actually complete within a realistic period of time.

Ann Budd has just released a new collection of knitted gift patterns called, fittingly, Knitted Gifts. The book contains more than 30 diverse, fresh, and inspiring projects ranging from quick to heirloom. It's the first knitted gift book to catch my eye in a long time, and I review it this week.

This Weekend in Oregon
The most anticipated sock-knitting event of the year, the Sock Summit is finally here. Even the Mayor of Portland, Oregon, has gotten into the spirit by declaring it Sock Knitting Week. From Thursday to Sunday, thousands of knitters from around the globe converge at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland for classes, special events, a massive marketplace, and even an attempt to make the Guinness Book of World Records. I'll be there teaching and twittering and taking loads of pictures for a full report when I return.

In the Forum: Quick, Special Shawls
We can take our time with some knitted gifts. But others may need to be completed fairly quickly. That's the case with Sharon, who wants to knit a very quick but special shawl for a friend with cancer. What yarns and patterns do you recommend?

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As always, I thank you for your readership and your support.

Have a great two weeks, and I'll see you again on August 20th!