Month: May 2022

HerStory May 2022: Helen Hoang

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There’s a lot of derision in some circles for romance, and much of that is based on misogyny and the patriarchy, because most writers and readers of romance are women. But here’s the thing: romance, and particularly modern romance, is all about building the world the writer wants to inhabit. A world that is welcoming and accepting. A world in which consent rules and equity is the standard. A world in which differences in race, culture, neurodivergence, socio-economic background, and a host of other things are not insurmountable obstacles, but rather merely parts that make a person whole.

Helen Hoang‘s Kiss Quotient book trilogy exemplifies this world-building. She herself is a neurodivergent romance book lover, and when it came time to write her own books, she wrote what she knows in the most beautiful way possible. Instead of being a barrier to finding love, her main characters’ neurodivergence is simply a part of who they are, and each finds his or her perfect match through delightful writing and entertaining romps through romance tropes. Representation matters, and there are so few books in which autistic people are represented as main characters. That is one of the things that make Hoang’s books so compelling. Another thing? They are just plain sweet. And cute. And readable. The first two, especially, are a bit on the steamy side, but who doesn’t want a bit of steam with their love story?

We are not-so-patiently waiting for Helen Hoang to release more books; she’s only published this series so far. Her characters and writing are so fabulous, and the love stories make us smile.

One of our favorite past-times (other than reading or listening to romance, of course) is scrolling through different editions of the books we love, and as we were scrolling the book covers in this series, we stumbled upon the German editions. They are so dreamy and vintage’y , and we knew we needed to make our HerStory colorway inspired by them. That is how this month’s colorway, Kiss Quotient, was born. We hope you spend a bit of time reading or listening to this wonderful trilogy, making something beautiful, and thinking about how important representation is, and how very wonderful romance books can be. 

Books by Helen Hoang:

  • The Kiss Quotient
  • The Bride Test
  • The Heart Principle

Want more like this? Here are some other authors we suggest you read/listen to (and we have more romance authors coming up, so we haven’t included those authors in this list, even though they are some of our very faves):

  • Jasmine Guillory
  • Alyssa Cole
  • Talia Hibbert
  • Sara Desai
  • Alison Cochrun

We hope you enjoy this HerStory Book Club as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. We envision an open-ended Book Club, with folks reading or listening to whichever book they’d like from each author’s If you’d like a spoiler of all of the authors we’ll be showcasing this year, check out our website: https://knittedwit.com/herstory-2022-authors/

National Parks 2022: George Washington Carver National Monument

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It’s time for the annual National Parks Club/KAL!

Every month from May-August, we’ll be releasing 4 new parks colorways. We have almost exhausted all of the traditional US National Parks, so this year, we’ll be showcasing other National Parks areas, such as National Recreation Areas, Heritage sites, etc. Featured parks will fall under one of 4 categories:

  • National History – Eastern USA
  • National History – Western USA
  • Indigenous Culture
  • Human Rights Leaders/notable people

Check out our Socks and Hats on Vacay/Staycay summertime KAL with our friend Shannon Squire, too: https://shannonsquire.com/socks-hats-on-vacay-2022/

Thanks for exploring parks and making socks with us once again this summer! To get your yarn, check out our list of LYS’s offering National Parks (Parks yarn will ONLY be available at our LYS partners through the summer): https://knittedwit.com/parks-2022/

And, to play our new-to-2022 Vacay Bingo game, head in to your participating LYS and grab a gameboard or download it here: https://knittedwit.com/parks-2022/

Where is it located?

Southwest Missouri, near Branson.

Whose land does it reside upon?

Prior to the Indian Removal Act of 1830, many Indigenous tribes resided in what is now Missouri, most especially the Osage, but also including the Chickasaw, Delaware, Illini, Kanza, Ioway, Otoe-Missouria, and Quapaw.

When was it established?

July 14, 1943

About this park:

George Washington Carver National Monument is the birthplace and childhood home of the famed scientist, educator, and humanitarian. Established in 1943, it was the first unit of the National Park Service dedicated to an African American. It also protects 140 acres of restored tallgrass prairie.

Colorway inspiration:

We used this photo of the one-mile trail as our colorway inspiration: https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery-item.htm?pg=3027126&id=2830DB5F-CAC8-A6AC-1650298D7E263D98&gid=68CCC0C4-155D-4519-3E09800B6C2D0B2F

For more information:

National Parks 2022: Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

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It’s time for the annual National Parks Club/KAL!

Every month from May-August, we’ll be releasing 4 new parks colorways. We have almost exhausted all of the traditional US National Parks, so this year, we’ll be showcasing other National Parks areas, such as National Recreation Areas, Heritage sites, etc. Featured parks will fall under one of 4 categories:

  • National History – Eastern USA
  • National History – Western USA
  • Indigenous Culture
  • Human Rights Leaders/notable people

Check out our Socks and Hats on Vacay/Staycay summertime KAL with our friend Shannon Squire, too: https://shannonsquire.com/socks-hats-on-vacay-2022/

Thanks for exploring parks and making socks with us once again this summer! To get your yarn, check out our list of LYS’s offering National Parks (Parks yarn will ONLY be available at our LYS partners through the summer): https://knittedwit.com/parks-2022/

And, to play our new-to-2022 Vacay Bingo game, head in to your participating LYS and grab a gameboard or download it here: https://knittedwit.com/parks-2022/

Where is it located?

