Janet Smith Can't Knit...

...but her sister certainly can and she has a wonderful knitting pattern book out NOW! 

It's by Suzie, you know, my buddy, I've waffled on about her before. She owns The Wool Sanctuary and runs Knit Club which is the highlight of my month.

Suzie's book is called Janet Smith Can't Knit (and you can buy it here, just scroll down a bit and you'll see where to click) because although Suzie is an ah-may-zin knitter and designer who was taught by her Mum, her sister is rubbish at knitting. Her sister is called Janet Smith. See? Well it all makes perfect sense to our Soooooooozie who is utterly bonkers in THE bestest way ever. I think I may have said that before. Yes I have.

When I first went to Knit Club, Suzie was talking about her book, talking about her designs and her excitement and all her dedicated Knit Clubbers were all a spin about the very thought of there being a book. 

This is my favourite image in the book.
Suzie being bonkers.

Then it all fell through. The deal, the negotiations all went wrong. But Suzie, being the strong wilful spirit that she is said "Huh, well, they can stuff it, I'll self publish"

I sewed the gap up on this eye. I never thought I'd ever do ophthalmic surgery,
but there we are.

So she did. She just got on with it. Rowan saw her designs knitted in their yarn and started jumping up and down saying they wanted to distribute her book.

And here we have it! Rowan are now busy flinging the book out to various stockists near you. She did it. The girl did it and although it isn't really my place to feel pride, I do feel ever so proud of the gal. I feel so very thrilled for her. It's a dream fulfilled. I get so emotional when I see people fulfilling dreams. I think that is why I am all tearful when I watch the Olympics.

The book has 12 hand knit designs from scarves and wrist warmers to cushions and soft, erm, aliens. There is nothing too advanced for the beginner to tackle. You really need very little experience or knowledge to knit these patterns. That is the beauty of this book. It isn't an instruction book on knitting. It's a book filled with patterns that a novice knitter could tackle successfully. That's not to say the patterns don't produce an interesting item. No not at all. The patterns have plenty of appeal for die hard knitters too.

Want to see more? Here you go:

What do you think? Great huh! That is until you see who is peeping out of a couple of the pages....

....ME!

Ha ha!!!

Yes that is me leaning against that great big house. It's a bean bag which is a groovy ornament when not in use. Genius. I don't really like the look of bean bags but I really do love the look of a big old knitted house.

The shoot was so much fun. It was in Suzie's friend's, Clare and Stewart's glorious house, seriously glorious. Every inch was perfect. Each detail was considered. I just kept swooning over it. I bet I was rather boring actually. "Oh my! I L:O:V:E this *insert item*" x 6 million. It was a weirdly relaxed day for me, probably because all I had to do was put on different clothes, stand in different places doing different expressions with my face in order to show off Suzie's designs. It was tiring but it was such a change of real life for me. A change is as good as a rest as they say.

Below are pics I took with my iPhone and then fiddled with on instagram (still so addicted except Mini dropped my phone down the loo today so it is drying out and I can't use it much, at least I really shouldn't). They capture a little bit of behind the scenes. The photographer was Rebecca Roundhill (Becr on IG) and her work is quite simply astonishing. Go and have a peep at her website. It was so great to spend the day with her, she made me feel really comfortable in front of the camera. I am a bit insecure about the pointy-ness of my chin, I was teased about it when I was younger. They called me Chinny Hill at school. Anyway, Becca managed to get so many wonderful photo's where magic happened and my chin looked almost dainty!  Shame they had to be cut from the final book for various reasons. Either the knitted designs weren't used in the book or the yarns of the particular item were discontinued so Suzie had to frantically re knit and re shoot, or the chosen clothes looked all wrong. But do you know what? The book is so much better for having more of Suzie and all her quirkiness in it. It's her dream, it should be full of her, so it has all worked out for the very best. I just loved having a small part in the making of it. It was a privilege  to have been asked to be involved at all. Thank you Sooooooooozie, truly.

The master at work

A wrist warmer design that got cut

Becca working her magic

So there we go! My mate is a famous author!

Now, wanna see something funny?

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WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENENED HERE?!

Woops!