Knitters, it's time to break out the champagne (being careful not to spill any on your knitting, of course)! Woolly Thoughts is back in print!!!

Woolly Thoughts is a book that knitters (at least on the North American side of the pond) began hearing about in earnest at just about the same moment that it became unavailable. Now, frustration turns to joy as we can all feast at the table of Pat and Steve's endlessly creative method of modular knitting, a method that offers a bullet proof fitting technique alongside open-ended, scintillating creativity of design.

How do they do this? Well, they are both mathematics teachers, amazing in their ability to make everything clear and fun. Right from the start, they forge a pathway to knitting heaven by having you take out whatever yarn you like, your choice of needles, and a small calculator. What happens next is a guided tour through a mosaic of shapes and colors -- all of them easy, all of them fascinating and beautiful. With Pat and Steve at your side, you can truly forget about conventional knitting patterns and follow your imagination whereever it leads you.

Happily and heavily illustrated throughout, with a section of color plates showcasing some of Pat's creations, Woolly Thoughts brings you everything you need for a lifetime of joyous knitting.

Just when we all thought that everything that could be said about scarf knitting had been said, along comes Lynne Barr to show us just how many delights were yet to be discovered. While Lynne does offer the beginner some a few places to "get the hang of knitting," overwhelmingly, her designs beckon us to reach beyond the basics and apply one technique after another in new and delicious ways. Her exploration of form, line, and fashionable wear-ability are everything any knitter could ask for. Scarf knitting is no longer passé - it's time to advance to the cutting edge alongside Lynne Barr.

Discover realm after realm of mysterious knitting as Cat Bordhi takes you on a guided tour on beyond conventional sock knitting. Here, socks begin as a journey along the highway of your imagination, emerging in ways both amazing and beautiful from between your needles. Which should surprise no one -- after all, Cat is the knitter who introduced us all to the magic of Moebius knitting. For Cat, it is a short yet mighty leap of imagination from riding the Moebius Highway to considering what might happen if you approached the shape of your sock from unprecidented angles and in deliciously unexpected ways. (Hint: Magically mysterious knitting will unfold before your eyes and between your needles.)

Seriously, New Pathways is a not-to-be-missed adventure for any knitter, with or without sock knitting experience. We have seen many of the models Cat created for New Pathways and can assure you that there is nothing but knitting joy between the covers of this new book. Once you try out this new "sockitecture", you'll never look back. Suddenly, the world, or at least your foot, will become your knitting playground. Be prepared to romp and frolic with Cat as you find new pathway after new pathway.

Cat's Magical Markers, designed by Cat especially to accompany her New Pathways for Sock Knitters, are here.

We have many of the yarns Cat uses in New Pathways, too!

Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 is here
Fleece Artist Sea Wool is here
Hand Maiden Sea Silk can be found here
Fleece Artist Kid Aran awaits you here
Nature's Palette Fingering Merino is here.

If you are ready for new color pattern designs, some wonderful adaptations, emendations and expansions of traditional sweater construction, and runway quality style, then Knitting out of Africa is the book for you.

I confess that when I first heard of Knitting out of Africa, I was very skeptical -- I really don't like knitting books that artificially graft different cultures' design sensibilities into knitting just so they can be "different." I was afraid that Knitting out of Africa would be one of these.

I was so wrong. Isager's book, as its subtitle declares, is truly inspired. Each and every sweater uses motifs and constructions that reflect a different African culture in ways that bring something really new and wonderful into the world of knitting. The resulting sweaters range from extremely beautiful to breathtaking to stunning - all this while speaking deeply and and warmly of the people who created the original designs that inspired these new/old/wonderful works of art.

Knitting out of Africa is a book to love, to knit from, to be inspired by. I can hardly wait to see, ten years down the road, how its vision will have permeated our knitting culture -- it's that sort of book.

