Book Review: Knitting Smitten

Time for a book review! Today I'm reviewing Knitting Smitten: 20 Fresh and Funky Hand-Knit Designs by Jessica Biscoe.

 

Knitting Smitten is part of Quadrille's "Simple Makes" series, which includes Fresh Prints, Felt Sew Good, and Scissors, Paper, Craft. This is turning out to be a fantastic series of books! Each title I've reviewed from it (if you click on those three links they'll take you to my reviews) has been fresh and modern and filled with simple-but-not-boring projects, and Knitting Smitten doesn't disappoint.

 

The book starts with some tips on choosing yarns and deciphering knitting patterns, illustrated with some delightfully quirky pictures of pompoms and little sheep figurines...

... then there are some step-by-step "how tos" for the stitches and other techniques you'll need. I always like seeing photos in this section of a knitting book as I find them much easier to follow than diagrams, and this book includes both the English/US and the Continental techniques for each stitch. 

The designs are divided into three sections - knits to wear (including hats, a cowl, a cape and some legwarmers)...

 

... knits to share (including gifts like a purse, a cable headband and a doggy bowtie) and knits for your home (including a throw, a couple of cushions and a paperweight in the shape of a hedgehog).

 

I sometimes struggle with knitting books as my skill level is.... not great. But I still want to knit fun stuff! I have to admit that I probably wouldn't have picked this book off the shelf based on the front cover alone, but inside there are loads of projects I would love to knit. None of the projects seem stuffy or old-fashioned and it all looks like stuff I could manage with a bit of practice - though I would have to learn how to knit in the round (eek!) and buy the needles to do so. 

I especially loved these cable bracelets...

... this adorable necklace with a teeny knitted bow...

 

... and these delightful woodland-themed mittens complete with red squirrel and little knitted acorns!

This book would be a great buy if you're looking for some fun, achievable knitting projects to keep you out of mischief in the evenings or you have a friend with a birthday coming up who's recently learned to knit and wants to try some new things.

Knitting Smitten is published by Quadrille. RRP £12.99. It's available from Amazon UK, Amazon USA, The Book Depository and many other bookshops.

Please note: Quadrille sent me a free review copy of this book. The Amazon & Book Depository links in this post are affiliate links.

Book Review: Simple Knitting

Book week continues today with a review of a knitting book...

Simple Knitting: 30 Quick-to-Knit Projects for Stylish Accessories by Ros Badger is one of the books in the "Creative Makers" series that also includes Simple Sewing and Simple Crochet (click the links to read my reviews of those titles). Each book in the series has a different colour spine and they look great sitting together on my bookshelves.

Like the others in the series it's a lovely hardback book with yummy matte paper pages and nice little details like these bicycles at the top of the pages...

Simple Knitting begins with some clear step by step photos showing the different knitting techniques used in the book - I love it when knitting books include photos like this, I find them so much easier to follow than illustrations. It would have been great to have an illustration or two for the bag that needs lining (especially as there is plenty of space on the page) but it's just one project. All the designs are labelled with a difficulty rating - starting out, going further and moving on.

Oh, and there are some some nice photos of yarn dotted throughout the book! Mmm... yarn...
 

The designs are divided into chapters by type: Wrap Up Warm (scarves), Heads You Win (hats and an earwarmer/headband), Fingers and Toes (gloves, mittens and slippers), Pretty Please (quick projects that are good to give as gifts, like little flower hair clips) and Carry Me (bags and purses plus a coffee cosy and a dog coat).

 

Ros introduces each project, chatting about her inspiration and suggesting ways you can vary the design (by using different yarns, etc). Some of the designs are inspired by vintage patterns and consequently have a pretty, retro feel to them like this bow scarf:

None of the designs feel super-trendy, they're more what I'd call "modern classics". Practical and simple but without being boring or old-fashioned.

As with most knitting books there are lots of patterns that I'd never make for myself but which would be nice to knit as gifts, but I also found lots in here that I would keep for myself, including this knitted headband...

... this hat...

... and these mittens.

