The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater is a memoir about life truths learned through crafting. People who craft know things. They know how to transform piles of yarn into sweaters and scarves. They know that some items, like woolen bikini tops, are better left unknit. They know that making a hat for a newborn baby isn’t just about crafting something small but appreciating the beginnings of life, which sometimes helps make peace with the endings. They know that if you knit your boyfriend a sweater, your relationship will most likely be over before the last stitch. Alanna Okun knows that crafting keeps her anxiety at bay. She knows that no one will ever be as good a knitting teacher as her beloved grandmother. And she knows that even when we can’t control anything else, we can at least control the sticks, string, and fabric right in front of us. Okun lays herself bare and takes readers into the parts of themselves they often keep hidden. Yet at the same time she finds humor in the daily indignities all crafters must face (like when you catch the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome and can’t possibly finish the second in a pair). Okun has written a book that will speak to anyone who has said to themselves, or to everyone within earshot, “I made that.”

Every knitter knows that as soon as you start making your boyfriend a sweater, he will be out the door before you're done. But as Alanna Okun has learned, these life lessons are not limited to the curse of the boyfriend sweater. Like millions of women, Okun finds joy and solace in crafting. And she has also found some essentials truths. Starting from when her grandmother first taught her to knit, crafting has been a part of her life, and her family's. Some people like to fish. Some like to play music. Or run. Okun likes to make things. Knitting, crocheting, sewing, decoupage - you name it, Okun has tried it, and even if she turned out to be not very good at it, she found it was good for her.In a world that shows itself impervious to our need for order and logic, crafting allows Okun to feel a sense of control - even if it's simply by making a piece of felt do what she wants it to. Crafting has helped keep her severe anxiety at bay, made a scary first apartment more hospitable, helped her heal from a broken heart. When Okun has two good friends die within a year of each other, it is crafting that helps her find hope again. The art and physicality of making things, whether it's nerdy embroidery or warm mittens, has helped her cope with life's internal trauma.In beautiful prose that belies her youth, Okun's essays about art, craft, and mental health will resonate with creative people no matter their medium, and no matter the troubles in their hearts. We can all relate to the need to fix what's inside by keeping our hands busy.

Perfect for Him. Perfect for Her. Everyone wants the perfect cozy sweater. One they can dress up or down. It should be simple enough for him, yet stylish and flattering for her. Rediscover the boyfriend sweater, a versatile garment that both guys and girls will fall head over heels for. Knitwear designer Bruce Weinstein has reinvented the classic boyfriend sweater with 19 ultra-comfortable projects designed to work on both men and women. Knit up a luxurious cardigan perfect for any important occasion, a varsity pullover with his-and-her initials, or one of four soft and sophisticated texture-rich scarves for you or him. Throughout, you’ll find tips to adapt each pattern, alter the proportions, and choose yarns to make the look more masculine or feminine. Plus, learn 19 knitting techniques you’ve always wanted to master, including brioche stitch, reversible cables, and Fair Isle, as well as seaming techniques to give your projects a professional finish. Whether you’re knitting for yourself or for the man in your life, these gorgeous projects are sure to be classics you’ll wear—or borrow—for years to come.

"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.

Guys want their knits to be warm and comfortable--and to look good, too! If you love to knit for the men in your life, this book will help you meet those requirements with style.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • USA TODAY BESTSELLER “Reader to reader, knitter to knitter: You’re going to love this book.”—Debbie Macomber For fans of Jennifer Chiaverini and Sarah Addison Allen, The Wishing Thread is an enchanting novel about the bonds between sisters, the indelible pull of the past, and the transformational power of love. The Van Ripper women have been the talk of Tarrytown, New York, for centuries. Some say they’re angels; some say they’re crooks. In their tumbledown “Stitchery,” not far from the stomping grounds of the legendary Headless Horseman, the Van Ripper sisters—Aubrey, Bitty, and Meggie—are said to knit people’s most ardent wishes into beautiful scarves and mittens, granting them health, success, or even a blossoming romance. But for the magic to work, sacrifices must be made—and no one knows that better than the Van Rippers. When the Stitchery matriarch, Mariah, dies, she leaves the yarn shop to her three nieces. Aubrey, shy and reliable, has dedicated her life to weaving spells for the community, though her sisters have long stayed away. Bitty, pragmatic and persistent, has always been skeptical of magic and wants her children to have a normal, nonmagical life. Meggie, restless and free-spirited, follows her own set of rules. Now, after Mariah’s death forces a reunion, the sisters must reassess the state of their lives even as they decide the fate of the Stitchery. But their relationships with one another—and their beliefs in magic—are put to the test. Will the threads hold? BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Lisa Van Allen’s The Night Garden. Praise for The Wishing Thread “With deft needlework, a dash of folklore, and some good old-fashioned family angst, Lisa Van Allen knits together the threads of second chances, the pleasure of giving, the complications of sisterhood, and love. There’s a bit of magic in The Wishing Thread, in the words and the story as well as in the yarn.”—Meg Waite Clayton, author of The Wednesday Sisters “Rich in myth and mystery, The Wishing Thread explores the tangle that is being a woman—from family and friendship to romance and community. Prepare to be ensnared, enthralled, enchanted!”—USA Today bestselling author Christie Ridgway “The Wishing Thread is a lyrical, emotional, finely knit portrayal of three sisters struggling with love, magic and sacrifice. This is the best book I’ve read all year.”—Lisa Verge Higgins, author of The Proper Care and Maintenance of Friendship “An intriguing story of three sisters tied by blood and a strange inheritance, each searching for a way to belong in that place where magic and life intersect. Wonderful!”—Shelley Noble, author of Beach Colors “Van Allen knits together this pleasantly entertaining tale as easily as the Van Ripper women knit together the often unraveling threads of people’s lives. . . . Chick-lit cozy meets magical realism with inevitably warm and fuzzy results.”—Booklist “Fans of magical realism will want to pick up this enjoyable novel, which not only weaves magic through stitchery, but also weaves a realistic story about family and sisterhood and the threads that pull us back home.”—RT Book Reviews Includes an exclusive conversation between Sarah Addison Allen and Lisa Van Allen. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more.

The Crochet Dude is the very first book dedicated to crochet projects just for guys, written by celebrity blogger Drew Emborsky. A overview provides information on sizing, style, and fiber options. This attractively photographed collection is packed with ideas.