5 comments about Toys to Knit: Dozens of Patterns for Heirloom Dolls, Animals, Doll Clothes, and Accessories.

1. I was looking for a book with some doll clothes patterns for a Waldorf-style doll I was making for my daughter. I picked this up at the library. One irritating thing is it doesn't tell you the size of the doll in the book, so I wasn't sure if the patterns would work for the doll I was making. But I set forth and made the wrap sweater and it was very easy and fit my doll very nicely. Which was a 13" Waldorf doll. I also knit up the skirt and the undies. The undie pattern needs a little adjusting to fit better but the rest work out just fine. My kids love looking at all the fun stuff to knit and telling me what to make. After keeping it too long at the library and then wishing I still had it, I think I'll go ahead and buy it.



2. Most of the toys and accessories in this book are really cute, but there's just not much else going for this book. The instructions look deceptively simple, but as it turns out only a really experienced knitter can make much sense of them. Many of the toys have multiple errors in the instructions, such as the bear, which is missing several rows of stitches. In addition to being deceptively simplistic, the instructions are also way too vague, without any detailed explanations, either for the trickier steps or the more basic parts. The only "explanatory" material for troubleshooting are sections in the back about abbreviations and the conversions of needle sizes and weights and lengths of yarn. And someone who's just a novice knitter might not even realise that it's just asking for disaster and frustration when there isn't even any gauge or yardage given for any of the yarns specified.
   
   A lot of the colors don't even match in the various pictures and accompanying instructions, such as the teddybear sweater that is off-green in the picture yet described as light blue in the instructions. Many times the reader is instructed to assemble the various parts "according to illustration," yet there are no such accompanying illustrations. It also doesn't make sense to have to separately knit all of these little pieces and then seam them together when there is another way. I've made some stuffed animals and dolls in the past, and my sewing instructor didn't tell us to make and stuff each part separately before sewing them all together! If you wouldn't make a sewn toy that way, you wouldn't make a knit toy that way either. Beyond all of the cute pictures of things like various dolls, the teddybear, finger puppets, mouse, kangaroo and joey, and monkey, this book won't be worth much to even an experienced knitter. Someone with a lot more experience probably could figure out the many error-ridden instructions, but why go through so much headache when one could make toys from a better book like 'World of Knit Toys'?



3. Do not buy this book. Period. As others have said, the instructions for the teddy bear's head are so far off that only an expert knitter is going to be able to figure it out. I completed this after spending hours recalculating the stitch counts and figuring out which row (I think two are actually missing) needed to be added. The results are adorable, but the hassle isn't worth it.
   
   I contacted the publisher, and finally gave up. Those with whom I dealt were a bit on the dim side and couldn't understand what I was telling them regarding the problems with the pattern. The author is apparently British and shares the same name (Tracy Chapman) with a well-known singer, so reaching her is not possible.
   
   Again I stress, don't buy this book unless you are an expert knitter and are willing to rewrite the directions to make them accurate.



4. I picked up this book because the doll on the front cover looked just like my daughter and I thought it would be cute to make one for her. I am a fairly new knitter but thought the pattern appeared to be something I could tackle. I did find some errors in the instructions for the legs (very confusing for a new knitter). I also found it strange that there was not any type of gauge or swatch (I was taught to NEVER skip this step!), nor the finished size of the doll or any of the toys. Once I did finally get the doll made up, it did turn out to be very adorable in a retro sort of way (think the Island of Misfit Toys on Rudolph) and my daughter absolutely loves it.
   I am now trying to knit up the wrap sweater, and the instructions are disappointing. I was hoping to make a set of clothes for her doll, but if the rest of the instructions are as erroneous or incomplete as the ones for the sweater, I'm afraid I won't get them done.



5. I had a similar experience to a lot of the other reviewers. Bought this book because the projects looked cute, but the instructions are terrible. Vague and chock-full of mistakes (were there no testers for any of these patterns?). A lot of these pieces could have been knit in the round with a bit of shaping, instead you have to knit a gazillion tiny pieces and then seam together "according to illustrations". There are no illustrations. Only a few really bad photographs - I mean, they're cute and all, but totally useless. There's a pattern for a cute looking fish with a bunch of scales that are knit and then sewn on "according to illustration" but in the photo, the fish is peeking out from the folds of a blanket, you can barely see a couple of scales.
   