As a not-especially-skilled knitted I was also pleased to see a nice range of projects that look like something I could actually achieve! Woohoo!

This is not a book for fans of super-fashionable, ultra-trendy designs or for anyone after quirky or cute projects, but it is a book that successfully "does what it says on the tin": simple, stylish, quick-to-knit accessories.

Simple Knitting is published by Mitchell Beazley. RRP £16.99. It's available from Amazon UK, Amazon USA, The Book Depository and many other bookshops.

Please note: I was sent a free review copy of this book. The Amazon & Book Depository links in this post are affiliate links.

Book Review: Crafty Creatures

This week is Book Week! I've been planning one of these for aaaages but have been so busy with work deadlines that it's been pushed back later and later. Better late than never though, right?

So, I'll be reviewing a different crafty/creative book each day and then I've got a fab book to give away at the end of the week. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the books I review!

I'm kicking of the week with a very cute book: Crafty Creatures by Jane Bull.

Spoiler alert: everything in this book is ADORABLE.

There are 28 projects but many of these include variations, e.g. several different animals you can make using the same basic pattern or method, like these mini felt animals...

...  so if you made all the projects in the book you'd end up with a lot more than 28 creatures.

Every single page in the book is brightly coloured and cute, from the sweet endpapers...

... to the cheerful chapter headings...

... to the fun page layouts.

 

The book includes a wide mix of different techniques...

Chapter one is "Woolly Animals" with plaited and knitted projects and creatures made from gloves and socks. The glove animals are especially delightful!

 

Chapter two is "Friends in Felt" which includes chickens, owls, mice, ladybirds and other animals both big and small. As I am well known to be mad about felt it probably comes as no surprise to learn this is my favourite chapter. I love the idea of making a mini version of each animal that the bigger animal can carry round as a pet/toy/companion.

 

Chapter three, "Sew Cute" includes fabric projects like a giraffe that stands up on its own, a pony with a colourful yarn mane and "doodlephants", elephants decorated with your own hand-drawn patterns.

Finally chapter four is "Animals in Stitches", with cross stitch, tapestry and embroidery projects.

Each project has step by step photos and clear, simple instructions. The templates (when needed) are provided at full size ready to trace, and are dotted throughout the book and incorporated into the page designs.

Then the final chapter covers the kit and skills you'll need to make the projects in the book, with clear step by step guides for the different stitches and knitting techniques needed.

Crafty Creatures is what I'd call a "family friendly" craft book - while all the projects would be great for craft-loving kids to make there are also lots of projects I'd love to make myself and which would make great quick-and-easy gift ideas (either for kids or anyone else you know who loves all things cute). The only problem I think would be that I'd find it hard to actually give them away after I'd made them because oh my goodness they are so darn cute.

Crafty Creatures is published by Dorling Kindersley Ltd. RRP £12.99 . It's available from Amazon UK, Amazon USA, The Book Depository and many other bookshops.

[Disclaimer: I was sent a free review copy of this book. The Amazon & Book Depository links in this post are affiliate links].

Book Review: Learn to Knit, Love to Knit

Learn to Knit, Love to Knit by Anna Wilkinson is one of the loveliest knitting books I've seen in ages. You guys might recognise it from one of my blog posts last month - within 12 hours of it arriving at my house I'd already started work on one of the projects in it. I'm going to do a proper review of it today but basically the short version is: I love this book!

 

The book is divided into three sections. First up, there's an introductory guide to materials and equipment, and all the technical stuff like understanding knitting pattern abbreviations and (of course) a guide to basic knitting techniques. The guide includes step-by-step photos for each technique which I found very easy to follow and much clearer than the diagrams featured in other books.

Then there's the "Learn to Knit" section, which includes 10 patters. It starts out with simple beginner projects like the wristwarmers featured on the front cover and the chunky bobble hat on the back cover...

 

... and progresses to intermediate projects like a lace collar and a plain jumper, with sections explaining any additional techniques needed for each project as you develop and grow your skills.

