On sale at last

I hope you aren't sick of hearing about it yet, but today is a red-letter day.  My new book, Sock Yarn Studio: Hats, Garments, and Other Projects Designed for Sock Yarn, is as of this writing in stock and ready to ship at Amazon.com.

Wow.

I first envisioned this project three or more years ago, right after I finished my previous book. Things don't always move fast in the publishing world, but the big day is finally here. And it was worth the wait.

I'm really proud of this book, in particular, because of the three books I've worked on, this one has the most me in it. For example, there's a technical section that talks about sock yarns and how to work with them, and I've always liked giving people information and insight that they can use to make their knitting more enjoyable.

There are several patterns knit in my own Black Bunny Fibers yarn, including this fabulous stranded pillow cover, designed by Barb Brown:

Cushington Square, designed by Barb Brown

and this short cowl that I designed.

Lisatra Short Cowl, designed by Carol Sulcoski

Several of my very dear friends contributed patterns, like the aforementioned Barb Brown, Veronik Avery,

Nuit Blanche, scarf version, designed by Veronik Avery

Franklin Habit,

Roselein Hat, designed by Franklin Habit

and Laura Grutzeck, and I could go on and on, but I'd run out of space.

Chambourcin Halter, designed by Laura Grutzeck

I was able to do some things I think are fun, but aren't always done for practical reasons in books, like show a few patterns in alternate colorways, like the Compostela Scarf:

Compostela Scarf, knit in two colorways, designed by Carol Sulcoski

which is shown in a solid version and a version knit in a slow self-striping yarn. I think it can be really helpful for knitters to get a feel for how different types of yarn can affect the finished project.

Of course my lovely, hilarious daughter is one of the models, and you can imagine how that warms my heart:

Lizalu Blanket, designed by Carol Sulcoski

I got to use yarn from companies I love, like Koigu (and Regia, and Lorna's Laces, and Quince & Co., and Swan Island, and ......)

Anu Baby Hat, desigend by Carol Sulcoski

I was able to guide the selection of the photographer, and I simply could not be happier with the breathtaking photographs Carrie Bostick Hoge took -- which you'll see throughout this post.  (I'm also very pleased to have had a chance to meet her and call her friend, and to know that her bee-yoo-tiful baby girl is also a model in the book -- see the baby cap photo above!)

Flipping through the book I see so many intangible "footnotes" -- a colorway named after one dear friend (waves to piggeh), a pattern named for another, help from unexpected quarters in thinking up pattern names when my creative well was running dry, the knowledge that still other friends helped knit and finish some of the items, seeing quilts used in the photography that were loaned by my friends at Spool -- that make me so happy when I think of them.

Kitteh Mittens, designed by Wendy Johnson

It's here.  I love it. I am so grateful for all the help I had from my wonderful friends, old and new, in making it happen.  I hope you love it, too.




All photographs reproduced with permission from Sock Yarn Studio by Carol J. Sulcoski, copyright 2012 Lark Crafts, an imprint of Sterling Publishing, Inc.