Another “FINALLY!” this week, More last Minute Knitted Gifts has finally materialized! It’s predecessor, Last Minute Knitted Gifts, is one of my favorite knitting pattern books or all time. Actually, it was a lot of people’s favorites, when it was first published in the fall of 2004 it went through 3 or 4 subsequent printings to meet consumer demand. You’ll have to decide how it rates compared to it’s big sister (big shoes to fill), but regardless, it again serves up a big, varied pile of beautiful and satisfying small projects. The patterns include a beret, hand-warmers, hats, baby bonnet, scarves,baby socks, baskets, holiday ornaments, mitts, baby cardies, a child’s pullover, a man’s vest, a ladies cardie, 3 baby blankets, socks, a kids’s vest, and sundry itsy-bitsy projects like sachets, book marks and wrist-bands. And of course the pointy hat on the cover. Overall, a wonderful showing, and just in time for holiday knitting!
Like the convenience of knitting top-down, but don’t like the frumpy old patterns available? You are really going to like this book! The contents is in the subtitle: Sweaters, Dresses, Skirts & Accesories Inspired by the Techniques of Barbara G. Walker. Yes, walker is the lady who wrote 4 tomes of lace charts, but she is also the mistress of top-down knitting (see Knitting from the Top). The book offers a pile of sweaters (blessedly with set-in slevees), hats, some skirts, some jackets, several dresses, some tunics, some tanks, a wrap, a cowl, gauntlets, and slippers. The pieces are fashion forward but also classic (McGowan is a garment designer in NYC).
The instructions on how to make short-row set in sleeves is summary, so if you are interested in the formula for that I’d refer you to Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard, where’s it’s all laid out in detail. Otherwise, Niiiiice!
Addenda Nov 18, 2010
Ad Maude suggests, Barbara Walker’s Knitting from the Top is an excellent resource!
As always, you can find us at www.knitomatic.com.
Aran Knitting by Alice Starmore (new, expanded edition) ~ $39.95
FINALLY! Alice Starmore’s classic tome, Aran Knitting, is back in print! This book was going for hundreds of dollars on Ebay, and now you can have it in softcover for a very reasonable price (hey, 40 bucks is always better than 400). The samples have been updated and re-photographed, but it’s still all in there: sweater patterns (generally using Starmore’s own brand of yarn which is easy to substitute), extensive history of cable knitting, cable patterns (instructions are both written and charted), and sage Starmore advice. The patterns are all classics, include men’s sweaters, children’s sweaters, some hats, a couple of wraps, and several women’s sweaters. The illustrated instructions are clear and easy to follow – as they should be. There’s nothing not to like here!
Oh, and as an interesting added bonus, the book is a “Green Edition, Planet Friendly Publishing” – made in the USA, printed on recycled paper. By using just 10% post-consumer waste (it’s recycled paper, not what it sounds like) in the publication of this book (I assume the whole imprint and not just this one book in front of me) the following was saved: 52 trees, 4,938 pounds of air emissions, 23,784 gallons water, 1,444 pounds solid waste (again, not what it sounds like).
Knitting Green by Ann Budd ($29.95)
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Solstice Skirt
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Soy-Silk Kimono
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Commuter Knapsack
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Cunene River Pullover
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On-the-Go Bike Basket-Purse
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Honor-the-Buffalo Socks and Mitts
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60 Quick Knits in Cascade 220: 20 Hats, 20 Scarves, 20 Mittens
This is a very nifty and useful little book to have in your library. All of the patterns are knit in the same yarn, which happens to be nice, affordable, and extremely easy to substitute. There are patterns for Women, Kids and Men at a variety of skill levels and styles. Also, it isn’t marketed as such, but this book is actually great as a resource for stash busting!
My favourites include:
