my taste in furnishings is a little bipolar. while i love rooms that feel spacious and spare, containing just few pieces of streamlined furniture, i also admit to a penchant for concentrated areas of organized clutter.
these mini museum displays are set up all over my house and so it has been, ever since i can remember—i was one of those kids that constructed alters of bird nests, broken china, and rocks. and shells. and old jewelry.
i nestled cracker jack toys and beads in bits of wool and put them to bed in matchboxes that i secreted away in my pockets or drawers (the layering is so important). i narrated their stories to myself constantly.
and so on. i never met a small box or bottle i didn’t like . . . or a baby shoe.
i see a bunch of you smiling to yourselves out there—you know what i’m talking about.
when i moved to NYC after college, a country mouse making my way to the city life, i discovered there existed a whole new level of detritus beyond my imagination. the things i found on the street, in forgotten corners, or in the trash to make art from were almost limitless in their potential to mix with other things and tell tales.
(i know—that part about the trash makes me shudder now too, but honestly, i never picked through; just took from the top and then, only clean stuff. i swear.)
i love that david has a similar affection for curious doodads, but i’m starting to see that two of us in one house can be trouble. in our current home, things have gotten a bit out of control since, with the renovation, we have never completely settled into a permanent configuration. our displays are a lot more haphazard and they grow quite organically out of nowhere and in the oddest spots, where they sit unattended. we have little time to be the curators we once were.
as we finish each room, we are very careful to edit and introduce “order”, allowing only our most favorite stuff to remain. david refinished my dad’s old desk for me and i created a curiosity cabinet within, ostensibly to keep from cluttering other surfaces and cut down on dusting.
but there’s still a ways to go; i admit i do not get carried away with organizing my surroundings—yet. and after ten years in one place, we could use a thorough sweeping out.
one good development has been that as my design career expands, i see more and more how to process textural inspiration into my work without having to collect and assemble so many actual things; now that we live outside the city, i also use my natural living surroundings as inspiration.
and then i saw that another designer has undertaken a similar journey of converting actual collecting into a more visual reflection of her love of texture.
in the knitter’s curiosity cabinet, author and designer hunter hammersen explores the history of the curiosity cabinet, where combining objects can range from indulging in a mild interest to a fiercely fetishistic passion.
what she has done is to make the book itself into her cabinet and assembled within a collection of socks, fingerless mitts, cowls, scarves, and shawl designs, tied together by a botanical theme.
(haha, wow; that looks way too familiar for comfort)
she then uses the the curiosity cabinet as a central touchstone around which to fashion a book containing her knitted accessory collection.
each piece is a little universe swirling with interest, contained within the boundaries of its small shape. the textures captured within the projects are inspired by botanical prints.
such as the crocus versus sock, above.
there is something for every knitting level and many pieces are good candidates for gifting, even at the last minute.
and the chrysanthemum frutescens socks (cover photo) and hat (below).
there is more than one pairing of pieces in the collection; several accessory sets are featured which make good use of a larger skein of yarn.
the pattern steps are written out in paragraph form, while the stitch patterns used within appear both in row-by-row and charted format; the charts are large and easy to read.
the book is an almost-square shape that lay open nicely to individual project pages.
the collection is rich with deep, luscious color, sparked by highlights of fresh spring, such as the pink shawl above.
the palette is very appealing and in keeping with the theme with yarns sourced largely from favorite indie dyers.
the best part is that hunter is a “neighbor” of mine who lives up in cleveland, just an hour away and i got to meet her when i was at TNNA last weekend. silly me, i forgot myself entirely and did not get a photo of us together—drat.
now you might already have guessed what’s coming next, but i’m going to tell you anyway. hunter has very graciously set aside a copy of the knitter’s curiosity cabinet to send to one lucky reader of today’s post.
leave a comment at the end of this post by 9 pm EDST on sunday, july 8th to have your name included. we will announce a winner early next week.
very many thanks to hunter for providing the opportunity to share her book and to offer a giveaway copy; thank you hunter!
406 thoughts on “curiouser and curiouser”
I just bought Hunter’s Silk Road Socks, and I love it. This book is on my wishlist! Thanks for giving away a copy.
