Humourous essays on knitting and knitters
581418
Very funny set of essays from a knitter to knitters, or those who live with or know them.  Most enjoyable.
1607965
A great book full of little tidbits of trivia that is a perfect gift for the knitter in your life. Or as a treat for yourself.
154703
I absolutely loved this book.  The stories were interesting and funny.  I read some aloud to my husband.  He suggested that they were the Dave Barry of knitting.  The knitting patterns look very interesting although I haven't tried any yet (I have to finish several other projects).  I thought this was a great book for the beginner and the seasoned knitter also.  Their suggestion that you can make it as easy or as hard as you like pertains to a basic pattern that the novice could follow but the seasoned knitter could embellish on to their hearts content, which is what I can't wait to do.  Also there is a variety of projects, most of which look very interesting and i hope to try.
392396
I was really surprised how much I liked this book.  This isn't a pattern book, but a book about the craft of knitting with inspiration from women of myth and history. In fact it's three books in one: a very nicely written book on mythical and biblical women, a book on how to knit creatively, and a book with some practical garment diagrams like shrugs and turtleneck pullovers.
There are no pictures of the projects, but you can visit a website created by the author to view some of  the knitted examples from the book.
I think this book would especially be good for handspinners of "designer" yarns, and also for those of us who collect odd balls of interesting yarns and fibers but aren't quite sure what to do with them.  I didn't expect to like this book, but I really am impressed.
768337
I was asked to review this book by the author because I am knitter and have published a number of knitting books. Mary Jean Daigneault's book Holiday Boutique Knitting: Inspired Home D&eacute;cor and Gifts to Knit is packed with clever little projects to knit for the holidays many of which can be knit in a few hours. The books is beautifully designed and loaded with tips and tricks for some very charming projects. Her instructions are clear and easy to follow. I was particularly impressed by the variety of projects. One project is a happy little couple called Mr. and Mrs. Snow. Knit from fuzzy fur yarn they each have their own accessories. A hat vest and bow tie for him, a scarf and hat for her -- and don't forget their carrot noses.

Other gifts include a knitted angel, a tree skirt, and a very cute Advent Calendar. I found her Christmas stockings particularly pretty. There are two different styles, the Vine Style and the Ribbed Style and they come with tips on design and balance.

In the Home D&eacute;cor section she offers pillows, towel buddies and a lovely Rose Candle piece.  Her section on Wreaths is particularly creative. There are a number of them but my favorite is the Cable Wreath. She also has wreaths made of pom-poms and fuzzy fur yarn. And, of course, there are some festive accessories for the holidays. I was particularly charmed by the stocking caps and a beautiful, snuggly wrap.

All in all this is a charming collection with patterns from the very simple to the fairly complex. Get this book, get out your knitting needles and get to work.
4651989
All of those great thoughts you've had about life and the cosmology of the universe, that have come to you while you had knitting needles in both hands, and couldn't find a pen anyway - well, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee wrote hers down.  "Things I Learned from Knitting" is a sweet little volume of the thoughts that go through our heads while we are rescuing dropped stitches and turning cables.

Mistakes Don't Go Away Unless We Intervene.
"Now, time has passed and I have become a good knitter, having learned a great deal since those early abominations. I've gained skill and understanding, I've learned that gauge matters and that there are some colors that don't look good on me (or any human, really), and I know enough to correct my mistakes as I go along instead of knitting them into perfect infamy." (page 54, @2008 Storey Publishing, 1st edition)

Perserverance Matters.
"Knitting is still trying to teach me that things get knit faster when you actually work on them.  That's why the scarf I've allegedly been knitting for two years just isn't getting any bigger, no matter how long I leave it in the basket." (page 109)

Love, To Be Deep, Can Never Be Easy
"As I stood there, looking at the decoration on this sweater that was. . . let's be frank, not working, I wondered if I would be able to forgive the sweater all of this.  This mistakes, the ripping, the gauge...the errors... Perhaps it was too much pain to pass between a knitter and her sweater...Or maybe I would love it more because I had surmounted all of the troubles...I wondered if my feelings for the sweater would be like my feelings for my children, where surviving the difficult times had only endeared them to me more." (pages 67-68)

Here we see less of the funny woman and more of the real woman as McPhee shares how the practice of craft has crafted her. It does lack some of the edge and energy of McPhee's previous works, but it possesses a soft gravitas that attracts like the wistful allure of cashmere when we are on an acrylic budget. Tuck this little volume into your knitting bag and pick it up when you need a pick me up - that is, right before you pick up, rip out or redo your latest errant project.
4103845
A great book with some unique patterns. These will also serve as very wearable items. Good for my knitting library.
4950768
I like this book for its emphasis on different body types, and the general wearability of most of the garments included.  It's often a challenge to imagine a specific garment seen on a willowy model as it might look on a curvier, or smaller, or more broad-shouldered, or even older woman, and given the effort involved in knitting garments, some idea is always helpful. The variety of models in this text is terrific, and I can feel I might be making an informed choice when I choose a pattern to knit.
1724597
This playful knitting book is about more than just knitting -- it is a philosophy on life that pushes us as readers to be more observant of the world around us. It is full of delightful facts about twin-stick popsicles, moon cakes, and heart beats that with a little creativity can be turned into works of knitted art. The author Lea Redmond invites us to re-discover the extraordinary in our daily lives!
4853614
I loved the first Mason-Dixon tome, with Kay and Ann's banter and comments making just reading the book worth the purchase price. So, when I heard they were doing a second book, I immediately put it in my basket and preordered it. And I'm so glad I did! The patterns are much better than book one, adding some complexity for those knitters who have matured in their craft since first encountering this knitting duo's work. And the patterns are unique--with a sweater you can knit your own poetry or inspirational sayings into, a to-die-for selection of blankets, and fun, goofy kitchen stuff you'll want to knit just for the heck of it. And again, Kay and Ann's warm writing make you feel like these two women are sitting next to you, laughing and comparing dropped stitches. This book makes knitting VERY fun, and accessible.
855273
This is a book-magazine, a well-printed, sturdily bound paperback that is more than a magazine but intended to come out as volumes so more than a one-off book as well. The cover says "socks" but really, this is a book featuring patterns using sock or fingering weight yarn.

