Hi Spud & Chloë Friends,
Last week a small package arrived on my doorstep. To my delight the package held my preview copy of Spud & Chloë at the Farm. Our new Spud & Chloë book will be available for purchase in yarn shops, online yarn shops and book stores on April 21st, 2011. As we get closer to the release date I will be sharing bits and pieces of the book with you right here on Spud says!
I want to encourage you to pre-order the book with your local yarn and book shops. We love our local shops and want to support them in every way. The book is available to shops through their wholesale book distributors just like any other knitting book or it is available through our publisher, Workman.
It is also available in all of the usual places online. You can check it out here on Amazon!
Spud & Chloë at the Farm has been in the works for almost 2 years so to see it come to life in book form is really an exciting moment. The book takes the characters Spud and Chloë and makes them jump off of our logo as fully knit characters. We felt their first adventure together should be, appropriately so, in a farm setting. The book contains 13 adorable farm-themed projects.
One of the aspects of the book I am most excited about is the “knit and read” part of the book. On each of the pattern pages there is a cartoon frame that plays out a sweet little story about Chloë taking her reluctant sheep, Spud, to visit a friend’s farm. It is fun because you meet all of the knitted characters from the book along the way in photographs and in an animated cartoon form. It really brings the knit project to life in a fresh, new way.
With my last toy book, Itty-Bitty Toys, I have had knitters constantly telling me how their kids would flip through the pages admiring the toys and placing orders like it was a catalog. I loved hearing how the knitters were interacting with their kids and grandkids and the book together. It was an aspect I hadn’t thought of before the release of the book but I was pleased to hear about later. Spud & Chloë at the Farm takes this idea one step further. Now there is an actual story to go right along with the projects. I will share more about the cartoon and story later.
Today I want to share with you a little about the star of the show, Spud! Spud is a wonderfully chubby sheep with an enormous personality.
In the story, Spud is a lovable curmudgeon in the best way. He is a bit shy and cautious about new situations and meeting new friends but his trusty owner Chloë knows how to bring out the best in him. I love how I can just look at him and know what he’s thinking. I think you will fall in love with him just like I have.
I always enjoy seeing a designer’s home photos of projects so I am happy to be able to share some of my own photos with you here.
Now for a little project detail. Spud is knit in our Spud & Chloë Sweater in Ice Cream and Toast. These are the most perfect sheep-y colors around. The bow tie is made in the Firecracker colorway.
Spud’s wooly coat is made by doing a twisted loop stitch. This stitch takes a little extra effort but it is well-worth it in the end. When you hold Spud in your hands he feels like no other knitted toy I’ve come across. He feels substantial and unique, like he is more than just a knitted toy somehow. Spud’s wool has a really cool texture-y feeling that is hard to describe.
Spud proudly stands at about 8 inches tall and about 5 inches wide.
I love seeing a toy from all angles. Spud spent a lot of time sunning himself in my living room when he was at my house.
I’ll be back soon with more book project previews. I am so excited to finally be able to share this new book with you!
Design Coordinator extraordinaire and resident social butterfly, keeping you up to date on her wee cousin Chloë and her pal Spud. Find her musings at 
love it – Congrats! I have already pre-ordered my copy
Can’t wait to make a spud of my own!
I pre-ordered my book! Although BN told me they were shipping on March 21…
I just talked to my publisher and the book will most likely be released several weeks earlier than the pub. date of Apr. 21st!
Good news!
Congratulations Susan! What a thrill!
Looks super cute!
YAY!!!! So super cute and super exciting!! I can’t wait to get it!!
Congratulations!! Spud is too cute !(sure they all will be) I pre-ordered mine too & I can’t wait to make Spud for my little GD.
I absolutely love Itty Bitty Toys and am so excited to get to make all the wonderful things in your new book! All of your designs are so fantastic, thank you for being so inspiring.
I love Spud! He’s so adorable!
Spud is so adorable! I love all the different shots of him
Can’t wait to see the book!
Your creativity amazes me. I hope this new book is fabulously successful, because you definitely deserve it!
I don’t know how you do it but your projects are just adorable.
congratulations, susan! just pre-ordered my copy. can’t wait to get it!!!
Spud is sooooooooo handsome. I’ve developed sort of a sheep fetish over the years (in a GOOD way) and will definitely get the book to make a flock for friends.
Super adorable! I can’t wait to get the book. My 2-yr-old daughter loves playing with her farm toys…here’s hoping there’s a horse in the book somewhere, too!
I can’t wait to get started on some of the projects in your new book. I want to make Spud and Chloe and all the animals! I am loving your blog! Thanks so much for sharing! Beth
I love your yarns and your darling patterns. The book looks so cute. GmaNancy
Your toys are adorable. I would love to knit them all.
I own all of your books and would love to win this one!!! My little niece’s are in love with all of the critters.
I absolutely love getting the emails for the new spud and chloe book. I have already make the free pattern for the baby cardigan and then I am going to make the hat for my niece who is having a baby in August. I already bought the yarn for Spud and I am so excited for the book. It’s so much fun to get the emails leading up to the book. Who knows maybe I’ll be one of the lucky winners! .You can also find me on Ravelry as sheezie.
Amazingly cute!!! I would enjoy knitting everything in this book.
They are so precious!! What a delight they will be to Knit!
Just got my copy, don’t know what to make first! Should it be the dog or the little lamb?
What an exciting contest! I would love to knit this whole crew for my farm animal lovin twins! Great gifts for everyone for years to come:) I am knitastich on Ravelry.
Just saw this book at my LYS, it is adorable. It inspired me to check out your website and sign up for your blog and newsletter. They have such cute personalities, I think my new grandson must have them.
My friend just finished “Ribbet” and I’m going to give him a try. After him, I gonna try “Rabbit”. They are so very cute and I love your yarn.
I just finished my first itty-bitty toy project: the baby bear. Your directions are fabulous. What I really enjoy the most about your directions is that you list the number of stitches PER NEEDLE. My grandson has followed the creation of this bear almost every step of the way and can’t wait for his own baby bear or maybe even a bunny for Easter. Your new book looks chock full of great stuff. What a wonderful treat to knit these projects.
Breathtaking
I think this is a much better review than your 5530 vs. Samsung Star. I still love S60, so that’s why I got myself a 5530.