The array of icons includes authors such as Beatrix Potter and Virginia Woolf, the musicians Cyndi Lauper and Kate Bush, as well as activists, artists, garden designers and more.
This versatile collection features a variety of styles and techniques. It includes cardigans, sweaters, vests, jackets, and a dress, as well as shawls, socks, hats, mittens, and even a tie.
Susan created the designs to resemble heirloom pieces, well-loved and handed down through generations, with stories interwoven into their fabric.
The book showcases the continuing impact of others on each of us, and how inspiration often works: creating layers within layers, echoes within echoes.
โEvery piece of this collection is carefully intertwined with the next: stories, inspiration, colours and yarns are all different yet connected, creating a knitted tapestry, echoes of each one woven together. I hope you enjoy knitting them as much as I have done!โ
Susan Crawfordย is a British knitwear designer, fashion historian and author, known for her work on modernizing vintage knitwear patterns.
She lives in the Lake District in North West England โ an area with stunning landscapes that also impact her work. Susan is particularly inspired by the stories carried within textiles and the intertwining of history and stitches.ย Echoesย is Susanโs eighth book.
My maternal grandmother was the big knitter in my family (preceeded only by her mother who learned to knit when she was 5 years old). When my bubby passed away in 2000 I was only just getting into knitting, and inherited her knitting patterns. My inheritance lit something inside of me, because I became a collector of patterns, books and magazines. I’ve loved all of them, but like the buddha and George Harrison remind me, all things must pass, and now it’s time to pass these little gems on to new, loving homes.
Affordable prices (so far nothing is above $5, some are marked at $2, or even $1)
Everything will be for sale in-store for you to browse and poke through, but if you are looking for something specific please feel free to email and I can check to see if I have it.
When you come please bring a sturdy tote bag to bring your new old-books & magazines home in!
DO NOT put off coming in a getting them! Anything that lingers for more than a month will be donated to the University College Book Sale (where you can look for it at their next sale in Sept/Oct 2024).
Vintage 1960s Spinnerin Knitting Booklets
Added March 6, 2024
Versatility Emphasized, no. 161 (1962) ($5)
Vibrantly Vital, no. 174 (1964) ($5)
Special Report no. 2 (1965) ($5)
March into Fashion (Featuring Poncho Parade), no. 181 (1967) ($5)
A La Carte, Vol 184 (1968) ($5)
Charisma, vol 209 (1971) ($3)
Spinovations 4 (c. 1979?) ($2)
Spinovations 5 (c. 1979/1980) ($2)
Cape Caper Minibook no. 344 (1973) ($1)
Vintage 1960s American Thread Co/Star Booklets ($2 ea)
Added March 6, 2024
Aunt Lydia’s Rug Yarn Collection, no. 225
Knitted & Crocheted Afghans, no. 222
Let’s Crochet, no. 209
So You Want To Make A Rug, no. 197 (crochet)
Crocheted Rugs, no 93
Sweaters for Mother, Brother, Sis and Dad, no. 110
Kitted & Crocheted Designs: as Featured at the Better Living Center at the New York World’s Fair, no. WF1 (1964)
Observations: Knits and Essays from the Forest is a knitted walk through the forest and the seasons. With a keen eye for the innate wonders of the natural world, Lotta H. Lรถthgren combines knitwear designs with notes of the landscape she calls home: a small village in the southeast of Sweden, nestled among forests and lakes. There, she spends her days writing, knitting, designing knitwear and hand-dyeing yarn. Observations includes nine knitwear patterns for long-lasting, wearable garments and accessories, along with essays about living a life close to nature. โThe patterns have been created in a quiet conversation with the land, drawing elements from the natural world and translating them into stitches and fabric,โ Lotta says. Lotta H. Lรถthgren is a knitwear designer, writer and yarn-dyer living with her husband, children, dogs and chickens in a small village in the southeast of Sweden, where she also runs her own yarn shop. Lotta leads a small, quiet life close to nature and the changing seasons. As a designer, she loves to interpret natural elements into practical and wearable garments, perfect for her way of life.
