If you didn't know that there was a One-Skein Wonders blog tour happening, I encourage you to check out the link below and also search around the interwebs to find other designers' posts. I first worked with Storey in 2007 with 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders: A World of Possibilities Inspired by Just One Skein which included my Ostrich Plume Bonnet. I wanted to contribute to the luxury book, and they even contacted me about it, but Rich's job change and our move happened in the middle of the submission period, and it just didn't happen. So, I was excited to be working with them again on this book with Saint Catherine of Alexandria. You'll find her on page 68 of the book, with adorable modeling as you can see here.


©Geneve Hoffman Photography.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria is my daughter Yasmina's name saint, and she inspired me a bit with this design. I knew that there were French traditions surrounding this saint involving hearts and romance (which is a little misplaced, as she was a virgin saint who would not marry. Though I suppose her heart for God and the Church and the poor might be called on and brought to mind), so I kind of ran with that. Even the type of garment, a cache-coeur, or heart holder, was a nod to this. I saw a similar lace heart design on a girl's sweater at a fiber festival about 10 years ago, and I recreated it as best as I could. The final little heart touch I made was the choice of buttons. Since I love one piece and seamless construction, I was determined to make this a knit that only required weaving in ends, sewing on buttons, and a little blocking to be complete. Knitting begins at the bottom of the back, works its way up, then works one side as it crosses the front while the other side is held on a stitch holder, and returns to the second side to reverse the shaping and mirror the first. The pattern is knit up in two sizes, a newborn to six month size and a six to 12 month size. Both sizes only use one skein of the yarn called for in the pattern, though if substituting yarns, you may want to make sure you check the yardage estimates. Even making the larger size as the sample for the book, I had enough yarn left over to make a little, matching hat using the chart for the heart.



I have to say that I was a little worried that I wouldn't have the book in my hands in time to write this post, but it arrived right before our trip, so I was able to enjoy it and show off to our friends. It was important to me that I had a chance to see the other designs and the lay out of the book before I wrote about it. If you've read any of my reviews before, you know that I am brutally honest (so much so, that I was honestly surprised to receive a second request from a book publisher to do a review), however, I am pleased to report that this book continues in the pattern of the books that came before it in being an excellent publication and fun series of books for knitters and crocheters who buy (as we all do) that one great skein or that one special skein or that last color that was lonely. These books are wonderful resources for me, and this book, specifically, did not disappoint. There are at least 20 designs in here that I would like to knit, just in my first pass through the book. Even if you don't have babies or toddlers of your own, this is a wonderful source of ideas for those of you out there who have grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or friends having children. Aside from that, I would recommend this book and the series to other designers. I have found that the editors and staff at Storey are wonderful to work with, and willing to offer opportunities to new and lesser known designers to be published. If you have ever harbored a little spark of a dream of making your own design or pattern, keep your ears open for news from them.


Here's one more photo of a variation I made for Nejat (our youngest daughter) using the yarn I intended to use for the Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Small Indulgences book. I thought it was fitting to use it to make this design for her.

Thank you for making a stop here with me on this blog tour. Please check out the book, my pattern, but especially the other posts on the tour to learn something new about the other designs and designers who worked on this publication as well.

Labels: Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, Patterns