Book Description
Designer Lucinda Guy presents 25 fantastic hand-knitted designs for girls and boys, ages two to five, with something to knit for every season.
Customer Reviews:
Adorable handknits.......2007-07-21
This sweet book delighted me at first glance in December 2005, so I put it on my "Santa list." The next day I went back to the shop and bought it for myself -- Santa's usually good to me but why take chances? I'm cautious about books featuring a specific brand of yarn but Rowan's so luscious and children's knits use smaller amounts, so it seemed worth using the real thing.
I chose the Wildflower Sweater for my 2006 Knitting Olympics entry and enjoyed every second of the project. Nine months later I had the pleasure of seeing my granddaughter dig deep to find her pretty "flower jersey" and pull it on over her pajamas on a cool Australian autumn morning. Priceless!
I'd happily knit anything in this book -- the plump, abstract little animals, the gorgeous blankets, the hats and bags, dresses and pullovers. My only reservation is the crocheted picot edgings, which are perfect finishing touches but challenging for me since the crochet hook is not my friend. It's a skill worth cultivating, however, and this book is great motivation. I found all the instructions clear and fault-free.
Lucinda Guy's inspired designs are a pleasure for the knitter and a treat for the lucky little recipient.
Great designs for boys and girls.......2007-06-30
Every time I buy or browse a knitting pattern book for children I complaint on how uninteresting looking are boy-geared pattern compared to girl's. This is nothing I can say about Ms. Guy's "Design for Kids" pattern collection.
One of the joys about this book is that boys patterns are fun and exciting to knit. Also, I found very useful that designs are classified by season, using a different yarn for each one: mohair for winter; a wool cotton mix for spring; cotton for summer and wool for fall. You may notice that the colour palette is somewhat limited, but this does not mean is boring at all. For every season there's a beautiful blanket to knit; lovely accesories: hats, scarves and bags; and toys. Another thing I liked, is that each piece of the patterns for toys are shown as they are in real life, not having to picture them in your mind (I'm very bad at that).
Finally the cute pictures by Francois Hall add a charming note to the book, making it a little more special.
Beautiful Designs!.......2007-06-29
I have been smitten with Lucinda Guy's designs since looking through her book, "And To Bed..." I picked up this book because I enjoy quick projects like stuffed animals, and just finished the stuffed dog. This is no book for beginners, as I believe all of the designs require the use of intarsia. I would also recommend enlarging the charts before sitting down to work, because they are TINY! My only disappointment was the emphasis on working with the charts. Charts are not my strong point to begin with, and these are really just colored squares, with no indication of what methods to use for increasing and decreasing. Otherwise, this is a great book with whimsical designs and pictures.
Adorable kids patterns.......2007-04-01
Great book for color knitting. Lots of intarsia and detail. Not a great book for beginners but lovely projects that are special for kids and babies. The striped boys sweaters with trucks on them are the cutest projects for boys I have ever seen. Not too many small projects if you are looking for small items for leftover yarn.
YOU NEED THIS BOOK!!.......2007-02-08
Unlike so many other knitting books for babies and kids, this has creative, attractive patterns. No ugly pastels, no useless cutsie booties, no hideous hats, nothing that will embarrass the poor child in 15 years. None of that garbage. I make the stuffed toys and they are universally a hit. Buy this and And So To Bed. You will wear them out with use.
Customer Reviews:
excellent, bright,colourful handknits for kids and mums........1999-01-31
original colourful designs for experienced intarsia knitters.i have knitted all the designs in this book in the stated yarns.most of the medium sized kids designs took 3-5days.the adult star and bobbles took me just under 14 days, as a lot of ends needed sewing in.not a book to buy unless you are able to knit with lots of different balls of wool on each row of knitting.brilliant for bright knitted kids wear.
Book Description
Legendary designer Kaffe Fassett returns to readers with his first knitting book in a decade!
Known by millions of knitters who cherish his intricate designs, unique color palette, and bold graphic aesthetic, Kaffe Fassett reinvents 24 of his most beloved patterns in this long-awaited book. Gorgeously shot in England’s eclectic, historic Charleston House, the country meeting place of the Bloomsbury Group artists and writers like Vanessa Bell (sister of Virginia Woolf), Duncan Grant, Dora Carrington, and E. M. Forester.