Badger is a playful and comfortable knit, with a relaxed fit to make the most of the softness of the yarn combination. The deep yoke has a wide colourwork pattern, and the roomy sleeves have optional colourwork on the cuff. The abstract pattern across the yokeโโas well as the colours and heavier yarn are a nod toโโthe badger, this shy and compact creature that burrows out of our sight.
The Woodpecker Vest
Woodpecker is the perfect layering piece. It has a wide rib at the bottom, a light V-neck shape to the neckline, cables on each front and an overall textured pattern. The vest is intended to be worn open and has no buttonholes. The texture reminds me of the holes made by woodpeckers in old tree trunks, and the front cables of tree roots growing around each other and into the ground.
The Mushroom Sweater
This is a classic raglan sweater knitted seamlessly from the top down. The mix of knit and purl rounds in the colourwork creates an interesting and comfortable texture. The sample is made in a woollen-spun DK-weight yarn that is light and warm, with a high contrast colours. Choose a yarn with a rustic touch for the perfect outdoor sweater for mushroom-hunting or bird-watching.
The Dragonfly Sweater
This is a classic drop-shoulder crew neck pullover, knitted seamlessly from the bottom up. It has a wide colourwork across the body and on the top of the sleeves. The hem is split and slightly longer in the back. Dragonfly is a cosy piece for snuggling up by the fire or for a walk by the lake. The colourwork mirrors the sunlight through the dragonflyโs wings as it hovers by the reed.
The Lake Socks
Seen from the front, the Lake socks look like a classic rib sock but along the back, different textures swirl around each other โ a cable, twisted stitches and a calliper pattern to frame the cable. A classic heel flap and the ribbed top ensure a good fit. The design speaks of the lakes that might seem calm, even though they are filled with life just below the surface.
Dusk Cardigan
Dusk is a loose-fitting, open cardigan with optional spine embroidery on the front edges. It is one of those comfortable pieces that you can throw over any outfit. The hourglass cables on the upper back, cuff and hem frame the large canvas of relaxing stockinette stitch, creating a reminder that there is time โ time to add another stitch, another row, to the work we have at hand.
The Dawn Top
This top has a colourwork yoke with an arrow-shaped motif and comes in two lengths. Worked in a soft silk and wool blend, Dawn is easy to wear on its own or layered with a cardigan or shawl. The yoke is inspired by the shape of migratory birds leaving, and returning โ cranes and geese streaming in a V-shape across the sky as summer turns to autumn and as winter turns to spring.
The Mushroom Hat
This little hat is a quick and fun project, and the perfect companion to the Mushroom raglan. The low yardage means you might even be able to make one with the leftovers from your sweater! It features the same colourwork and textured pattern and has four faux raglan seams to match the sweater. The length of the hat can easily be adjusted, turning the hat from a snug beanie to a more slouchy hat.
The Bat Shawl
The symmetrical, triangular Bat shawl is knitted from the centre top down. It features an easy colourwork pattern combined with callipers and slipped stitches, and can be worked in one or two, or more, colours. Using a lightweight, woollen-spun yarn makes it warm and airy, and perfect for layering with other knits. The calliper sections remind me of stylised bat wings โ thus the name.
Pre-Order your copy now and we will ship it/let you know when it is available for pick up.
Thereโs nothing quite like the lush, cozy feeling of hand-knitted socks! Quick and satisfying to make, small and portable, socks remain one of the most frequently hand-knit items today.
Following the wonderfully successfulย Knit How,ย Pom Pom’s essential beginnerโs knitting book, andย the pullover compendiumย Ready Set Raglan, Pom Pom brings youย Ready Set Socks, an exploration of sock designs for new and advanced knitters alike.
A collaboration with legendary sock mavenย Rachel Coopey,ย Ready Set Socksย isย the ultimate guide to sock-making! Get ready to experiment, discover the magic that is turning a heel, and become a seasoned sock knitter. The book includes ten unique patterns in both 4-ply / fingering and DK-weight versions.
From simple and speedy stockings and ribbed socks to fancy mosaic knitting colour combinations, youโll be sure to find your perfect pair with this compendium of patterns to come back to again and again.
Laine Magazine’s autumn issue, Laine 15, comes with a whole new look!
From the Publisher ….