 

Finally, the "Love to Knit" section includes 10 more complex patterns like polka-dot socks, a fair isle tanktop, a floral cardigan, a cable-knit hat & snood and this tweed cape:

Most of the projects in the "love" section are waaaaay out of my league skills-wise but there are so many designs in the "learn" section that I want to try... and who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to come back to this book and tackle some of the fancier patterns? I think the use of the word "learn" and the choice of beginner-friendly designs for the cover images might lead people to think this book is just aimed at beginners, but actually I think there's something in here for most abilities.

All the designs in the book feel fresh and modern, often with a vintage twist that gives them quite a classic feel & makes me think they'll date really well (plus lots of the cardigans in the book would look awesome paired with a favourite vintage dress). The styling of the photos has a similar combo of modern & vintage, with lots of retro accessories and props but also trendy touches like the neon yarn chosen for the techniques section and the coloured nail polish worn by many of the models.

The use of colour is great - both in the designs themselves and in the photo styling. I'm a huge fan of bright colour (I get really frustrated when the shops are full of beige and washed out pastels) - I know they're not for everyone, but the bold shades used in this book are right up my alley. The stripes on these jumpers are just swoon-worthy...

... and check out those buttons on the title page! Yum.

I've already used this book to knit something I've never tried before - mittens! I knitted one of the wristwarmers (I'll get round to knitting a second one eventually!) which was a really enjoyable, quick project. Then I wanted to try to knit these mittens (minus the giant pompoms)...

... I didn't have the right sort of yarn, so I just used what I had in my stash to test out the pattern. I ended up with a giant-sized mitten which will be unravelled latter but look! I knitted a thumb!! Exciting times. I'm even thinking about trying one of the jumper patterns next year (eek!).

Learn to Knit, Love to Knit is published by Quadrille. RRP £14.99. It's available from Amazon UK, The Book Depository and  from a selection of sellers on Amazon USA.

[Disclaimer: Quadrille sent me a free review copy of this book, and the Amazon & Book Depository links in this post are affiliate links]

September Things

Every year, when September arrives I start thinking about knitting! Obviously with my sky blanket project I've been knitting through the summer this year, but there's just something about the first nip of autumn to make you pine for needles and yarn and a nice relaxing project for cosy evenings.

The Big Knit is on again this year, so I'll be knitting some little stripey hats for that to use up lots of random odds and ends from my stash ... and I'll be continuing to work on my sky blanket, of course.

I'm also probably going to end up knitting several things from this gorgeous book: Learn to Knit, Love to Knit by Anna Wilkinson.

I'll be reviewing the book later this autumn (along with lots of other crafty titles)... When I write book reviews I try to be honest and helpful about each book, to describe it as best I can and to pin down what I did/didn't like about it, but with craft books sometimes I think all you need is a rating system of "how much this book make me want to stop what I was doing and make stuff IMMEDIATELY". Learn to Knit, Love to Knit would score pretty highly on that scale as my review copy arrived yesterday and within less than 12 hours of it thudding through the letter box I was digging out some yarn to make one of the projects!

As well as being the start of "knitting season", the arrival of September means it's time to go "back to school". I've not been in school for many years, but I still think of my years in terms of the academic calendar. September = the start of a new year, and (crucially) the start of my "busy season". It's a time to start settling into my autumn/winter work schedule (i.e. to stop spending quite as much time slacking off!) and a time to make plans, get everything in order, and generally to get prepped for the months to come.

Plus, all the kids who are returning to school means the shops are running are lots of great deals on stationery supplies, so I've been stocking up on some of those...

[Psst: the Amazon links in this post are affiliate links which means if you click on them and then make a purchase I get a very small % as a referral fee.]

Book Review: 201 Knitting Motifs, Blocks, Projects & Ideas

Back to the book reviews... did you see I've added a "book reviews" tab to my blog header? Now you can see all my book reviews in one place, if you want to, of course!

Today I'm looking at 201 Knitting Motifs, Blocks, Projects & Ideas by Nicki Trench who also wrote Cute & Easy Crochet which I reviewed last year. As the title suggests, there are a lot of different projects and patterns included in this book.

