Knit-A-Longs and Secret Pal Swaps
New and Different Ways are Being Used to Promote New Knitting Books.
Interweave Press are supporting the release of new knitting books with some interesting initiatives as demonstrated by the launch of the new book, 'No Sheep for You'.
An interesting development in the world of Knitting Book publishing, is the promotion of new books by the use of organized Knit-a-Longs or even Secret Pal swaps.
In case you are not aware of this knitting phenomenon – a Knit-a-Long (KAL) is organized online, and a group of knitters get together to exchange hints, tips and encouragement about the knitting of a particular item from a pattern or book. This is done through an internet forum, blog or other web community group and are a great way to get in touch with like minded knitters – and of course to get some help and support when undertaking a new project. A Secret Pals Swap is where a group of people participate in a swap – each sending a pre-agreed item or items to another person on the list. You therefore send off items, and receive items back. These can be great fun to participate in, and can be an excellent way to try new products.
This is demonstrated with the new book by Amy Singer – No Sheep for You. You will no doubt know Amy’s name as Editor of Knitty, the massive online Knitting website. This is a book dedicated to the delights of knitting with non-sheep based fibers and yarns. Non sheep fibers include plant fibers like cotton, hemp, bamboo, as well as silk. Interweave Press, the publishers of No Sheep for You, are organizing a Secret Pals Swap to run along side the launch of the book. To participate, participants must undertake to send two skeins of non-wool yarn to their assigned Secret Pal over the course of June and July, and in return they will receive two skeins from their Secret Pal. Of course, the whole point of keeping the Pals secret means that you have no idea who you will be receiving things from – and from where, all adding to the fun! In addition to this, a Knit-a-Long is also being organized.
The Secret Pal Swap to support the new book by Amy Singer, will help to make people think again about different yarn types. There are now many good alternatives to wool, each bringing different qualities. Gone are the days of nasty nylon, now alternatives to wool can be luscious plant fibers, clever man-made fibres and even yarns made from recycled plastic! These should all appeal to the knitter who is perhaps allergic to sheep wool – or looking for the easy-care qualities of some of the modern man-made fibers.
For more information about the Interweave / No Sheep for You, Secret Pal Swap please see the Interweave website here For more information about the Knit-A-Long, please see the website here.
For further reading on Knitting and Knitting groups on the web - please take a look at the Suite101 article here.