Our beloved magazine is taking a step into a more modern, dynamic direction by celebrating knitwear and the world of fibre in a fresh way. Together with the new look, we are also excited to introduce new, regular articles, such asย Jeanette Sloan Talks Fibre. Of course, there are also things that wonโt change: gorgeous knitwear patterns, beautiful high-quality photography and the size of the magazine, all elements thatย Laineย is known for. The new look was created by Kyiv-bornย Marina Veziko, one of Finlandโs leading designers and the Graphic Designer of the Year 2021.
To celebrate the new look, Laine has TWO different cover versions available: one in full-colour and a very limited black & white version!
Issue 15, Autumn 2022:
148 pages
12 knitting patterns: 6 sweaters, 2 cardigans, 2 shawls, 1 hat, and 1 pair of socks
an interview with knitwear designerย Lindsey Fowlerย
an article on how sheep help to save endangered biotopes
NEW!ย Jeanette Sloan Talks Fibreย โ a regular article on Jeanette chatting with interesting people. In this issue, she meetsย Rose Sinclair, an academic researcher, author and lecturer. Rose’s PhD research into Dorcas Clubs examines how textile networks can be catalysts for social change.
NEW!ย Five Waysย by our regular writerย Pรคivi Kankaro. In this issue, Pรคivi explores 5 ways how knitting can be used as a tool for change.
NEW!ย Where I Knitย โ a regular piece that pictures people knitting in their favourite spot, and talking about crafting in their everyday lives.
Designers featured in this issue: Jenny Ansah, Jennifer Brou, Weichien Chan (also known as the Petite Knitter), ล tฤpรกnka Drchalovรก, Meiju K-P, Bernice Lim (also known as Yamagara), Hanna Maciejewska, Terri Maue, Olga Putano, Florence Spurling and Yiฤitcan Vatansever.
Knitstrips: The World’s First Comic-Strip Knitting Book
This new book is a tour de force, an epic achievement in melding knitwear design, instruction, and advice with interactive graphic illustrations. Itโs a new way of seeing how to take a ball of yarn and a pair of needles and transform it into something tangible, useful, and beautiful. Itโs bursting with life and the love of knitting.
Inside, the book is organized into four chapters, or issues, each of which gathers a handful of designs by different designers.
These are not conventional patterns. They are yarn-neutral, meaning that the authors guide you through choosing your yarn, but the choice really is yours. Youโll learn how to adapt the pattern youโre making to the gauge and other qualities of the yarn youโre using. In contrast to the prescriptive approach of a typical knitting pattern, theย Knitstripsย approach is open ended and full of learning. As I read through these energy-filled pages, I had renewed appreciation for how much thought and engineering goes into the most familiar handknit.
The Authors: Alice Ormsbee Beltran and Karen Kim Mar
We have sentimental reasons for jumping up and down with glee at the publication ofย Knitstrips. In a very real sense, Knitstrips first saw the light of day here on MDK. We can take no credit for the brilliance of the idea, but we will claim every last bragging right for realizing that the idea that Alice Ormsbee Beltran shared with us was very exciting.
And whenย the first Knitstripย appeared, the reaction from knitters was incredible. There was an avalanche of downloads of that first Knitstrip, and each of the ones that followed.
So: we send our heartiest congratulations to Alice and her co-author Karen Kim Mar on achieving this amazing book. The mere idea of doing copy edits and technical edits on patterns that are drawn by handโby brilliant illustrators Laura Irrgang and Michele Philipsโmakes us want to take to our beds for a week or so. This is a major work of vision and of writing, illustration, and editing. Most exciting of all,ย Knitstripsย is going to introduce so many new people to the joy of knitting, the challenge of knitting, and the satisfaction of having handmade garments and accessories in our lives.
The roster of designers, which includes the authors, is stellar:
The Darcy by Karen Kim Mar is a lovely, versatile neckwarmer that is made without shaping of any kind. Thanks to Alice, Karen, and the gentle publishers at Abrams for this exclusiveย downloadable PDF. (Click on the link to download the pattern.)
We are tremendously thrilled to inform you about the ultimate comfort-knit book for autumn 2022. The U.S. based designerย Lindsey Fowlerย (@larkspurknits) has designed a beautiful and versatile knitwear collection for knitters of all levels.
