flighty—in a good way

Posted on annePosted in book reviews/events

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i first met celeste young (second from the right, above) in 2009, when i did a trunk show at my mom’s LYS—trumpet hill fine yarns in albany, NY. later we got to know each other a bit better during a weekend of classes i taught at the shop, when she picked my brain a little bit about how to go about publish her first patterns.

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at trumpet hill, celeste works closely with owner robena dematteo and over the last few years they have together developed a warm and inviting knitter’s oasis which clearly reflects their fast bond of friendship. as i watch them work, i see an excited employee who loves her job and an owner who is secure enough to encourage her employee’s ambition to craft a design career as well.

each time i visit, i feel welcomed as part of the family there as we catch each other up on news and talk shop. i’ve had the pleasure of teaching workshops several times at trumpet hill and hope to continue; it’s one of my favorite venues to teach at. we also get to see each other “in the wild” here and there—often at wool shows or other knitter’s events.

and this year when i ran into celeste at rhinebeck, she shared two wonderful pieces  of news. one of them was obvious—she is expecting her first baby in january! AND she has just published a book of her own knitting designs.

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knits of a feather is a collection of twenty designs that are inspired in some way by the author’s love of birds.

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from the flyleaf all the way through, the unifying theme provides a lovely, fresh inspiration to both hand knits and photography.

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celeste has used a natural, graceful hand in her interpretations of the beauty, life, and behavior of birds into stitches and patterns.

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the book celebrates designs for all skill levels using a variety of techniques from color work to cables to lace to beading to embroidery.

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there are larger projects for experienced knitters as well as small projects with which to try out new skills

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and instructional support provided for the techniques required to execute them.

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a variety of project types is represented as well. all manner of accessories—shawls, hats, scarves, mitts, cowls, home items—and a few sweaters make up a well-rounded lineup. i feel like the book has a lot more than twenty projects.

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my favorites are the color work pieces; personally, i think this is where the collection really shines.

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though i haven’t knit a huge amount of color work and i’m not known for designing any, i do love me a good color work pattern—it always pleases my eye. i need a color work clone . . .

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wouldn’t some of these look great in our stone soup or breakfast blend yarns? i’m hoping that celeste will be inspired to create a design with one of our bare naked wools—wouldn’t that be awesome??

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i love this sweater and all the swirly feathery things included. i wouldn’t have thought to use the feather theme quite this way and i find it delightfully surprising in the cover design as well as the sweater and tam.

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want to see more? click here to view the entire collection or visit the book’s page on ravelry to see full project and pattern details.

signed copies available in print from the author’s site ; also available on amazon (unsigned).

now here’s the weekend treat for us—celeste has generously offered for two lucky readers to win a signed copy of the book! if you want to put your name in the hat, please leave one comment at the end of this post by 9 pm EST on sunday, november 10th.

i thought this would be a fun way to celebrate running my first half marathon this weekend—sunday is the big day; i’ve been training for months. so wish me luck while you’re crossing your fingers to win a book!

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162 thoughts on “flighty—in a good way”

  1. What a lovely looking book! As I start my first job in a yarn shop, I’d love a copy of this to celebrate and help me learn a new skill!

  2. I love this book and I would love to win a copy of this book. I love the colorwork and I love birds.

    Ruby
    Rav: MzCruse

  3. There are some beautiful designs, I am intrigued by the feathery swirls on the beret and love those mitts. Good luck with your half marathon, do you have a time in mind or will finishing be enough?!

  9. Love all the designs shown here and would love to have the book. Hope your Sunday run is fun and fast.

  11. What a great bbok. As a beginning knitter, I’ve not yet done any colourwork. This book is nice that it has a range of projects, so as one’s skills progress, there are projects that one could attempt.

  14. Best wishes for an awesome run!
    Lovely book…I love birds. We have two budgies and four zebra finches. And they are fun to watch!

  19. Oooo, I love the Birds on a Wire cowl, and my son would love the cardinal hat. Count me in, please!

  20. Oh my yes! I have been drooling over the designs since I first saw them on Rav. The Murmuration Shawl reminds me of a wonderful evening I spent in September watching masses of swifts gathering and then swirling into an old incinerator chimney to rest for the night on their migration south. I need to make it!

  21. What a lovely book! And a special theme, the birds. My birthday comes round next week, and it would be excellent if I received a copy of this book. Melinda J.

  22. Would like to knit some of this beautiful patterns………. Please enter my chance to win. Thank You Good luck this weekend

  24. I have always been a bit afraid of colour work but this book and its gorgeous patterns are perhaps the first thing that I have seen that would make me give it a go. Good luck for this weekend.

  26. What fabulous designs! If I had the book, I would start with the Sandpiper Scarf and the tam with the peacock feathers.

