Inspiration
Dana’s Edit: Perfect Pairings
I love knitting but you know what I love even more? Reading.
I’ve been an avid reader since my Mom got me to read my very first book with chapters (Iggie’s House by Judy Bloom). I even have a masters degree in publishing!
I go back and forth between reading and listening to books and have found that audiobooks and knitting are a perfect pairing. So why not suggest a few books I love with projects I think would pair perfectly?
Once and Floral by Maxim Cyr
with A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
I devoured Sarah J Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series when my friend suggested it to me and I haven’t looked back. Yes, there is romance —the category is romantasy—but what you stay for is the wild and twisting story that will keep you riveted.
There are currently five books in the series (with a rumored sixth on the way) so it will give you ample time to listen to while you knit the Once and Floral sweater by Maxim Cyr. When I heard the title, this was the sweater that popped into my head immediately. A lovely floral yoke and then lots of stockinette body: a perfect combo.
Funfetti by Sylvia Watts-Cherry
with Here for It by R. Eric Thomas
I love when books are narrated by their authors because it feels like they’re reading it to me. Here for It made me laugh and cry and immediately Google things I didn’t know.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet R. Eric Thomas in person and he’s just as delightful as his writing. The confetti on the cover immediately made me think of funfetti cake (which I love) and then I immediately thought of the Funfetti sweater by Sylvia Watts-Cherry.
It’s an opportunity to play with lots of colors and have fun with a bold color palette…maybe even take inspo from the book cover? Added bonus: it’s slipped stitches, which is a little less intimidating than colorwork.
Morning Glory Cardigan by Rebekka Mauser
with The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
The Color of Law changed me in profound ways and I recommend it to EVERYONE. Kay read it after I suggested it and we ended up attending a webinar together with the author and were riveted.
This book breaks down why housing in America is the way it is, the impacts of building cities on communities, and even delves into what the American Dream of owning a home is all about.
Because it made me think of houses and housing, the Morning Glory cardigan reminds me of when I see neighborhoods from overhead on a plane. Don’t ask me why, it’s just how my brain works!
I say take a book cover and let it inspire your color palette. Then get that audiobook started while you knit this summer.
If you’ve got a book that you loved to listen to while knitting, please share! My to-be-read list is a mile long and I’m always looking to add more books to it.
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This is brilliant, and The Color of Law changed by life, too.
One of my favorite local dyers, Frog It Yarns, has a book theme for their monthly club this year and is using the covers as color inspo. I especially like that their monthly club is not a subscription. I believe they were at Nash Yarn Fest (unlike me, sadly), so some readers may be familiar with them.
Oooh! That funfetti sweater is making me feel so happy! I have saved it in my Ravelry! Thank you, Dana, for a really neat idea of pairing reading and knits!
I have made 2 funfetti sweaters so far- am planning my 3rd at the moment. It’s great for color play- I can’t recommend it enough!
Now I have to read the matching books! Thanks Dana
I love the thoughtful liveliness of your column!
The Color of Law..I rec’d to friends who need to read it but won’t. Wanna stay stuck in their bubbles.
Love your posts.
Where would I find the pattern for Funfetti? I’ve looked on Ravelry. Thanks.
Hi! Just click on the orange title in the article and it will link you to the ravelry page!
I have not read any of these books, nor knitted any of the sweaters, but your article made me want to read and make all of them! Thanks for your thoughtful curation and beautiful writing.
I can recommend the audio version of Here for It if you prefer. I read Color of Law with a pencil in hand and wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s a good YouTube of a library event of the follow up book, which is by the author and his accomplished adult daughter that’s worth listening to, though. The website for the actual book (not the library author event) is here: https://www.justactionbook.org
Knitting and “audiobooking” are my two favorite activities. I haven’t paired them, but I can recommend The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman for a fun romp, and Ultra Processed People by Chris van Tulleken for a fascinating factual look at what’s in our food and why it’s there.
I second the recommendation for Thursday Murder Club series; also Richard Osman’s newest- We Solve Murders.
Me, too.
This post resonated on many levels. Knitting while listening to audiobooks (including The Power Broker that clocked in at 66 hours) is magical. And Judy Blume was my neighbor many years ago. I will definitely check out Dana’s recommendations.
I have the Power Broker too and Judy Blumes first home is around the corner from me in NJ! Connections in addition to knitting!
I just finished Lady Tan’s Circle of Woman by Lisa See and it was excellent. I also reread Their Eyes Were Watching God last month. If you have not visited with Zora Neale Hurston in a while, she is well worth spending time with again. If you do audiobooks (and it sounds like that is your preference), the choice of narrator would be critical as Hurston’s dialogue transports you. Richard is a remarkable person who I have not seen in years and I will have to read The Color of Law; thank you for the recommendation.
Great pairings! Great inspiration! Thank you!
The Color of Law..I rec’d to friends who need to read it but won’t. Wanna stay stuck in their bubbles.
Love your posts.
I don’t have any pairings to suggest right away. But have you noticed the power of knitting to cement memory? I will pick up a WIP and remember what I listened to last while working on it. And often I will pick up a long ago finished FO and remember what I listened to while making it.
Currently I’m listening to The Ministry for the Future which is set in the near future with disastrous climate change. Not easy listening (it begins with a heat wave in India that kills an entire city) but I recommend it.
I absolutely love this post! I’m a librarian and a knitter . . . and I almost always listen to audiobooks while knitting. I’ve put these at the top of my TBR list. Many thanks!
Reading and knitting are my teo favorite things, too! What a treat to wake up to three new book recommendations! And the sweaters, too! Thank you.
Wonderful post! I’m hoping you turn this into an annual or semi-annual feature.
A great way to combine my two favorite pasttimes. However, there’s something about turning the pages of a book that soothes me. I did start reading on a Kindle many years ago. That allows me to read late into the night without disturbing my husband. Just haven’t gotten into listening to books yet. I agree, I shouldn’t knock it until I’ve tried it. Maybe this summer when I’m knitting “miles” of stockinette stitch on my next Shakerag Skirt, I’ll give it a try. Thanks for book suggestions. They sound enthralling.
I, too, love a real book in the hand. But I have found that listening to a book while knitting is really a great way to do both of my favorite things. A word of advice…try to work on a project that is not too complicated while you are listening. If I have to look at a pattern or pay strict attention to the knitting, I find that I may have missed something. But fortunately you can go back to catch what you might have missed.
What a great idea to match knitting projects with a book! The Color of Law is a must read. Profoundly thought provoking. Thanks Dana for giving this book a shout out.
Thanks, Dana! I am making a pair of socks ( vanilla pattern) while listening to AMERICAN SHEEP, a new and just published history of sheep in the US. It is a fascinating story of sheep breeds, of tariffs (!) on wool imported to clothe enslaved people, of the need for wool during the Civil War (the average soldier required 75 lbs of wool to make uniform, blanket etc. Grab a copy! Author is Brett Bannor.
Excellent…both for the audio books but the pairings with patterns. I’m going to try it!
Susan Dougals AMERICAN WILDERNESS series is outstanding!
Oops. Sara Donati
Love audiobooks, especially when the reader provides accents and character that my reading would not have done. Just finished “Still Life” by Sarah Winman (beware–there are a number other books with that title). She reads it and turns out to be as skilled a voice actor as she is a writer. Also listening to “All Creatures Great and Small” since I enjoyed the PBS series so much and wanted to see if the show’s story line varied from the books. (It does, but in this rare case I think each version is valid.) The book is terrific–you can see that Herriot’s own humor is a core part of the original tales, along with his great eye for settings. Soooo many more, “What An Owl Knows,” and “The Genius of Birds” by Jennifer Ackerman–as I’ve been watching eagle and owl nest cams–and plenty of mysteries.
The Covenant of Water by Verghese read by the author is my all time favorite (and I had read the book before). The Dutch House by Ann Patchett read by Tom Hanks is a close runner up
The Covenant of Water was a great read! Also loved Remarkably Bright Creatures and the Vampire Knitting Club series.
I also enjoy audio books, my first & favorite is The Lost Apothecary, both English & British accents add to the listening fun.
TU for your recommendations.
Thanks Dana for your reading selections and knitting projects to pair with the books. I’m looking forward to reading your recommendations. I love the projects also.
I somewhat sheepishly (no pun intended) will raise my hand and admit I read really light books because… I just do. I want to laugh and be entertained. I like to read cozy mysteries based on LYS setttings, and although not always light per se, I learned to love some YA Genre books when homeschooling my girls. Gary Schmidt’s book, The Labors of Hercules was just amazing. I totally had to rip out a row or two at the end, lol! His books, Wednesday Wars and Okay For Now are the 2 that made me search out his other work, and I loved it!! Echo (the version with music) and Wonder are also great. Btw, the person who founded Ravelry has a couple cozy mysteries out there that were fun!
YA books are always a refreshing break from whatever else I may be reading. No reason to feel sheepish (lol)!
Do not feel sheepish! Light reading is still reading and is 100% valid.
“Light” is how I like my movies. I don’t have any interest in watching ones that are scary, or thought provoking, or insightful. If the movie doesn’t end with a song or a kiss, I am not interested.
You aren’t alone as I often need / read lighter books. I just finished Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. I enjoyed it!
I loved this idea of pairing patterns with books! As always, thanks for the inspiration, Dana!
Always happy when I see a post from Dana or Franklin. Two fine knitters and writers. Thanks for the dual knitting and book recommendations. The Color of Law has been on my to-read list for a while. I’m hoping to clear some of that list this summer, so I’m newly inspired!
Thank you!
I love all these suggestions and am especially fond of knitting to audiobooks. My latest, which I am enjoying hugely, is “The Library Book” by Susan Orlean. It is fascinating and so well written. It will give you a whole new appreciation of the critical importance of libraries in our society!
The Library Book was a real surprise and a most interesting read/listen.
Love the recommendations! Thank you. They all went on my TBR books. The sweaters may be beyond me though, but I can still knit something else, right?
Excellent recommendations.
Knitting and audiobooks — a match made in heaven! I recently finished Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, about the presidency of James Garfield. I read that they are making a Netflix miniseries based on the book, with Matthew MacFadyen and Michael Sheen. It was such a surprising story — I knit a sweater while listening and think back to the book each time I wear it.
Wonderful post, Dana. Now if only I could knit, audiobook and – Walk – too! Maybe on a country lane?? Love the James Herriot and Lisa See suggestions. I have read all of his and most of hers. She really transports you back to any era of Chinese history she happens to be writing about. Mostly, though, I prefer to audio-book to light reading. Less likely to lose my place. Would Susan Orlean’s Library Book qualify? I think I’ll try it. Love the Morning Glory Cardigan, as much for its proportions as for the little rectangles. The color combination possibilities are endless. Would love to see what you would make of them!
Loved listening to the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley while knitting. I was listening to The Storm Sister (book 2), with references to Peer Gynt, when I came across the Storm Sweater pattern by Petiteknits. How could I not order it and cast on with Sandes Garn’s Peer Gynt line of yarn! Love the sweater, and highly recommend the book series.
Thanks Dana & everyone for suggestions. I much prefer to read a physical book but I love a good audio book when knitting or cleaning, driving long distances. The narration has to be good as I’ve read some great books then tried the audio version & was disappointed. A few of my favorite audio books: Rachel Joyce’s books Miss Benson’s Beetle, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy and Maureen; Jeanette Winterson’s Sexing the Cherry; and The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson.
Yes to Color of Law: the things we don’t know or made assumptions about, especially having grown up in the 50’s and 60’s – unbelievable. This author did his homework!
Once and Floral is on my to-do list. Love the patterned yoke sweaters anyway and this one is a stand out.
Yes, Richard Osman and a new find, Peter Grainger for a quiet kind of policeman.
For mid last century detective vibes better than the beloved Agatha CHristie, Kate Davies Mystery Knits has patterns inspired by books and essays about the work of Marjory Allingham…..I loved it all and got the audio books so I could knit and listen…maybe a bit too English upper class for our days but it’s addictive stuff. She has almost been forgotten as a writer, sadly.
Dana, I loved A Court of Thorns and Roses and have gone on to read The Crescent City series and her previous series ….keeps you turning the pages. I also love the combinations you have suggested. Thank You x
I also love to read and knit. This is really a very cool idea. There may be a pattern book idea percolating here.
Currently listening to Peggy Orenstein’s narration of her book UNRAVELING. A delightful book written during the pandemic when Peggy decided to make a sweater from shearing through wearable garment.
The book includes thoughts about aging, parenting, climate change, the pandemic, and of course lots of information and words of wisdom about fiber arts.
The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger, and Night Magic by Leigh Ann Henion. Both books may be a bit dense for knitting at the same time, but both are fascinating nature explorations – and maybe there are good matches in botanical-inspired knitting designs? (will have to research this….)
I retired during the Pandemic and spent the first winter “rereading “ all of the Outlander series via audiobooks while knitting. The narrator is fantastic and you learn how all the Gaelic is pronounced.
Hi Dana and fellow readers! Tom Lake, narrated by Meryl Streep is a dream, and I imagine listening to it while knitting a Ranunculus would also be dreamy!
What a clever inspiration. Love them, especially the rose yoke.
in the audiobooks read by their authors category, i heartily recommend trevor noah’s born a crime and libba bray’s beauty queens. january lavoy and allan corduner are two of my favorite narrators and i sometimes pick books they’ve read (in actuality, performed) when i’m hunting for a new read.
Color of Law is an excellent book. I worked in housing for many years and learned so much more. I might have to put Morning Glory on the list! I have “summer weeding” audiobooks. I’ll put Here for It on that list. Thanks, Dana.
We are listening to All the Beauty in the World and enjoying it greatly. I don’t know what the cover looks like, though!
Awesome article! Thanks!