Knit One, Kindle Too: Kindle Books for Knitters, Crocheters and Kindred Spirits

When I purchased my first Kindle, I was very excited about putting knitting and crocheting patterns and books on the device. Then reality set in. Color illustrations, schematics and charts are a very important component of all practical knitting books and the current Kindle sans color doesn't handle them gracefully. That said, there are a number of knitting-related books available for the Kindle that will interest folks who knit, crochet - or spin. And if you read Kindle books on your PC, Mac, Kindle Fire or iPad, the above caveats do not necessarily apply.

Here's a selection of recently published e-books for those of us to knit and/or crochet - sometimes even while reading!

Knitting

Sheepish: Two Women, Fifty Sheep, and Enough Wool to Save the Planet, by Catherine Friend. Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2011. Print Length: 282 p. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (13 reviews). Kindle edition $8.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"It’s been fifteen years since Catherine Friend left her quiet, urban existence and became the proud (if not slightly terrified) owner of two ducks, four goats, fifty sheep, and several acres of Minnesota farmland. Now, caught in a chronic love/hate relationship with her flock, Friend reevaluates life on the farm and discovers that her sheep - and sheep around the world - may be much more important than anyone gives them credit for. Told with the same warmth and charm that characterized her first memoir, Hit by a Farm, Sheepish...interweaves Friend’s personal anecdotes - everything from her unhealthy fascination with knitting and how she overcomes a brief passion for the Facebook game 'Farmville,' to the perils of unauthorized sheep breeding and shearing day adventures - with insights into the environmental impact of sheep and everything they produce." - author's website.

The Knitter's Gift: An Inspirational Bag of Words, Wisdom, and Craft, by Bernadette Murphy. Adams Media, 2010. Print Length: 256 p. Amazon customer rating: 4 stars (2 reviews). Kindle edition $9.39. Please note: this title is also available as a free loan from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library if you subscribe to Amazon Prime. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"Passionate knitters know that knitting is more than just a craft or a hobby. Knitting forms the texture and a background for their lives, binding them to their mothers and grandmothers who shared their great legacies; to friends and family who wear their homemade gifts; and to their fellow knitters. The Knitter's Gift is an inspirational collection just for them. Beginner and longtime knitters will rejoice as they read about: A father who treasures the scarf made by his daughter decades earlier; A Ph.D. candidate who finds that knitting reduces her stress, and allows her to knit together her higher education with her craft; A mother-in-law who makes peace with her daughter-in-law by creating a luxurious handmade gift; Written and compiled by this best-selling author, The Knitter's Gift is a timeless work that spans the generations.

Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together, by Larissa Brown and Martin John Brown. Optimized for larger screens. Abrams, 2011. Print Length: 160 p. Amazon customer rating: 4 1/2 stars (17 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"The immensely popular knitalong - an organized event where people knit together for a common goal - has only grown with the explosion of the Internet. Yesterday’s wartime Red Cross sock drives have evolved into today’s meet-ups at locales as diverse as cafes, state fairs, and major league ballparks, as well as international online gatherings; in fact, at any given time tens of thousands of people worldwide are involved in knitalongs, organized around a particular yarn, a favorite social cause, an intriguing project, a special event, or myriad other themes. Authors Larissa Brown and Martin John Brown present an inspiring look at centuries of people knitting together, and why knitters find the interaction so meaningful and worthwhile. Along the way, they offer 20 projects especially suited for different types of knitalongs." - Publisher.

The Knitter's Book of Socks: The Yarn Lover's Ultimate Guide to Creating Socks That Fit Well, Feel Great, and Last a Lifetime, by Clara Parkes. Potter Craft, 2011. Print Length: 208 p. Optimized for larger screens. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (6 reviews). Kindle edition $15.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"A sock is a work of wonder. No other knitted garment has as many structural demands or endures as much wear and tear. The humble sock must defy gravity, suffer the confines of our shoes, and endure being trampled on all day long. All too often, the root cause of a sock's triumph or failure is the yarn itself. In The Knitter’s Book of Socks, Clara Parkes shows you how to knit socks from yarn up, following the sock yarn life cycle from its foundations to its final moments on a proud foot. By understanding a sock's basic needs - elasticity, strength, and moisture management - you’ll learn how to play with these tools like building blocks, confidently combining fiber, twist, ply, pattern, and clever stitch tricks to construct your perfect pair of socks. To help put these principles into practice, The Knitter’s Book of Socks also offers 20 fresh, original patterns from today’s sock-design luminaries, including Cookie A, Cat Bordhi, Ann Budd, Nancy Bush, Anne Hanson, and Melissa Morgan-Oakes." - from the hardcover edition.