Lindsey Fowlerโs knitwear collection Salt & Timber is inspired by the Pacific Northwestern coast. This visually stunning book features 15 cozy designs that are intuitive and easy to knit. The patterns โ including socks, shawls, sweaters, hats, mitts, and even a blanket โ offer thoughtful details, opportunities to make the most of your yarn stash and ways to customize the garments to fit your style.
Lindsey Fowler lives in Northeast Ohio, USA, with her high school sweetheart, her twins, her old mutt, and a cat. As a designer, Lindsey likes working with textures and finding new takes on classics. She is continuously inspired by nature, architecture, and traditional handicrafts. Salt & Timber is Lindseyโs debut book.
Youโre invited toย Pom Pom’s yarn party! Issue 41 marksย their 10th birthday andย they have a host of jubilant and celebratory designs which radiate all the joyย they feel on this landmark occasion! This rare bumper edition ofย Pom Pom Quarterlyย contains 13 designs for warm and cool climes, so no matter where you live in the world, thereโs handmade party outfits aplenty within its pages.ย
This is their most collectable edition yet! Not only is this unique issue split into warm and cool patterns, theyโve gone all out with a flip double cover. This is also the first issue printed in their new larger format! Expect lush photographic spreads and more room for patterns โ something youโve told them they could work on! Theyโve also permanently increased their page count to bring you even more Pom Pom! Over the last decade(!), theyโve had the absolute honour of working with some of the most creative and inspirational people in the fibre world, and they invited a handful of them to contribute to this extraordinary summer collection!
Featuring designs by: ISA CATEPILLรN // SARI NORDLUND // INYOUNG KIM // MARIE RรGNIER // GINA FAMA RรCKENWAGNER // DAWN HENDERSON // AMALIA SIEBER // XANDY PETERS // SYLVIA WATTS-CHERRY // KIYOMI + SACHIKO BURGIN // JAMES N WATTS // AINUR BERKIMBAYEVA
Whatโs more, Issue 41 comes complete with party favours in the form of two articles and a recipe! Atsushi Futatsuya writes about cultural appropriation and the practice of Sashiko, and Atia Azmiโs โA Crafterโs Guide to Londonโ is a wonderful tribute to the vibrant city in which Pom Pom was founded. Dee Omole shares her recipe for the most stunning white chocolate madeleines weโve ever seen โ weโre sure these would make a statement centerpiece at any shindig. So grab your knitting needles and crochet hooks and celebrate!
With the purchase of your magazine, you can access a digital copy via Ravelry using the download code printed on the inside cover of the magazine from the release date.
IN STOCK. Contrasts: Textured Knitting by Meiju K-P
PRE-ORDER: This is a special pre-order. Your book will be available for pick-up or will ship on the bool launch date, April 14, 2022.
Meijuโs debut book, Contrasts โ Textured Knitting, contains 22 patterns, including pullovers, cardigans, scarves and hats (see details below) in a soft, delicate and feminine style. They have been designed by Meiju to be functional and fit well. The pullovers and cardigans are mostly knitted from the top down, making their size easy to adjust.
Meiju lives in Helsinki, Finland with her husband and three sons. Even as a teenager, she never knitted from patterns, preferring to create her own designs. Later, knitwear design became a passionate hobby and part-time work. She hopes to spark new ideas for beginners and more experienced knitters.
Meiju K-Pโs patterns are filled with elaborate lace, beautiful cables and carefully finished details โ but at the same time they are fun to make. As a designer, Meiju likes to combine challenging techniques with a pleasant knitting experience.
This is a fake cover, the real cover is still forthcoming and will be much, much prettier!
Traditions Revisited: Modern Estonian Knits By Aleks Byrd
PRE-ORDER: This is a special pre-order. Your book will be available for pick-up or will ship on the bool launch date, May 20, 2022.
For a small country on the Baltic Sea, Estoniaโs tradition and love for handicrafts greatly surpass its size. Estonian knitting is all about techniques, embellishment and regionality. Each knit tells a story about the knitter and where they live. Aleks Byrd’s book Traditions Revisited โ Modern Estonian Knits is an introduction to Estonian knitting, both traditional and traditional-inspired. It includes 19 patterns, ranging from mittens to sweaters, that blend seamlessly with modern knitting styles.