  27. Such a lovely book. I live in the UK but my USA SIL is a knitting bird- watcher, so I would get the book sent to her if I win.

  29. All the designs look pretty and fun! I’d love to add some of these to my list of “to be knit”!!!

  31. Congratulations, Celeste on your first book — it is lovely!
    And, good luck, Anne on your first half marathon!

    Cheers to you both…

  34. Love the feather sweater and peacock tam. Haven’t done colorwork in 30 years. I am overdue.

  35. Lovely, lovely patterns. Right now (and this is subject to change!), my favorite is the birds and hearts mittens.

  36. What beautiful patterns – love the mittens and the sweater. Thank you for the chance to win!

  37. This is such a beautiful book. I would love to have it. The patterns are gorgeous. I enjoy doing color work so much.

  39. Love the designs. Birds fascinate me also. I feed them summer as well as winter. My favorites are the hummers, but they are here in northern ohio for such a short time,

  40. The theme and the pages that you shared are very tempting. What an amazing “first” book!
    Have a great run!

  42. What a refreshing book! Lacework is my favorite – the sandpiper scarf is on my to-do list for sure. I hope I win!

  43. That book looks super interesting. Working on my first stranded color work project right now, and finding it both fun and addictive!

  45. Good luck on Sunday!
    I would love for this book to be in my collection, so inovative!
    Love birds and feathers!

  50. Beautiful book. Gets me thinking about sweater knitting again. Ran my first half in my late 50s and loved every minute-before you know it you’ll be training for a full. I really think running & knitting compliment each other!!!!!Thanks for all of your inspiration. Started a “Squish Me” Hat the other day & love it. Holiday. knitting is in full swing.

  53. I’m sure you’ll do great in the half! Thanks for the giveaway–this is a beautiful book with beautiful patterns!

  55. All the best in the marathon! What a great collection of patterns! I love the Murmuration shawl and Contour feathers sweater—well actually all of the designs!
    Thank you for hosting the give away.

  59. Please count me in! Right now I’m reading “Gifts of the Crow” (inspired by the PBS show and the abundance of crows in our neighborhood), so there’s the bird connection. And we just finished our high school cross country season in Michigan, so I’m practiced at cheering on runners: “Go Anne, keep up the pace, you’re looking good!” Good luck on the half marathon Sunday!

  61. I love that sweater!
    I wish you good luck and much success on your first Half Marathon – how exciting!!

  63. My favorites are the sweater and the gorgeous color mittens. How fun to have an LYS home away from home,

  64. I love that sweater, like so many others will. I agree it would look lovely in BN wools. Good luck on Sunday!

  66. GOOD LUCK, ANNE…!! I hope that you have a good wind at your back, and that you stay strong!! I would LOVE to win the book for my daughter, Danielle Chalson, the writer of Makewise Designs, also a very talented and gracious designer…many thanks for putting my name in the running!!

  67. These designs are so appealing – I was hoping you were working up to a book drawing. Please put my name in the hat. Run well on Sunday!

  68. I would love to knit something from this book especially the sweater with the feathers. Pick Me! Hope the weather is good for your run on Sunday.

  69. Hope you have great weather and a good run 🙂

    I’d also love to put my name in for the book.

  71. What beautiful designs! I too have not done much color work, but this book might get me to sing a different tune.

    Good luck with run on Sunday!

  73. WOW! What a great looking book. May have to add to my Xmas list if I’m not the lucky winner. Thanks for the chance to win, and good luck on your run.

  75. What a beautiful book! I would love to win a copy to give to my good friend who loves birds. Thanks for the chance to win one.

  77. Such beautiful designs! I would love to win the book. Have a great run, and I can’t wait to hear all about it.

  78. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve seen a knitting book that I feel the need to own. The book is beautifully presented. So inspirational. I would be proud to own such a unique reference.

  79. My 10 year old daughter wants to grow up and be a veterinarian to birds ( began talking about it since she’s been 5).

    What a great book to have on hand!

  80. I just love the birds on a wire cowl! Would love to do thati in the Bare Naked Wool! And, a runner myself, I know you have been training hard and the run will be easier than you ever imagined. Have fun and hydrate!

  86. Good luck with your marathon! Would love to win Celeste’s new book, so pretty. Trumpet Hill is my LYS, love it to pieces & I actually took one of your lace classes there I think the 1st time you came. I truely had a wonderful time in that class. My mind is not what it used to be now with 2 precious babies under 17 months.

  87. I’m in love with the hat and the gloves! It’s inspiring too. I’m capable of pulling off advanced knitting techniques with no problems but I struggle with creating my own patterns.

  88. What lovely designs. Thanks for the opportunity to win a book. Good luck with the marathon on Sunday.

  89. Lots of luck on your run—I am sure you will have a great feeling of accomplishment.
    Those designs are fascinating!

