Defarge Does Shakespeare

Yes, she really does.

Shakespeare's birthday is fast approaching and so is the release date of Volume 3 in the What Would Madame Defarge Knit series:  Defarge Does Shakespeare.

The book is not only for crafters.  While it includes knitting and crochet patterns, it also features personal essays on Shakespeare's plays and poetry written by the designers.  There are black and white illustrations as well as full-color photos of all the projects.

See all the patterns in Defarge Does Shakespeare.

Pre-order the book, digital and/or print format.

Sign up for the newsletter.

If you are on ravelry please go favorite any or all of the 29  Defarge Does Shakespeare patterns.

I have two patterns in the book, one comic and one glamorous, because none of us is all just one thing, not even Tamora, Queen of the Goths.  Although those who know me would definitely peg me as more silly than slinky, I do enjoy a little bling now and again.  I'll be posting about both patterns, as well as some other highlights in the book, later this week.

Danger to Everyone...and Socks!

Take a teenaged girl with dangerous abilities and an unusual family history, send her to a psychic boot camp run by her aunt, add a meeting with a new boy--and include some knitting! How can I resist? 

Heather Ordover, host of the Craftlit podcast and editor of the What Would Madame Defarge Knit? books, has written her first novel, Grounded: The Seven (Book 1), a Young Adult title.



You can pre-order now for delivery in the first week of October. 
Grounded is available in various formats, both print and digital, and an audiobook is in the works. I ordered an autographed paperback and a Kindle copy. Sign up for the mailing list for updates and offers and to find out about patterns inspired by the characters and KAL's. 

I'm hoping for some tips that will give my pointy sticks some super knitty powers, but, if not, I know the book will be a blast and the ravelry group will be a fun place to hang out.

Cooperating

The Knitgrrl herself

I've had the pleasure of having patterns with essays published in the two What Would Madame Defarge Knit volumes published by Cooperative Press. 

Shannon Okey, aka Knitgrrl,is a real innovator in craft publishing, especially on the digital side. Cooperative Press titles reflect the creative visions of the individual knit and crochet designers, not a corporate editorial board.

Her business model is innovative as well, and designers are well compensated.

Take a look at the gallery, and sign up for the mailing list for a chance to win a prize. (E-mails are only sent with real news and offers, so they won't be cluttering up your mail box.)

If you are interested in subscribing to Knit Edge, Cooperative's digital quarterly, here's a message from Shannon with aspecial offer that expires the 22nd of August. 

If you are not yet a subscriber to our magazine Knit Edge, issue four comes out next month. Take out a one year-subscription now and you'll not only get three jam-packed issues per year, but you'll help provide us with the cashflow we need to keep things rolling. You'll also get a copy of issue three immediately on the autoresponder we've got set up.

Use the coupon shannonbook before next Friday and you'll get $1 off your subscription AND a digital copy of The Knitgrrl 9, my own pattern best-of, as well as a coupon for $2 off my new booklet on provisional cast ons and steeking, which will be out soon. (And naturally, you will get ALL my love and appreciation).

Been hesitating on a CP purchase, or want to try out a back issue of Knit Edge first? Check out our brand new shop!

WIPster

Some knitting progress in spite of the excessively humid weather and the press of other projects, including a long-overdue update to my patterns on ravelry, and some new designs in progress.

The Lady Is A Ninja Cowl KAL

Creeping up the neck a few inches on this one. And there will be an FO here on Friday.

For more lovely WIPsters, visit the Tami's Amis.

WIP X 2

Progress on two fronts.

The Lady Is A Ninja Cowl KAL:

Finished the yoke.

Over the Helix Cowl:

A few inches finished. 

Weather is so changeable. Hot, sunny, summery for a few hours, then cool, damp, raw for a few hours. Still good cowl weather.

Visit Tami's Ami's WIP Wednesday for links to a world of WIP's.

WIP Around

Hope by the time this post is out that a few more rounds will be knit.

My knitting dilemma:
look at the knitting or look at the view.

Would have liked to be farther ahead on this KAL, but life intervenes. Houseful of company. Weather distractions, both sunny and rainy. Not complaining. It's all about the trade-offs.

To see a lot more work in progress from a lot of talented crafters visit Tami's Amis WIP Wednesday.

Half a Swatch

is better than none, right? Two halves make a whole, right?
Pretty cheesy knitting math, right?

Top: Crystal Palace Panda Silk
Bottom: Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere

Swatching for my Lady Is A Ninja Cowl KAL over in the ravelry What Would Madame Defarge Knit? group.

Still want to swatch the two yarns again with a larger needle, then wash and block them before deciding. Trying to be a good role model

Knit Along

June is here. The month for the third What Else Would Madame Defarge Knit KAL: The Lady Is A Ninja (Cowl).

Join me in the WWMDFK group on ravelry for a low-key, quick knit.
It's a one-skein project, easy to modify as to length, and makes a nice gift for the gift shelf. 

I have the fantasy that everyone but me has a lovely shelf, or basket, or box full of great little knit and crocheted items for gifts. I have the fantasy that someday I'll have one, too, so I'll be knitting up that Panda Silk for somebody or other.

Books

What (Else) Would Madame Defarge Knit? Have you knit any good reads lately? 

Print copies now available. This time around, color photos of the designs. Comes with a pdf download containing links to tutorials and supplemental information. You can easily print the instructions if you are like me and never met a pattern you didn't want to scribble on.

Take a look at what's inside

My essay Intrepid Lady Detectives and cowl pattern, The Lady is a Ninja, inspired by Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White, are among the 28 new designs and essays.

TO ORDER 

FO Friday

Does a book count?

It's alive! What (Else) Would Madame Defarge Knit? Have you knit any good reads lately? 

See the designs.

My essay Intrepid Lady Detectives and cowl pattern, The Lady is a Ninja, inspired by Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White, are among the more than twenty news designs and essays.

Thrilled to be included in such an accomplished collection.

ORDER

Hint No More

No sooner had I published my own hint than What (else) Would Madame Defarge Knit? was previewed on ravelry. Patterns, essays, and--this time around--color photos! Look, favorite, queue, and comment. More info and pre-orders here. Pass the word. Accept my heartfelt thanks.

Here's the prototype for The Lady Is A Ninja inspired by Marian Halcombe in The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. Knit in Skinny Bugga!, colorway Z. Cerulea.

Why, yes, that is a lazy-girl phone pic.

Find out more (and see a better picture) on the pattern's ravelry page.

Hint: It's NOT Bigger Than A Breadbox

Crafter's Dictionary: Stealth Knitting, Super-Secret Knitting

Definition: Something you've designed for publication (or knit for a gift) which you are dying to show off but it  cannot be revealed--yet--and all you can do is put your hand over your mouth and do the wink-wink-nudge-nudge dance.

Another Hint:  Design inspired by a stealthy moment in a book that has been read on Craftlit.

Fits over the head and neck.

Order Now: What(else)Would Madame DeFarge Knit?

And More:  W(e)WMDFK? Giveaways & Goodies

                         
Even More:  Heather's Sneak Peek