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Denim Revolution goes on sale today. What’s so revolutionary about it, you ask? Nancy Minsky, a former Calvin Klein design assistant, shows you how to mix together old and new to spice up your wardrobe and save your denim from the dumpster. It also has that irresistible greeeeen element which I like because it’s not only earth-friendly, it’s wallet-friendly, too.

Nancy has a great blog you should check out, 21st Century Dressmakers. In addition to her regular posts, she also offers free downloadable desktop calendars. Click here to download her cool May calendar.

— Katherine

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Even though Spring has just barely landed in New York, I am already geeking out about summer and fall! This week we had our first-ever Crafternoon event – a media reception in which we introduced our summer and fall books (and mingled and noshed on treats, of course). We had an excellent turnout: BUST, Entertainment Weekly, Country Living, Martha TV and radio, were among the many magazines, newspapers, TV, and radio who came out to show their love for Potter Craft’s lineup. It was so much fun to see peoples’ reactions to the actual projects that will be featured in the books, especially from such a wide swath of editors and producers. And what could possibly beat a real-life face-to-face meeting with the people we email and call so regularly?! Crafternoon, on the heels of the awesome Maryland Sheep and Wool festival last weekend (which boasted fantastic yarn and even better weather), has me so energized and primed for making stuff! Summer Fridays and some free time won’t be here soon enough.

Enjoy the pictures, which barely capture some of the fun had at Crafternoon!

— Rosy

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Many of you know Erika Knight as knitter extraordinaire, but she has momentarily turned her attention to beading, to applause-worthy results. Today, her new book, Beyond Beading, goes on sale.

Erika hasn’t strayed too far away from knitting, however. She uses knitting techniques to create her jewelry. Click here to download a free pattern from the book!

— Katherine

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For more than 25 years, Nancy J. Thomas has been the editorial voice of the most popular knitting magazines, including Vogue Knitting, Family Circle Easy Knitting, and Knitter’s Magazine. She just published a book with Potter Craft called Tweed, which was written while she was the Creative Director of Tahki Stacy Charles. I caught up with Nancy to ask her about the book and to find out what she’s been up to lately.

1. What made you decide to write a book focusing on tweed yarns? What was your favorite part of the experience of writing Tweed?

Tweed yarns are so beautiful, I knew they would make a great subject. I really agonized about where to find information about the history of tweed yarns. Diane Friedman from Tahki Stacy Charles put me in touch with Francis Walsh, a yarn spinner who lives in the northern most county in The Republic of Ireland and works for a mill that makes tweed yarns. He sent me long emails with great information, and we carried on a fascinating email correspondence. It was such a wonderful experience to deal with him, even though we never spoke or met in person.

2. What is it like to have been part of so many different aspects of the knitting industry?

I feel privileged to have had so many dream jobs. I never imagined that I would be involved in so many facets of the knitting industry. I love to knit and crochet so I want to create projects that I would like to make or read about myself. I have always maintained this philosophy, and it seems to work for me.

3. You’ve recently become creative director of Coats & Clark. What’s your favorite thing about your new job?

Coats is a great company. I really love the challenge of making designs for inexpensive yarns that have a contemporary, upscale look. I also love that Coats is a global company so I get to interact with other staffers from all over the world. I’m involved in projects with people from the UK, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia.

4. What are you knitting right now, and what do you do when you’re not knitting?

I knit all the time! I just finished knitting my niece a baby cardigan with a hood and a cotton baby blanket. I also crocheted her a baby blanket. She’s my favorite niece and is having her first baby in June. I just started a tank in a Coats cotton blend so I’ll have something to work on in long meetings. I do love to travel and plane, train, and car trips give me an opportunity to knit. I also love to read and have belonged to a book group for 7 or 8 years: I try to keep up with reading a book a month.

— Melissa

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And the answer is…THE SCARF ON THE LEFT! Congratulations to those of you who guessed correctly. It’s made from Handspun Corriedale and Mohair. The scarf on the right is made from Jaggerspun Zephyr 218 Wool-Silk.

This is what Lisa Lloyd says about spinning: “Most knitters I know are fascinated with yarn and fiber and have well-established favorites, either in gauge, yarn company, or type. Being a spinner takes all these things to the next level and beyond. Handspinning opens up unlimited possibilities of yarn. If you can imagine a yarn, you can make it.”

— Katherine

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Many of you have already discovered the new book from Lisa Lloyd, A Fine Fleece.