Ethnic Knitting Exploration: Lithuania, Iceland, and Ireland, by Donna Druchunas. Nomad Press, 2009. Print Length: 176 p. Optimized for larger screens. Amazon customer rating: 4 stars (6 reviews). Kindle edition $9.39. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"Ethnic Knitting Exploration, the second book in the Ethnic Knitting series, takes off for Lithuania, Iceland, and Ireland in another voyage of knitting discovery. This time, you’ll get a tour through unusual color patterns from Lithuania, circular yokes from Iceland, and Irish Aran-style garments. Step-by-step tutorials introduce the traditional techniques of each region, followed by a small project - fingerless gloves, a capelet, or a poncho. These are a great place to experiment with ideas, or just practice the new techniques before moving on to one of the two master sweater plans. Each project is presented as detailed instructions, a visual plan, and a spreadsheet, so you’re sure to find something you’re comfortable working with." - Nomad Press.

The Knitter's Life List, by Gwen W. Steege. Storey Publishing, 2011. Print Length: 320 p. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (5 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Optimized for larger screens. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"...a richly illustrated road map to more than 1,000 must-have experiences guaranteed to get any knitter’s needles clicking faster. Veteran knitter Gwen W. Steege has canvassed the knitting community to create this inspiring compilation, which includes amazing yarns to try; classic techniques to master; ground-breaking designers to know about; most-loved patterns to knit; knitting-related museums, movies, and books to enjoy; and much more. Novices and masters alike can read about qiviut from the musk ox - and then check it off their list once they’ve made something with that luxury fiber. They'll explore classic sweater designs and visit the yarn-friendliest cities. They’ll discover brave folks who delight in yarn-bombing; master intarsia; and even try spinning, weaving, dyeing, embroidery, and crochet."

Knit Together: An Amish Knitting Novel, by Karen Anna Vogal. Trestle Press, 2011. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (2 reviews). Kindle edition $4.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"Two cultures knit together by one faith. Ginny and James Rowland have close-knit ties with many Amish families in the small-town of Smickburg, PA. But these ties are threatened to unravel. Ginny’s photographer brother, Joseph, comes up from Pittsburgh to capture Amish farm scenes, but instead captures the heart of an Amish woman, Katie Byler. A shunned Amish man finds refuge in the Rowland’s Baptist Church. The Bishop discovers his son is dating the Rowland’s daughter. Will Granny Weaver’s knitting circle, that Ginny and other Englishers attend, be able to bring harmony through their love and faith?" - Publisher.

Crocheting

Go Crochet! Afghan Design Workbook, by Ellen Gormley. Krause Publications, 2011. Print Length: 128 p. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (17 reviews). Kindle edition $13.74. Please note: this title is also available as a free loan from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library if you subscribe to Amazon Prime. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"Do your hands itch to crochet while you sit in waiting rooms, on airplanes and at soccer games, but you don't want to carry along lots of yarn and heavy projects? In Go Crochet! Afghan Design Workbook, you'll find patterns for 50 interchangeable motifs designed for a range of skill levels that can be easily crocheted while on the go! Author Ellen Gormley provides you with great tips for assembling portable projects, creating fantastic color combinations, and arranging your crocheted motifs in unique and exciting ways." - Krause Books.

Austentatious Crochet: 36 Contemporary Designs from the World of Jane Austen, by Melissa Horozewski. Running Press, 2011. Print Length: 208 p. Optimized for larger screens. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (6 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"The timeless appeal of Jane Austen is evidenced not only by perpetual interest in her classic novels but also by countless book clubs, movies, plays, books, and sundry products which celebrate her work. Austentatious Crochet presents Austen fans with a unique opportunity to step into the scarf, skirt, or chemise of Elizabeth Bennett, Emma Woodhouse, and a host of other favorite Austen characters. The book features thirty-two original crochet projects inspired by Austen novels but fabulously brought up to date and wearable today. The designs focus on women’s wear, such as dresses, sweaters, cardigans, and capelets, but also encompass accessories such as handbags, scarfs, and pillowcases and clothing for children. Introductions to each project include favorite bits of dialogue from the original novels." - Publisher.

