i came away from this holiday season embarassingly well-appointed for knitting. i have a new set of denise interchangeable needles. (i hear they get mixed reviews, but i am THRILLED with mine -- it's like having lego and knitting needles all at the same time, and i find them sturdy and smooth and light.) i also have a brand new ott-lite, which is not only good for both knitting and letterpress work, but for plants!
speaking of things that combine knitting and letterpress -- not to mention my beloved 19th century -- you are seeing here pictures of a beautiful, small-print run, letterpress "receipt" book of dye recipes from a shaker community.
ben
and i are now into futsy little things like bindings and whatnot, but i won't bore you with that. this book is lovely and historical, and filled with good dye recipes -- and samples of wools dyed with those actual recipes!
it's a beautiful little keepsake, and makes my fingers itch not only to dye yarn, but to set type. (with any luck, the printing press we have named "ludovine" will be here by my birthday in early february! we received a call from utah recently. she is receiving finishing, loving touches there.)
ben's an awful good gift-giver, don't you think?