New product:

The Crafty Labrador Retriever - Knits!
by author-designer-dog breeder, Peggy Gaffney
ISBN 0-9770412-1-2 $35.00

A DOG book with a difference and the second book in the Crafty Dog Books series, this one takes the Labrador retriever from the show ring to haute couture sweaters for owners who truly love the breed. It is illustrated by Betty Schmidt's wonderful Labrador photos.

The Crafty Labrador Retriever - Knits, transforms action to design. The author tells of activities enjoyed by Labradors but takes it one step further and designs those events as charted intarsia knitting patterns. The knitting charts portray Labs in conformation, obedience, agility, hunting, flyball, dock diving and more. Directions for sweaters and accessories on which to work the designs are included, sized from infant to adult.

Peggy hasn't forgotten Lab fanciers who don't know how to knit. She tells how to work the over 20 different pattern charts onto ready-made sweaters, using duplicate stitch.

A special part of this book is a biography of Buzz (Ch. Aquarius Centercourt Delight) who is the top winning Labrador retriever in the history of the breed. Written by his owner, it is an insight into how to fashion an outstanding show dog.

The first book in the series was The Crafty Samoyed - Knits based on the author's own breed. The books are only part of the design output from Kanine Knits, which has published knitting leaflets with designs of over 75 different recognised breeds.

Peggy Gaffney has been showing dogs for 37 years and over the last 10 years, she has been creating custom knit sweaters for exhibitors. As a designer, she brings a unique eye to fashions for the dog fancy. These sweaters are exhibited at shows around the country including the AKC Tournament of Champions and Westminster Kennel Club. Her work has been the subject of both newspaper and magazine articles and television interviews. The sweaters were even included in a 'New York Minute' on Fox Television during the Westminster KC Show.

Publisher Kanine Knits announces other books in the Crafty Dog series will follow soon with knitting books on golden retrievers, Newfoundlands, corgis, shelties, bichon, and German shepherds in the writing stage and more books planned. The author encourages input from breeders and breed clubs. To order or for more information contact: craftydogbooks@kanineknits.com, website: www.kanineknits.com.