The Granny Square Book, by Margaret Hubert. Creative Publishing, 2011. Print Length: 176 p. Optimized for larger screens. Amazon customer rating: none yet. Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"Granny squares are to crochet what pieced squares are to quilting. They originated with pioneer women using up precious scraps of yarn to make blankets for their families, and over the years, many recognized, named patterns have been handed down from one generation to the next. Beyond this treasury of 75 different granny square motifs, Margaret Hubert shows the evolution of the granny square, how it can be used and interpreted in different ways with different yarns, and how today's crocheter can design her own projects using the granny squares of her choice with the yarn choices of today." - Publisher.

Behind the Seams: A Crochet Mystery, by Betty Hechtman. Berkley, 2011. Print Length: 305 p. Amazon customer rating: 4 stars (2 reviews). Kindle edition $11.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled. This is book six in the author's Crochet Mystery series that began with Dead Men Don't Crochet.

"The crochet group's informal leader, actress CeeCee Collins, has a movie out, and thanks to the Oscar buzz, she's scheduled to appear on the famous Barbara Olive Overton Show. Molly and the girls tag along, but when CeeCee's niece Nell - a production assistant on the show - is accused of poisoning one of the producers, Molly and the Hookers must set aside their crochet projects to clear Nell's name. And if they don't soon, someone else will be the next Hollywood headline." - Publisher.
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Note to readers: The book prices quoted here are the Amazon.com prices in effect at the time of the blog posting. Please follow the links to the individual book to check the current price.



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What's New in Nonfiction for the Kindle (24 Aug 2010)

What I like about non-fiction is that it covers such a huge territory. The best non-fiction is also creative. - Tracy Kidder.

Nonfiction encompasses a wealth of reading possibilities - history, essays, memoirs, scientific research, travel guides, cookbooks - essentially everything that is based on fact, real events and real people. Recent nonfiction titles for the Kindle that you might have missed:


Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives, by Thomas French. Hyperion. Print Length: 304 p. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (13 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"Welcome to the savage and surprising world of Zoo Story, an unprecedented account of the secret life of a zoo and its inhabitants, both animal and human. Based on six years of research, the book follows a handful of unforgettable characters at Tampa’ s Lowry Park Zoo: an alpha chimp with a weakness for blondes, a ferocious tiger who revels in Obsession perfume, and a brilliant but tyrannical CEO known as El Diablo Blanco. Thomas French, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, chronicles the action with vivid power: Wild elephants soaring above the Atlantic on their way to captivity. Predators circling each other in a lethal mating dance. Primates plotting the overthrow of their king. The sweeping narrative takes the reader from the African savannah to the forests of Panama and deep into the inner workings of a place some describe as a sanctuary and others condemn as a prison." - Amazon.

The Tenth Parallel: Dispatches from the Fault Line Between Christianity and Islam, by Eliza Griswold. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Print Length: 336 p. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (5 reviews). Kindle edition $12.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"The tenth parallel - the line of latitude seven hundred miles north of the equator - is a geographical and ideological front line where Christianity and Islam collide. More than half of the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims live along the tenth parallel; so do sixty percent of the world’s 2 billion Christians. Here, in the buzzing megacities and swarming jungles of Africa and Asia, is where the two religions meet; their encounter is shaping the future of each faith, and of whole societies as well. An award-winning investigative journalist and poet, Eliza Griswold has spent the past seven years traveling between the equator and the tenth parallel: in Nigeria, the Sudan, and Somalia, and in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The stories she tells in The Tenth Parallel show us that religious conflicts are also conflicts about land, water, oil, and other natural resources, and that local and tribal issues are often shaped by religious ideas. Above all, she makes clear that, for the people she writes about, one’s sense of God is shaped by one’s place on earth; along the tenth parallel, faith is geographic and demographic. ... an essential work about the conflicts over religion, nationhood and natural resources that will remake the world in the years to come." - Amazon.

A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities : Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from the World's Greatest Empire , by J. C. McKeown. Oxford University Press. Print Length: 272 p. Amazon customer rating: 4 stars (34 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"...a whimsical and captivating collection of odd facts, strange beliefs, outlandish opinions, and other highly amusing trivia of the ancient Romans. We tend to think of the Romans as a pragmatic people with a ruthlessly efficient army, an exemplary legal system, and a precise and elegant language. A Cabinet of Roman Curiosities shows that the Romans were equally capable of bizarre superstitions, logic-defying customs, and often hilariously derisive views of their fellow Romans and non-Romans. Classicist J. C. McKeown has organized the entries in this entertaining volume around major themes - The Army, Women, Religion and Superstition, Family Life, Medicine, Slaves, Spectacles - allowing for quick browsing or more deliberate consumption. J. C. McKeown is Professor of Classics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison" - Amazon.

