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Knitters are naturally creative types, so it’s no wonder that we love a good yarn. And when your eyes need a break from all the cross 2 R and EOR, it’s nice to kick back and keep your hands still for a while with a cozy knit-centric novel—the social and crafty elements can make for a tightly-woven story. Here’s five of my favorites.

Arrrr you a little bored with Talk Like a Pirate Day? Running out of ways to work “scalawag” and “walk the plank” into your everyday discourse? Or maybe you just want to give the entire holiday a keel-over-haul. Here are four alternative pirates to refresh your scuttlebutt speechifying.

Episode 1: The Future

Episode 2: The Scroll

Episode 3: The West

Episode 4: Trend

Episode 5: Book Case

Episode 6: Water Log

Episode 7: It's Not Over

Oktoberfest is the annual German harvest festival, a citywide fair in Munich full of beer and bratwurst that takes place over sixteen days leading up to the first weekend of October. It’s awesome, or so my German friend tells me, and given my affinity for all things beer and meat and revelry, I tend to believe him (although I am mostly indifferent towards lederhosen).

I realize, however, that not everyone shares my love for such delicious gluttony. But rather than rudely asking what the hell is wrong with you and how could you not love malty lagers, tasty bratwurst, and lots of drunken singalongs, I’ve come up with a list of three alternative Oktoberfests for you to enjoy in those first days of autumn, all of which have been inspired by my other favorite thing that’s not booze, meat, or music — which, of course, is books.

Kick off your shoes, chow down on some mushrooms, and whip out the sparklers: it’s time to celebrate Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week. Though there are some discrepancies between the Shire and Gregorian calendars, Hobbit Day – the birthday of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins – has been celebrated on September 22nd since 1978 and is the kickoff to Tolkien Week.

Many schools, bookstores, and libraries observe the date as a way to focus on Tolkien’s work and pique the interest of new fans, but here at Quirk, we love a good party.