"I knit so I don’t kill people" —bumper sticker spotted at Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival For Adrienne Martini, and countless others, knitting is the linchpin of sanity. As a working mother of two, Martini wanted a challenge that would make her feel in charge. So she decided to make the Holy Grail of sweaters—her own Mary Tudor, whose mind-numbingly gorgeous pattern is so complicated to knit that its mere mention can hush a roomful of experienced knitters. Created by reclusive designer Alice Starmore, the Mary Tudor can be found only in a rare, out-of-print book of Fair Isle–style patterns, Tudor Roses, and requires a discontinued, irreplaceable yarn. The sweater, Martini explains, "is a knitter’s Mount Everest, our curse, and our compulsion. I want one more than I can begin to tell you." And so she took on the challenge: one year, two needles, and countless knits and purls to conquer Mary Tudor while also taking care of her two kids, two cats, two jobs, and (thankfully) one husband—without unraveling in the process. Along the way, Adrienne investigates the tangled origins of the coveted pattern, inquires into the nature of artistic creation, and details her quest to buy supplies on the knitting black market. As she tries not to pull out her hair along with rows gone wrong, Martini gets guidance from some knitterati, who offer invaluable inspiration as she conquers her fear of Fair Isle. A wooly Julie and Julia, this epic yarn celebrates the profound joys of creating—and aspiring to—remarkable achievements.

From the moment a fellow high school English teacher finds himself caught up in a six-month old drive-by killing on the north side of St. Louis, Morton J. Caper, Ph. D. embarks on his own long journey, one punctuated by plane crashes, murder, coal mining, and--perhaps most disturbing of all--corruption in the ranks of a collegiate marching band.

A narrative account of the author's investigation into the world's economic gap describes her rediscovery of a blue sweater she had given away to Goodwill and found on a child in Rwanda, in a passionate call to action that relates her work as a venture capitalist on behalf of impoverished nations. Reprint.

In an era of global warming, war, escalating expenses, declining income, and drugs and violence in schools, many mothers feel they have little control over their families or their worlds. Nora Murphy eloquently demonstrates that many women do control one tiny thing: their next stitch. While tracing the frustrations and joys of knitting a sweater for her son through the course of one cold, dark Minnesota winter, Murphy eloquently brings to life the traditions and cultures of women from many backgrounds, including Hmong, American Indian, Mexican, African, and Irish. Murphy’s personal stories — about her struggles to understand esoteric knitting patterns, her help from the shaman of the knit shop, and her challenges sticking with an often vexing project — will appeal to knitters as well as everyone else who has labored to create something from scratch.

The days of our lives are short! How we spend them and the decisions we make with our money and time determine the quality of life we will have as we age. More or less--which will it be?

Knitting for Dogs, illustrated with full color, will enchant knitters of all levels and dog-owners who want bespoke clothes and accessories for their canines. In Knitting for Dogs, you'll find more than twenty easy-to-follow designs here for every kind of dog, from sequined sweaters for your toy dog princess to a handsome sport coat with racing stripes for your L or XL big boy. But why stop there when you can knit a hat with Fair Isle trim or fingerless Aran gloves to match your pet's jaunty sweater? And because accessories make the dog, there are patterns for everything from a cat-shaped squeaky toy to a walk-in-the-park shoulder bag for carrying keys, doggie treats, and the all-important plastic bags. With foolproof instructions on how to properly measure a dog so that the project comes out just right, Knitting for Dogs will provide hours of entertainment for you and turn even the average pooch into the envy of the dog-run set. So whether you're a beginner or expert knitter, on the cutting edge of fashion or all about what's practical, you'll find something here to please both you and your canine companion.

Randall (English and drama, Duke U.) demonstrates that drama lived on under the English Commonwealth despite the official ban on the theater. He describes how plays continued to be wrought, translated, transmuted, published, bought, read, and even covertly performed. He also shows how drama became more topical and political during the period. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR