PlushYou!: knitting

Today is a special day. It's the day sweet sweet Anna's, sweet sweet book, Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi hit's the shelves of booksellers around the county. I was able to look over this book while in NYC for Lost at Sea. Her publisher sent over a few copies so I could review it more and do a giveaway!!! Deadline is July 13th. So first let's discuss how adorable this book is.

Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi was made for people like us! To start with, it's adorable. It's simple to use, has patterns for the elementary knitters to a few for the more skilled. In a nut shell (ooo anna, make a nut shell) it's accessible to the masses. So you masses go out and get this book today! You won't regret it. And thank you Anna for making a book that really makes me want to pick up my knitting needles again! Leave a comment with a suggestion of what Anna should make miniature next and your contact info for your chance to win a free copy of Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi!

Here is a little interview I did with the author.

S- Can you tell us a bit about your new book, Knitting Mochimochi!?

MML- I am so excited about this book! It's my first book, and although I've been designing knitted toys for a few years now, I had a lot of fun creating these 20 all-new patterns and making them feel like a "collection." The theme is cute and strange and silly and not just for kids, and the techniques are pretty basic, so you don't have to be an advanced knitter to follow the patterns.

S- Creating all these projects seems very labor intensive! How long do you spend on new ideas?

MML- I try to take time to work on new ideas on a regular basis, and it can be a nice break in between making samples and writing/editing patterns. Sometimes it's tough to find the time to just sit down and brainstorm new characters, but I've found that devoting time to concentrate on it is way more productive for me than just waiting to be inspired while I'm busy doing other things. And brainstorming is one of the few things that I do without music or a computer in front of me, or any other media going on at the same time, and that can be really refreshing.

S- You are also working on a new project! Are you able to reveal that to our fans?

MML- I'm actually working on a few new projects! One that I can tell you a bit about is a solo show that I'm putting together for this fall at gallery hanahou. It's going to be a knitted landscape installation, with a fun moving component (at least that's the plan!). I'm really excited about it, and also a little nervous about pulling it off and having it "work" as a show on its own. I'll start blogging about my progress soon over at my website.

S- I am in love with your mini pieces! Sooo cute! How many do you think you will have made by 2011?

MML- I think I've made about 68 so far! I started off with making a new one every weekday in July of last year, and I've continued making a new one every week ever since. I keep wondering when it will be time to retire my size 1 needles, but I'm still having a lot of fun with it. There's pretty much nothing that can't be made cute in tiny form, so I guess I'll see how long I can keep going with it!

S- When your book hits booksellers, do you have any release parties planned or places people might find you to get a copy signed?

MML- I do have a release party planned at Brooklyn General on July 11th, from 2-6 pm. I really hope people will come! All the new toys from the book will be there, and I'm planning to bring some mochi too. I will also be at the Lion Brand store in NYC on July 27th, and I'm talking to a few other local stores about future events.