Nothing special – nobody’s birthday, nothing very interesting happening, but it just seems like it will be a good, hard working day. My horoscope agrees!
Virgo’s Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)
by Rick Levine
Friday, February 15, 2013 – You’re operating within your intellectual comfort zone today and you are confident because you know how to apply your expertise. Your belief that you’re being useful is your idea of heaven, because you know exactly what you’re doing and you feel empowered by your contribution. Make the most of this positive time by working hard and being productive.
Yarn is arriving thick and fast for several designs I’ve recently sold. This waiting period after submitting designs is the hardest part – all of the second guessing is exhausting!
Did I send the right design to the right editor? Would Editor X have reacted better to Design Q than Editor Y seems to have responded?
I’m still waiting to hear from a few editors, and it’s scary to agree to take on every piece of work that comes my way (what if I overbook myself?) and scarier to turn it down (what if I never sell another design?)
Yes, these are silly but real fears, the fears of every free lancer. As one independent contractor once said, “When you free lance, every day is a work day, and every day is a weekend.”
Another once told me, “The worst thing about going free lance is you’re afraid to turn down work – ever!”
But, fears aside, today is a WORK day!
THE BOOKS HAVE ARRIVED!!
I’ve ordered enough books to fulfill my Kickstarter contributor obligations, and those will be the FIRST books to send out! There are upwards of 200 books to ship, so this will take a bit of time (especially as next week is full with 2 teaching dates and a trip to California for Stitches West – just for booksignings, not classes)
But I’ll do it! We have a long weekend coming, up and two strong children! We also have a Chinese exchange student coming for the weekend (via a program at Hannah’s school) but it just seems wrong to put her to work. At least the first day.
Well – we were TOLD to treat her
like one of our own kids…
Seriously, though, we have some great activities planned for this weekend for Angelina – snow tubing, a visit to the Mill City Museum, a walk through our winter wonderland of Minnehaha Park, the Mall of America. Just stuff, hopefully it will be fun for her!
I had received books a few weeks ago, but unfortunately they had the wrong cover (the source of the mix-up is unclear, but it was obvious we couldn’t use those books…) so there’s been a bit of delay in getting these out, and I am SO happy to finally see them in person.
NOW IT FEELS REAL!!
If you purchase a copy of History On Two Needles, you’ll ALSO get the ebook (which comes as a pdf file and is just BEAUTIFUL – I have it on my ipad and I just gaze at it for hours…)
And, as always, the patterns are available individually if only one or two of them pique your interest.
Giveaway
Now – who would like a free book? Yep, you guessed it, leave a comment below and I’ll choose one person at random and ship them the book.
In your comment, tell me which historical era is your favorite – I love to know those sorts of things! I’ll announce and contact the winner when I get back from Stitches (Tues, 2/26) and the book will ship shortly after that! Good luck!
I’ve been working Ren Faire for over 30 yrs, and Dickens (Victorian) for over 15.
Congrats on your new book!!
I am so excited about your book! I found your kickstarter page last year while researching the history of knitting, and I am just thrilled about the projects! Congratulations!
It is difficult to choose a favorite era, in research I often feel grateful to be alive in this one. But for the sake of costuming, I would say the years 1650-1700 before mens’ clothing, in particular became so dull. Low waists, voluminous sleeves, cravats and ruffles, lace collars, shocking stockings! Those were the days, when men wore wigs and hose and ribbon.
And when women wore their hair in fontage or frelange whether they were poor maids or queens. The lace, the satin, the frills, the variation of hats… Ah me 🙂 As Cogsworth of Beauty and the Beast said, “if it’s not Baroque.. Don’t fix it!”
Thanks so much for the chance to win. I can’t wait to see your book and read it, it sounds so interesting!
Edwardian age definitely via Downton!
Congratulations on your new publication, and thank you for your generosity in giving away a copy to a lucky knitter! It is difficult to choose a favorite era in history. Many are fascinating, but I’ll have to go with the Elizabethan Era. When I was in junior high I took a GREAT class on Shakespearean literature. The teacher was wonderful! He used the class as a way to introduce us to Shakespeare’s work, but it was so much more than that! He told us about the controversies, the culture of the era. His one-man, in-class performance of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet was terrific and the entire class is something I will NEVER forget. I still have my copy of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, a Christmas gift from my parents the following year. While that might seem like an unusual gift for a 14 year old, after taking that class, that book was at the very top of my wish list!
Ooh…so hard to choose just one era, but I’ve always been fascinated by the United States Constitutional Convention and the time and events surrounding it.
I love these patterns…I would have to knit some for my daughters; they would love the off-the-wall different. I am a history addict. Thank you.
Would love a copy of your new book. One of my favorite periods of clothes is also the Edwardian period into the *time between the wars* (the art deco period?). I love the simple elegance of these styles, flowing but with some form and beautiful colors. Some of my most favorite styles of this era are shown in the BBC series, the Eilliot Sisters. In the 2nd season (I think it is) they have a fashion show and those clothes knocked my socks off. The Sisters started a dress design shop in England in the 20s. Fabulous stuff.
Congratulations on your book!
Can I pick an imaginary era? I like steampunk! 🙂 I suppose that would translate to Victorian in the real world.
I’d love to win a copy of the book! I think I like the Middle Ages best, but I also like the 1700’s.