This is very welcome for me, because of all the kinds of yarn, fingering weight is my favorite and always has been. Back in the "dark ages" of knitting in the US, when I was in college, it was hard to get anything but worsted weight. But now, sock knitting and sock yarn is hugely popular and there are so many varieties of hand-dyed, painted, speciality and mass-produced excellent sock yarns that this book/magazine celebrates how to use these wonderful yarns.

The projects include several shawls or "shawlettes" (shoulder-length lacy shawls), some socks (naturally!) and even a cardigan and some mitts. The theme is nature and fossils. The most beautiful sock pattern, in my opinion, is the Cambium, which as you can tell from its name, has some parallel rows of winding textured ribs, replicating plant anatomy. But the shawlettes, in my opinion, are what make this book well worth owning and quite the bargain, as there are 16 patterns and most of these are available as one-off but they cost over six bucks, so you are getting 16 for the price of three. That's a deal, right there.

The shawls I particularly liked and want to knit: Arcadia, a crescent shaped shawlette with a sort of acanthus leaf design around the border--three thickly textured leaves in high relief. Tulip Dream is similar (a three-lobed tulip on a base of short-rowed plain knitting with some texture) but is shown in graduated-dyed yarn--which looks wonderful. I prefer Arcadia, but the Tulip Dream is longer and very pretty. Another shawl, Cassian, is fully lace and longer--a rectangular half round and there is a long shawl Marigold which at first looks like a typical lozenge drop pattern. But--it's NOT. The lace is rather fern-like and branches. This pattern lends itself to beading.

As to the socks, Devonian has some beautiful natural texture and I mentioned Cambium. For color knitters, there is a summer sock that hints at Norwegian figure knitting--has some trekkers in a two-color all over pattern. Phaeodaria is done in Bavarian traveling stitch type knitting, cables and traveling ribs making ovals and twists (Phaeodaria are single-cell organisms, kind of shaped like some of the oval and rib patterns here.

Clio, the one full garment in the pattern collection, is a simple-looking open jacket with lace borders. But the "simple" is deceptive. The top is shaped by decreases around the neck (like rays) and the lace is knit of garter stitch and a diamond lace pattern and lays over the edges almost like an applique and is shown in a contrasting color. This could be dressed up quite a bit--dark yarn, beads, or dressed down for denims.

I can't wait for Volume 2, if Volume 1 is an indication of the patterns we're getting. A terrific collection of patterns, almost all of which shout "Knit me! Knit me NOW!"

All in all, there is something for everyone here, if you love fingering yarn.
4736341
This book has a diverse mix of projects from tiny zakka style projects like cup cozies, Boot toppers, flowers and leaves to large shawls and sweaters. The commentary that accompanies the projects (along with the fun names) inspires zen thought which is part of the repetitive hand work of knitting. The pages are printed on lovely matte paper so the book feels nice to hold and enjoy the photography.
2949977
I just received this book and am pleasantly surprised.  First, the patterns.  There are several sweaters I would actually knit:  the cover sweater with the slip stitch designs, the colorblock pullover, the Fair Isle sweater with bell sleeves, the yoke sweater with faux embroidery, the striped raglan, and the Harvest cardi.  I also liked the pattern on the Andean pullover (on the back cover), but I didn't like the cropped style.  I even liked the argyle vest and knee socks, though I am primarily a sweater knitter.  There were a couple of patterns I didn't like - the scarf (Kristin Nicholas is just NOT my style) the pillow, and the flower mittens; however the great majority of the patterns appealed to me.

The book also has a small section which briefly goes over the different color techniques and gives references for more information.  I found the tips in the section helpful, and didn't feel it was lacking.  I have other reference books with Fair Isle techniques and history that are more in-depth.  This being primarily a pattern book, I didn't expect a long section on how-to.

Overall I would say this is a great pattern book.  It has contemporary takes on intarsia, stranded knitting, and stripes.  I think it is easy for intarsia and stranded (Fair Isle type) sweaters to look dated, but I really found these patterns appealing.
3839254
I loved the designs and the variety. Among the Jackets, sweaters, cardigans, tops and scarves, I saw a granny square purse that I fell in love with. I did not like the loop-stitch set. The pictures are clear and the charts are next to the pattern. At the back of the book there are knitting techniques, abbreviations and yarn information including mail/web addresses. Very useful book.
2687166
A wonderful collection of knitting stories. One chapter is from my second favorite knitter, Meg Swansen. Her mom , Elizabeth Zimmerman is my  all time favorite. I would say she had a good teacher.
3519782
A good book for anyone who wants to expand their knitting pattern repertoire.
2572151
Besides having up-to-date pattern and gift ideas - the book is just plain fun to read!

Authors seem to understand new knitters and potential problems.