In Northwestern Texas (the panhandle).

Whose land does it reside upon?

This was most recently the land of the Comanches, who ruled the plains from around 1700 through the late 1800s, when white colonizers pushed all indigenous peoples onto reservations. Prior to the Comanches, the Apache, the Antelope Creek Culture, and the early Woodland tribes made their home in what is now the Texas Panhandle.

When was it established?

August 21, 1965

About this park:

For thousands of years, people came to the red bluffs above the Canadian River for flint, vital to their existence. 13,000 years ago, this site was well-known by nomadic mammoth hunters, the Clovis people, as a source of flint for tools. Centuries passed, and nomadic hunters turned into more established communities, who formed quarries to dig up this valuable resource.

Colorway inspiration:

We used this photo of a polished piece of Alibates Flint as our colorway inspiration: https://www.nps.gov/alfl/learn/nature/geology.htm

For more information:

National Parks 2022: Appalachian National Scenic Trail

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It’s time for the annual National Parks Club/KAL!

Every month from May-August, we’ll be releasing 4 new parks colorways. We have almost exhausted all of the traditional US National Parks, so this year, we’ll be showcasing other National Parks areas, such as National Recreation Areas, Heritage sites, etc. Featured parks will fall under one of 4 categories:

  • National History – Eastern USA
  • National History – Western USA
  • Indigenous Culture
  • Human Rights Leaders/notable people

Check out our Socks and Hats on Vacay/Staycay summertime KAL with our friend Shannon Squire, too: https://shannonsquire.com/socks-hats-on-vacay-2022/

Thanks for exploring parks and making socks with us once again this summer! To get your yarn, check out our list of LYS’s offering National Parks (Parks yarn will ONLY be available at our LYS partners through the summer): https://knittedwit.com/parks-2022/

And, to play our new-to-2022 Vacay Bingo game, head in to your participating LYS and grab a gameboard or download it here: https://knittedwit.com/parks-2022/

Where is it located?

The Appalachian Trail extends between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.

Whose land does it reside upon?

The Appalachian Trail travels through the traditional territories of 22 Native Nations, and there is so much Indigenous history through the many miles. Check out a map highlighting these Indigenous tribes here: https://appalachiantrail.org/official-blog/native-lands/

When was it established?

1925

About this park:

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,180+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers. It’s known as the “Footpath for the People.”

Colorway inspiration:

We used the top photo on the linked page for our colorway inspiration: https://www.nps.gov/appa/learn/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm

For more information:

National Parks 2022: White Sands National Park

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It’s time for the annual National Parks Club/KAL!

Every month from May-August, we’ll be releasing 4 new parks colorways. We have almost exhausted all of the traditional US National Parks, so this year, we’ll be showcasing other National Parks areas, such as National Recreation Areas, Heritage sites, etc. Featured parks will fall under one of 4 categories:

  • National History – Eastern USA
  • National History – Western USA
  • Indigenous Culture
  • Human Rights Leaders/notable people

Check out our Socks and Hats on Vacay/Staycay summertime KAL with our friend Shannon Squire, too: https://shannonsquire.com/socks-hats-on-vacay-2022/

Thanks for exploring parks and making socks with us once again this summer! To get your yarn, check out our list of LYS’s offering National Parks (Parks yarn will ONLY be available at our LYS partners through the summer): https://knittedwit.com/parks-2022/

And, to play our new-to-2022 Vacay Bingo game, head in to your participating LYS and grab a gameboard or download it here: https://knittedwit.com/parks-2022/

Where is it located?

In South Central New Mexico, near Las Cruces.

Whose land does it reside upon?

Mescalero Apaches are the only Native Americans who occupy the Basin today, although many indigenous groups have occupied and traveled through the land for millenia. In fact, in 2021, footprints were discovered that have been dated to 23,000 years, upending a lot of what modern science has long believed about human habitation of what is now America. This article, written from an indigenous perspective, is very interesting, and shines light on how much of scientific discovery is colored by the perspectives, biases, and privileges of those making and writing about those discoveries: https://www.hcn.org/issues/53.11/indigenous-affairs-archaeology-the-white-sands-discovery-only-confirms-what-indigenous-people-have-said-all-along

When was it established?

December 20, 2019

About this park:

Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world’s great natural wonders – the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world’s largest gypsum dunefield. White Sands National Park preserves a major portion of this unique dunefield, along with the plants and animals that live here.

Colorway inspiration:

For our colorway inspiration, we scrolled through the White Sands NP Instagram page, and let the many gorgeous photos inform our choice of colors: https://www.instagram.com/whitesandsnps/

For more information: