Kangath Knits
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Patterns
    • Garments
    • Accessories
    • eBooks
  • Book Reviews
  • Inkscape Schematic Tutorial
  • Contact

Kangath Knits

Book Review: Magpies, Homebodies, and Nomads

11/1/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Magpies, Homebodies, and Nomads by Cirilia Rose, photography by Jared Flood, pub. STC Craft, 2014.

This a gem of a book contains 26 patterns, categorized by personality. Magpies collect shiny things, including small amounts of precious yarns. Homebodies quietly enjoy the comforts of home. And Nomads venture out into the world, seeking friendship and inspiration.

Photographer Jared Flood portrays each personality in its own habitat. The Magpies flit along a wooded path, or wander on the beach. The Homebodies dwell amid potted plans and cooking utensils. And the Nomads take to the street.  Each design is photographed from a number of different angles, with the care (and eye) of a fellow knitter.

PictureHeima Slippers
Sizing is fairly generous, with most sweaters sized to fit chests size 31 to 53, and one hat and a pair of slippers presented in 3 sizes. There's only one size for all the other accessories, which include a couple hats and a pair of mitts but are mostly scarves.

Along with the patterns there are pages and pages of worthwhile information. Tips on color, styling, and yarn substitution. Advice on organization, packing, and shopping. Referrals to books and blogs outside the knitting
circle. And many more useful tidbits given in Cirilia's good-natured, matter-of-fact tone.

Even the pattern introductions can have hints of wisdom gleaned from Cirilia's experience with greats such as Norah Gaughan. The intro to the Tisane Tank talks about developing a design vocabulary and points out that Tisane is a fraternal twin to the Garance Camisole (both pictured below) from an earlier chapter.

Picture
Tisane Tank
Picture
Garance Camisole
PictureIsla Cardigan and Marion Collar
Much of Cirilia's work is not to my taste, but I absolutely adore her Isla Cardigan (cover photo and left), especially worn with the Marion Collar. The cardigan itself has several very sweet knitterly details such as slightly puffed sleeves, shoulder tabs, and a defined pleated ridge at the bustline. Reinterpreted from a thrift store find, it is a lovely piece on its own.

But paired with the Marion Collar, it simultaneously evokes wilderness and elegance. If the cardigan is perfectly pleasing, the ensemble is thrilling.

The collar is a knitted base worked in two extra soft yarns (lambswool and angora), with "lustrous, colorful, curly locks" pulled through afterwards using a crochet hook. Visit Weir Crafts or comb through Etsy to find the curly locks.

PictureGezell Coat
Other designs which caught my eye are the Heima Slippers (above), the Coterie Cardigan, the Rainier Cowl, and the Raven Bag. The slippers look ultra-comfortable, and I love the way they are styled with tights that coordinate with the ribbon tie. The cardigan is a true double-breasted, military inspired piece. The cowl is a vegetarian take on fleece-lined suede. And who can resist a bag shaped like one of Odin's (or Poe's) iconic ravens?

I also admire the Gezell Coat, shown at right. It solves the problem of pocket bulges by embracing them, incorporating them into its shape. And I love pockets. 

But I'm also developing a newfound affection for bobbles, which Gezell gratifies. The eyelets along the back seam make an interesting foil to the round buds at hem and cuffs.

PictureStudio Pullover
I was surprised, given the disparity of our tastes, at how similar Cirilia's thought processes are to mine. Her bibliography, including Teva Durham, Britt-Marie Christoffersson, and Maggie Righetti, looks very similar to my bookshelf.

I recommend this charming book as a good read for any designer, knitter, shopper, or bricoleur (Cirilia's word). There are several references in addition to the bibliography which merit further exploration. And of course her designs may attract you on their own. This book stimulated and inspired me.  Perhaps it will have the same effect on you!



Disclosure:  Kangath received a review copy of this book from the publisher. No other compensation was provided. The opinions expressed in all Kangath's reviews are her own.

0 Comments
    Picture

    Hi! I'm Kangath--- 

    knit designer, musician, writer, and mother
    ​who loves to experiment in the kitchen.

    Follow @kangathknits
    Picture
    Click here to join the Kangath Knits email list
    for insider updates and special deals.

    Subscribe to 
    Kangath Knits:

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Ruth Roland is a top Baton Rouge, LA music lesson instructor on TryMusicLessons.com!

    Good Reads

    Amy Herzog Designs
    canaryknits
    dull roar
    Knit and Tonic
    Linda Marveng
    needled
    Ramblings
    The Sexy Knitter
    Sheep to Shawl
    Trappings and Trinkets
    Two Sides of the Same Stitch
    Yarn Harlot

    Archives

    November 2017
    October 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

    Fiber Arts Bloggers

    Home/ Join | List
    Next | Previous | Random

    alt-webring.com

    Categories

    All
    Abrams
    Amy Herzog
    Ana Paula Rimoli
    Anna Dalvi
    Annie Modesitt
    Barn Door
    Betty Salpekar
    Book Reviews
    Britt Marie Christoffersson
    Buttons
    Canaryknits
    Cap Sease
    Chantal Garceau
    Cirilia Rose
    Clara Parkes
    Clotheshorse
    Colorwork
    Cooperative Press
    Creative Publishing
    Crochet
    Daniel Yuhas
    Dave's Stockings
    David & Charles
    Deb Buckingham
    Design
    Dream In Color
    Dyeing
    Dylana
    Elizabeth Green Musselman
    Eva Maria Leszner
    Eye Pillow
    Food
    Galler
    Garden Windows
    Genevieve Miller
    Giveaway
    Gluten Free
    Health
    Heidi Adnum
    Herbert Niebling
    Hestia
    History On Two Needles
    Honeymoon
    Hurricane
    Inkscape
    Interweave Press
    Katie Startzman
    Katya Frankel
    Knitting
    Kristina Mcgowan
    Lace
    Lacis
    Ladies Of Mischief
    Laura Lough
    Lena Corwin
    Lesley Stanfield
    Lisa Souza
    Livia Cetti
    Lori Ihnen
    Louise Walker
    Lynne Barr
    Malabrigo
    Manos Del Uruguay
    Margaret Radcliffe
    Martingale
    Martin Storey
    Meandros
    Megan Kreiner
    M'lou Baber
    Mountain Flight
    Nancie Wiseman
    Nancy Bush
    Needles
    Needles And Artifice
    Norah Gaughan
    Other
    Patty Nance
    Poetry
    Pop Knitting
    Potter Craft
    Quadrille
    Rebecca Danger
    Recovery
    Reversible Knitting
    San Graal
    Sarah Barbour
    Schematic
    Schoolhouse Press
    Shannon Okey
    Singular Snowflakes
    Socks
    Song Of Ice And Fire
    Stc Craft
    Stephannie Tallent
    Stitch Dictionaries
    St Martin's Griffin
    Storey Publishing
    Stroke
    Submission
    Summer Party
    Swedish Sweaters
    Tangled
    Tanis Gray
    Taunton Press
    Teresa Gregorio
    Teva Durham
    Theressa Silver
    The Unique Sheep
    Tips
    Toys
    Tutorials
    Universal
    Vanessa Mooncie
    Van Halen
    Vicki Stiefel
    Wendy Bernard
    Willow Yarns
    Yarn

Knitting with a Twist
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Patterns
    • Garments
    • Accessories
    • eBooks
  • Book Reviews
  • Inkscape Schematic Tutorial
  • Contact