It Was the Best of Sentences, It Was the Worst of Sentences: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Killer Sentences, by June Casagrande. Ten Speed Press. Print Length: 224 p. Amazon customer rating: 4 stars (5 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Disabled.
"Great writing isn’t born, it’s built - sentence by sentence. But too many writers - and writing guides - overlook this most important unit. The result? Manuscripts that will never be published and writing careers that will never begin. In this wickedly humorous manual, language columnist June Casagrande uses grammar and syntax to show exactly what makes some sentences great - and other sentences suck. With chapters on 'Conjunctions That Kill' and 'Words Gone Wild,' this lighthearted guide is perfect for anyone who’s dead serious about writing, from aspiring novelists to nonfiction writers, conscientious students to cheeky literati. So roll up your sleeves and prepare to craft one bold, effective sentence after another. Your readers will thank you." - from the Trade Paperback edition.

The Knitgrrl Guide To Professional Knitwear Design, by Shannon Okey. Cooperative Press. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (17 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.

"...the first-ever book targeted to designers of all experience levels who want to create, communicate and sell their work professionally to magazines, publishers, consumers and other markets. Written by an industry insider, the Guide takes a comprehensive, unflinching look behind the scenes that no knit or crochet designer can afford to be without. Includes interviews with top designers, editors and professionals who tell it like it is so you can hit the ground running, a guide to responsible social media use, information on distribution, printing, online publishing and much, much more. Shannon Okey has written or edited a dozen fiber arts books for major publishers, including the Knitgrrl series, Spin to Knit, Alt Fiber, the second edition of Knitting for Dummies, and many more.

Marcus of Umbria: What an Italian Dog Taught an American Girl about Love, by Justine van der Leun. Rodale. Print Length: 224 p. Amazon customer rating: 4 stars (17 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"Tired of her life in New York, van der Leun takes a vacation in the small town of Collelungo, in Umbria, Italy, where she falls in love with a rakish farmer named Emanuele. Soon she is back in Collelungo for good, moving in with Emanuele and his family on their sheep farm. When Justine finds an abandoned hunting dog, she promptly takes it in as her own. The dog, whom she names Marcus, becomes her constant companion around the Umbrian countryside as she observes the rituals of life on a farm, from the work of sheep herding, pig slaughtering, and horse training to the everyday rituals of family life. When her romance with Emanuele turns sour, she finds it hard to pry herself out of Italy and wonders if she can return to New York. And if her thoroughly Italian dog can survive there." - Hilary Hatton for Booklist.

Knit One, Kindle Too: Kindle Books for Knitters and Kindred Spirits

When I'm not reading, you will usually find me playing with string - knitting, crocheting or spinning yarn on a handspindle similar to the one on the right.

When I purchased my first Kindle, I was very excited about putting knitting patterns and books on the device. Then reality set in. Color illustrations, schematics and charts are a very important component of all practical knitting books and the current Kindle sans color doesn't handle them gracefully. That said, there are a number of knitting-related books available for the Kindle that will interest folks who knit, crochet or spin.

MEMOIRS
Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Somethng Who Learned to Knit After He Split, by Laurie Perry. Health Communications. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (51 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"Perry, a 33-year-old, Southern-born transplant to L.A., was shocked when her husband announced he was leaving her. Granted, he was more a safe sedan than a sports car, but she wasn't ready to be single. Perry started avoiding people for fear of crying in front of them and put on pounds with her divorce diet, 60% wine and 40% jalapeño potato chips and French fries. Fortunately, a friend insisted she try knitting..." - Publishers Weekly. Perry also maintains the Crazy Aunt Purl blog.

Yarn: Remembering the Way Home, by Kyoko Mori. GemmaMedia. Amazon customer rating: 3 stars (2 reviews). Kindle edition $10.95. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"Sit with Kyoko Mori as she artfully takes in hand needles and fiber, and also the realities of her life story, to knit this gorgeous memoir of loss, emigration, grief, identity and the work of her hands. The perfectly titled 'Yarn' recounts the author’s most formative experiences, including losing her mother through suicide; emigrating from Japan; finding a life and a love in America’s frigid Midwest; discovering joy as a single person; and leaning on the healing power of creating both stories and knitted garments..." - Suzanne Strempek Shea, author of Sundays in America.

Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter, by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Andrews McMeel Publishing. Amazon customer rating: Kindle edition $8.29. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"Over 50 million people in America knit. The average knitter spends between $500 and $1,700 a year on yarn, patterns, needles, and books. No longer just a fad or a hobby, knitting has advanced to a lifestyle. Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter moves beyond instructions and patterns into the purest elements of knitting: obsession, frustration, reflection, and fun. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's humorous and poignant essays find humor in knitting an enormous afghan that requires a whopping 30 balls of wool, having a husband with size 13 feet who loves to wear hand-knit socks, and earns her 'yarn harlot' title with her love of any new yarn - she'll quickly drop an old project for the fresh saucy look of a new interesting yarn..." - Amazon.

FICTION, WHODUNITS AND THE LIKE
While My Pretty One Knits, by Anne Canadeo. Pocket. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (10 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"Maggie Messina, beloved owner of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop, is thrilled to be hosting a workshop for one of her former students, now a celebrity in the knitting world. But the celebration is upstaged when Amanda Goran, the owner of the rival Knitting Nest, is found dead in her shop on the other side of town. Maggie had reasons to dislike Amanda, a thorn in her side ever since Maggie's shop surpassed Amanda's in popularity. Then again, it wasn't hard to dislike Amanda - the contentious woman, whose marriage was on the rocks, seemed to specialize in causing misery all over town. But the pointed evidence has a detective casting a suspicious eye on Maggie. She may be a whiz at knitting, but can she keep the police from needling her before her shop, her reputation, and her circle of friends become unraveled?" - Amazon.

The Beach Street Society and Yarn Club, by Gil McNeil. HarperCollins. Amazon customer rating: 4 stars (49 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"When her husband dies in a car crash - not long after announcing he wants a divorce - Jo Mackenzie packs up her two rowdy boys and moves from London to a dilapidated villa in her seaside hometown. There, she takes over her beloved Gran's knitting shop - a quaint but out-of-date store in desperate need of a facelift. After a rough beginning, Jo soon finds comfort in a Stitch and Bitch group; a collection of quirky, lively women who share their stories, and their addiction to cake, with warmth and humor. As Jo starts to get the hang of single-parent life in a small town, she relies on her knitting group for support. The women meet every week at the shop on Beach Street and trade gossip and advice as freely as they do a new stitch. But when a new man enters Jo's life, and an A-list actress moves into the local mansion, the knitting club has even more trouble confining the conversation to knit one, purl two..." - Amazon.

The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love, by Beth Pattillo. Publisher. Amazon customer rating: 4 1/2 stars (15 reviews). Kindle edition $9.99. Text-to-Speech: Disabled.
"Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses 'Great Love Stories in Literature' as the theme for the year’s reading list - a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status. As the Knit Lit ladies read and discuss classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love..." - Amazon.

By Hook or By Crook, by Betty Hechtman. Berkley Prime Crime. Amazon customer rating: 4 1/2 stars (10 reviews). Kindle edition $5.59. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"Molly Pink's crochet group has a new mystery on their hands when they find a paper bag that contains a note that speaks of remorse, a diary entry of the sorrow of parting, and a complicated piece of filet crochet that offers an obscure clue in pictures. Things get even more complicated when they find the talented crocheter - murdered by a box of poisoned marzipan apples." - Amazon.

HUMOR
The Secret Language of Knitters, by Mary Beth Temple. Andrews McMeel Publishing. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (6 reviews). Kindle edition $7.96. Text-to-Speech: Enabled.
"For the yarn-obsessed, Mary Beth Temple offers a glossary of knitting jargon and terminology... with entries like: Mistakes. As in 'The fact that one sleeve is five inches longer than the other is not a mistake, it is a design element.' With a universal affinity for cashmere and an absolute abhorrence of moths, veteran and beginning knitters alike will be certain not to cast off this humorous lexicon compendium." - Amazon.

It Itches: A Stash of Knitting Cartoons, by Franklin Habit. Interweave Press. Amazon customer rating: 5 stars (19 reviews). Kindle edition $7.96. Text-to-Speech: Enabled. A fun read. The simple line-drawing cartoons translate well to the Kindle and the publisher had the smarts to include a good selection of cartoons in the sample.
"An affectionate and humorous celebration of every aspect of the craft of knitting, from buying - and hiding - massive quantities of yarn to wrestling with projects that go seriously awry to prescriptions for alleviating the stress brought on by holiday knitting. This witty collection represents a pitch-perfect send up of one of the most rapidly growing hobbies today. Including 75 cartoons, deftly rendered in pen and ink with watercolor wash, and several humorous short essays, every knitter is sure to find elements of themselves in this collection." - Amazon.


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