When Niels and I began packing for our first year in China I had to decide which of my small selection of knitting books I'd bring with me. I was working on a pair of socks for my Dad's birthday at the time (still not finished) and the pattern was from Knitting Vintage Socks, so bringing that was a no-brainer. I'm completely in love with my copy of Mason-Dixon Knitting so that also came along and I've a scarf thing so I also brought along Scarf Style. All three books have gotten quite a bit of use during our stay here.

Unfortunately, I no longer have Knitting Vintage Socks with me. I took it home this past summer because the plan was to finish a pair of socks while in the States (what was I thinking) and am now down to two books. I now have three pairs of socks on needles waiting to be finished, and godknows when that's going to happen.

I'm currently making the Midwest Moonlight scarf out of Scarf Style for one of the other foreign teachers, and since it's so close to being finished I'm starting to look for something to make that will match my new coat and I feel lost with out being able to look at knitting books.

I know I could find patterns on the Internet, but there's something about flipping through an actual book, oohing and ahhing over patterns that I just don't get from looking on the Internet. Knitting books are impossible to find here. In a way it's not surprising, most of the sweaters I've seen at the yarn market are all variations of each other, nothing with much creativity. Knitting here seems to been seen as a way to make functional things, not an outlet to be creative and functional. Which also explains why the yarn selection is mostly comprised of yarn that's 70% wool/30% acrylic. The upside is that I can buy lots and lots for a little amount of money and it's all still pretty decent.

I just want a decent knitting book. Is that so much to ask??