December 2022

Newly-published books

British diver Tom Daley credits his gold medal at the 2021 Olympics to learning to knit and crochet. He took up both crafts in 2020 and says they became the "secret weapon" that enabled him to calm his nerves during the long waits between events. Pictures of him knitting at the Olympic poolside went viral—at least among knitters—and he's been publicly enthusiastic about both crafts ever since.

I wasn't sure any of that meant that Made with Love, his new book about knitting and crochet, would be any good though. Other celebrity craft books that I've seen have been a bit basic.

I'm happy to say that my fears were unfounded. The positive writing style, the many useful tutorials, and the range of designs in the book all helped to change my mind. Tom Daley's genuine enthusiasm for knitting and crochet, combined with his "can do" attitude, came across in a way that I found motivating, without feeling patronised.

The many photo tutorials cover a wide range of topics, starting with the basics like how to hold the yarn (right and left handed), how to read patterns and how to count rows, and progressing to more advanced techniques like intarsia and stranded knitting.

Since it covers both knitting and crochet to an intermediate level, with 15 patterns for each, the book is quite hefty. The binding is good quality though, and can be opened wide enough such that the pages stay open without breaking the spine, as you can see below.

All in all, I think Made with Love would be perfect for someone who wants to take up a yarn craft, but doesn't know much about either knitting or crochet.

More experienced knitters and crocheters might be interested in the book just for the patterns. The sweaters are mostly made with bulky yarn and are a bit too à la mode for my taste, though you may well be cooler than me, or have cooler people to make for.

There are designs that I would make though, such as knitted legwarmers, a dickie and a balloon-sleeved cardigan, and a crocheted water bottle carrier and slippers.

I think this book deserves to do well. Is it too much to hope that it does well enough to help challenge the tired notion that knitting and crochet are "just for grannies"? A comment on one of Tom Daley's Instagram posts sounds promising. It reads, "Ordered [the book] for my son for Christmas... He was really excited when he found out that an Olympic athlete also knitted. He used to be teased for knitting but it doesn't bother him anymore because of you."

I was so happy to read that. I don't want knitting and crochet to be "secret weapons". I want everyone to feel free, should they choose, to wield needles, hooks and yarn.

New and discontinued yarns

New

ABC Yarn
Rainbow – DK – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Solid colors

Artyarns
Silky Twist – Heavy Worsted – 80% Merino Wool, 20% Silk – 2 ply – Solid colors, Semi-solid colors, Multicolored

Baah Yarn
Mammoth – Super Bulky – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – Single ply – Multicolored, Tonal colors, Speckled

Elements
Panoramic – Aran – 70% Acrylic, 30% Cotton – Plied – Self-striping (gradient transition)
Quick Knit – Super Bulky – 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool – Single ply – Self-striping

Ella Rae
Cashmereno Chunky – Bulky – 55% Merino Superwash Wool, 33% Acrylic, 12% Cashmere – Plied – Solid colors

Emu
Classic Aran With Wool – Aran – 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Estelle
Crazy Ball Prints – Fingering – 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Self-striping
Merino XL – Super Bulky – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – Single ply – Solid colors

Hobbii
Portobello – Worsted – 60% Cotton, 28% Acrylic, 12% Wool – Fiber-filled net – Semi-solid colors

Ice Yarns
Abana – Heavy Worsted – 100% Acrylic – S on S plied – Solid colors
Glenda – Aran – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Solid colors
Vineland – DK – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Solid colors

James C. Brett
Aurora DK – DK – 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool – Plied – Self-striping (long transition)
Shhh DK – DK – 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool – Plied with a soft haze – Gradient, Self-striping (gradient transition)

Jody Long
Airspun – DK – 70% Merino Superwash Wool, 30% Nylon – Fiber-filled net – Semi-solid colors

Järbo Garn
Svensk Ull 4-tr – Aran – 100% Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Heathered colors

King Cole
Wool Aran – Aran – 100% Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Heathered colors

Lana Grossa
Colors For You – Heavy Worsted – 55% Superwash Wool, 45% Acrylic – Single ply – Self-striping, Self-striping (gradient transition)
Cool Wool 4 Socks – Fingering – 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – S on S plied – Solid colors, Self-striping

Noro
Haunui Silk – Aran – 65% Wool, 35% Silk – Tweedy – Undyed
Kashirukuru – Aran – 40% Mulberry Silk, 30% Merino Wool, 20% Cashmere, 10% Nylon – Single ply – Tonal colors

Premier Yarns
Gala – Sport – 95% Polyester, 5% Metallic – Metallic chainette – Metallic colors
Wool Select Jacquard Sock – Fingering – 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Self-striping (fair-isle effect)

Queensland Collection
Falkland Chunky – Bulky – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors
Shetland Lite – Fingering – 100% Shetland Wool – 2 ply – Solid colors, Heathers

Rico Design
Superba Easy 8 ply – Worsted – 70% Superwash Wool, 30% Nylon – Plied – Self-striping, Self-striping (spray effect)

Rohrspatz & Wollmeise
Sport – Sport – 80% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon – Plied – Solid colors

Sandnes Garn
Strømpegarn (Alpaca and Merino Sock Yarn) – DK – 40% Alpaca, 40% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon – Plied – Solid colors
Tweed Recycled – Worsted – 80% Superwash Wool, 20% Cashmere – Tweedy – Tweed colors

Spincycle Yarns
Trine – Worsted – 100% Wool – Plied – Marled

Universal Yarn
Easel – Fingering – 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Self-striping (fair-isle effect)
Filly – Fingering – 46% Cotton, 33% Merino Superwash Wool, 12% Nylon, 9% PBT (Elastic) – S on S plied – Multicolored
Sugar Saki – Fingering – 50% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Bamboo Viscose, 25% Nylon – Plied – Multicolored
Zesty Sock – Fingering – 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Dashed colors

Wool and the Gang
Lil' Crazy Sexy Wool – Super Bulky – 100% Highland Wool – Single ply – Solid colors

Discontinued

Araucania
Ñuble – Light Fingering – 75% Merino Wool, 25% Silk – Single ply – Multicolored

BC Garn
Sarah Tweed – Worsted – 60% Silk, 40% Wool – 2 ply – Tweed colors
Semilla Flamé – Heavy Worsted – 100% Wool – Thick and thin – Solid colors

Bendigo Woollen Mills
Bloom 8-ply – DK – 100% Wool – Plied – Marled
Marble Glow 8-ply – DK – 100% Wool – Plied – Self-striping (gradient marl)

Big Twist Yarns
Soft Touch – Aran – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Solid colors

Blue Moon Fiber Arts
Aria – Worsted – 60% Merino Wool, 40% Silk – Plied – Solid colors, Semi-solid, Multicolored
Twisted – Aran – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Semi-solid, Multicolored

Debbie Bliss
Toast 4-ply – Fingering – 65% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon, 10% Cashmere – Plied – Solid colors

Ella Rae
Rustic Silk – Fingering – 100% Silk – Plied – Dappled colors

Euro Baby / EYB
Tenderfoot – Fingering – 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Solid colors, Heathers

Hand Maiden Fine Yarn
Wisp – Lace – 70% Kid Mohair, 20% Nylon, 10% Wool – Brushed bouclé – Solid colors, heathers, Multicolored

Hobbii
Atlas Happy Feet – Fingering – 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Self-striping

Knit Picks / We Crochet
Mighty Stitch Bulky – Bulky – 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Lion Brand
Cotton Blend No 5 – Bulky – 55% Cotton, 45% Acrylic – Single wrapped with thread – Self-striping marls
LB Collection Jumbo Alpaca Blend – Jumbo – 43% Baby Alpaca, 43% Merino Wool, 14% Nylon – Chained – Solid colors

Moda Vera
Flurry – Worsted – 100% Polyester – Eyelash – Multicolored

Paintbox Yarns
Recycled Big Cotton – Super Bulky – 60% Cotton, 40% Polyester – I-cord – Solid colors

Patons (North America)
Classic Wool DK Superwash – DK – 100% Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Multicolored, Marls, Heathers
Norse – Super Bulky – 54% Acrylic, 28% Wool, 18% Nylon – Fiber-filled net – Semi-solid colors
Shetland Chunky – Bulky – 75% Acrylic, 25% Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Multicolored

If you'd like to get in touch, please send a mail to hello@yarnsub.com (you can simply reply to this mail) or find me on Instagram.

See you in January!

Wendy

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