   In another pattern for an elephant, there are so many pieces to make individually that I've given up hope that I'll ever finish it. Even with many years' knitting and designing experience, it's more effort to fix these patterns than it is to just create one from scratch!
   
   It's deceiving in its perceived simplicity. A novice knitter might leaf through the book and see that they only need to know how to knit and purl and do a simple increase and decrase, but it is easier to learn a few more shaping stitches than to suffer through the dozens of seams required to assemble the final product, especially since the incorrect instructions often lead to pieces that dont fit together properly. Very frustrating and a huge waste of $16.

5 comments about Encyclopedia of Matchbox Toys (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Besides the Stannard,this is the book to have on Matchbox.
   Great for starters and long time collecors.



2. Excellent book. I was looking for this for a long time. Now I can check out my mini cars and find the best cars and prices I can get.



3. As the owner of both the 1997 1st edition and this newer 2004 3rd edition, I am disapointed. In order to fit 7 years of new photos into the same size book, the photos were digitally shrunk and subsequently distorted and blurred. But worse, the 1st edition had 198 pages of photos, the 3rd edition has just 159 pages of photos. Bottom line, this makes the photos tiny, blurred and distorted. Also, the paper stock (thickness) was significantly reduced so although the newer edition has just seven more total pages, the first edition is significantly thicker and heavier. So if you do not collect Mattel Matchbox, purchase the 1st edition (also it does not appear the prices between the 1997 and the 2004 price guide have changed). By the way, the 1st edition is a great book!



4. Its a big book and plenty of clear colour photos of so many examples throughout.covers every era of Matchbox toys.This type of book is superior over the wide but short books printed by this publisher.There is so much information here no matter whether you are devoted collector or just love looking at the old toys you had.This book will please most people.Its good value and high quality.



5. This is a great reference book, full of details and history about evolution of Matchbox toys. If you love Matchbox, this is a must. Charlie Mack is a true expert on the subject, and this is for sure the most complete and updated information about the subject. The only complains are: cover picture is not representative at all. Pictures are excelent but could be larger for the "reg. wheels" and "miniatures", and several rare cars and boxes are ommited (no space probably). However, "Tomart's Price Guide for Hot Wheels" have a much better and contemporary graphic design and many more pictures in a smaller book, and also with more description of individual models.

3 comments about How to Restore Classic Toy Cars, Trucks, Tractors, and Airplanes (How to Restore).

1. This is mainly for American Toys (which is fine), but, I was hoping for some Japanese toys also. But, still a good resource. Thanks.



2. If this book is supposed to be a how-to book as its title states, it falls very short. I couldn't find anything of use for me, since I want to restore much more delicate models, than those shown. Even the things the author talks about do not really explain how to do anything.
   
   I should have paid attention to the first reviewer.



3. This book basically says "sandblast the rust and then buy the missing parts". At best, it is a book about renovation not restoration. "The hubcaps 'appeared to be chrome' so we re-chromed them" is not a restoration statement but that of a hack. There is nothing on research (color matching, decals, creating missing parts, and so forth) and his examples are an endless repetition of the same theme of sandblasting . . . blah blah blah. He can't even tell you how to restore a serious dent or bend in the metal. The author does not seem to be a restoration expert but a writer about restoration. There is padding in the form of photographs of collectors. Tin plate models are really not covered in any depth yet these are the most difficult to restore. The list of suppliers of parts is pathetic. Don't waste your money. It is not even worth a 1 star rating.

5 comments about How to Draw Cars the Hot Wheels Way.

1. I bought this book solely because Scott Robertson wrote it. Normally I would have passed this book by thinking it was a children's book on drawing hotwheels. Boy was I surprised when I received it.
   
   This is not as much a book on drawing cars but a book explaining how to use perspective when drawing vehicles which could be used for all types of vehicles. I've read many books on perspective and this one has been the most well developed instruction on vehicle perspective. His instructions are very detailed with great illustrations for each step. And we're not talking about glossed over quick 3 step instructions, most instructions are over 10 steps. So he goes slow with enough detail to not miss anything necessary to truly understand this topic.
   
