It got a teenager knitting - Rated 
All good clean fun, but cool enough to inspire a 16 year old to try her had at one of the easier knits. The patterns look great, very stylish. I found the yarn grading table useful as well.
Quality technique/pattern book - and great fun too! - Rated 
Whilst the traditional knitter may find the presentational style of this book a little "surprising", if you take the time to read it you will find that this is actually a top quality book about producing really beautiful and PROPERLEY FITTED knitwear. The range of patterns included is wide, and the author has explained each and every technique used so even the novice knitter will be able to "whip up" something to be proud of. All in all great fun, clear instructions, and a great change from saggy baggy sweaters! Plus the PVC-esque cover is very practical if you spill your cuppa on it.
Being the master, not the slave - Rated 
I like the author's philosophy about being the master of your knitting, and not the slave of it. It made me dare to try a lot of new stuff I thought I couldn't. I'm on my way to become the master of my knitting: I frog when I realize that it would get my work to a new level. Before I read this book, I always thought that frogging was a terrible way to admit that you made a mistake, now I use frogging to get an item that is PERFECT. I enjoyed the "how to" section a lot, it can be useful to the advanced knitter too. The patterns are fun to read, but they don't appeal to me. I don't feel like they could fit my style or body shape. Anyway, it's a book I'm happy to have bought, even though I'm not going to knit anything from it. God only knows how many books of this kind I have in my library!!
Good "How to" section thats all - Rated 
I was very disapointed with this book, the paper used feels quite cheap. The knitting guide at the front is quite thorough (nearly half the book), but thats not why I bought the book. The patterns are quite difficult and obscure (I didn't expect run of the mill stuff)but most of these designs I wouldn't wear. Aimed at the under 25's me thinks!!
Not bad - Rated 
I was very excited to read about this book and ordered it as soon as possible. It does have some really great designs and a few naff / quirky ones (depending on your view). I absolutey fell in love with four of the patterns and started planning for them. However, the best design (Elfin Bride/Gothlet)is not actually in the book it was publishd later on the net (password accessible only); two other designs require so much yarn that the cost is almost prohibitive; the last one on my list is still possible if I can find a substitute for the recommended yarn, which is not available in the UK.
All in all this has the same problem that a lot of US knitting books have, which is that the recommended yarns are not easily available over here and they are mostly Aran weight or heavier (in this book - it seems to be mostly chunky weight) - not very flattering to any but the most svelte.
|