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Legendary Knits: A Book Review

A few months back my friend Anne sent me an email and asked me if I would review her upcoming book of knitting patterns. I immediately said YES, not only because I know Anne but also because I knew (because I know Anne) just how awesome this book was bound to be. And I was right.

LK-cover1

Legendary Knits vol. 1 by Anne Podlesak is a terrific book of designs. There are patterns for several sweaters – including an awesome guy-sweater, some socks, a stole, a cowl, and a shawl that I’m having a difficult time not casting on right.this.minute. The directions are clear and precise without being overwhelming and the yarn choices include some of my favorites: Woolen Rabbit, Dream in Color, Wooly Wonka Fibers (Anne’s own company) and Berroco. The photographs are beautiful and show not only stylized shots but also the shots every knitter wants: shoulder seams, cuff details, neck edgings, lace motifs and more. Each pattern is accompanied by an explanation of the name chosen for the design inspiration, whether it be fairy tale, myth of legend. And, while those stories are often tragic, they make for great romantic names!

Have I convinced you to run right out and get yourself a copy of this book? I hope I have but one of you won’t have to do that because Anne sent me a copy to give away! All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment with the name of your favorite fairy tale. The contest will be open until midnight (of course!) on Thursday, September 26, 2013.

In the meantime I’ll be dreaming about knitting and princesses and legends!

This Post Has 77 Comments

  1. That looks like a great book! I think I’d have to say Sleeping Beauty is my favorite and I wonder if being first makes this my lucky day? 😉

  2. I love fairy tales! My favorites are Irish fairy tales which are often very sad. My favorite involves a dog protecting his master’s baby from a wolf. When I was little my mom left out the part where the master comes home and shoots the dog thinking that it killed the baby, only to discover the dead wolf and live baby.

  3. I just looked at Ravelry and saw some of the patterns in this book, so I’m in! She has some amazing colorwork in there and I haven’t done much of that lately. I’m ready for some of that two-handed fun (if I can remember how I did that). Draw my Name!

  4. Cape O’Rushes. It is a Cinderella variant with a little King Lear thrown in for good measure. Girl saves herself, with a little help from the spirit of her deceased mother. I do love fairy tales!

  5. I’ve always loved The Twelve Dancing Princesses. A fairy tale mystery.

    The book cover is lovely. I’m off to ravelry to see if the patterns’ pictures are posted.

  6. There are so many great knitting books coming out. I want them all!

    I think my favorite Fairy Tale is Cinderella. I can still remember the book from when I was a kid.

  7. This book sounds amazing! I love to read and adored being read to as a child. Fairy tales were always high on the list and a particular favorite was the elves and the shoemaker. I liked that little people came and helped out the shoemaker when he was so in need – if only that happened in real life, eh? Thanks to you & Anne for the giveaway.

  8. Oh man… I guess I could pick Snow White… and now I have an ear worm.. “I owe, I owe, it’s off the work I go!” 🙂

  9. My favorite fairy tale … so hard to choose! I think I have to go with Beauty and the Beast. I truly think that there is good in everyone, and I hope I’m as compassionate as Belle in seeing everyone’s good. Can’t wait to take a peek at that book of patterns, the sweater on the cover is gorgeous!

  10. This book looks great! My favorite fairy tale is Little Red Riding Hood. Something about the wolf getting caught. I used to love to have my mother read this one to me.

  11. Why Rumpelstiltskin of course – she spins. Thanks for doing the giveaway – you can take the Knitter out of the Library, but you can’t take the Librarian out of the Knitter. ;D

  12. Snow White and Rose Red, complete with prince-cursed-to-live-as-a-bear, a charming cottage in the woods, and happy endings.

  13. Does it have to be an old story? My granddaughter and I love BRAVE and Merida is such a good role model for our ‘girls’.

  14. I loved Snow White as a child. I remember seeing the movie and getting a coloring book. That was a banner Christmas.
    I still read fairy tales. There are so many good TV shows on now based on fairy tales. I would like to knit the Icarus socks.

  15. Hmmmm…guess I’ll have to join the Cinderella cadre. My mom read to us all the time, but not fairy tales, a definite gap in my education!

  16. Too many too choose a favorite. My maiden name was Grimm and we had a HUGE book of Grimm’s Fairy Tales in all their gruesomeness….. although I might have to agree with Tammy that Rumpelstiltskin was one of the top three at least! 🙂

  17. Thank you for the chance to see these beautiful patterns. If luck be on my side, I will will this copy….. fingers crossed.

  18. Rose Red and Snow White (not the better-known Snow White). Also the Brownies who come to your house in the night and do chores. Looks like a great book.

  19. Beauty and The Beast has always been my favorite. Maybe it’s because I love to read like Belle. That book looks great!

  20. “old school” fairy tale favorite – probably Snow White. “New school” favorite would lean toward Princess & The Frog, or Brave (I do consider them to be fairy tales, with strong female characters – love that!).

    that book looks aMAZing, and I would love to win it!

  21. The shawl is extremely tempting! Favorite Fairy tale had to be Rumpelstiltskin, always loved the Saxon wheels that were usually in the illustrations.

  22. Cinderella, which sounds too common to my ears, but I had a copy of the Disney book growing up, and even before I could actually read, I would “read” it to myself, over and over again for hours.

  23. I don’t know if Pinocchio is a fairy tale or not but I loved that story and Jiminy Cricket.
    The book looks wonderful! I love the sweater on the cover…

  24. I love all fairy tales and would enjoy associating a fantastic knit with some of them.
    My favorite is Rapunzel!
    [On first glance, I thought this was your daughter modeling!]

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