I can’t imagine the google searches that will come up with this blog entry.  But for regular readers (hahahah…see what I did there?), I know they will understand.  There was the recent Knitters Proficiency Survey I put out there.  It was meant to try and come up with a complete list of knitters skills to be mastered. I’ve also just reviewed a book for a group who is trying to start a new global fiber movement of knitters.

We Are Knitters – Global Fiber Movement

Started by Alberto Bravo and Pepita Marin, We Are Knitters (WAK) is a new, affirming, sustainable-oriented movement for fiber enthusiasts.

Like any start-up global movement, there are missing components to what they’re doing.  But overall, their aim seems affirming and positive.

Book Review – We Are Knitters

Overall, this book is:

• An affirming, supportive look at the knitting community
• Very encouraging to new knitters with a complete “how-to” section on knitting
• A global tour of big, urban areas, with associated “beginning” pattern designs

What I liked:

It would be a great book to gift to someone interested in starting to knit.  The enthusiasm, the beginner’s tutorials, and the trendy designs might be a great place for a new knitter to start.

The layout of the book is appealing and well done.  It’s easy to read and has lots of colorful photos of places, knitted garments and tutorials.

For a beginners’ book, some of the designs are really quite well done.  I particularly love this sweater, Tribunal Cardigan.

Mostly I love how this design uses thinner and thicker/slubbier yarn to it’s best advantage.  The shaping of the cardigan is also quite good, in my opinion.

The diagrams and graphics for the patterns and visuals on how to finish the garments are excellent.

I also loved the energetic vibe of the book.  This vibe is only furthered by the photos and the locales where they shot the photos.

What I didn’t like:

Three things about the book and the movement that I wished were different are:

• While trying to be affirming and enthusiastic, they use tired tropes in their text that make me cringe.  For instance, one of the first pages has this:

“Whether you’re a novice knitter or can knit circles around your own grandma, there’s something here for  everyone…”

• I found the tutorial photos weren’t up-close enough for a how-to book. They make up for this by having lots of video tutorials on their web site.
• Headless photos…so many of the photos are headless and all of them are faceless(including the cover photo). It may not bother anyone else, but it bugs the shit out of me.
• Finally, it seems they are trying to be all things to all knitters and only do some well.  I’m hopeful they’ll get big enough to be able to do it all.

On that last point, I understand just how difficult it is to do everything well.

When I did the Knitters Skills Proficiency Survey, I wanted to have it be comprehensive.  The list is pretty comprehensive and complete, but the output should really have a comprehensive resource library of places to acquire missing skills.  Which is bigger than I cared to create.

So, overall, I think you may want to consider gifting this book to any knit-curious friends or family members.  I think it would be very encouraging.

Current Knitting

With focus, I can get a lot of knitting completed.  Sometimes.

Even though each row is one less stitch to knit (because of the mitered end), I still have 44 more rows of knitting (at least) before I complete this garment.