Alanna Okun's Books

The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater

Essays on Crafting

By: Alanna Okun

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The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater

Essays on Crafting

By: Alanna Okun

Every knitter knows that as soon as you start making your boyfriend a sweater, he will be out the door before you're done. But as Alanna Okun has learned, these life lessons are not limited to the curse of the boyfriend sweater. Like millions of women, Okun finds joy and solace in crafting. And she has also found some essentials truths. Starting from when her grandmother first taught her to knit, crafting has been a part of her life, and her family's. Some people like to fish. Some like to play music. Or run. Okun likes to make things. Knitting, crocheting, sewing, decoupage - you name it, Okun has tried it, and even if she turned out to be not very good at it, she found it was good for her.In a world that shows itself impervious to our need for order and logic, crafting allows Okun to feel a sense of control - even if it's simply by making a piece of felt do what she wants it to. Crafting has helped keep her severe anxiety at bay, made a scary first apartment more hospitable, helped her heal from a broken heart. When Okun has two good friends die within a year of each other, it is crafting that helps her find hope again. The art and physicality of making things, whether it's nerdy embroidery or warm mittens, has helped her cope with life's internal trauma.In beautiful prose that belies her youth, Okun's essays about art, craft, and mental health will resonate with creative people no matter their medium, and no matter the troubles in their hearts. We can all relate to the need to fix what's inside by keeping our hands busy.

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Page Count

254

Published Date

ISBN 10

1250095611

ISBN 13

9781250095619

The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater

Essays on Crafting

By: Alanna Okun

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The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater

Essays on Crafting

By: Alanna Okun

The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater is a memoir about life truths learned through crafting. People who craft know things. They know how to transform piles of yarn into sweaters and scarves. They know that some items, like woolen bikini tops, are better left unknit. They know that making a hat for a newborn baby isn’t just about crafting something small but appreciating the beginnings of life, which sometimes helps make peace with the endings. They know that if you knit your boyfriend a sweater, your relationship will most likely be over before the last stitch. Alanna Okun knows that crafting keeps her anxiety at bay. She knows that no one will ever be as good a knitting teacher as her beloved grandmother. And she knows that even when we can’t control anything else, we can at least control the sticks, string, and fabric right in front of us. Okun lays herself bare and takes readers into the parts of themselves they often keep hidden. Yet at the same time she finds humor in the daily indignities all crafters must face (like when you catch the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome and can’t possibly finish the second in a pair). Okun has written a book that will speak to anyone who has said to themselves, or to everyone within earshot, “I made that.”

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Page Count

175

Publisher

Macmillan + ORM

Published Date

ISBN 10

125009562X

ISBN 13

9781250095626

Knit a Hat

A Beginner's Guide to Knitting

By: Alanna Okun

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Knit a Hat

A Beginner's Guide to Knitting

By: Alanna Okun

An introduction to the wide world of knitting by way of making your own hat. Knitting is an excellent handcraft and something people love the world over. For crafting newbies, knitting can seem highly daunting: you need needles (but what size?), yarn (but what weight?), and a pattern (but what kind?), and very quickly knitting can start to resemble another language, tricky to navigate and even harder to master. Knit a Hat teaches you everything you need to know about the previously scary craft: the needles you’ll need, the yarn to use, and tried-and-true techniques to get you started, keep you going, and help you wrap everything up. Alanna Okun is an expert knitter and o?ers very accessible instructions: Her idea of starting with a hat rather than a long scarf is sure to make this book easy for even the wariest of beginners. Building on our crafting how-to series, Alanna welcomes readers into the knitting community and invites them to knit a hat with con?dence.

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Age

Page Count

143

Publisher

Abrams

Published Date

ISBN 10

1647001137

ISBN 13

9781647001131

Knit a Hat

A Beginner's Guide to Knitting

By: Alanna Okun

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Knit a Hat

A Beginner's Guide to Knitting

By: Alanna Okun

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

143

Publisher

Abrams

Published Date

ISBN 10

1647001137

ISBN 13

9781647001131

Book's by Alanna Okun

The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater

The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater

The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater

The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater

Knit a Hat

Knit a Hat

Knit a Hat

Knit a Hat

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