So a while back, Workmen Publishing was kind enough to send me a review copy of Debbie Stoller's new Stitch n Bitch Book: Superstar Knitting. Unfortunately, I had just gotten pregnant again and lost all motivation to do anything. Really, anything. So I've had Superstar Knitting on my to-review list for ages and I really liked it. It's a fantastic book for the knitter who has conquered the fundamentals and wants to stretch out into more advanced stuff like customizing fit, intarsia, lace, and design.

Superstar Knitting is instructive with clear illustrations that it's become an additional reference in my book collection. It has many simple tips that separate the amateurs from the knitting masters. One of my favorite tips is a little section on purl decreases on page 62, because those are often worked differently from knitted decreases, but no one ever specifies so you have to figure out how to do it yourself.

I would heartily recommend Superstar Knitting as a Christmas gift for any knitter. It features comprehensive techniques and engaging projects in affordable yarns. For me, I'm looking forward to knitting the Love Me or Leaf Me Bag -super cute!

I was only left wishing for one thing: Debbie Stoeller's introduction was fun to read. Her point of view of the increased popularity of knitting was refreshing to read and left me wanting to read more about her own knitting experiences. Maybe it's time for a book of essays?

Have you made anything from Stitch'N Bitch Superstar Knitting? What did you think?

Knitting Lab is in town, but my budget won't allow me a visit so let's see what attendees have to say about this new knitting convention put on by Interweave Knits.

Early news on Ravelry is that Barbara Walker could not make the conference due to a family emergency. She was scheduled to be a keynote speaker, but was replaced at the last minute by a panel of knitting luminaries.

With such a proliferation of knitting conferences, Vogue Knitting Live, Sock Summit and Stitches it will be interesting to see how Interweave's Knitting Lab will fit into the bunch.

Stay tuned for links to blogs as we find them :)

But my hands are busy... but I'll be back soon.

Let's be honest: I am knitting, but haven't had time to post the fruits of my labors ;).

This year: socks, a vest for my dad and that's about it. Currently working on a hat. Missed you guys.

I have had an unfinished cardigan sitting in my stash just waiting to be worn. It's all knitted, seamed, and all of the ends have been woven in, save for one thing: this cardigan needs a zipper. It should be known that I hate to sew. It resembles hard labor more than recreational enjoyment. Sewing requires precision and discipline, which does not come naturally to this scatterbrained knitter. I am determined to finish this sweater, even if it means taking it to the dry cleaners and crossing my fingers that they don't mangle it. However, the handcrafter in me is almost equally determined to install the darned zipper myself. Knowing that my sewing skills are weak, I've taken some time to read some of the various tutorials to see which technique might work best for me and I went ahead and tried the technique featured in the Winter 2011 issue of Interweave Knits. It's that sneaky method of using a knitpicker to place stitches on either side of the zipper to be knitted to the garmet.

It didn't really work for me. I've tried it twice already, but on both occasions could immediately tell that the knit stitches were warping the zipper edge and would lead to a buckled zipper once placed on the cardigan. I tried placing the stitches further apart and it didn't help. Plus, the only zipper I found that would work with my cardigan had a very tightly woven edge, which was very difficult to get the knitpicker through. Plus, I didn't like how time consuming this method was and it has more or less ruined the zipper, which I'm not too thrilled about.

I have no doubt that this method works for smaller projects that use pliable zipper siding, but it's just not happening with this cardigan.

This is Emily. She needs your help. She has liver cancer and has to pay her medical bills out of pocket because she cannot get on her partner's health insurance for the simple reason that she is gay. In Kansas, gay people do not have the right to their partner's health insurance, a grievous human rights violation if there ever was one.

This notion give me the angries and makes me want to help, which is why I encourage you go here and learn about the raffle that Fidget is having, all proceeds will help Emily pay her medical bills, which amount to $1000/month. There's some nice yarn to win here and I'm willing to bet that more will be added.

Photo by Susan Pandorf

@blondechicken on Twitter alerted me to the existance of a Lord of the Rings Themed shawl based on the Evenstar pattern by Sunflower Designs. My geek antennae went bizoink! It's gorgeous and would require me to sequester myself in a convent to knit this in silence as god's work in order to knit it as exquisitely as the designer has.

Here's more info about the pattern here. It's available for download on Ravelry for $8.00.

The best part? This is the first pattern in a collection of 24 to be inspired by LOTR.