Worked in rich, subtle palettes and soft new Rowan yarns, Kaffe’s updated classics appear perfectly at home among Charleston’s huge collection of paintings and lithographs and the soft, warm tones of Bell’s studio.
For the legion of Kaffe fans or for any passionate knitters looking to add warmth, color, and variety to their clothes, accessories, and home décor, Kaffe Knits Again is the must-have knitting book of the year to own. From a fresco-palette shawl that pays homage to the lovely colors of Charleston House or a Moody Blues cushion adapted from one of Kaffe’s Scottish Tweed sweaters, to a unisex V-neck that mimics the natural hues of a stony beach and a geometric-patterned Gridlock throw inspired by an ancient carpet, all of the 24 projects in Kaffe Knits Again reflect the color-conscious, fearless pattern-work that has elevated Kaffe’s knits to the status of art.
While Kaffe’s designs are striking, they need not intimidate beginning knitters: Kaffe has included several that use only two colors per row and large-sized needles. Plus, helpful black-and-white line drawings and easy-to-follow directions will guide even novice knitters along Kaffe’s knitting dreamscape.
Customer Reviews:
Attention New Knitters.......2007-10-07
The title of Kaffe's new book is important: it has been updated for today's new knitters. A couple of the patterns were not ones I recognized from previous books. This book is full of inspiration with manageable projects. For those who want more, I highly recommend "Kaffe Fassett's Pattern Library" (which does not include the "Crisscross " pattern). One can easily translate those pattern charts onto other sweater or purse outlines. Together, these two books would make excellent additions to a new knitter's library.
Kaffe Does It Again!.......2007-10-06
Kaffe has beautifully reworked previous designs into manageable throws, pillows, vests, and sweaters using yarns that are available now. You'll even find the Foolish Virgins on a scarf! This is the perfect book if you haven't tried colorwork, or are newish at it, or have been afraid to try Kaffe's patterns, because many of these designs use two colors per row (one uses one color per row). The photography at the lush and elegant Charleston House is outstanding and the photos clearly show the items in several views.
A Huge Disappointment.......2007-10-02
I've knit more than ten of Fassett's designs, from his earlier books -- Glorious Color and others -- and from Rowan pattern books. This book more often than not repeats older patterns in a new format -- old sweater designs become incorporated into throws or pillows; several older designs make their way onto a single scarf. A former sweater design is now used on a vest. Others -- the Crosspatch V-Neck, for example -- have been published before in the same format. The newer designs (Reflections, Polka Dots) are simpler, less sophisticated in their color sense, and far less visually intriguing than any of the designs in Glorious Color (the best Fassett book by far). Some are, to my taste, downright ugly. Fassett's introduction states that he's updating his past work for nervous knitters. But there's nothing simple about knitting most of the colorwork here, so the book comes through as a meaningless rehash. All are photographed against backgrounds at Charleston House, reminding me of a claim made by a detractor, that Bloomsbury design was at its best clumsy and inept, and at its worst, hideous. If you want to knit Fassett at his best, go back to Glorious Color; if you want to enjoy Fassett's designs photographed in beautiful settings, go back to Glorious Color, and skip this.
Book Description
Knitting has made a thoroughly modern comeback, and Hollywood designer Suss Cousins is leading the way. Suss has invented a new vocabulary of an old art, and in the process developed a passionate following of young, hip knitters, including some of Hollywood's hottest stars: Rose McGowan, Julia Sweeney, Laurence Fishburne, and Bill Cosby among them.
Bringing her ideas to a book for the first time, Suss invites knitters new and accomplished to make offbeat and colorful projects that are both elegant and wearable. Thirty projects with complete step-by-step instructions and illustrations are featured in Hollywood Knits, happily modeled by icons of Hollywood chic, such as Julianne Moore and Chanel model Kirsty Hume. Hollywood Knits closes with a resource guide that lists where you can buy quality yarns and Suss designs nationwide.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Designer!.......2007-04-10
I love this book because the designs are simple and allow the new fabulous yarn to shine. You don't have to knit very complicated patterns to make very stylish garments and this is one of the best books I have seen to make this statement. I have also ordered some of her yarn and it is wonderful.
Error not corrected even on website.......2006-06-09
The patterns are all so simplistic that it seems to imply that Hollywood types are all ADD-afflicted. There is a difference between a simple, timeless pattern that lets the beauty of the yarn shine, and a crude, poorly written one. Unfortunately the patterns of this book falls into the latter category.