Wow! 300+ comments already! Thanks for the intro to the book – it’s now on my wish list, too.
Ooh a gorgeous book and great prize!
Would love to win if it’s not too late – love that frutescens hat – the color! Also enjoyed a glimpse into your world, Ann – your ‘curiousity cabinet’ is wonderful!
What an interesting concept for a knitting design book!
This book looks wonderful-I’ve got my fingers crossed!
Great concept for a knitting design book. I am all about texture – so I am quite taken by the innovative patterns. Anne, thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book.
Looks like a lovely book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks for sharing the book! If I don’t win, I will have to go an buy it!
Such creative use of patterns in the socks. Love them!
What an interesting idea, and the projects look so good! I would love the opportunity to give it a try.
Saw this book earlier and love the pairing of patterns using the same basic pattern stitch. Very creative! Thanks to Hunter for her generous donation.
I’d love to win a copy. One can never have too many knitting books.
Oh my gosh that is a spectacularly beautiful book, one that would match my sentiments so well. I would love to win a copy.
These designs inspire me to look closer at my own surroundings. Thanks for the review!
Foot art! What a great reason to put one’s feet up in public.
Leslie
Great looking book, I’d love to see it (and owning it would be even better!)
Oooh, I have been coveting this book. Thank you to you and Hunter for making this offer.
The photos are gorgeous! I guess I’m going to have to get this book added to my collection. **sigh**. I think I need to buy a ‘knitting house’. I am being over run in my own home by yarn, books, spinning wheels, weaving looms, etc., etc…….help!!
This looks like a great book. thank you for the offer 🙂
I live in Australia – can I be included in this please? I think the crocus socks are great, and the colour is fabulous – exactly like the purple of the flower in nature. Thanks for a chance to win this book.
the book and the socks are exquisite. I believe much of my knitting even has the feel of a collection of sorts. Thank you for offering to share.
This sounds like a book of designs with all the details. Love it!
As time goes on, I find myself drawn more and more to things either found in nature or having elements of nature in their design, as well as things handmade or having some sort of history. The collections and book all seem wonderful!
It looks like a wonderful book that is full of great designs!
What a gorgeous idea. Pick me please?
I love this book , have been thinking of buying it , which I will do if I don’t get lucky and win it. Thanks for the chance!
I have the SIlk Road Socks books as well. This one looks fabulous!
This sounds like a wonderful book full of fun designs!
Gorgeous! My house is a curiosity cabinet. Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.
Wonderful post, thanks. And the book is so enticing! Would love to have it!
What a truly, lovely book of designs. Love the inspiration.
Thanks for sharing some of your collections! I love finding out that I am not as strange as I seem (my craft room shelves collect all sorts of things!)!
Oh what a lovely looking book. Please include me in the drawing.
I love the variety of patterns – quickies for the soul. Please include me in the drawing. Thank you.
I ave been admiring this book from afar, and would love a personal copy! Thank you.
I just finished reading Hunter’s post about the Fall Club 🙂 I’m a big fan of both of your work so it was fun to read that you just finally met in person.
Wow! My kind of book! Small pieces but with enough going on to make them interesting to knit and special to wear.
Wow–that book looks so intriguing!!
I am so totally with you on the collecting of smallish things! I also like the idea of an enclosed space with less need for dusting!
The book looks so lovely, it would be fabulous to win it.
That is a fabulous looking book! I love the wrist warmers and quite a few of the sock patterns.
I like setting up different display sections in the house and then change them around periodically, not quite seasonal but close.
I like to use the great colours of yarn as an embellishment but the cat would wreck it all.
Thanks for highlighting this lovely collection of texture and talent!
The book is lovely! Would LOVE to win it! 🙂
That book looks fabulous! I would love to enter to win a copy. Thanks 🙂
What a beautiful book. I would just love to win it.
Happy Knitting!
BRILLIANT!!
Oh I would love to win.
How exciting! It’s such a beautiful collection… those fingerless mitts are so very me!
Lovely selection of projects, and she chose pretty yarns. I like the cover socks.
How yummy! This book would be a lovely addition to my library. Several patterns in it are calling to my stash!
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