Because boys can be textile artists too (two)

(Shortlisted for Picture Book of the Year 1989) "Mr Nick and Mrs Jolley are friends. They meet every morning on the seven o'clock train to the city. Mr Nick knits jumpers for his twenty two nieces and nephews and Mrs Jolley knits toys. They both love knitting and they love each other's company.

One morning Mrs Jolley isn't on the train, she is ill in hospital. Mr Nick misses his friend and works very hard to make something very special to cheer her up..."

(Buy it here, or, if you're Canberran, request to borrow it from the library here)

Because boys can be textile artists too

While chatting to Textile artist Paull McKee last night at Pecha Kucha, I remembered I hadn't yet blogged Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley by Aaron Blabey: (he also wrote the excellent Sunday Chutney which resonated with me as a Broadcasting brat who moved cities fairly regularly through childhood. Hell, I even had glasses.)

I have childhood memories of my father knitting (both by hand and using our knitting machine) and crocheting. One childhood outfit I remember in particular was one of those knitted pleated skirts attached to a white top part (In my instance, made out of old nappies) and a matching red jumper, to be worn over it. I seem to recall yellow and black striping around the edges, and both my parents working on it...

Upping the ante

How about a picture book with knitting ON THE COVER? And a story that's all about knitting and sewing and making clothes for friends?

Which, to cap it all off, includes button jars?

Lizzie's List by Nadine Walter and Quentin Greban. Buy it here (five copies only, alas) or (for Canberrans) borrow it here.

Of mice ant (wo)men

(Two terrible frights by Jim Aylesworth. Illustration by Eileen Chrstelow)

(Antics by Cathi Hepworth)

(Mary had a little lamb by Sarah Josepha Hale and Salley Mavor: who has a blog which I've now subscribed to)

Man, sheep in picture books are clever!

Not only can they knit while on the potty, they can also answer telephones:(Hello, is this Grandma? by Ian Whybrow)

More animals knitting

From the excellent Have you seen my potty? by Mary McQuillan.

This book jumped to the top of my favorite list the moment my friend showed me it...

At the National Portrait Gallery store, naturally.

The Rabbit Problem. By Emily Gravett. A madly insanely wonderfully fun and crazy book. I just found Emily's website: the front page of which is a library. With Shhhing noises! Kind of fitting as the copy I scanned is from the library.

Of course, I think the best spread is February:
Rabbits and knitting. (Now where have I seen that before?)
And a pattern for a hooded top: Repeat until you have a beautiful hooded top, or until you decide that rabbits and knitting really don't go together...

I think this is my favourite so far

Russell the sheep

Saturday: knitting and printing and a movie with the Penguin Cafe Orchestra

Not real knitting: no actual needles (or lengths of wire) were touched during the course of the day, but I found this at work in a book called Monsieur Rat to add to the list of children's books with knitting in them:

And later in the evening I spotted a basket of wool and needles in the fabulously excellent Mary and Max at ANU Film Group:

But I get ahead of myself. Between the working bit of the day and the movie bit of the day was the opening of Ampersand Duck's wonderful studio space just up the road at ANCA. I didn't take any photos during the actual opening but here are a series of a lesson on how to dampen paper:

I wonder if anyone's keeping a list of knitting spotted in children's books?

If so, they can add The Perfect Prince to the list...