surwiler's Picks

If you've never worked with Noro yarn, you may want to give it a try in the new year.  It's expensive, but the beautiful, self-striping colors create very special pieces.  This book is loaded with designs for clothing and accessories, using various weights.  And if you're not ready to invest in Noro yarns, use some of the self-striping yarns from Lion Brand or Hobby Lobby's "Yarn Bee" line.  

And if ever you would like help with your projects, or just want to socialize while you work, visit our knitting and crochet classes.  Crochet class meets on Mondays from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. and the first Saturday of each month, also at 10:00 a.m.  Knitting Circle meets on Wednesdays from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

I'm a big fan of thrillers, and really enjoy when an author takes a great character and writes a series of books with that character.  "The Fifth Witness" is the fourth book in the Mickey Haller series by Michael Connelly, and it is great!  If you haven't read any of the Mickey Haller series, the 1st book (and best place to start) is "The Lincoln Lawyer" - which last year was made into a fantastic movie starring Matthew McConaughey and Marisa Tomei.  Mickey Haller is a middle-age defense lawyer who operates from the back seat of his Lincoln Towncar; and with this novel, has expanded into foreclosure defense.  His client Lisa Trammel is implicated in the murder of the banker who is foreclosing on her house.  Fast-paced, and full of interesting information on the recent mortgage crisis, "The Fifth Witness" has a great ending (the twist ending is not a huge surprise, but how it plays out is very satisfying).

A few weeks ago, the Library started offering a weekly Knitting Circle, led by Svenja Chesna on Wednesday afternoons from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.  The first time I went, I took a project I had already started; but while we were talking, Svenja said she would be happy to help people with new techniques or with problems they had been having with their knitting.  She's also helping those of us who are new to knitting.  

I've always wanted to learn how to knit socks, so I asked Svenja if she would show me and she said she would be happy to.  So the next day, I spent time in our Knitting area (Non-Fiction call number 746), looking for a book of patterns for socks.  I found this book, which shows step by step how to knit socks, using almost any kind of yarn.  The next week, I brought my book, my needles and my yarn - and Svenja got me started.  I'm almost done with the first sock!  This book has great illustrations, easy-to-follow instructions, and lots of simple patterns to choose from.  My only criticism is that the patterns call for using double-pointed needles, which are really difficult for me (probably need to practice more).  Svenja showed me a different technique, using two circular needles and that is working much better for me.  If you want to learn how to make socks, this book is the perfect start; and join us Wednesday nights for extra help.

Like all Christopher Moore's works, Sacre Bleu is absurd, witty, raunchy, weird, and fun.  It's difficult to summarize the plotline; but it basically follows young painter Lucien Lessard through 1890's Paris, as he falls in love with a mysterious Muse and tries to thwart the evil Colorman.  If you've never read a Christopher Moore novel, this might not be the best one to start with. But if you have ventured into one of his strange worlds, and enjoyed the ride, you will probably enjoy this one as well.