Knitalong makes a Powells.com best of 2008 list

Thanks for the recognition, Betsy Sue!   We’ll enjoy some knitted cake and bubbly to celebrate.

This photo is by Nina Pope, who graciously allowed a different photo from this knitted wedding to be used in the book.

Errata in Knitalong

Well, it happens to the best of us.  Every knitting book seems to have a few errors in the patterns.  Only one pattern in Knitalong seems to be affected: the Blessingway Blanket.  Please follow this link for the corrections.

Seattle Stitch N Pitch, August 7, 2008: we’re throwing out the first pitch!

There can be few things more perfect than a summer night at the ballpark.

[photo by addknitter]

“You can’t experience it on TV,” I write in Knitalong. “You have to be there to understand. On a good day, a baseball game is a pleasure as subtle and fine — and unknowable to the uninitiated — as running your fingers through 100 percent cashmere.”

“You settle into your plastic seat while the sun is setting and leave the world outside of the ballpark behind. On the green expanse below, grown men in pinstripes and high socks fidget around a brown dirt track, pause a while to jabber and point, and occasionally toss a ball. No matter how much trash talk sounds from the stands around you, somehow the stillness of the summer night remains. This is a game with a different, more thoughtful pace. Plus, here, the hot dogs and beer come to you.”

And now, finally, after years of toiling in the minors, Larissa, Sebastian, & I are heading to “the big show.” Which is to say, we’re tentatively scheduled to throw out the first pitch this year at one of the biggest, baddest knitting spectacles around — the Seattle Stitch N Pitch. The first 3000 knitters buying knitting-section tickets will get a special event t-shirt, and if you buy tickets through Pacific Fabrics & Crafts, you can get an additional goodie bag of knitterly stuff to boot.

It’s traditional for authors to complain about the burden of promotional events, but I am absolutely not pulling that crap for this one. I will be there giving 110%. 

Larissa at Mrs. Dalloway’s books in Berkeley, May 31

4pm, Saturday May 31.  Talk about the book!  Free tote bags!  More info here.

Larissa at Tattered Cover in Denver, May 22, and tote bags too

Larissa will be talking about the book and signing copies at the Tattered Cover (Highlands Ranch) on May 22nd, 2008, at 7:30 PM. You’re invited to bring your current knitting projects.

Cloth “Knitalong”-logo tote bags will be given away with the purchase of the book, while supplies last. The bags are really nice! Here’s the logo art…

Martin’s essay on Powells.com

Powells.com gave me the chance to write a neat little essay about the creation of Knitalong from a writer’s (and non-knitter’s) POV.  Check it out here.

Larissa in Lake Forest Park, WA Monday night. Opening act TBA.

Larissa will be talking about the book, and signing it, at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Washington, 4/14/2008 at 7pm. More info at the Third Place Books site.

(Sebastian and Martin may put in an appearance as well and will try not to break any store displays.)

Our biggest-headed photographer

Well, we did strive for a diversity in contributors. Thanks again for the cover shot, squacco!

Sleep on this

Alison at 6.5st has done a really exquisite version of The Pillow of Sei Shonagon from the book. I hope it’s ok to show Alison’s pictures. Click on the photos to read the many adoring comments on Flickr.

I personally have a very strong opinion about how such pillows should be used. They shouldn’t just sit around looking pretty. If you’re really going to soak in the poetry, you have to put your head on them. 

Save the date for our book release party

March 15, 2008

Abundant Yarn & Dyeworks in SE Portland, Oregon

Please join us from 4-6 pm at Abundant Yarn in Sellwood. We’ll have cocktails for the adults, choices of messy and dry activities for the littler ones, food for all, door prizes, and books to buy, with authors and a few designers on hand to sign them.

The party coincides with the store’s Ides of March Fiber Festival, which will be going on all around us and in the parking lot.

See you soon!