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March 03, 2006
Peace. Love. Natural Fibers.
Click to read the creed.
Yesterday I had an ultra fabulous lunch with the ultra fabulous Yankee Half of Mason Dixon Knitting. Kay has often introduced me to the finer corners of NYC -- cool places where suave European men make me blush as they sip Espressos at the coffee bar with their little pinkies sticking out -- so I thought I'd return the favor by taking her to a chic hip downtown Japanese Noodle place that G-Love recommended. Say what you will about my husband - he gives good restaurant. After our bellies were satisfied and full of homemade Soba noodles and green tea ice cream, Kay took out the book I had been begging to see for weeks.
First off, I should say that I LOVE Kay and Ann and have been lucky enough to photograph them for an author picture that didn't make it into the book (damn those cute ass woodcuts!) and half of their children (Kay has me booked through the last grandchild's wedding!) All that relationship stuff aside - their book ROCKS!
The book is part memoir, part pattern guide, part humor - 100% INSPIRATION. Whether they're talking about dishclothes, felted boxes, or log cabin blankets, the main idea of everything is to be FREE within the confines of a pattern. There's a great passage where Kay talks about making a mitred square blanket and how she gave herself rules to follow when choosing colors for the squares. Once she made these rules for herself, she was free to choose what she wanted, but not TOO free to be stymied by the choices. Know what I mean? Lolly made a comment on my blog the other day about this same thing (at least I read it that way.) I had said all of my Project Spectrum projects would revolve around my spinning, and she said, and I quote, "That kind of focus is going to open up so much creativity...." That's exactly how I feel about Ann and Kay's book. They give you boundaries in which to go crazy! For starters, as soon as I see one of those log cabin blankets my mind goes nuts with the possibilities - but it's true - if you give yourself some rules (only choose purple colors or no center square block), whatever they may be, you can actually open your mind up to even more possibilities than you thought you had - but you still don't overwhelm the project. How many of us have opened up a Barbara Walker book or Harmony Guide or whatever and been excited for like five minutes and then sigh because there's too much to choose from? Well Kay and Ann's book is a great place to start - whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro - just enough guidance and a whole lot of vision.
The book is an explosion of color as well. Everything is beautifully photographed (by Steve Gross and Sue Daley) and yet everything is still accessible. You can see these knits in your bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens. It's an incredibly comfortable book.
Of course, what makes it so comfortable are Kay and Ann. They infuse the pages with their humor and their humility. They make you feel like YOU CAN DO IT! They've done it and sure they've mucked things up here and there along the way but they came out STRONGER and their knits came out BETTER FOR THE MUCK UP! Literally, though, the best part of the book for me is that there's something on every page - some morsel - you have to read closely. Have you ever read any Maira Kalman books? I love her. When you read her books you need to read every word on the page because god forbid you should miss even one thing. Mason-Dixon Knitting : The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures is just like that. You don't want to miss even one thing.
Posted by Cara at March 3, 2006 08:10 AM
Topics: Life
Comments
oooh, i can't wait!
Posted by: mrspilkington at March 3, 2006 08:31 AM
I can't either.
Every parent knows what you mean about choices. If you ask a five-year-old, "What do you want to wear today?" you are guaranteed 20 minutes of indecision, a tantrum and a missed bus. If you ask her, "Do you want to wear this or that?" she'll choose one and be perfectly happy, and you can let her pick out funky socks to go with it.
Posted by: Lucia at March 3, 2006 08:40 AM
I LOVE Maira Kalman's books and I know I'll love Ann & Kay's. I've been dying to get my hands on it.
And why aren't I surprised that you love MK's books? HIGH ENERGY!!
Posted by: Jan at March 3, 2006 08:40 AM
I am waiting on pins and needles for the MD book. They are coming to Philly for an event at Loop Yarns, and I am trying to work it out to be there, too! Yippie!
Posted by: Liz K. at March 3, 2006 08:44 AM
Thanks for the advance review, Cara. You've upped my excitement level over this considerably.
Posted by: Carole at March 3, 2006 08:56 AM
Thanks for the review - I'm quite excited about it now!
Posted by: Chris at March 3, 2006 09:26 AM
What a great review. I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival!
Posted by: margene at March 3, 2006 09:31 AM
completely jealous that you have got your sweaty little hands on this book already .....
Posted by: ann at March 3, 2006 10:12 AM
"Once she made these rules for herself, she was free to choose what she wanted, but not TOO free to be stymied by the choices. Know what I mean?"
Do I ever! Option paralysis is one of my greatest challenges and an obstacle I often must overcome in so many of my creative pursuits. I'll just say that anyone who tells you that focus and structure are going to open the floodgates of creativity is a genuine hero. I absolutely can't wait to read their book.
Posted by: Rachel at March 3, 2006 10:17 AM
What a lovely credo!
Thanks for the review...I really didn't know what to expect with this one and now I am excited!
Posted by: jillian at March 3, 2006 10:25 AM
Great review. I can't wait to get that book in my hot little hands!
Posted by: Kelly at March 3, 2006 10:29 AM
Ooh, I saw a preview copy at my LYS and it looks GREAT. awesome patterns, and fabulous pictures, and great writing. I'm so excited! Great review, chica!
Posted by: Carrie at March 3, 2006 11:41 AM
Great review - can't wait to get the book!
Posted by: christine at March 3, 2006 11:45 AM
Wow. It sounds like a great, great book. I'll have to pre-order. Thanks for the wonderful review. When's your book coming out? ;-)
Posted by: Stephanie at March 3, 2006 11:58 AM
What a marvelous review! Rules are good (says the lawyer :-)!
Posted by: Kathy at March 3, 2006 12:11 PM
What an awesome review! Makes me look forward to it even more!
Posted by: Leah at March 3, 2006 01:33 PM
My very favorite knitting books are not just patterns and technique illustrations, but real honest to goodness reading. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Posted by: Carla at March 3, 2006 02:17 PM
So,......you're saying I shouldn't skim, then? ;-)
Posted by: Norma at March 3, 2006 06:11 PM