You can read a few recent reviews by bloggers here:

Knitting Without Needles
http://www.knitchat.com/2008/04/08/bookish-thursday-on-tuesday-two-books-hot-off-the-presses/

Brainy Lady
http://brainylady.blogspot.com/2008/04/two-books-and-give-away.html

Another Knitting Blog
http://mimoknits.typepad.com/knitting/2008/04/post.html

Half Baked
http://woodlandsprite.blogspot.com/2008/04/not-just-for-spinners.html

My favorite feature of the book is how Lisa shows the finished project in both a handspun yarn and a commercial yarn so that you can train your eye to understand how fiber and texture affect a piece.

Take the Lisa Lloyd Challenge!
Can you guess which is made from handspun yarn and which is from commercial yarn? Post your guesses in the comments section and I’ll post the answer on Monday!

— Katherine

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Jane C. of Sag Harbor, NY sent us these photos of projects she’s made from The Knitter’s Book of Yarn.

Thanks for sending these to us, Jane, they look fantastic. They’re going straight into our hall of fame.

— Katherine

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Come meet the woman behind The Knitter’s Review. Clara Parkes will be signing copies of her book at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, and, if you ask, she’ll probably tell you what her favorite type of tea is. Gale Zucker, author of Shear Spirit, will be at both Maryland Sheep & Wool as well as the Massachusetts Sheep & Woolcraft Fair. Come by to get a book signed and meet the authors!

May 3-4 - Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
Howard County Fairgrounds - West Friendship, Maryland
http://www.sheepandwool.org/

   Saturday, May 3rd
   Clara Parkes, author of The Knitter’s Book of Yarn, will be signing copies of her book at the Spirit Trail Fiberworks booth.
   1:00pm-2:00pm
   Location: Spirit Trail Fiberworks booth, A30 in the Main Building

   Gale Zucker, co-author of Shear Spirit, will be singing copies of her book at the Seacolors booth.
   10:00am - 12:00pm
   Location: Seacolors (Meadowcroft Farm) booth, Barn 3, Booth 11

   Sunday, May 4th
   Gale Zucker, co-author of Shear Spirit, will be singing copies of her book at the Botanical Shades booth.
   10:00am - 12:00pm
   Location: Botanical Shades booth, Main Building A15

   Gale Zucker, co-author of Shear Spirit, will be singing copies of her book at the Autumn House Farm booth.
   2:00pm-3:00pm
   Location: Autumn House Farm booth, Building 5, Booth 7 & 9

May 24-25 - Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair
Cummington Fairgrounds - Cummington, Massachusetts
http://www.masheepwool.org/aboutus.htm

   Sunday May 25th
   Gale Zucker, co-author of Shear Spirit, will be singing copies of her book at the Botanical Shades booth.
   10:00am-12:00pm
   Location: Botanical Shades booth

— Katherine

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Spring is here and sheep & wool festival season begins! Below is a list of some upcoming festivals to check out. If you know of any others taking place during the next few months, leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list.

April 26, 2008
   21st Annual Sheepshearing Festival at Gore Place
   Gore Place - Waltham, Massachusetts
   http://www.goreplace.org/sheepshearing.htm

   99th Annual Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association Sheep, Wool and Fiber Festival
   Tolland Agricultural Center - Vernon/Rockville, Connecticut
   http://www.ctsheep.org/event.htm

May 3-4, 2008
   Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
   Howard County Fairgrounds - West Friendship, Maryland
   http://www.sheepandwool.org/

May 10-11, 2008
   32nd Annual New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival
   Hopkinton State Fairgrounds - Contoocook, New Hampshire
   http://www.nhswga.com/content/view/36/33/

   11th Annual Shepherd’s Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival
   Washington County Fairgrounds - Lake Elmo, Minnesota
   http://www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org/

May 17-18, 2008
   Waynesburg Sheep and Fiber Festival
   Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
   http://www.sheepandfiber.com/

May 24-25, 2008
   34th Annual Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair
   Cummington Fairgrounds - Cummington, Massachusetts
   http://www.masheepwool.org/aboutus.htm

June 14-15, 2008
   4th Annual Iowa Sheep & Wool Festival
   Dallas County Fairgrounds - Adel, Iowa
   http://www.iowasheep.com/Festival.html

June 20-22, 2008
   Black Sheep Gathering
   Lane County Fairgrounds - Eugene, Oregon
   http://www.blacksheepgathering.org/

— Katherine

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Shear Spirit is a new book that profiles America’s fiber farms and raches. The authors, Gale Zucker and Joan Tapper, compiled a list in slideshow format of the top ten things they learned while creating their book. I thought I loved alpacas before I read #5, but I love them even more now …

You can watch the slideshow below, or click on the individual pictures to read more from the authors. And be sure to join our brand new Flickr group! To read more from Gale and Joan, check out their blog, Two Shear Spirits.

— Katherine

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