I’m sorry I missed your kickstarter campaign; I would have helped! I was a professional costumer for years and years, so I love many eras. Right now I am a bit obsessed with Erte, so I will say the late ‘teens.
Congratulations on the book! Thanks for having the giveaway. I hope this isn’t lame, but my favorite time period is NOW. I feel I have so many more opportunities now than if I lived in any other period in history.
Looks great!
It may not be your birthday, but it is mine! What a fantastic offering!
My favourite era in history…. For fashion, I’d say the Roaring 20’s. The costumes and jewelry cannot be beat. I would kill to be able to wear something like that dress Keira Knightly wore in Atonement.
For general interest…. I can’t choose! I’ve written this part of the comment four times, trying to pick my favourite, and I can’t. Humanity is so fascinating that it’s impossible for me to decide when we’ve been most interesting.
Wrong covers – someone was asleep at the switch that day.
I love the Victorian era – the clothes are so interesting.
Lovely book, congratulations!
I tend to like the first half of the 20th century best–so much change, and so many of the styles are still wearable without looking too costumey.
I love the Italian Renaissance – such a wonderful flowering of art and thought! The fact that there was such a cross-over of different types of creativity (think about Leonardo da Vinci, for example) is inspiring.
However, thanks to Downton Abbey and similar shows, I am becoming much more fond of the Edwardian period. The clothes have such lovely flowing lines.
(But the sad truth? I’d love to visit other times, but would rather live in the modern era, with all our comforts!)
Wow! My favorite period is Anglo-Saxon England, and I would make that Sutton Hoo helmet!
Your work is wonderful.
And I am in love with Jasper…what a wonderful confluence for you all.
O,yes, historical: I am a huge fan of William Morris and his ilk. The ideals of valuing handwork, and the incredible stored energy in the whiplash designs…amazing.
Thanks for a great giveaway, a copy of your new book. Congratulations on its being ready to take to Stitches West, have fun, wish I was going…
I’ve always had a love for the Edwardian period, oh those amazing hats!
Wow, congratulations on the book! I’m excited to look at it.
There are lots of historical periods I find fascinating, but my favorite is actually prehistorical: the bronze age in northern Europe, when the climate was mild and people apparently didn’t have to work hard to survive. The archaeological record of the period is filled with fascinating and strange artifacts like the Egtved girl and her risqué miniskirt outfit: http://natmus.dk/en/historisk-viden/danmark/moeder-med-danmarks-oldtid/the-bronze-age/the-egtved-girl/cord-skirts-and-rituals/?cHash=813aa549da4173f208a1dc3c9efd457e
You know, originally I had a version of one of the string skirts as a project I wanted to do for History on Two Needles! I, too, find this period absolutely fascinating, and the amount we’ve discovered about it in the past few decades is mind blowing!
I find myself drawn to old knitting leaflets and usually will pick up any thing I see at the thrift store that dates 60’s and back. I don’t care much for the 70’s and 80’s fashions. there are several patterns in these booklets that I want to make for myself.
would love to win your book and expose myself to some older fashions ; )
My favorite era for music is the 40’s – love those torch songs! I dunno for clothing – which is exactly why I need your book!!!
So excited for your new book! I have a copy of Romantic hand knits which you signed for me in Austin a few years ago. I love your work. You are so talented & thank you for sharing all of your fabulousness with us!
I find myself drawn to Colonial America. It was a time when necessity made women and men equal partners in building a life. There was adventure and improvisation even as there was great hardship. There was also connectedness — a woman knitting while watching her children knew the sheep that provided the wool that she spun and then knit into items to keep her family warm. It maybe a romantic view, but I like to imagine the scene as I knit in my modern living room.
Thanks for the contest. Have been a fan for years. Who doesn’t LOVE the clothes on Downton Abbey?????? Good luck with your book.
Oooh, I must get my hands on this book! I am an Incurable History Geek! My favorite era has to be the twenties. I just love all the flapper styles….bobbed hair, cloche hats, bare knees and dropped waists 🙂 I have my great aunt’s diary from 1925 and you would not believe the agony she went through trying to decide whether to bob her hair or raise a hemline. 🙂
I am so excited about this book! I think I am most interested with the great u.s. western migration through the mid 1900’s. so much changed in clothing during that time frame.
I knitted your spencer from the first Jane Austen knits so my favorite time period is Regency! Congrats on your amazing work!
I want to see a picture of the finished spencer!
My favourite period I think is Empire with the 1830’s-40’s coming in a close second.
Hmmm… The Regency era, just love waistcoats, cravats and empire waists! Thanks!
I am fascinated by America in the 20’s so many new immigrants such growth and innovation
Love history, love knitting, love the American pioneer era (my husband says I was born in the wrong era!) and I’m sure I would love your book! Thanks for your generousity and if I don’t win, it will be on my list of must buys!
I would pick the Victorian Era. Thanks for a chance to win this wonderful book!
Ooooh, pick me, pick me, PLEASE pick me! If you don’t, I will buy your book anyway, though. 🙂
Forgot to add I’m wild about the Downton Abbey era. I wish we could all dress like the Crawley women!
Congrats on the new book! I always thought I would fit into the Laura Ingalls Wilder setting (is that technically an era?) I love the idea of spinning and baking and really working the land. I wish I was there now!
I would call that the US Pioneer / Prairie settlement era!
I have to say that I adore the Edwardian period as well! Congrats on your new book!