this book was inspired by

so many things that i already love.

things like mountains and georgia o’keefe, waterfalls and the grand canyon’s colors.

not really a surprise then,

that i like these patterns by anne podlesak, too.

sandstone etchings, the craftsmanship of native american artisans,

and the brightly blooming flowers of the desert, all make their way into these designs.

she even remembers to

cover an area that’s often lacking in pattern books:

really great sweaters (and a scarf) to knit for men.

another thing to like about ‘free spirit knits’

is the use of neutrals to create timeless pieces.

these are not modern, any more than they are old.

anne visually captures the feeling of being a free spirit.

the landscapes and the jewelry and the relaxed posture all add up to the essence

of the story of free spirits in every place and every time. do you know the feeling of hiking a trail

and coming unexpectedly upon a rushing river, or coming face to face with a doe?

these unknown surprises that are just around the corner

are part of the deep joy

of living.

of all the pieces in the book, it is the ‘snow bowl hoodie’ caught me off guard like that.

it appears to be a fairly mild mannered hoodie from the front,a mild mannered hoodie with columns of kick butt cables,

until you catch your first glimpse of the intricate work that spans the back,then…wowee!

that kind of detailing never gets old for me.

if i didn’t already own it

(which i do) and

if i weren’t already planning to make a ‘snow bowl hoodie‘ for myself (which i am),

this book would be on my Christmas list for sure.

‘free’ taken from 49:21 in genesis.

note: now for just a little of the knitty gritty.

i was given a free copy of this book to review but,

you know me, a free book isn’t ever going to make me say that i like what i don’t.

i’m much too stubborn and pigheaded for things like that.

also, i promised that i’d include this info about ‘free spirit knits’ for you:

interweave/f+w; $25.99

http://bit.ly/1M5c5IM