Nicky Epstein at Lion Brand Studio

One of my knit-heroes, Nicky Epstein (she of Knitting On, Over, and Beyond the Edge fame) will be at the Lion Brand Studio on 15th Street in Manhattan on Friday, December 3 to talk about her latest book, Knitting a Kiss in Every Stitch. She's super popular and space is limited, so head on over to the Lion Brand blog to RSVP.

Noro Book Launch at the Brooklyn Public Library

Cornelia Hamilton will be at the Brooklyn Public Library this Friday, November 20 for a talk, signing, and trunk show celebrating the launch of Noro: The Man Behind the Legendary Yarn

NORO offers an inside look into the makings of this bestselling brand of yarn and insight into its enigmatic creator, along with 40 stunning projects to knit and wear. From colorful hats, scarves and bags to cardigans, pullovers and throws, each design utilizes the unique properties of Noro yarns to create a one-of-a-kind fashion statement!

This book apparently re-publishes patterns that were already available in pamphlet form, so if you already have everything Noro's published, you've already got most of the book, but if you're new to Noro pattern books, this is a great introduction. Either way it'll be worth it for the trunk show. Hope to see you there!

Friday, November 20, 2009, 6:30 – 8:30PM

Dweck Auditorium, Central Library

Brooklyn Public Library

10 Grand Army Plaza

718.230.2100

Supernova

When stars die of old age, they blow up. Seven thousand nine hundred thirty seven years ago, a star in Cassiopeia exploded into a great big ball of light.

Seventy-five hundred years later (Four hundred and thirty seven years ago today), Tycho Brahe looked up at Cassiopeia and got the news.

Tycho Brahe was very rich and very strange. He lost part of his nose in a duel when he was 20, so he made himself a new one out of silver and stuck it on with paste. His court jester was a dwarf named Jepp, who sat under the table at dinners. And he had a pet elk - at least, he did until the elk drank too much beer at one of Tycho's parties and fell down the stairs and died. Tycho's own death was iffy - popular legend holds that he got a bladder infection from holding it too long at a party, but he may have been poisoned by Jesuits, or his cousin, or his assistant, or he might have poisoned himself by drinking one too many alchemical potions. And if you're a fan of historical facial hair, the Prague National Museum has his moustache in its collection.

Anyway, it was the olden days before they'd even invented telescopes, so something new showing up in the sky was a big deal. The Aristotelian version of the universe insisted on celestial immutability. Or the fixity of the heavens. Basically, the stars didn't move, and they certainly didn't change. Aristotle was an ancient greek, and now it was the Renaissance, and besides, Aristotle was the same fellow who said that bugs and worms sometimes spontaneously generated out of dew and mud, so the world was ready for a step forward. The next year Tycho published a book about the new star, called De Nova Stella, (the new star). And that's why a star is new when it dies of old age.

Bedford Springs Knit-Treat, and p.s. I'm in Interweave

I just got back from the first annual Bedford Springs Knit-Treat in Pennsylvania, where I taught the Christmas Tree class. It was a wonderful group of students and some spectacular teachers in a gorgeous, luxurious, historical setting. And the food was divine - it was almost more of a "knit-eat" than a "knit-treat."

Here's me in Kathy Zimmerman's "Bedford Springs Shawl" class - some of the students commented on how happy I look when I'm knitting, and here's the proof. I was thrilled to be teaching along with Kathy, Barbara Grossman (who also organized the retreat and led us in mid-class stretching sessions), Nancy Premoshis who makes wonderful stash-busting creations from scrap yarn, stupendous spinner Nancy Griffin, and Candace Eisner Strick, a wonderful teacher whose designs are simply stunning.

It was a wonderful retreat, and I'm so excited to be headed back to Pennsylvania this coming February to teach at the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Show.

AND: Check out my Sunburst Throw design in Interweave Holiday Gifts!

Photo (c) Interweave