a late Christmas gift

I received the most wonderful book in the mail yesterday from my friend Lizzie.  This late Christmas present is a perfect gift for me as it combines two of my favorite things:  fiction and knitting.

Literary Knits by Nikol Lohr

Subtitled "30 Patterns Inspired by Favorite Books," Literary Knits is just that: a collection of patterns inspired by novels, specifically the author's favorite literary characters.  The patterns are grouped into four categories:  women's accessories, women's shawls and garments, items for men, and items for children.

I've included a list of the all the patterns contained in Literary Knits below (with links to the Ravelry pattern pages), but first, let's go over the patterns that I find most appealing.

First off, I'm quite taken with the cover-girl Daisy Cloche, though I'd knit it in a different color.  It's referential, but still very wearable.  My other must-knit is also a hat: Edmund Crown/hat.  The "secret" of double-knitting the brim allows a whimsical item to masquerade as a wardrobe staple.  The only way I'd love it more is if Lohr had included different instructions for sizing up (going up a needle size isn't a particularly useful suggestion when one wants to size up two or three sizes).

Another stand-out item is the Lyra Hood.  It's not on my to-knit list unless one of my nieces becomes a His Dark Materials fanatic, but that doesn't mean that I don't adore the pattern.  I love how Lohr incorporates Lyra's daemon into the pattern.  That secretive (not subtle) move makes the hood perfect for someone who truly loves The Golden Compass and its sequels.

I also like the Katie Rommely Gaiters and think they might be something I could incorporate into a steampunk outfit.

In general, I like the sweaters included in the collection. I'm most drawn to Ishmael, though the silhouette wouldn't be flattering on Russell.  I also like Gregor (another show-stopping look), though it's not something Russell would wear.  For me, Lady Brett Ashley (sans horizontal stripes) or Elizabeth Bennet.

As for the shawls, I lean toward Emma Bovary's and Jane Eyre Shawl's.  Emma Shawl is very clever.  I like the concept (it begins with a section referencing arsenic) and the trapezoidal shape, though I don't know that I'd actually knit it.  Jane Eyre Shawl, however, is definitely one for my queue.  It's practical (the recommended worsted-weight merino-alpaca blend would be perfect for my work environment), has a good shape, is pleasing to the eye, and the pattern is simple without being too simple.

Now for the full pattern run-down (with some commentary)...

Literary Knits for women:

• Anne Shirley Puff-sleeve Top (Anne of Green Gables), the name says it all, I'd like it better as a girls' top as it does read young (and having a young model definitely doesn't help sell me on this as an adult top);
• Catherine Bed Socks (Wuthering Heights), first pattern in the book and a good opener;
• Daisy Cloche (The Great Gatsby);
• Elizabeth Bennet Blouse (Pride and Prejudice); 
• Emma Shawl (Madame Bovary);
• Francie Nolan Tam (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn);
• Galadriel Hooded Dress (Lord of the Rings), which is beautiful, but not anything I'd be willing to tackle;
• Jane Eyre Shawl (Jane Eyre);
• Katie Rommely Gaiters (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn);
• Jo Mittens (Little Women), even more boring that Meg's;
• Kitty Muff (Anna Karenina);
• Lady Brett Ashley Pullover (The Sun Also Rises), the horizontal stripes are subtle, but still;
• Lucy Honeychurch Shawl (A Room with a View), which did not make a good first impression (I might have been more interested in this pattern if the photographs/illustrations in the book highlighted that it was a Pi shawl);
• Meg Mittens (Little Women);
• Meme Shawl (One Hundred Years of Solitude), love the book, but not crazy about the shawl; and
• Tess Fingerless Gloves (Tess of the d'Urbervilles), which didn't impress me because a friend of mine has knit the pattern upon which this one is based (Knitted Mitten and Bracelet from Godey's).

Literary Knits for men:

• Billy Pilgrim Socks (Slaughterhouse-Five);
• Dorian Gray Fingerless Gloves (The Picture of Dorian Gray), these are similar to Tess', but are less of a direct translation of the original, which is nice, but the lace is very unmanly;
• Gregor Sweater (The Metamorphosis); 
• Ishmael Sweater (Moby Dick);
• John Thornton Scarf (Call of the Wild), a good gift project; 
• Sal Paradise Vest (On the Road), just a vest; and
• Sydney Carton Cowl (A Tale of Two Cities).

Literary Knits for kids:

• Edmund Crown/hat (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe);
• Eppie Bonnet (Silas Marner);
• Laura Pinafore (Little House on the Prairie), a cute little girl's dress that stands out from a sea of similar patterns by having a square pocket on the tummy;
• Lyra Hood (The Golden Compass);
• Oskar Pullover (The Tin Drum), I especially like the yarn choice, which would make the pattern work sized-up as an adult sweater as well;
• Phoebe Coat (The Catcher in the Rye), which is felted; and
• Scout Cardigan (To Kill a Mockingbird) with mockingbird motif.