Creative patterns that are not too difficult. The styles ...
928852
Creative patterns that are not too difficult.  The styles are right on trend.  I have knitted the one on the cover several times and received compliments.
3231380
Nice patterns. Makes business casual have a bit more flair.
1083610
The fabrics chosen to showcase the styles of dress were not what I would have chose, but the styles are fun I think little girls would like them. There are some great sewing hints to make any of these or other projects and the patterns included are clear with straight forward instructions.
2903479
Just received this book a couple of days ago and was impressed with the contents. It has some great techniques to try. I did find that the patterns were rather small however  and think that I would enlarge them when I make some of the items. Maybe an  average size of items would be helpful in the advertising blurb as I did expect that they would have been larger.  However, generally a lovely book to use.
2497175
Interesting and attractive patterns are the main strength of this book. There are bedspreads, tablecloths and curtains, as well as smaller items such as placemats. I liked the patterns for knit or crochet borders that could be used on any sort of work.

There are many suggestions for adapting patterns for a different use, and indications for changing the dimensions of a particular pattern. I have tried a number of the crochet patterns and the results were quite nice. However, I did find occasional mistakes in the patterns, for instance a round missing on the pattern for a square. The illustration and common sense allowed me to determine how to fix it.
4899290
The main value of this book are the instructions of various stringing techniques, some of which were new to me. The designs themselves are understated, which in a way is good. You will be inspired to alter them to make your own creations and not copy a work of art.

One design, a multistrand bead with a center pendant, was really versatile. The center stone was a turquoise bead, a large one. But if you create your own lampwork beads or polymer clay beads or other type of bead, you could easily adapt this design to showcase your creation. That's what I like best about "Stringing Style"--there are great ideas that are like yeast in the bread--something to get the creative ideas bubbling.

The designs are worth making to learn "Beading 101" but the book also has value for the more advanced beader who is looking for design ideas. While not packed with ooh and ahh pictures, this book will have you thinking about what kind of beaded necklace or earring you want to make next.

There is also a front section of a wardrobe of earrings and bracelets--many variations on simple themes. This is bound to help the crafter get good ideas.

Finally, quite a few of the designs looked like things you'd love to own--a fire bracelet--shades of yellow to fire-ruby clustered in a strand. Stunning. There were more. Lots of eye candy here.
3698925
This box contains several nice, simple patterns which should be fairly easy for beginning to intermediate knitters. Most of the patterns, though, are similar to so many of those out there in books, pamphlets and on websites that if one wanted, one could find them without buying the set, but one wouldn't know that unless they looked through the patterns included. The nice thing is that the patterns are all on laminated cards so they won't get lost, torn or worn out, as do patterns that come in pamphlets or that are printed off a website. A good, concise way to keep your patterns all in one place, and easily accesible.
3111007
While I certainly did see a few patterns in this book that I wouldn't be caught dead knitting, I personally have never seen a pattern book in which every pattern was worth my time.  For me, the novel ideas - such as the bras, shoes, halter, dress - are what made me want to purchase this book and I'm not at all disappointed with them.  I also love all the small 'gift' projects, stylish patterns for scarves, purses, pillows, socks that are great to have on hand in a gift-giving emergency.  While my definition of hip and urban apparently differ from Lily Chin's (I'm 23 and more into the mild side of couture - most of this was a bit tamer than I was expecting), the good percentage of unique items in this book that I will be knitting up definitely make this book worth the cost.
4888458
N. E.'s designs are lovely and sophisticated.  You can always count on learning new techniques but instructions are clear.  Have already knitted 2 projects.
546763
It's lovely. The patterns are more complex than they appear at first glance; you can really have some fun with them.
4915940
Love the simplicity and comfort of these patterns.
2445257
Can't go wrong with Jan Patek. Patterns can be used together or didvided into smaller projects
3661644
Beautiful designs and creative ideas but a bit over my skill level. Still, it doesn't hurt to dream...
4281611
Cheryl Oberle is a knit designer who often takes her inspiration from various cultures and traditional garments. Then she fuses the ideas with other cultures or techniques to come up with something unique.  The jackets here are quite varied, from traditional structured cabled fabric to more free-form kimono style jackets.  When traditional shapes (kimono for example) or Salish jackets are used, there is always a twist or a fusion with an unrelated technique of lace, texture or colorwork to surprise you. Wow! Lace and kimono shaping? Celtic knotwork and Native American knitting? Andean design on modern unconstructed shaping? Wow, that's really interesting--and beautiful.

The book is divided in to three sections:
1. Simplicity (simple shapes)
2. Contrast (color work)
3. Texture (lace and cabling)

As I mentioned above, there are some very interesting fusions--a Celtic-Salish jacket for one example. The jacket is knit in the style of Northwestern Native American knitting in natural wool colors, but the light pattern on the dark wool is a Celtic knot, not a traditional Salish motif! This is sure to please anyone who likes the comfy jacket-style Salish sweater but wants it to look rather different.  I also loved the "Wabi Sabi" kimono jacket, which is knit using panels of shaded yarn--a great use for hand-dyed yarns if you can find one in a similar gauge and certainly adaptable if you are handy at modifying patterns (and with simple shapes, this can be done with a bit of thought.) The Cusco jacket has beautiful textures and uses two rectangles to create a short swing jacket with lapels in a modern unconstructed shape that is pleasing and flattering to many figure shapes. The shapes in this book will inspire you to create ideas of your own--especially those based on flat rectangles. These are very adaptable to other knitting techniques and ideas, even to machine-knit fabrics in some cases.

What I didn't like as much were some of the cabled patterns; I thought they were mundane and even some of the designs seemed too similar to one another. However,  you might want more structured garments or more traditional (ie Irish or Aran) knitting, so you'd love these. Plus, the book has designs that would work, in some cases, equally well for men or women. I didn't find any of the cabled designs I wanted to make, but that also may reflect my personal tastes in knitting these days. I'll bet there are plenty of knitters who will totally disagree with me about the cables and find they are just what they've been looking for in designs.

As for me, I want to knit the long Edo coat, a mix of Japanese shapes from a hanten coat with lace panels (wow!), the Wabi Sabi (that's the shaded yarn jacket closed with an ornamental buckle) and the Cusco wrap. I have a feeling that there is a jacket in here for every knitter, and that the jackets may inspire your own variation. Just like Cheryl's book of shawls, I think this book is destined to be a staple on many knitters' bookshelves. Recommended --a really wonderful new knitting book.
1015752
There are many great beanie designs here. Some gloves, earwarmers and actually it's very easy to change the patterns to make scarves and even blanket.
The explanations of the patterns are very easy to follow and really fun.
4902361
The designs were not so easy to make, but it was fun for a while. The 4-sided patterns are easier to make than the realistic 6-sided patterns. I did like the smaller designs for window decoration.
1260248
I haven't tried out any of these patterns yet, but they are high on my list of projects to start.  I like her non traditional patterns, they are outstanding.