Too bad that I gave one of the patterns, the leather tie cardigan, the benefit of the doubt and started knitting it. The instructions omitted several rows at the top of the sleeve so that the finished piece measures 13" rather than the specified 17"! I looked for corrections on her website. Even on the corrections page, this glaring error was not corrected. How poorly written and edited can a book get?!
The copy I use is a library copy. Even then, it is not worth the investment of my time.
Pretty Yarn Good Book...(groan now for cheesy pun...).......2006-01-24
I initially bought Suss Cousin's "Hollywood Knits:Style" and then purchased this, her first book. I was attracted to both of the books patterns and color combinations. The patterns are organized by difficulty level and the 'Cinchy for Starters' patterns really are quite easy to finish while the 'Hot Knitters' patterns definitely require more experience. I think my one of my favorites in this particular book is the Knit Knitting Bag...It's very fun and funky. Okay...so the reasons I only rated it three stars...
I find the commentary and captions for the photos a bit self-aggrandizing for the author. After reading how she came up with this or that pattern for this or that actor or film got old after about the fifth reference. Also, the yarns she utilizes and recommends are, of course, ALL Suss yarns and there is no yarn weight indicated should you not want to use Suss yarns. Finally, there are fantastic knitting books coming out seemingly daily with similar patterns plus some really innovative patterns included that make a lot of the patterns in this book appear kind of commonplace. Overall, I gave it three stars...I like it alot but, the more I progress in my own knitting experience, the more I find myself searching for other sources of inspiration.
UGH!.......2005-11-12
Incessent name dropping and unoriginal patterns loaded with mistake after mistake that only be made using "suss" yarn -- give me a break...don't bother with this one and save your money.
I really want to like this book..........2005-06-21
After knitting several patterns from this book, I'm a bit frustrated. I purchased the book because I loved the designs and the majority of the patterns I would either make for myself or make as gifts. There are hip, mod and sometimes quirky patterns and very wearable and stylish. If you're big into designer clothing, these would appeal to you. Suss has a knack for picking great colors, stripe patterns and texture and incorporating them into her designs. Everything seems to be knit on big needles with either bulky yarn or double strands, so it's great for instant gratification (I can complete a sweater in under 2 weeks) or last-minute gifts.
Now, for the gripes and source of my frustration.
The mistakes are numerous in the patterns and the corrections are confusing. There were 4 pages of corrections I printed off the Suss website. Some of the corrections are redundant with the information already in the book- maybe I have a later edition?- but sometimes the corrections themselves were wrong or I couldn't figure out where they belonged in the pattern. I'm a fairly experienced knitter, so if I get stuck halfway through a pattern, I can usually work things out or adjust the pattern. Sometimes instructions are given just for the small size, so you have to stop and think and figure out what to do if you aren't making a small. So I find little things like this to be annoying and perhaps something that a beginner would not pick up on and have a tragic end result. I would really have liked this book more if time was spent on editing and correcting the patterns- it seems like it was rushed to publication with no time to check these things. I don't want to be stressed out when starting a pattern hoping that everything will turn out alright.
Another gripe I have would be the pictures. Yes, I find it interesting to know who she designed the piece for, and in which movie, but the incessant name dropping is annoying and pompous, while the photographs reflect this. The focus is not on the garments, but on the celebrity wearers of the garments. In some pictures, sweaters are downright blurry, while the focal point of the picture is a beautifully illuminated face of a highly-paid model or actor. Please. I am a knitter. I know I like the sweater when someone that beautiful is wearing it and posing artfully and unrealistically. I really like the Yarn Girl's Guide to Simple Knits because the sweaters and garments are all displayed on a mannequin. No distractions and you can figure out by looking at a garment if it would actually look good on you or if it would make you look like you're wearing a fat suit. We're not all waif-like Hollywood types, you know.
One last thing...Suss uses, in many patterns, her own brand of yarn in which you can order on her website. It can be a little daunting to find replacements if you don't want to use her yarn, but it can be done.
Overall, I have mixed feeling about this book. I would only recommend it if you are up for a challenge (even though the patterns themselves are all fairly easy) and don't mind comparing yourself to stick figure with perfect features.