Aleks Byrd โ whose roots are in Estonia, Canada and the USA โ is a knitwear designer based in Bath, UK. In addition to knitwear design, she works as an illustrator and teaches Estonian knitting techniques around the world.
In her designs, tradition and Aleksโ own, graphic style meet. With her book, Aleks wants to make traditional Estonian techniques accessible to everyone. At the same time, she builds a bridge between Estonian knitters and the international knitting community.
10 sweaters, 1 cardigan, 1 dress, 1 vest, 1 shawl, 1 cowl, 1 hat, 1 pair of socks, 1 fingerless mitt pattern, 1 mitten pattern
Detailed, illustrated tutorials for 5 traditional Estonian knitting techniques
Both charts and written instructions provided
Hardback
Language: English (also available in Finnish)
Weight: Approx. 1080 g / 2.4 lb
205 x 270 x 27 mm
ISBN: 978-952-7468-09-8
Printed in Latvia
Print only, no digital download code available
This is a fake cover, the real cover is still forthcoming and will be much, much prettier!
Laine Magazine no. 14: Summer 2022
PRE-ORDER: This is a special pre-order. Your book will be available for pick-up or will ship on the bool launch date, May 6, 2022.
Laine Issue 14: Summer 2022, is inspired by the light Nordic summer nights โ gentle, delicate and carefree. Our beloved summers are so short and sweet, that even the wee small hours feel too precious to spend asleep. The 10 designs featured in our summer collection embody that summer nightโs magic and explore colourwork, texture and delicate details.
Designers featured in this issue: Isabella Clark, Evgeniya Dupliy, Lindsey Fowler, Katrine Hannibal, Ema Marinescu, Claudia Quintanilla, Maria Walters and Sylvia Watts-Cherry.
148 pages
10 knitting patterns, beautifully photographed and illustrated (both charts and written instructions provided)
an interview with knitwear designer Aleks Byrd whose debut book is published in May 2022 by Laine Publishing
an article about Sisters United
an article about vegan knitting
a column about the challenge of running into a creative rut by our regular columnist Pรคivi Kankaro
a column about how to find comfort in learning a new craft by our regular columnist Jeanette Sloan
For their 40th issue they’ve concocted a knitted dreamworld! Allow their latest collection to transport you to your yarn-filled happy place with joy-bringing patterns which are whimsical without compromising elegance or wearability. The designs reference the seemingly unstructured nature of dreams through floaty fabrics and ethereal embellishments, loose gauge, and by gently emboldening the maker to use their intuition when it comes to playing with colour. As with anything that appears effortless, copious amounts of imagination and clever thinking form the foundation of these designs and they encourage the kind of creative escapism we cherish in crafting. The patterns in this collection vary in intensity; from ones which will allow you to realise your knitting fantasies to others you could finish with your eyes closed. But rest assured, each one will grant you gratification in a different way.”
Featuring designs by:
Aimee Sher // Allison Lutes // Edda Lilja Guรฐmundsdรณttir // Hanna Lรผbben // Julie Dubreux // Marie Rรฉgnier // Marzena Koลaczek // Pope Vergara // Reed Keyes.
In addition to the 10 knitting patterns, the spring 2022 collection contains an article, โMaking a Worldโ by lilith green, in which lilith talks about her experience of autism and how the act of making provides a haven from a world which prioritises neurotypical people. If your goal is to try your hand at a craft other than knitting, learn how to make decorative Polish pajฤ ki with Karolina Merska, or use Stephanie Ganzโ recipe to bake Honeysuckle Cream Puffs โ divine!
52 Weeks of Shawls
SPECIAL PRE-ORDER DISCOUNT: RECEIVE 15% OFF*
*Discount will be applied automatically at check-out, no code is needed. Discount can not be combined with any other discount codes or promotions. This discount is a limited offer and we reserve the right to end it at any time.
