a vibrant collection of inspiring and instructional books specializing in knitting, sewing, quilting, drawing, and other “maker” genres.
We may have gained an hour, but it's starting to feel a bit chilly around here…
...For some fall inspiration (and more ideas for staying warm!), Kristy McGowan's More Modern Top-Down Knitting is out today. Check out a selection of the projects in our image gallery and on Ravelry.
Beautiful Yarn Rainbow from Harrisville Designs. Photo courtesy of Laura Poulette.
Last Saturday, the STC Craft team spent a beautiful fall wekend in Rhinebeck at the 33rd annual New York State Sheep & Wool Festival (10/19 – 10/20). We were in good company among 40k+ attendees ranging from knitters, crocheters, and handspinners to lots of fiber-producing livestock!
We proudly hung our STC Craft banner above a wide selection of our craft and design titles on sale via the Hudson Valley-based Merritt Bookstore. The stars of the day were our fabulous authors, doing demos and signings from the morning opening to the afternoon close.
Highlights included:
The Knitted Slipper Tree.
Project samples from STC Craft titles on display.
With other autumnal-themed treats like fresh cider and homemade jams, live llamas and alpacas, and tons of vendors of yarn and knitting gear, the festival is a great destination for everyone, young and old, who wants to spend a happy day in the country. Plus, the fall foliage makes the trip even more worthwhile! A big thank you to our STC Craft fans old and new who stopped by the booth to meet our authors and check out our books—hopefully everyone got some great ideas for new projects!
The source.
We're thrilled to announce that Lena Corwin's Made by Hand is officially on sale today! From knitting, embroidery, and weaving to screen printing, tie dye, and jewelry-making, this book is a treasure trove of beautiful, inspiring projects for both the beginner and the creatively adventurous.
And, of course, Lena's lovely book trailer is not to be missed. For a big dose of creative inspiration, watch the whole thing above or take a peek at the images in our photo gallery (seriously, does it get more beautiful than that cover?). But be forewarned—once you do, you won't be able to fight the urge to go out and make something!
Lena Corwin's Made by Hand is available now, wherever books are sold.
The first time I saw super-talented illustrator Sun Young Park's work in Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing, I thought "I need to wallpaper my office in these illustrations." And now, I can—and so can you! Sun is now offering prints of some of her favorite illustrations from the book in her new Etsy shop, and STC Craft blog readers are in for a treat—a Gertie giveaway! To enter to win a copy of the book along with an 8 x 10" print of the illustration above, leave a comment below telling us about a vintage or vintage-inspired piece you love by November 1 at 1 PM EST. One winner will be chosen at random.
See more of Sun's beautiful work on her website, and make sure to take advantage of free shipping from her shop exclusively for our readers through the end of October with offer code "STCCRAFT."
Good luck!
Click here for official rules.
It's finally time—The Knitted Slipper Book is officially on sale tomorrow, October 8! To celebrate the release, author Katie Startzman will be a guest on Planet Purl's video chat at 12 pm EST. Tune in to hear her talk all about the book as well as her amazing book trailer, ask her questions, and even have a chance to win a copy for yourself!
To add to this week's excitement, Katie has also created companion videos to walk readers through some of the finer points of slipper construction included in the book. Want more guidance on hand felting? Can't quite figure out how to attach your cozy shearling lining? Then keep checking in—Katie will be updating this page over the next few days with additional video tutorials for your fall slipper-knitting sessions.
And of course, make sure to check out The Knitted Slipper Book, available wherever books are sold!
Author and yarn expert Clara Parkes will be traveling from coast to coast to read from her new memoir, The Yarn Whisperer, beginning next week! In this captivating, poignant, laugh-out-loud funny collection of stories, Clara explores the role knitting has played throughout her life. At each stop she'll read a selection from the book and sign copies, conduct a light-hearted quiz show with her famous 'Claramels' as prizes, take questions from the audience, and stay until the last skein has been squeezed!
Hear what the critics are saying:
"I see a lot of yarn books in this gig, and "Whisperer" is not only the best I've seen this year, it's one of my all-time faves. Seriously, it's that good." - The Oregonian
"I don't want to stop reading. Each chapter is a little jewel." - Knit Circus
Can't wait? Then listen to an excerpt from The Yarn Whisperer, read by Clara herself!
Don't miss Clara in your city! Tour dates & venues include*:
October 10 at 7pm - Seattle area, WA @ Third Place Books
October 11 at 6pm - San Francisco, CA @ Book Passage
October 12 at 4pm - Portland, OR @ Powell's Books
October 13 at 2pm - Pasadena, CA @ Vroman's Bookstore, featuring a special appearance of the Yarnover Truck!
October 14 at 7:30pm - Denver, CO @ Tattered Cover
October 15 at 7pm - Minneapolis area, MN @ The Bookcase
October 16 at 6pm - Chicago, IL @ Sulzer Library (with books provided by The Book Cellar)
October 17 at 6:30pm - Nashville, TN @ Parnassus Books (with support from beloved Nashville yarn shop Bliss Yarns)
October 19 & 20 at 11:30 am & 3pm - Rhinebeck, NY @ New York Sheep & Wool Festival (with books provided by Merritt Books)
October 24 at 7pm - Portland, ME @ Longfellow Books
*Copies will be available for purchase at all signings. Please be sure to support your local independent bookseller!
