Novel Knits – a book review and chat with Ann Kingstone

I’m delighted to take part in the Novel Knits blog tour. Ann Kingstone has self-published this book of patterns inspired by British Literature (yes, with capital L!) – a collection of 15 knitting patterns, in various degrees of difficulty, that will keep you interested throughout.

(all images courtesy of Ann Kingstone, used with permission)

The book is split into 3 parts – each inspired by an author. The first, Jane Austen, a favourite of many knitters, brings us delightful pieces like Hartfield

And Kellynch

Tell me you don’t want to snuggle with that… yes, you can’t. It looks so cozy!!

The Austen section closes with Pemberley, so classic!

Next up, Tolkien – the designs in this set are etherial, like the Lady of the Woods fingerless gloves,

Complete with its own cowl – I can imagine wearing them I’d feel every bit like Liv Tyler. Oh yeah.

Lanthir Lamath is an evoking tale of cables and warmth

And Lissuin… well…. I’ll just stop doing fair isle designs! Ann keeps showing off!!

The last part of the book is dedicated to the works of JK Rowling – if you’re a sock knitter, you’re in luck! Chaussettes de Beauxbatons offer you duplicate stitching and lace, while Durmstrang are fair isle knee-highs! Included are also Luna’s Moonlight, with picots and lace. Yes, you can’t say Ann won’t keep you sock knitters happy!

If I had to choose one from this section, however….

Yup. Ruffles!! I can imagine them in a soft cashmere, worn with flair and confidence!

You can get the book as a pdf instant download through Ravelry or get your own softcover book on Ann’s site 

As always, you don’t come to Chez rock+purl without leaving us with some of your secrets…. so Ann, how about you give us some of your favourites?

Fave Cast On

Twisted German! It’s great for corrugated ribbing, and very stretchy. For single rib and garter stitch I also love the alternate cable cast-on that Woolly Wormhead taught me last summer. (Ruth note – my fave too!!)

Fave Bind-Off

 I call it the ‘Estonian lace cast-off’ because I learned it from Nancy Bush. It’s the same result as ordinary chain cast-off, but much looser because the technique is different – basically a series of SSKs: slip 1 knitwise to the working needle then knit it together with the st already on the working needle as in ssk.

Fave Object to Knit

fingerless mittens! So small and quick, yet so much opportunity for interesting design details…

Fave tool (circ, dpn, scissors, tapestry needle, crochet hook?)

my Nostepinne. I love winding perfect little centre-pull balls by hand!

Fave trick from the Fair Isle trenches

 spit-splicing to join two different coloured yarns at the exact point needed in clourwork. It’s a little-known technique that will soon be appearing in my Knitting School. Saves hours of weaving in…

Knitting pattern that you could knit again, and again, and…

Garment or stitch pattern? My favourite stitch pattern is a stranded heart (check how many times I’ve done them in my designs, and there are lots more to come!). My favourite garment pattern is more difficult. My own Sylvana is the one thing I’ve knitted lots of, so I guess that?

Yarn you could work with forever and not get tired (if it’s not invented yet, make it up!)

Shetland jumperweight of course!!

Designer/Teacher you’d like to swap brains with for a day

Kieran Foley - total knitting genius!! :o)

On a last note – what do you hope your book readers can learn from your words and your work?

To be ambitious in what they knit. The sense of achievement that comes from learning new things and extending my skills is such a life-force for me. I’d like to share that with other knitters too. :o)