   Another bonus, is that he explains in detail how to render with various art media and also step by step how to render in Photoshop. These instructions are as detailed as that for drawing in perspective.
   
   This book was a Great Surprise! I wish I had found it earlier. I probably could have forgone many books for what I've found in this one. Don't let the name fool you, pick this book up no matter what level of artist, illustrator, cartoonist or designer you are. Great book!!! 5 Stars.



2. Purchased for a 7.75 year old boy who loves to draw. He likes it but not as well as the drawing book by Hart.



3. Great Value - My son just keeps using this. For the enjoyment he receives from this guide, it is worth twice as much to me.



4. this book is probably one of the best books on drawing cars. lots of great pictures. and really great art of street rod cars. much better than How to Draw Cars like a Pro. everything you'll need on drawing cars is in here!



5. The minute this book arrived and I saw how great it was I realized that I would need to give it as a gift to a designer friend. Then I needed to order another copy to keep for myself. If you are a designer, want to draw cars, or are just a fan of Hot Wheels cars, Scott Robertson's book is a wonderful insight into the world of unlimited transportation imagination. Kids of ALL AGES would love this book!

No comments about AIRFIX PLASTIC TOY SOLDIERS: Scale miniature figures from 1958-2008 (Action Figures & Toys).

5 comments about Girls' Toys of the Fifties and Sixties: Memorable Catalog Pages from the Legendary Sears Christmas Wishbooks 1950-1969.

1. Don't pay $175 for this, as I have seen listed. You can find this book for $20 if you shop around.



2. Every page you go "oh yeah" I remember that one ..



3. As a collector of hard plastic dolls, I'd hoped that this would be a helpful guide to identifying dolls of the 1950s and determining their original accessories. But there are very few dolls depicted and the coverage is inconsistent. There are no dolls in the first selection (for 1950), 2 pages for 1951, none for 1952, none for 1953, 2 pages for 1954, 5 pages for 1955, 1/2 page for 1956, none for 1957, none for 1958, none for 1959, 5 pages for 1960 (that year's excerpt from the Wish Book is all dolls), 1/2 page for 1962, 1 page for 1963, none for 1965, 2 pages for 1966, none for 1967, 2 pages for 1968, and 2 pages for 1969.

   The explanation for this cursory treatment of dolls in a book titled "Girls' Toys"? The author evidently was reserving them for another compilation, advertised in this volume, titled _Doll and Teddy Bear Department_. That book showcases the doll and bear pages from the _Sears WishBooks_ from 1950-69. (...)

   Aside from silently restricting the doll-coverage in order to produce a further volume, the author has selected for some years pictures of exactly the same toys (the electric piano, the tea sets, the toy kitchens), so the coverage is repetitive.

   I was led to buy this book by the recommendations of the other reviewers, but if, like me, your primary interest is in the 1950s and in doll collecting, I would advise you to save your money.




4. This is really a great book for the Baby Boomer Generation! I have a super time just looking at all the childhood toys that I had totally forgotten existed. My Favorites are from the 1960's! If you are a Chatty Cathy collecctor then this is a Must Have book....Her Sears ads are in here!



5. Thomas Holland's book Girls' Toys of the fifties and sixties is a faithful reproduction of the fantastic Sears Christmas catalog toy pages from 1950 to 1969. The large 8 1/2 x 11 inch format of the book allows it to show close ups of the popular toys from each of these years. These pictures are an invaluable resource to help collectors of toys from this era decide what pieces actually came with the toys. As a collector of tin dollhouses, I found the pictures a huge help in identifying the furniture and tiny accessories for each of my houses. The only drawback to the book is the fact that it is in black and white. I enjoyed this book immensely, it was like being a kid again, devouring each page of toys and memories.

1 comments about 50 More Ways To Use Your Noodle: Loads of land and water games with foam noodle toys.

