Gails Yarns, Hooks & Needles

In case you are not familiar with this book, the subtitle is “A Shetland Lace Knitter’s Pattern and Workbook.” And if this is still a mystery to you, then let me say I have used the stitches in this book to design a simple sampler stole, and find that my second choice is far beyond my ability to execute.

My first choice is called Field of Flowers (page 49, and it worked up well, except that I knitted lots of it in the car, and the mistakes will be plain to anybody who cares to look. (I might be able to photograph mistake-free parts.)

The stole is not yet blocked, only pinned out for a better picture.

Looks like this particular photo got all the mistakes. Never mind, the point is to compare the two yarns and how the colorways differ, even though they are the same to look at. This skein might have been pieced in a couple of places so this will affect the color lengths, but I’m kind of impressed at how pretty all this gray and black is.

The second stole is underway, but no photo – there’s not enough to pin out yet. Same pattern.

Back to work on Spiderlings (page 133), more photos later.

My books arrived and are great. I just re-listened to the podcast version, to make it easier to spot the differences, but really, I just hear Nathan reading it again.

Not a problem.

I have noticed a tiny clarification or two, but they are fitted in seamlessly.

Obviously this is the season for book releases. One of my favorite times of year.

Next month I’m hoping for some knitting pattern releases!

This morning I got an email from Ridan Publishing, here it is plus all the links:

Thank you for registering for notification on the release of Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell. Ridan is please to have this talented author and we’re excited to be able to announce that Quarter Share is now on press and books will be delivered to Nathan in the next few days. You can buy copies direct which will provide the highest revenue to Nathan by using [this link] for ordering.

Nathan’s official release party will be during Balticon at the end of May. To mark Nathan’s first release with Ridan we have produced special T-shirts. For those that will not be able to attend the show you can order your own from the link provided.

P.S. We’ve not told Nathan about the T-shirts and are hoping to surprise him – so if you happen to speak with Nathan through email, twitter, or other social sites – we’d appreciate you not mentioning them until after Balticon.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

We thank you for supporting Nathan. He is a fine writer that we’re proud to be able to bring to you in the printed form.

You can get a Limited Edition Hardcover Version, Signed & Numbered—Only 250 Available! OR you can get a softcover, signed or unsigned. I really wanted a Limited Edition, but remembered in time that I will want at least one of each as they roll out. I got two softcovers.

The most exciting thing about the published edition is that Nathan is so pleased with the editing process. Working with his editor produced hard copy that sounded more like what he wanted it to be. (I heard this in a podcast interview, probably The Dead Robots’ Society episode 74 or 85. Both were late last year, both were great shows.)

Then the tee-shirts. How cool will it be for Nathan to get to Balticon and see people wearing his Quarter Share tee-shirt? This is going to be extreme fun.

So there you are. If you’re not a fan yet, visit Podiobooks. Also linked in the sidebar, under Splendid Podiobooks, Nathan Lowell’s Quarter Share.

Jon Armstrong has a blog, called “If You’re Just Joining Us.” He has addressed all sorts of things, from unschooling to fashion design. In his latest release, he includes two short selections from his upcoming novel, “Yarn,” published by Night Shade Books.

Jon’s novel, “Grey,” was published by Night Shade in 2007. It is also at Podiobooks, if you’d like a listen to his writing. The first paragraph of the description at Podiobooks is this:

“High fashion, corporate malfeasance, celebrity culture, and an obsessed media collide with exuberant violence and volatile intensity in Grey, the explosive debut novel by Jon Armstrong.”

I thought it rather defied description. Violence is not what I thought of first, possibly because Jon’s voice is like velvet as he reads.

Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time catching up on the CraftLit podcast. I’ve dipped into it several times without staying and finally got curious enough to begin at the beginning – and was swept along with the current. I’m hearing all the story lines as well as most of the books under discussion. No wonder people love it. It’s a book discussion without the test!