  90. I’d love to win this book that has so many lovely designs in it. Love the Peacock Tam!

    Have a great run Anne!

  94. Best of luck on the run! That Peacock Tam is absolutely gorgeous, I recently began a search for a color work project and that one is a keeper.

  95. I would love to try some of these patterns – I especially like the feather design. I live in the UK so would be prepared to pay postage should I win,
    Best regards, Julie

  97. I know you’ll do well in the half marathon, but I’ll offer good luck anyway.

    This looks like a lovely book. I agree that the swirly feather design would work perfectly in your yarns.

  102. Love the peacock hat! Lovely looking book.

    And I’ve visited Trumpet Hill when traveling. So amazing to learn it is your Mom’s shop!

  105. Anne–I am so delighted to see this review here and so happy to know I had a small hand in helping bring you, Robena, and Celeste together!! Thank you for such a lovely post about our LYS and Celeste!! Wish you could see my smile just now! Good luck tomorrow–am sure you will run like the wind!

  106. Oooh, amazing designs! Love the bird-y inspiration.

    Hooray for you and a half marathon, Anne! May your feet fly like Celeste’s birds.

  109. Good luck in your race. I know you can do it.
    Lovely review of “Birds of a Feather.”

  113. You go, Anne! May your legs carry you well in the half marathon.

    Love the birdy knit patterns.

  116. I love those feather designs! I nope the marathon running goes well, a half marathon sounds so hard!

  117. The sandpiper scarf and the sweater are my favorite designs. What an cool idea for a design theme!

  118. The book looks wonderful! Congrats to Celeste on realizing this wonderful accomplishment. And the same to you, Anne. Run strong!

  120. Good luck with the half marathon I know you will cross the finish line with a flourish! Wonderful theme for colorwork designs.

  126. I like the tam pattern with the feathers. I have always wanted to try color work. Wishing (with fingers crossed) that I am a lucky winner! Thanks for the chance to win this book. Good luck with your run.

  131. Absolutely gorgeous book. I, too, love birds. From my kitchen I spend much time knitting and bird watching.

  132. I love themes from nature in knitwear and, especially, anything to do with our feathered friends! The sweater is gorgeous and unique!

    Susan

  133. Lovely, lovely, designs. As I read your post I kept saying, “Oh I’d like to knit that!” Thanks for sharing. Have a good run.

  134. Love the book, I plan to pick it up one of these days. I was just looking through it a few days ago when I stopped in to see them and grab some needles!

  135. I am definitely going to go check out more about that lovely book!

    Best of luck to Celeste with the rest of her pregnancy and the upcoming birth of her child – how special…

    Hoping for wonderful weather for your first half-marathon, Anne! I know you will enjoy the running camaraderie…

  139. Congratulations to Celeste on the beautiful book and good luck to you, Anne, on your run. Thanks to both of you for the chance to win b

  140. Congrats on the half marathon!!!! I’d love to wina copy of this book – I have two Amazon parrots and they are my dear companions. You could say I’m a bit flighty too!

  141. My dad, a great birder who spent many years of his retirement volunteering and documenting bird migration for the National Park Service on Long Island’s south shore, would have loved this book! He was also a big fan of my knitting. Knitting and birds — he would have approved. I smiled just looking at the photos from the book and thinking of him, gone now 10 years. Thanks for sharing.

  142. Oh my, what a beautiful book! Would love to win that! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

    Good luck with the marathon–how exciting it will be to cross that finish line!

  146. What a gorgeous collection of patterns…maybe thinking of them will give your feet wings for your Sunday run!

  150. I have been looking at that cowl design on Ravelry for a long time, I think — and I love that sweater! Hope your run goes well. . . and I’d love to welcome this book to my house!

  153. I’m crossing my fingers and saying a pray for you in the marathon and for me and this wonderful book!

  156. Love the designs! Would love to win the book. I live in Portland OR where the motto is “put a bird on it!”

  157. I saw the book at Rhinebeck and loved it- now it’s great to hear this story about th author! Would love to have this beautiful volume. Good luck with your race- and stay warm! We had a dusting of snow here in Maine this morning.

  159. Gorgeous designs!! Me being a “Robin” all my life… I’ve always FLOCKED to anything bird related!! I hope I get picked (I mean PLUCKED) for the book giveway 🙂

    I hope you enjoyed your first Hal-Marathon! Congrats to you – I saw a half marathon start /finish this weekend while visiting out of state and it really got me thinking about making that a GOAL to do! Not sure I will ever realize the goal – but SO PROUD of you for sticking with it and making it a REALITY!!!!!

  160. Love this book! colorwork has always been my favorite.

    Anne–hope your first half-marathon went great:) Miss you, Heather

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