These last few crisp, fall evenings have really put us in the mood for warm beverages and cuddly knitwear. I know we're not the only ones ready to hole up with a few bundles of wool, which is why we're so thrilled to present this "knitted" trailer for The Knitted Slipper Book by Katie Startzman. We are sure that this short story of slipper-making and love will enchant you. (You've got to check out the sets, which Katie and her sister designed and built out of wool and cardboard--and then there's the amazing sound, including the click clack of needles, the chirp of a cuckoo clock, and the crackling of a fire).
This everything-you-need-to-know guide, which releases on October 8, is chock full of adorable slippers and house shoes for everyone you love. And stay tuned, because starting in October, author Katie Startzman will be releasing step-by-step videos to walk you through some of the techniques in the book! Take a peek at some of the sweet and cozy projects here, and make sure to pre-order your copy today!
As anyone with a love of wool can attest, renowned knitter and author Clara Parkes is an unstoppable force in the fiber arts community, and her site Knitter's Review is an important resource for knitters everywhere. In her brand new book, The Yarn Whisperer, Clara shares personal, poignant, and laugh-out-loud funny stories from her travels, framed by her lifelong love of knitting. To celebrate the release of this un-put-downable essay collection, we're offering a special treat: you can listen to Clara read one of her essays here! The Yarn Whisperer is available in stores now—make sure to grab a copy today.
With summer drawing to a close, we're thrilled to share our new fall releases with all of you! This fall, get ready to:
Knit sweet, cozy footwear with Katie Startzman:
Learn a new medium with Lena Corwin:
Knit a fashionable winter wardrobe from the top down with Kristina McGowan:
Inspire the tween in your life to get creative with her buddies, with doodle queen Dawn DeVries Sokol:
And read stories about a life in knitting from renowned knitter and author Clara Parkes:
Click on the book covers above to see additional inspiring photos from our new books, and make sure to keep an eye out for these titles, coming soon to bookstores near you!
Once a week, we share some of our favorite inspiration to get your creative juices flowing for a weekend of creating. Today's offering comes from Kaffe Fassett, from the foreword to Material Obsession by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke.
Once a week, we share some of our favorite inspiration to get your creative juices flowing for a weekend of creating. Today's offering comes from St. Francis of Assisi, as featured in Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick.
Have a happy, crafty weekend!
Once a week, we share some of our favorite inspiration to get your creative juices flowing for a weekend of creating. Today's simple offering comes from Weekend Handmade by Kelly Wilkinson.
Have a happy, crafty weekend!
Once a week, we share some of our favorite inspiration to get creative juices flowing for a weekend of creating. Today's offering comes from Weekend Sewing (now also in paperback) by Heather Ross.
Have a happy, crafty weekend!
Once a week, we share some of our favorite inspiration to get creative juices flowing for a weekend of creating. Today's offering comes from our own publishing director, Melanie Falick, from the foreword to KnitLit, edited by Molly Wolf & Linda Roghaar.
Have a happy, crafty weekend!
From Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
Whether your warm-weather plans consist of lounging in the sun or cozying up to your air conditioner, summer is a perfect time to load up your e-reader or smartphone with new reads for the season. And with the launch of Open Road Integrated Media's 150 Summer Steals promotion, it's easier than ever to while away your extra few hours of sunlight with your favorite patterns from STC Craft!
Don't miss up to 75% off on an assortment of e-book editions of STC Craft favorites, including: AlterKnits Felt, Kata Golda's Hand-Stitched Felt, Knit 2 Together, Knits Men Want, Knitspeak, Knitted Socks East and West, Knitting 24/7, Knitting for Baby, Knitting New Mittens and Gloves, Viva Poncho, and Weekend Knitting. This sale will be running from July 9 to July 22, so download now and get to crafting!
All of the covers we design at STC Craft have their own particular challenges. Which image is the best representation of the book? Will one beautiful image suffice, or do we need more? Should we include a burst calling out a special feature, or find a way to incorporate it into the subtitle? The answers to these questions can sometimes take months to answer, and the cover for Knit to Flatter was no exception.
Before we arrived at the cheerful pink polka-dot cover shown above, designer Meg Mateo Ilasco patiently tried many options, including single images, creative detail shots, and small groupings, but nothing was quite right. Then, one night when I was at the office far too late, inspiration hit: we need to show all of the models on the cover! That is, after all, the spirit of the book: to show nine women with totally unique styles and shapes wearing hand-knit sweaters that make them look good and feel great. To put them all together on the cover was proof that there were no smoke and mirrors at play—this system of choosing sweater patterns and knitting to fit your shape works!
