Slow Knitting: A Journey from Sheep to Skein to Stitch

Before I even opened this book I knew it was going to be a special read. The weight of the hardcover binding, the gorgeous cover photo that conveys the texture of the yarns so beautifully and the title all seem to say this is a book that is meant to be savored slowly index and thoughtfully with a cup of tea, glass of wine or whatever your beverage of choice is and the time of year it is. And I was right! Following in the steps of the slow stitching, food, living, quilting etc movements Slow Knitting is all about taking a break from the quick and easy and knit it in a hurry approach. It's about exchanging the quantity over quality with one that encourages the knitter to consider and understand the sources and environmental impact of the yarn chosen and choosing projects thoughtfully and fearlessly without making promises to deadlines. It encourages the knitter to experiment with new techniques and materials without worry about the burden of perfection.Broken down into five sections: Source Carefully, Produce Thoughtfully, Think Environmentally, Experiment Fearlessly and Explore Openly each section includes a profiles of two yarn types and makers (Green Mountain Spinnery, Brooklyn Tweed, Bare Naked Woods and mYak to name just a few) and two patterns with an essay at the end of each section that includes information about additional yarn suppliers. 10 patterns (cowls, sweaters, hat & mitts, shawls) that showcase each of the profiled yarn makers are included. The book is illustrated with gorgeous full color photographs on nice heavyweight paper. This is not a book that you will put on a bookshelf - it's one that you will leave on the coffee table so that you can pick it up and flip through it to enjoy the beautiful photography

While there seemed to be some content related to 'slow knitting' I found most of it advertisement for a variety of yarn brands. That may be interesting to a newbie, but I'm already well acquainted with these yarns and didn't need a $30 book to push them. The patterns... they're ok. I was really hoping for more of a Zen experience.

Two important notes on this: one, it is NOT well-formatted for a Kindle e-reader. It is almost impossible to read on one; you may have better luck on a tablet or the web-based Kindle app, but for those abroad or not in a position to get a physical copy - buyer beware. It relies heavily on its layout (with lots of blank space, and tiny fonts).Secondly: While this book definitely has food for thought, most of the book is profiles of knitters, yarn companies, and patterns. There are some ideas in it for slowing down and thinking about your own knitting, but not as many as I would like to have seen. It has a lot of feeling like an advertisement, a list of people and companies who are "doing it right", but I feel that there are not a lot of suggestions and jumping-off points for the average knitter in ways to - for example - use up existing stash in mindful ways. I really would have liked to see less space dedicated to the patterns and the (quite beautiful) photos - less "white space" overall as well - and more about how I, as a knitter, can take what I have and knit more intentionally. In the celebration of paring down and celebrating craftsmanship, I feel this is more an ode to others doing it right, but not quite yet giving enough of a jumping-off point for knitters to do it on their own without *increasing* existing stash.Four stars from me because while it's beautiful and helpful, there's also definitely room for improvement to help knitters curate their stash and become craftspeople more than mass-producers.

Hannah Thiessen has a great perspective on taking time to slow down with our knitting including the yarn we choose along with the patterns suitable for that yarn. She highlights many yarn companies with unique missions to provide eco-friendly, US based and alternate fibers, to name a few. The included patterns allow thorough exploration of some special yarns setting the example for choosing yarns and patterns that shine together.I think that this book will most appeal to the process knitter who loves to consider the journey of her fiber...from the many miles it travels on hoof and auto before taking its journey through her fingers and then with the person who the garment finally adorns.I look forward to following along with Hannah more regularly on her blog.

If you are a knitter & a reader, you will adore this book! The photography is frame-able, the patterns are gorgeous, & the reading is worthwhile. It truly made me think about why I knit & appreciate the art more. I love getting tips on where to buy sustainable, beautiful yarns too!

I didn’t get a lot of information that I didn’t already know from this purchase. I had my own fiber flock and still have German Angora bunnies and a wheel and I still purchase acrylic yarns lol. There is a use for everything. There are a lot of color pages, some nice modern patterns included. I guess the main idea of choosing your yarn and patterns wisely was worth the used book price, possibly? I’m sure it’s like one of those money maker movies where they didn’t spend a whole LOT to make it? advertisements for some fiber folks also included, but....it is enjoyable for mindless entertainment. I may pick out the book from my knitting book collection from time to time, but I may pull most all of the others first.

This is a luscious book that truly celebrates the “farm-to-table” aspects of knitting. Aside from having gorgeous photos and a beautiful layout, the substance of the book really has stuck with me, and encouraged me to slow down and enjoy all the facets of the knitting process. The book and its interviews with fiber farmers, yarn spinners and dyers, and pattern designers, really has had an impact on my yarn buying habits (I want to know where the yarn comes from!). The patterns in Slow Knitting are luscious, like the rest of the book. I very much recommend this book!

Lots to read and nice patterns.

This book has a great premise but sadly is not suitable for UK or European based knitters as it focuses entirely on US luxury yarn brands. It reads very much like an advertorial and I'm gutted that I paid money to be promoted to by US yarn brands that I'm just not interested in. On the plus side, it would look nice on a coffee table.

Wonderful book, beautifully written. I love the sentiment and philosophy behind Slow Knitting. I love knitting books that have loads of text to read and ideas to ponder over, and this also includes some attractive, elegant patterns. The photography is sumptuous.The only thing I would alert you to is that the Kindle edition comes in a format that won't display on a bog-standard Kindle, so I have to view it in the Kindle app on my iPad. This is the first time I've ever downloaded a Kindle book that wouldn't open on my reader!

I bought this for myself but it would make a lovely gift for a spinner or knitter. It is interesting and is good to dip into. The patterns are varied enough to be interesting but it is not simply a pattern book. It a craft culture where productivity is key the idea of slowing down and producing an item from end to end is enticing. As a result of reading this I have started a garment of my own from a fleece.

Just bought this in kindle version - I wish I'd sampled first. The Amazon blurb gives impression alternative yarns to the ones featured are suggested, but no yarns in this book are easily available in the UK. Not much use to me!

This is a lovely book to look at. Quite informative and a few patterns with a particular aesthetic you have to like in order to want to make them.Although I appreciate the mindset of Slow Knitting and mindfulness etc. and also the emphasis on "real" wools and indie wool producers, this would be a purely coffee table book for me, with beautiful photography to lazily flick through or aspire to.But I'm looking for someone to pass it on to, as it has no place on my coffee table or in my knitting library.