Customer Reviews:
Saw this one, had to have it........2002-05-14
I used to visit New England sheep farms every year on a Wool Day tour that took you from farm to farm in New Hampshire. It was so wonderful. So I had to take a look at Candace Strick's tribute to New England Sheep Farns.
Handdyed country wools are used beautifully in this book to make 26 designs. But WHY I bought this book is due to one sweater alone, an indigo and natural design that has a pattern that combines both an Escher like mosaic with a Japanese or Islamic looking pattern. The patterns uses two variants of one motif, one with an added dark band. The use of two similar small patterns makes an overall larger design that is incredibly pleasing.
There are the usual picture sweaters here. The notes about the farms are fun to read if you love New England (ok, so I am homesick a bit.) All in all, a beautiful book with sweaters that would make elegant gifts.
For those who love to knit:.......2002-02-03
This turned out to be a good purchase on many levels for me. The patterns are presented from easy to experienced, the text gives insight to the lives of the fiberists, and the pictures are very satisfying to puruse. Having just gotten into natural dyes over the past year, I also found some inspiration from some of the fiberists that were showcased in the book.
A fabulous knitting book!!.......2001-07-15
This book is extremely well done; the sweater designs are superb, and there are several interesting techniques included with some of the designs. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. I don't usually "read" knitting books, but the author's descriptions of her visits to the various farms are really interesting and fun to read. The accompanying photographs are excellent. I also really appreciated the inclusion of substitute yarn suggestions for those of us who might not have access to the specialty yarns used in the book. This book is a terrific addition to my knitting library, and I hope to purchase more of her books in the future.
For anyone seeking unique and satisfying needlecraft.......2001-02-17
Candace Strick is a talented hand knitter and designer who draws upon her many years of experience and expertise to present twenty-six classically handsome sweater patterns inspired by the unique qualities of the custom-dyed yearns from eight sheep farms across the New England countryside in Sweaters From New England Sheep Farms. Strick clearly explains how commercial yarns may be substituted for hand-dyed and blended yarns, and offers simple, easy-to-follow directions for following each of the patterns. Photos of finished sweater projects and the sheep farms enhanced her "knitter friendly" text. An ideal "how to" guide for beginners and an invaluable source of projects for experienced knitters as well, Sweaters From New England Sheep Farms is a "must" for anyone seeking a unique and satisfying needlecraft project.
A wonderful source book!.......2000-05-28
Great patterns by a master knitter emlivened by the most wonderful wool yarns searched out by the author from New England artisans. A definite must-have book for your knitting library.
Average customer rating:
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Original Annabel Fox: A Rowan Original
Annabel Fox
Manufacturer: Macmillan Pub Co
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Binding: Hardcover
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Colorful Knitwear Design (Threads On)
ASIN: 0025403915 |
Book Description
Baby Knits*32 easy-knit patterns with the emphasis on style and practicality*Designs suitable for ages 0-3 - from easy-on, easy-off baby suits to stylish jackets, jumpers, and cardigans for toddlers*All garments made up in hard-wearing, machine washable yarns
Customer Reviews:
Just About Perfect.......2004-06-15
The patterns in this book are clear, accurate, and well laid out. The designs -- sweaters, hats, jackets, and playsuits -- are varied and beautiful, classic without being dull. They are written in the traditional way, without charts or diagrams, but there is a glossary of abbreviations. There are no basic knitting instructions.
I have made several things from this book and, while some are challenging, all the projects can be made by a competent knitter without difficulty. I have never had to go back and read over the directions several times to make sense of them, as one has to do with some books. The photographs of the garments are attractive and clearly show how the finished piece will look.
Projects include a bunny suit with matching hat and slippers (use bobbins for this one!), a really quick and easy fisherman's rib set, a rose-patterned cardigan, a whimsical cowboy shirt sweater, and a number of traditional European styles. None looks the least bit old-fashioned, even though the book is nearly 30 years old. I expect my grandchildren, if I ever have any, to be just as cute in the bunny suit as my children were!
Some knitters hesitate to knit for little children because they grow out of their clothes so quickly. This book could make them reconsider. Knitting for babies and little children is such a pleasure! And sometimes it is nice to try out new methods on a small project. Then, if Baby outgrows the sweater before it wears out, set it aside for the next child, or the next generation!