52 Weeks of Shawls is still on sale for CAD $61.20 (regularly $72). We need to sell a minimum of 8 books to get the discount, so please feel free to forward this to anyone you know who might be interested (or post it to social media, etc). Hopefully, together we can help Julie open up some space for more wonderful publications to come.
I’m sorry it has taken so long to share this sweater! Around the time we finished it we had a run on the yarn, Drops Wish, and it seemed a cruel thing t show you something you can’t have. We’ll we’ve restocked several of the most popular colours and are constantly reordering, so I think it’s safe to share.
Harvest Queenย is a cozy, oversizedย pullover that’s knit in one piece from the top-down. It features a yoke constructionย withย pretty cable and lace detail. It’s knit on 9mm needles, so it works up fast! The yarns recommended areย blownย yarns, making it a lighter, airier textile than expected. Video and written tutorials are provided at the bottom of the free pattern (they even have a place you can ask them questions about the pattern, and the pattern is available in 15 languages).ย And just in case you don’t believe me … it is Gruau’s (the bird’s) favourite sweater in the store.
Our Sampleย isย a size small and used 8 balls ofย ย Drops Wishย in colour 18 Sage Green.
Drops Wish is a blown yarn; it’s made with a knitted cotton core with super soft alpaca literally blown into it. It’s light, airy, and kind of squishy (it has lots of give). Blown yarns are great when you want a thicker yarn that’s also light, so you can get bulk without weight.
Size
XS(S, M, L, XL, XXL)
Bust circumference: 36.75(40.75, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 56) inches or 92(102, 108, 118, 128, 140) cm
Drops Air: 7(7, 8, 9, 10, 11) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}
Illimani Amelie: 7(7, 8, 9, 10, 11) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}
Needles & Notions
If you do not already have the needles for this project we recommend buying interchangeable needles. They are very versatile for top-down sweaters and have more longevity for future projects (if you need a longer or shorter needle you can purchase an inexpensive new cord, rather than an entire needle. If you are buying individual tips and cords, that Knitter’s Pride are the most affordable option. If you are thinking about investing in a set, the Chiaogoo Twist Red Lace 4″ Tips: 2.75mm – 10mm have the best range and versatility for an assortment of projects.
If you don’t love the way a pattern is formatted, consider copying the text into a free, cloud-based text editing program likeย Google Docs. There, you can clean up the formatting to your liking and store your notes and changes. If your perception problems are more pronounced, you may even want to put it into a spreadsheet program likeย Google Sheetsย to break it down intoย line-by-line instructions – you can even make it into a chart and tick off your work as you go.ย I do this when a pattern gives me a bunch of instructions that all need to be done at the same time, it makes life easier to plan your path before you embark on it.
Using a cloud-based storage system is also a great way to manage your patterns. When you use a cloud-based program, you can access your notes from anywhere (including your phone, tablet, or computer). You don’t have to worry about losing them if your hard drive fails, or transferring them when you get a new computer. This is also a good place to store any PDF patterns you download. If you make changes and notes on the paper version of your pattern, just take a picture of it with a free scanner app on your smartphone and upload it to your drive.
Just one caveat – be detailed and descriptive in your document titles. For example, say you bought the pattern Love Note – my title would be “Love Note Tin Can Knits Pullover Lace Mohair Cropped Yoke”. Basically, anything I associate with the project. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re looking for a pattern, can’t remember its name, and only recall a fragment of information about it. It is also really useful to log your projects in your Ravelry account, with the needles and yarn you used. Years later, when you want to do it again, you’ll be happy to have that history. Plus you can look through all your accomplishments!
FYI: this photo has NOT been colour corrected. The colour of the garment is not accurate (it’s washed out). The bird’s colour, however, is great
52 Weeks of Shawls
SPECIAL PRE-ORDER DISCOUNT: RECEIVE 15% OFF*
*Discount will be applied automatically at check-out, no code is needed. Discount can not be combined with any other discount codes or promotions. This discount is a limited offer and we reserve the right to end it at any time.
52 Weeks of Shawls is still on sale for CAD $61.20 (regularly $72). We need to sell a minimum of 8 books to get the discount, so please feel free to forward this to anyone you know who might be interested (or post it to social media, etc). Hopefully, together we can help Julie open up some space for more wonderful publications to come.
