"Don't judge a book by its cover," they say. But of course we all do, and that's why publishers have such a specific book jacket design strategy. If a particular book about, say, elephant trainers has been successful, and another comes along, then even if they're quite different, chances are the publisher will make the new book's jacket the same colour as the previous bestseller. And so mini-genres are born, often to the great chagrin of the authors concerned, and frequently not in service of the actual books.

Knit lit seems to be quite a booming mini-genre. It's just a branch of chick lit of course, but one with very specific appeal to those of us who are fond of playing with string. I was very excited to read the Friday Night Knitting Club when it came out. But alas, I hated it! Badly written, ridiculous premise, cardboard cutout characters, hopelessly tearjerking and unwarranted ending... just contrived in every way. And even though I know better, that put me off reading more knitting novels. I don't read a lot of chick lit at the best of times (though some of it is fab, and I do maintain Jane Austen started the whole thing), and I just couldn't be bothered with more cheesy, contrived drivel.

So Divas Don't Knit sat on my shelf for quite a while before I finally picked it up, but recently I've been reading a lot of fluff (yay Georgette Heyer!) and was in the mood to give it a go... with only a little trepidation.

Turns out I'm loving it. Funny! Engaging! Relatable characters! A plot that bears at least some tenuous relation to reality! And did I mention funny? It's great stuff. Has thoroughly revived my interest in knit lit; I'm even thinking about exploring those knitting mystery novels. So tell me. Have you read any novels with knitting in that you think are worth a shot, and will not make me want to down shots or fire shots at the author?

Posted by Robynn at 08:22 PM | Permalink | 10 cups of tea on the table | TrackBacks (0)

Remember I boasted a while ago that I had my mojo back? May have jumped the gun there a little. I keep trying but meh... it's not happening.

Never mind, though, I have a FO to show you at long last. And look! What's this! Is it on the cover of Knitty?!

Well how about that.

Posted by Robynn at 08:00 PM | Permalink | 66 cups of tea on the table | TrackBacks (0)

Well, that was the day that was. A very good day. A very fun day. A day full of knitting can only be a good day, and this was very full of the very best knitting. An excellent day.

Can I please take a nap now? For, let's say, a week?

Craig and Gerard, once again and as predicted, put on a hell of a party. The venue was gorgeous. (There was perhaps a slight undercatering problem, but everything else - utterly fab.)

I have to confess, I'd been dreading the day. I knew it would be a great event, I loved last year's show, but then last year I wasn't pregnant. Tired and sick... not the best way to feel when exhibiting! I was hopelessly underslept and poorly prepared (through no one's fault but my own of course) and just thought I'd have to grit my teeth and get through it. But you know, the minute I walked into this hall full of eager people setting up... wool everywhere... I got excited. Energised. Being among My People, you know; being part of a really great event. Good stuff.

As soon as the doors opened, things went nuts. (We were so lucky to have the spot we did, with oodles of space around us. My crowd-phobic self sends heartfelt thanks to the guys!) The only drawback to having so much business was that I didn't get a chance to talk to anyone for more than half a minute - and in fact I was so frazzled and flustered (fruzzled?), I kept overlooking people's Ravelry badges and not realising I was talking to online friends... for which I kicked myself afterwards.

This was the first show we've done with yarn (not just needles etc). I had great hopes of arranging every basket into a gorgeously graduated swoop of colour, as in our print ads. But of course there was barely time to tip the skeins out before the hordes descended... ah well, it never would have stayed pretty for more than 5 minutes anyway!

In the middle of the day, suddenly the crowd thinned out. It was weird. Apparently there was an event taking place next door - some speaker called the Yarn Harlot?

No, I'm not bitter about missing her on her one and only visit to the UK. Nuh uh. I'm totally fine with that. *grumble grumble*... anyway, Harlot time gave us a very welcome breather. There was still shopping happening, but at a more relaxed pace. Phew!

Finally, here's a pic that shows me in full gravid glory. Five months, wouldn't you say, from the size of that belly? Rather than barely three? *sigh* Me and my extra padding.

Posted by Robynn at 06:21 PM | Permalink | 8 cups of tea on the table | TrackBacks (0)

Well. In my last post, I graciously elided the painful will-I-won't-I backstory to the holiday, involving 5 weeks of very fraught bureaucratic hassling, for purposes of retrieving passport from clutches of Home Office, for purposes of holiday.

This backstory has decided it doesn't like to be ignored, it wants its place in the limelight, and like a trashy little no-good wannabe, it doesn't care who or what it has to step on to make it to the A plot.

Which is my very convoluted way of saying: holiday, I can't haz it. Or rather, I could haz it, but I would have to haz at least one more week of it than I bargained for while fighting more bureaucratic evils, for purposes of being allowed back in the UK at the end of it, and really that isn't an option. Especially with iKnit day and all. So there ya go. I don't go. I stay.

*le sigh*

Eh. Who needs calamari anyway.

Posted by Robynn at 05:21 PM | Permalink | 10 cups of tea on the table

Phew. In a few days, we leave for a 12-day visit back home - South Africa, but in particular, we'll be going to a big ol' family reunion in Port Elizabeth, for the occasion of my grandmother's 80th birthday. I've been shockingly neglectful of this branch of the family for many years; in fact, most of them have never met Armin (we've only been together for 11 and a half years!), and I have cousins last seen as babes in arms who are now babes at university. It's quite a big deal. I'm really looking forward to getting reacquainted. It's not the best time of year for visiting the Cape, but I'm also looking forward to seeing home again (as always), and eating some calamari. (Take it from me: if you ever visit Cape Town - and you should - eat a lot of seafood. Really. I never realised just how great it was until I had seafood elsewhere, which was... less great.) I'm not so much looking forward to flying for hours with morning sickness, but eh... it'll be fine. Right? Right... And hey, at least I'm ready to take my knitting along, again.

Anyway, worry not, the shop will not be closing. Eszter the Needle Elf will be on duty, so orders will go out promptly as usual. She'll also be monitoring the email, but most queries will probably have to wait till my return, on 3 September. Ah well, that's not long, eh? See you then. Stay well, as they say in my country. (Now you say "go well". Go on. It's the rules.*)

_____
* Actually, it's usually the other way around: first "go well", then "stay well". And it should really be "hamba kahle - sala kahle". But hey. Whatever works, right?

Posted by Robynn at 01:07 PM | Permalink | 8 cups of tea on the table

A miracle: I picked up the needles today. Did quite a few rounds, too. I wouldn't say I'm entirely back to the usual level of addiction, but it's starting to sound like fun again.

Cheers, whistles etc. I am *so* glad the mojo is coming back.

Posted by Robynn at 02:25 PM | Permalink | 2 cups of tea on the table

Unexpected good thing of the day: I got an email from the BBC (yes, that BBC) saying they've linked Purlescence in a green knitting guide. I blush! I squeal!

Posted by Robynn at 03:34 PM | Permalink | 5 cups of tea on the table