There's a brief "basic techniques" section at the back of the book, but the main content of the book is divided into "blocks" and "projects".

The "blocks" section includes 150 blocks divided into different sections: basic stitches, textured motifs, cables, ribbing, lace, stripes & colour, intarsia, fair isle, ripples, embroidery, beading and patterns for squares in the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 1-10. A few of the variations are quite similar (e.g. several of the "stripes and colour" blocks are just variations of the same stitch in different stripey colour combinations), but there's still a huge amount of information crammed into this section.

All the blocks are based on a 6 inch (15cm) square so if you wanted you could mix and match them to create something like a cushion or a blanket, or you could just use them to practice / develop your knitting skills.

The "projects" section contains 51 simple knitting projects including dishcloths, fingerless gloves, mug cosies, cushions, and scarves. Some of the projects are more detailed & complex, but most look like very accessible patterns that would be relatively quick to knit.

I rather liked the look of this fun cupcake pincushion...

 ... and this stripey draught excluder (love those giant pompoms!)...

... but the blocks section is the part which really appeals to me. I've got a similar book called How to Knit (now out of print, I think, my dad managed to find one for me second hand after I'd got a copy out of my local library) which contains lots of different stitch patterns and I really enjoying picking a new one and testing it out. The sheer number of blocks contained in 201 Knitting... and the fact that the blocks can be mixed and matched makes this a book I can see myself referencing again and again and spending many happy hours experimenting with the different designs.
 
201 knitting motifs, blocks, projects & ideas is published by CICO Books. RRP£14.99. It's available from Amazon UK, Amazon USA, The Book Depository and many other bookshops.

[CICO Books sent me a free review copy of this book, and the Amazon & Book Depository links in this post are affiliate links which means if you click on them and then make a purchase I get a very small % as a referral fee.]

Book Review: Love Knitting

You'll have noticed how much I've fallen in love with knitting this year, and I've blogged before about how excited I am to start trying out simple patterns... so it will come as no surprise to hear I was interested in this book when it arrived in the post this month:


Love Knitting: 25 Simple Projects to Knit is published by New Holland and, guess what, it's full of lovely simple projects!

The book starts out with a detailed beginners guide to the basics of knitting, with fantastic clear photos, which are then followed by 25 projects that increase in difficulty as you move through the book, from a super-simple baby blanket to bigger projects like a lacy shawl and a ribbed jumper (sweater).

The blurb I was sent about this book describes it as a "one stop guide to knitting" which I think is a teeny bit of an exaggeration, as though the knitting basics are great you wouldn't get very far through the book as a beginner knitter without coming across something not covered in the introductory "how to" section.

The patterns cover a wide range of techniques and yarn types and working through the book would be a great way to practice lots of new skills, but if you're not an experienced knitter you'll definitely need someone who is to help you out, or to buy a comprehensive "how to" knitting book to help you get to grips with the stitches involved.


The patterns themselves are a great mix of what I would call "classic" knitting patterns (like knitted slippers) and more modern, trend-driven designs like a bow hairband and a fun stripey snood which I'm particularly looking forward to knitting.

If you're a younger knitter there might be a few projects in there that you'd only knit for your aunt or your grandma, and if you're an older knitter some of the projects would make good gifts for a teenage neice or granddaughter, but as many of us knit presents for people I think this is no bad thing. There are also almost no baby/child projects in the book, which as a young unmarried person with few friends who have kids and no nieces or nephews to knit for I found quite refreshing after seeing several knitting books where the easy projects are all booties and other new baby gifts.

I took the book along to my knitting club and got everyone's feedback on it: all the ladies found projects they really liked, the more experienced knitters thought it was full of great easy things to knit as gifts and the less experienced knitters agreed with me that it looked like a great primer to start improving our knitting skills.

Love Knitting is available from New Holland, Amazon UK, The Book Depository and many other bookshops.

(Disclaimer: New Holland sent me a free review copy of this book and the Amazon & Book Depository links in this post are affiliate links)