This refreshing book takes a new look at knitting, not just the act of knitting, but what we do with it also, breathing new life and direction into it at every turn. Leigh Radford takes us from rummage sale rescues to high-end fiber arts with results both useful and delightful. Whether the project is knitting a new cushion cover for a second-hand chair, or creating delicate little paper lanterns from Japanese paper "yarn", or breaking all the rules of design to create a captivating abstract sweater, Leigh's ideas demand that we rethink our assumptions about knitting -- and about much more than knitting. Peppered with quotes from some of the world's most creative minds and equiped with a 32-page Alterknits notebook for your own use, this is a book that will fire up your creative juices and lead you into one new knitting adventure after another.

What more could we ask for?? Loop-d-Loop is packed with cutting-edge clothing designs -- there's something here for every age and body type to love, all of it off-beat, striking and ultimately very, very wearable. Beginning knitters will find simple projects with high fashion impact and will be spurred on to learn more, while seasoned and expert knitters will be able to expand and test their virtuosity. Once you enter the Loop-d-Loop Zone, you'll never again think about clothing or knitting the same way!

Debbie New has been called "the Salvador Dali of knitting" - and with good reason. Where the rest of us think of knitting in terms of "up" and "down" and "across" and "back," she thinks in swirls, spirals, curving explorations of color and form, textural surprises that wrap themselves around your imagination. Debbie's knitting has found its way into art galleries and museums, it hangs on the walls in homes, and yes, some of it you can even wear. There are more new ideas per page of Unexpected Knitting than I can count - the things to learn and ponder and delight in go on and on and on. This is a book to linger over, go back to, and keep within reach when you are looking for inspiration.

While you read, you may feel your brain creaking as it expands its scope of handknitting possibilities. You may be stunned, enchanted, inspired and encouraged all at the same time. Leap right in at the beginning with Swatchless Knitting and follow the progression through Free Form Knitting, Scribble Lace, Swirl, Sculptural, Virtual, Cellular Automaton, Ouroborus and Labyrinth knitting. Try to limit yourself to one chapter each week, lest you succumb to Knitter's Overload.

- from the back cover

This is free-form patchwork knitting with an attitude, albeit, a kind, gentle tone; a tone such as, "hey! Knitting is fun. Break the rules". If you're a rule breaker, check out this author's personal style of conveying her knowledge and view of knitting. Good text and succinct photos and diagrams. Very nice little look at the possibilities.

I cannot more strongly express my delight and excitement over your knitting book, A TREASURY OF MAGICAL KNITTING. After so many long years of the ordinary in the world of knitting texts, you have provided me with renewed vigor and almost compulsive interest with the contents of your book. Every pattern revives my anxious fervor to make it whether I have someone to give it to or not.

Nino M Esposito

A Treasury of Magical Knitting instantly became one of my oldest and best knitting friends. I've hardly put it down since it arrived and will bet that you won't tuck it neatly away on your bookshelves, either.

Cat Bordhi has done nothing less than blaze a new trail in knitting -- a trail that leads along pathways amazing, tantalizing, exciting and, yes, deep and meditative. She takes us far into the fascinating world of the Moebius, that truly magical form that has only one side and two dimensions, yet appears in our three dimensional world.

Cat plunged into the Moebius and has emerged with a knitting technique that is as magical as the form itself. It begins with a new sort of casting on -- using a long, coiled circular needle! Then, on the first round the stitches magically double; voila!, you are immersed in the center of a Moebius, knitting along, discovering that your creation is proceeding from the center outwards, toward both edges (which you discover are only one edge) at once.

And, here's another piece of magic: the result of your joyous creation (we certainly can't call this "labor") is one of the most elegant pieces of clothing imaginable. These scarves, hats, capes, evening shawls, and more are beautiful, stunning even, and will look great on anyone who wears them. Once you've begun, you'll find that you're inventing your own original Moebius and discovering your own new ways of emerging with a finished product that is as much a pleasure to wear as it was to create.

A Treasury of Magical Knitting is the sort of knitting book that sets my hands tingling, so eager are they to get started with the next magical project. Whether you treat yourself to the world's most scrumptous knitting, or give it to a teen who has lost interest in the craft (or better still, leave it lying around for them to find themselves), you will love what the Moebius can do!

