June's Book

June's Book is Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Below is a summary written by and found on the author's website:

In 1937, Shanghai is the Paris of Asia, full of great wealth and glamour, home to millionaires and beggars, gangsters and gamblers, patriots and revolutionaries, artists and warlords. Twenty-one-year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister May are having the time of their lives, thanks to the financial security and material comforts provided by their father’s prosperous rickshaw business. Though both wave off authority and traditions, they couldn’t be more different. Pearl is a Dragon sign, strong and stubborn, while May is a true Sheep, adorable and placid. Both are beautiful, modern, and living the carefree life ... until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth, and that in order to repay his debts he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from Los Angeles to find Chinese brides.
As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, one that will take them through the villages of south China, in and out of the clutch of brutal soldiers, and across the Pacific to the foreign shores of America. In Los Angeles, they begin a fresh chapter, trying to find love with their stranger husbands, brushing against the seduction of Hollywood, and striving to embrace American life, even as they fight against discrimination, brave Communist witch hunts, and find themselves hemmed in by Chinatown’s old ways and rules. At its heart, Shanghai Girls is a story of sisters: Pearl and May are inseparable best friends, who share hopes, dreams, and a deep connection. But like sisters everywhere, they also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. They love each other but they also know exactly where to drive the knife to hurt the other sister the most. Along the way there are terrible sacrifices, impossible choices and one devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel by Lisa See hold fast to who they are – Shanghai girls. 

If you follow the link above, there's lots to explore on the author's website.  Recipes, interviews, as well as some book club discussion points.  Hope you enjoy it!

June Swatches

This month we are giving lace another go!  These patterns are slightly more difficult than last month's, but don't worry, you can handle it!


KEY:
yo:  yarn over- A single increase.  Move the yarn to the front of the work, the same action as if you were to purl, then wrap the yarn over the top of the needle and resume your knitting.  This creates a hole or an eyelet in the fabric (Note: yarn over and yarn forward are the same thing.  If you see yarn forward in other directions it is simply another term for yarn over).

k2tog: knit 2 stitches together- A right-slanting decrease.  Insert the needle into the next two stitches as if to knit, and knit these stitches together. 

Sl 1, K1, PSSO: Slip 1 stitch from the left needle to the right needle (as if to purl), Knit 1 stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch- This is a left-slanting decrease.  

Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO:  A double decrease.  Slip one stitch from the left needle to the right (as if to purl), knit 2 stitches together, pass the slipped stitch up and over the k2tog.  

BEGINNER:  Zig Zags and Diamonds

Cast on 37 stitches
Border Rows 1-5: K1, P1 across

Pattern Rows:
Row 1:  (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K2, yo, sl 1 K1 psso, K5 repeat from * across row (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2 and all even rows: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 3: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K3, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K4 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 5: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K4, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K3 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 7: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K5, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K2 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 9: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K2, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K2, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K1 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 11: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K1, [yo, sl1 k1 psso] twice, K2, k2tog, yo, K1 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 13: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K2, yo, sl1, k1, psso, K2, k2tog, yo, K1 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 15:  (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K5, k2tog, yo, K2 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 17: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K4, k2tog, yo, K3 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 19: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K3, k2tog, yo, K4 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 21: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K2, k2tog, yo, K5 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 23: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K1, k2tog, yo, K3, yo, sl 1 k1, psso, K1 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 25: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *k2tog, yo, K3 [yo, sl1 k1 psso] twice repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 27: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K1, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K3, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K1 repeat from * across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 28: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Repeat these 28 rows until piece is approx 8-8.5 inches long (the lace squares should be slightly smaller than the others so there is room to stretch with blocking).

Repeat border rows 1-5.

Bind off loosely

EASY:  Leafy Diamonds

Cast on 36 stitches


Border rows 1, 3, 5: K1, P1 across
Border rows 2, 4: P1, K1 across


Pattern Rows:
Row 1: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K3 *k2tog, yo, K1, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K5 repeat from * across to last 8 stitches k2tog, yo, K1 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2 and all even rows: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 3: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K2 * k2tog, K1, yo, K1, yo, K1, sl1 k1 psso, K3 repeat from * across to last 9 sts, k2tog, K1, yo, K1 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 5: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K1 *k2tog, K2, yo, K1, yo, K2, sl1 k1 psso, K1 repeat from * across to last 10 sts, k2tog, K2, yo, K1 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 7: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) k2tog, *K3, yo, K1, yo, K3, sl1 k2tog psso repeat from * across to last 9 sts, K3, yo, K1 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 9: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) K1 *yo, sl1 k1 psso, K5, k2tog, yo, K1 repeat from * across to last 10 sts, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K3 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 11: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K1, yo, K1, sl1 k1 psso, K3, k2tog, K1, yo repeat from * across to last 11 sts, K1, yo, K1, sl1 k1 psso, K2 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 13: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) *K1, yo, K2, sl1 k1 psso, K1, k2tog, K2, yo repeat from * across to last 11 sts, K1, yo, K2, sl1 k1 psso, K1 (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 15: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) * K1, yo, K3, sl1 k2tog psso, K3, yo repeat from * across to last 11 sts K1, yo, K3, sl1 k1 psso (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 16: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Repeat these 16 rows until square measures 8 to 8.5 inches long (the lace squares should be slightly smaller than the others so there is room to stretch with blocking).

Repeat Border rows 1-5.

Bind off loosely.


INTERMEDIATE: Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

Cast on 37 stitches

Border rows 1-5: K1, P1 across

Pattern Rows (please note that the side borders on ODD numbered rows are slightly different than normal, this is NOT a typo)
Row 1: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K2) K1 *yo, sl1 k1 psso, K7, k2tog, yo, K1 repeat from * across (K2, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 2 and all even rows: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 3: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K2) K2, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K5, k2tog, yo, K3, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K5, k2tog, yo, K2 (K2, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 5: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K2) K3, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K3, k2tog, yo, K5, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K3, k2tog, yo, K3 (K2, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 7: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K2) *K1, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, sl1 k1 psso, repeat from * across to last 7 sts K1 (K2, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 9: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K2) k2tog, yo, K3, *yo, sl1 k2tog psso, yo, K3 repeat from * across to last 8 sts yo, sl1 k1 psso (K2, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 11: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K2) K4, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K7, k2tog, yo, K1, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K4 (K2, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 13: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K2) K3, k2tog, yo, K3, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K5, k2tog, yo, K3, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K3 (K2, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 15: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K2) K2, k2tog, yo, K5, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K3, k2tog, yo, K5, yo, sl1 k1 psso, K2 (K2, P1, K1, P1, K1)
Row 17: Repeat row 7
Row 19: Repeat row 9
Row 20: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1) Purl across (K1, P1, K1, P1, K1)

Repeat these 20 rows until square measures 8 to 8.5 inches long (the lace squares should be slightly smaller than the others so there is room to stretch with blocking).

Repeat Border rows 1-5.

Bind off loosely.

These patterns are on Ravelry.com as well, make a pattern page and share your swatch!