Knitting fans.

I am such a sucker for a beautifully styled 'how to' book. I don't care if it's a knitting, gardening, sewing, cooking or crochet book, if it has gorgeous photos and instructions, I am in.

I found this gorgeous book a few months ago in Melbourne. It was love at first sight. Gorgeous hard back, stunning photos, and perfect projects and patterns sized to fit two of my girlies. I pored over its pages for ages. Front to back, back to front. I tried to work out how many of the patterns I was likely to actually knit and for who and with what yarn.

And then I popped it back on the shelf between the other knitting books and walked away.

I really didn't need anther knitting book. I have hundreds of items in my ravelry queue and hundreds more in my head and in books I already own. And most importantly, I am not a fan of the seamed knit and that is what this book is full of.

But over the next few days I couldn't get that book and those patterns and that style out of my head. I longed for it.

And as luck would have it on the way home to Daylesford a few days later, we stopped in at a book shop/cafe for lunch and there it was, sitting on the shelf, patiently waiting for me. It was meant to be. And I promised myself I would knit from it often to justify my purchase, seams and all.

So the second I cast off what I was working on, I chose a pattern, some wool and cast on.

A much wanted and needed cardi for Miss Jazzy. Wool and pattern chosen herself.

And to be honest, the pattern was incredibly difficult for me to follow. There were not enough instructions and I found myself guessing and unravelling and re knitting a lot of the time. There may have been some swearing too.

But I persevered. I had a bee in my bonnet about that book. And that pattern. And the way my Jazzy would look wearing it.

And then finally one day after knitting the four bits and sewing them together. After crocheting all around the entire garment. And after blocking it lightly with a steam iron. Miss Jazzy tried it on...

And she couldn't move.

Even though I had knitted a size older than she usually measured, it was so tight across the back and under the arms that she struggled to even get it off.

All I can say is lucky Miss Pepper was more than happy to try it on.

Phew!

I think I'll stick to knitting in the round so we can actually try the garments on as I go in the future. And I think I'll knit Jazzy's next cardi from a pattern from a designer I know and have knitted before.

Fan Stitch cardi ravelled here.

Are you a sucker for a styled book?
Which type of book can you never resist?
Are you having a lovely day?
Are you being creative?
I hope so.

Later lovelies. x