Cat Bordhi is also the author of A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting (below), Treasure Forest - the best juvenile fiction I've read in years, and Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles, below.

The adventure continues - and felting is the focus!

I have loved playing with and thinking about Moebius strips since I first learned about them at about age 9. Cat has made it possible for me to find them magically appearing between my knitting needles, and then to watch as they transform into all manner of things I never thought they could be -- well, it really is better than chocolate! The Second Treasury takes us deeper into the world of magical forms, and introduces us to baskets, bags, hats and, oh, so much more -- all created from a two-dimensional form that has somehow contrived to enter our three-dimensional world. Oh my!

A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting has left me nearly breathless with inspiration and amazement.  A quick glance sent shivers up my spine; a closer look had me seeking needles and yarn, eager to explore the captivating magical creations. This delightful book is the stuff of knitters' dreams -- bold, breakthrough techniques and cutting-edge, delicious designs, all within any knitter's reach. 

This isn't just knitting at its best -- this is life at its best!

I never thought I could love a technique like this - from where I sat (notice the past tense) this sort of knitting seemed a bit too contrived, lacking some of the heart-warmth that draws me to knitting in the first place. That was before Cat Bordhi showed up at my door wearing a Rainbow Jacket she had made (instructions are in the book - kits are also available at several places online). I confess I was blown away by the fluid beauty of it. What you can't see in the photos, though the photos in this book are outstanding, is what happens when a shadow knit garment is worn and the wearer walks across the room. The whole garment comes to life, the colors move and flow in and out of each other, patterns jump to the surface and disappear just as quickly. The overall effect is gorgeous and tantalizing and ultimately very beautiful in the way that a flowing brook is very beautiful. The heart and warmth of this knitting technique lies in its ever-changing color and texture brought about when these carefully planned designs spring to life as they are worn. What could be better! I'm now planning my own sweater and can hardly wait to see it emerge between my needles.

Barbara Walker is the knitting genius who pioneered the "top-down" technique that has since become well-known and widely used. Her book on the subject, still the very best available, unfortunately lapsed out-of-print for 20 long years.

Available once again, it is startling to reread it and discover just how amazingly complete and clear it it is. It covers not just basic technique for top-down knitting, but the basics and not-so-basics of garment design, and offers instructions for everything from basic raglans to capes, skirts, pants and sleeveless sweaters, blouses and caps. There are many variations on these themes which are also thoroughly discussed.

If you've ever wanted to explore this technique -- which has a lot of advantages so far as fitting and design are concerned -- or, if you'd like to refresh your memory about how to go about it, here it is. It's really great seeing this book back in print!

Learn Cat's technique and never look back!

Cat Bordhi's first book has changed the landscape of handknitting socks. I'm someone who never really minded using 4 or 5 double pointed needles to knit small items in the round; on the other hand, I never really looked forward to it, either. Never once in my knitting experience have I gone out of my way to find an excuse to use double pointed needles. Needless to say, my interest in knitting socks was minimal at best.

All that has changed now: In addition to enticing me with terrific designs, Cat's technique, which replaces the 4 or 5 double pointed needles with 2 circular needles, makes sock knitting fun, fast and much, much easier to do well. Her instructions are crystal clear and well-illustrated and her techniques are elegant and sure. Since learning this amazingly easy and pleasurable technique, I have not only been knitting more socks that I ever imagined could be knit, but I now create sweater sleeves, hats, ties and any other small things on two circular needles instead of double points. If only I could think of a really good use for all those double pointed needles I have that are now taking up space and gathering dust.

Additionally, Cat is very, very funny to read -- the only trouble I had when trying to follow her instructions was that it's hard to keep track of where you are when you are laughing so much. However, even with that challenge, I did manage to move forward and can now zip along on two circulars as though I've always known how.

Cat Bordhi is also the author of Treasure Forest, the best juvenile fiction I've read in years, and A Treasury of Magical Knitting, and A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting, above.