Disappointed.......2001-02-25
I am a relatively new knitter, and I bought this book because I had heard good things about this designer. I did think that several items in the book were cute, but for the most part, the designs seemed overly complicated and hard to follow. I would probably not make sweaters as complex as the ones shown for myself, let alone for a small child that would only wear a sweater a handful of times.
Challenging but beautiful designs.......1999-08-06
I own this book and have used it to make baby gifts. Be warned that the sizing is quite generous....my average sized daughter was still wearing a sweater from this book supposedly meant for a 12 month old baby when she fit into a 3T!
Filled with beautiful but difficult patterns.......1998-10-29
The pictures are beautiful and the patterns are creative. The jacket on this book implies that the patterns in the book are "easy" patterns. I am afraid they are far from easy! This book is geared toward the more advanced knitter. If you are comfortable with more complicated knitting techniques you will find this book a great source for knitting ideas.
If you knit for small kids, you GOTTA have this book!.......1997-01-05
Any knitter knows how hard it is to find good patterns for toddler sizes. Debbie Bliss fills this gap with 32 original patterns, ranging from the tradition of arans and fair isles to the trendiness of western and Chanel-inspired designs. The difficulty levels range from basics even a beginner could complete, to expert, which would challenge the most experienced knitter. Since the patterns will not go out of style, and since the difficulty levels will allow the knitter to "grow" with the book, I would advise even knitters with no small children to knit for right now to get this book for their libraries
Customer Reviews:
Outdated patterns, wouldn't knit anything from this book..........2006-05-25
I am a huge Starmore fan. I have spend a small fortune buying many of her books. I checked out this book at the library to look at it before buying it. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY unless you like to collect antiques. The patterns in this book completely outdated. I wouldn't knit any of them. This was Alice's first book, and unlike most of her other books, this one is not worth to buy, except for having the luxury of saying you have her first book, but that's it.
I am glad I had the chance to see this book before buying it. Another book I don't recomend unless you love designing color stranding sweaters is Charts for colour Knitting. I bought it, saw it, and sold it right away... There are no patterns or anyting like the beautiful designs and pictures that characterize her other books. That one is just charts, boring black and white charts... So, anyways, all that just to say there are three books not to buy and this one is one of them. The third one is Children's Knitting from Many Lands or something like that. Also obsolete and out of date.
The rest are almost all guaranteed to make you the HAPPIEST KNITTER IN THE WORLD... but not these ones.
I got my first Alice Starmore book for £1!.......2001-05-31
It's hard to believe now when I see the triple-digit figures secondhand Alice Starmore books sell for, but I got this one for ... in a used book shop in a lovely tiny village in north Norfolk, England, when on holiday a couple of years ago.
I'd never heard of Alice before, but I was extremely impressed by what was clearly a different and refreshing attitude toward traditional knitting, especially as the book was published in the early 1980s when popular clothing was completely mad, especially in Britain. These designs are classic, but some inject interesting thoughts on colour combinations, obviously with an 80s slant. This book doesn't have the fabulous production values of some of the later AS books (such as Fishermen's Sweaters, which is breathtakingly beautiful whether or not you're interested in knitting), but I'd definitely recommend it, especially to the Alice Starmore purists, who will find this early work vital to complete the picture of the body of work.
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Hollywood Knits Style: With 30 Original Suss Designs
Suss Cousins , and
Deborah Jaffe
Manufacturer: Stewart, Tabori & Chang
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Hollywood Knits : Thirty Original Suss Designs
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ASIN: 1584796065 |
Book Description
Knitting has made a thoroughly modern comeback, and Hollywood knitwear designer Suss Cousins has had no small part in its stylish renaissance. In Hollywood Knits and Hollywood Knits Style—now in affordable new paperback editions—Cousins shares the creativity and panache that have helped inspire a new generation of hip young knitters.
Hollywood Knits features 30 offbeat and colorful projects—from adorable hats and scarves to gorgeous sweaters, throws, and a cell phone holder—that are both elegant and wearable, modeled by Hollywood icons such as Julianne Moore and Chanel model Kirsty Hume. In Hollywood Knits Style, Cousins presents 30 more chic and modern designs—including a funky purse, a Valentine pillow, and even his-and-her dog sweaters for hipster pooches—along with just a little insider gossip about the stars who have made, bought, or worn them. She also shows knitters how to host knitting parties, start a knitting circle, decorate with yarn, and fund-raise through knitting.
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