Blue Ribbon Afghans From America S State Fairs

Each of the 40 extraordinary hand-crocheted afghans displayed here in magnificent photos is a blue-ribbon winner, and you can recreate these wonderful items at home, thanks to the patterns, detail shots, and instructions provided in "Blue Ribbon Afghans from America's State Fairs." Scattered throughout the text are fun facts about the fairs, along with new and vintage photos

Two hot trends combine in one classic collection: the popular poncho and the hip craft of crochet. And these 33 designs take the versatile wardrobe staple to new heights of sophistication: they feature a range of neckline and hem variations, and come in a variety of yarns, including novelty types like ribbon, faux suede, and fur. Some are long, others short; some are dressy, others just made for a fancy night on the town. And the majority are one size fits all. With the help of a well-illustrated basics section, brand-new or out-of-practice crocheters can confidently pick up their needles and create an open-weave poncho with sleeves and cuffs, a wrap-up for winter, a shimmering gold lacy poncho, and other showstoppers.

I just wanted to tell you that I have enjoyed your book "Alsop's Tables." It's great! It has answered some of my questions and also helped to correct some mistakes in our genealogy lines of research. I get to reading and cant put it down. We certainly would like to receive additional volumes as they are published. -Judd and Kathryn Allsop-Zillah, WA What a magnificent book. I had no idea your were producing a work of this magnitude. It is beyond my most sanguine expectations. -Benjamin P. Alsop Warthen-Attorney-At-Law-Richmond, Virginia Jerry Alsup is a genealogist without peer. His good nature and devotion to his craft is contagious, one might even say "Inspiring." The member of this family lineage are going to enjoy reading this author's book. It is scholarly, thorough, and yet very readable. -Jerry W. Owen, President, Tippah Co., MS Historical and Genealogical Society As an avid Alsop researcher and history buff, I have found the most valuable sources for information on this family are the books of Jerry Alsup. He provides the family migration patterns, history, marriages, and wonderful stories of people, and he ties them, when appropriate, with historical events. He has the unique knack of narration that makes me feel like I am actually there when family events happened. -David Alsup-Long Beach, CA

An inspiring history of communal knitting events—from circles to online meet-ups to socially conscious knit-ins. Includes 20 projects. The immensely popular knitalong—an organized event where people knit together for a common goal—has only grown with the explosion of the Internet. Yesterday’s wartime Red Cross sock drives have evolved into today’s meet-ups at locales as diverse as cafes, state fairs, and major league ballparks, as well as international online gatherings; in fact, at any given time tens of thousands of people worldwide are involved in knitalongs, organized around a particular yarn, a favorite social cause, an intriguing project, a special event, or myriad other themes. Authors Larissa Brown and Martin John Brown present an inspiring look at centuries of people knitting together, and why knitters find the interaction so meaningful and worthwhile. Along the way, they offer 20 projects especially suited for different types of knitalongs. The Barn Raising Quilt and the Traveling Scarf, for instance, call on individual knitters to collaborate on a single project; while the Pinwheel Blanket and the Meathead Hat encourage a community of knitters to improvise on the same pattern to come up with a variety of results. Also included is essential information about finding, joining, and starting knitalongs. Hundreds of knitters participated in the knitalongs hosted by the authors as part of their research, and this book will inspire thousands more to get involved in the knitalong movement. The only book that celebrates this tradition of community and purpose, Knitalong is sure to have a powerful impact.

A pictorial and written history of one of the country's best agricultural fairs, the Iowa State Fair. Started in 1854, the Iowa State Fair continues to showcase Iowa agriculture and draw crowds from across the country. This book shows the old and new, competitions of yesterday and today, exhibits, entertainment and the buildings of the Iowa State Fair. To order a book, please call 1-800-750-6997 (in Iowa) or 1-800-453-3960 (Outside Iowa) and ask for McMillen Publishing. To fax an order, dial 1-515-232-8820, To mail order, send to: McMillen Publishing, 413 Northwestern, Ames, IA, 50010, to order online: [email protected]. or [email protected].