Unfortunately (or fortunately), editors at STC Craft headquarters don't have access to design software, so to express my vision to Meg, I dragged photos into Microsoft Word (I know, it doesn't get more low-tech than that) and created a grid. Melanie provided the inspiration for the polka dots—don't polka dots make everything fun? And that's really what we were going for. The book is a celebration of not just our bodies, but of our sweaters and our pride in what we make.
What Meg sent back was definitely getting there! But the raspberry palette just wasn't feeling right. So Meg refined her idea and presented us with four options, all of which we loved: a black option, a black-and-pink option, a white option, and the white-and-pink option we ultimately chose (see top of post). I absolutely love our finished cover, though I must admit there are a few options here that I am still fond of. What do you think, readers? Would you have picked a different cover?
Once a week, we'll be sharing inspiring words from the pages of our books to get your creative juices flowing for a weekend of creating. Today's offering comes from Knit to Flatter by Amy Herzog.
Have a happy, crafty weekend!
One of the best things about working at STC Craft is that there's always an abundance of creative inspiration at our fingertips, whether with luscious photos, beautiful project ideas, or sage words from some of the greatest crafters out there. Once a week, we'll be sharing some of our favorites to get your creative juices flowing for a weekend of creating. Today's offering comes from Simon Leach's Pottery Handbook by Simon Leach with Bruce Dehnert.
Have a happy, crafty weekend!
Renowned illustrator, crafter, and blogger Heather Ross is beloved for her whimsical illustrations and quick and easy sewing patterns. With two STC Craft books under her belt: Weekend Sewing (now also in paperback!) and Heather Ross Prints, and a third on the way, it's obvious that we just can't get enough of her sweet and covetable designs either.
So we were delighted to hear that her new seasonal fabric collection, Briar Rose, is being celebrated this week at Purl Soho! A collaboration with Windham Fabrics, the lightweight quilting cottons were inspired by Heather's love of summer, the buzzing of bees and chirping of crickets, muddy puddles, and snuggly handmade quilts on chilly June nights.
Featuring fabric packs of different sizes and signed limited editions of her wild strawberry prints, the event will be chock-full of inspiration for your summertime projects. So if you're in the area, we hope you'll stop by on Thursday, June 20th at 6:30pm for a fun evening at Purl Soho with Windham Fabrics and Heather Ross!
Almost exactly one year ago, I got into a car wtih Jared Flood and Karen Schaupeter, both of whom I had brought on board to photograph and style Simon Leach's Pottery Handbook. We were headed to Simon Leach's house in rural Pennsylvania, and I must admit, we didn't have much of a plan. Many people know Jared Flood as the creator of the yarn line Brooklyn Tweed, but what many don't know is that he is also an amazing painter and a fantastic photographer--a true lover of art and master of light. And for the styling, Karen Schaupeter is our go-to girl, always adaptable, versatile, and loads of fun to have on set. Basically, I had my pottery photoshoot dream team, and we were headed to the countryside to shoot on the fly. We had a one-page shoot list that broke down the book by chapter, and we had a pretty good idea of what we hoped to photograph when we arrived, though we had no idea what would actually be waiting for us when we got there.
When we pulled up to Simon's house and saw the amazing stonework of the building, the lush green of the hillsides, the decked out studio in his garage, the throwing-wheel set-up on his front porch, and the rows upon rows of ceramics in various stages of completion, we knew it was going to be a fun time.
One of the first things to catch my eye when I entered Simon's studio was this set of teaching tools meant to illustrate the eight steps of creating a cylinder. He had them casually set up on a shelf near the wheels, and in just a matter of minutes, Karen had scooped them up and artfully arranged them on a ware board on the floor of the garage to create this stunning chapter opener.
Throughout the day, as Karen consulted with the authors, Simon Leach and Bruce Dehnert, about the objects for the still lifes, Jared roamed around shooting the myriad beautiful items in their organic settings, like this table full of bisque-fired pottery that was sitting by the kiln.
In this photo, Karen works with Simon to set up a still life of tools used to decorate and glaze pots.
And once they were happy with the arrangement, they called Jared over to weigh in on the framing and snap the shot.
And of course, a trip to a pottery studio wouldn't be complete without a little fire and smoke (or a lot, in this case). At the end of the second day, as Simon removed the scorching hot pots from the raku kiln and dropped them into hay-filled buckets to cool, Jared donned a respirator so he could get in for the tight shots without bursting into a coughing fit.
And I would say the resulting dramatic photos were worth it!
One year later, with the book completed, printed, and on sale, it's funny to look back on our process. At the time, it felt like a dizzying amount of planning and organizing, mixed with a big dose of improvisation. But now, when I look at the finished book, it all seems so neat and orderly, so pretty and calm. It reminds me of something Simon said to me when he first saw the designed pages of his book after working on the manuscript for such a long time:
"It reminds me of the analogy of a Persian carpet in the process of being woven. On the top side you see a harmony of patterns being woven, very orderly, very neat, beautifully crafted...on the underside you see a whole load of tangled, knotted loose ends!! In fact what appears to be total chaos. Clearly you guys have been busy weaving!"
To see more of Jared's fabulous photography from Simon's book, be sure to check out the gallery here.
