On Dreams and Sheep

I’ve been thinking a lot about dreams lately. Of course, it could have something to do with the fact that I’ve been having some really strange dreams lately. Not sure why, but they have certainly been interfering with getting a good night’s sleep. Sometimes I remember my dreams, well, to be more accurate, I remember bits and pieces of them. One of my favorite dreams lately has been the one in which Nathan Fillion declared his undying love and adoration for me. I could live with that. Happily so, I imagine.

My sleep dreams made me think about my awake dreams, too. That and the suggestions I hear from experts in finding a job in a tight job market. According to many, this is a great time to “make” a job for yourself or jump into that career you’ve long been wanting but haven’t had the motivation to enter into–yet. So, I asked myself, “If I could have any career, what would it be?” Well, I obviously want something in the fiber field. I’ve been an editor and author for more than 20 years, so it would make sense that I would like to edit and write books and articles about knitting and other fiber-related subjects. I’d really like to be a tech editor. I’ve been researching how to break into that field, and it appears that it can be a tough thing to do. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

I asked others what their dream fiber-related jobs would be. Someone would like to be a fiber photographer (and can I say how important photos are in the field?). A person who test knits and crochets for free would like to be able to make that a paying position. There were those who wanted to own an LYS, some who wanted to teach, and many who would like to become designers (one is well on her way). Another wants to be the owner of a yarn company, while another wants to be a product manager for a yarn company. Then there’s one who would like to have a combo Victorian tearoom and fiber shop, which made me wonder how to combine my love of food and cooking with my love of all things yarny. Why a knit cafe in a lighthouse, of course.

Who knows how many of us will achieve our dream careers. And, of course, our ideas of what makes up a dream job will change from time to time. But, if we don’t dream, we can’t know what we can achieve.

The Knitter’s Book of Wool

Many of you are big fans of The Knitter’s Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes. It’s a good reference book for those who want to learn more about the characteristics of the myriad yarns available. This information can aid the designer and knitter in making the best choices for their knitting projects.

In her new  book, The Knitter’s Book of Wool, Parkes turns her attention to wool, the most common of knitting fibers. The book begins with an explanation of what makes up wool fiber. Readers will get an introduction to how wool fiber is spun into yarn, including the difference between spinning woolen and spinning worsted. All yarns labeled 100% wool will not bring the same results, and Parkes gives readers hints on how to tell what a finished project might turn out even before winding the yarn.

One of the most interesting chapters is “Meet the Breeds.” Here, readers are introduced to 37 breeds of sheep. Each entry includes a brief description of the breed and photos of a lock and, for many, spun yarn. Each entry includes a sidebar of breed fiber facts: fineness, staple length, crimp, luster, suitable for, felting qualities, and contact information.

Many knitters prefer to use wool blends, and the next chapter covers the rationale behind the decisions of yarn companies and spinners to blend the wool with another fiber. Readers will learn how other fibers affect wool’s drape, luster, halo, and strength. You’ll also discover what blends to look for if you want to wear woolen handknits during warm weather. (No, you don’t have to swelter when wearing wool!)

As in The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, The Knitter’s Book of Wool also contains patterns. Designers such as Cat Bordhi, Nancy Bush, and Ilga Leja have contributed patterns. There are garment and accessories projects, including a pullover designed for adults and children, a pillow, and a bag. There are also several lovely shawl and wrap patterns.

The Knitter’s Book of Wool concludes with information about washing wool and how to keep moths away. There is a list of resources as well as Abbreviations and Techniques, About the Designers, Author Acknowledgments, and Glossary. The index is complete and a helpful resource.

Overall, the book is well designed. There are places, however, where white type on a dark background is used. Many people find this combination difficult to read. The photographs are beautiful, and I would have preferred to see photographs of the sheep rather than illustrations. As for the patterns, there is a diverse selection, and there is something for every skill level. The instructions are clearly written and easy to follow. Many of the lace patterns can be knit using either the charts provided or the written instructions. Most of the charts are easy to read and follow. The charts for the Falling Waters Shawl pattern, however, are more difficult to read because of the number of stitches. That is easily remedied by copying and enlarging, or by copying and color-coding the stitches. Of course, if you want to avoid the charts, this is one of the patterns that also has written instructions. It would have been more useful to have the Glossary immediately follow the Abbreviations and Techniques. Instead, it follows About the Designers and Author Acknowledgments.

As a resource book, it would have been easy for the writing to be dry and mired in facts. Though Parkes provides readers with important information, she does it in an interesting manner. But then, that’s what we’ve come to expect from her. Is The Knitter’s Book of Wool a must have? Probably not. But, if you’re a spinner, designer, or a knitter who likes to switch out fiber types in their projects, it can be a valuable resource to your knitting library.