1. 50 More Ways to Use Your Noodle offered more GREAT ways to work with people, build teams, and have a great time. I've used the activities with junior high, high school, college, and adult age groups and they all enjoyed the activities and the follow-up discussions really helped open their eyes to new situations or ways of approaching challenges. Easy to follow instructions and fun reading. The biggest challenges I've faced with using these materials are deciding which of the fun activities to use and finding space to keep all of the noodle supplies between trainings! :-)

5 comments about Timeless Toys: Classic Toys and the Playmakers Who Created Them.

1. I have nothing to add to all the other five star reviews, just that this book is amazing, a real labor of love, huge amount of illustrations and history, and impossible to put down. it's worth every penny of the list price as a fascinating coffee table book, and you can get it for ten percent of the list value, used,as well. apparently there were two publishers with two titles, 'timeless toys', and 'playmakers' seems to be the same book.



2. I happened upon this book browsing through a used book store. I sat down and started flipping through the pictures and descriptions of familiar, famous toys, and COULD NOT put the book down! I bought it that night, of course, and was even more spell-bound the more I read. I was astounded by Tim Walsh's research; the large, bright photographs; and the intimate history of the development of so many toys that are part of any American children's heritage. Learning that Mr. Potato Head originally came without the potato (children used a real one!), seeing all the variations of Candyland (found my own version: 1970's), and reading about what made the Cabbage Patch Doll craze (4th grade - I remember so clearly!) was fascinating. It was my treat to read every day coming home from work until sadly, I finished it! But, as a 5th grade teacher, I promptly took the book to school and watched with delight my students' reactions as they discovered interesting and arcane facts about toys they all knew about as well (how long some toys have been around got the biggest reactions). It was passed around the classroom for several weeks. I cannot recommend this book too highly!



3. As someone interested in toys and collecting, I've read lots on the subject. But Tim Walsh still told me things I didn't know. The best part is that someone with no interest in the subject will still find this lavish, inviting coffee table book an enthralling read. The reason is the author, Tim Walsh. Most toy collecting books start with no criteria as to what goes in and what stays out of the book. Tim did. One criterion was that the toy had to be created or invented by an outsider. Thus, a lot of well- known toys already didn't make the cut.
   
   The ones that did have stories a lot better than the title, Timeless Toys, makes them sound. By that I mean that this isn't one of those nostalgic "see how much better these simple toys were than all your overdone gadgetry?" books that abound in collecting circles. You might come to that conclusion, but Tim started somewhere else. When he made his own games, he started asking questions about others. Why is the box like that? Why is this that color? Where did they get that name?
   
   Those are the same questions one asks playing with toys. The cynical answers are that marketing research showed that more people would pick up the package if it were blue, and a computer poll of all co-eds showed they liked the letter "Z". But Tim shows, thank heaven, that those cynical answers are wrong. Lots of great toys came from accidents, and many inventors began with a sense of wonder.
   
   Tim doesn't stop there. Those outsiders need insiders to make a toy. Tim covers all that, including the most famous toy designer, Marvin Glass. As with Andy Warhol, the Glass name covered a design team, and Tim introduces some of the faces behind the scenes. Many toys were inspired by other toys, and Tim traces the roots back. His findings usually don't jibe with the urban legends surrounding their creations, and when there are multiple tales, Tim tells them all.
   
   The most interesting parts to me are some that might be overlooked. They are small sidebars showing the origins of a toy and some of the companies that have made it. Often the company names change because the companies are bought by other firms. A decade ago Tyco was bringing back all the classic toys that ever existed, having bought those companies or their toy molds. Where's Tyco now? I wondered, until Tim revealed it was bought by Mattell.
   
   Tim also tells the origin of many toy companies, including one started by two guys named Matson and Elliot. I've read about Wham-O before, and even interviewed an animator who made Superball commercials, but Tim reveals the secret of how Wham-O made so many great toys. Tim also breaks it all down with by decade timelines. He often shows the box art of toys that were revived in various decades. Toy art in the '50s and '60s, much of it done by comic book artists, is a wonder to behold, while the overdone, throwaway art of today really does look like the result of committees on market research.
   
   The bad news is that this 300 page book is only about 75 toys. But that may be a good thing. Those interested might track down Bill Bruegman's Toys of the Sixties or related volumes to read on. Don't buy The Playmakers, though, because Timeless Toys is the new title of the same book. Tim Walsh convinced me that creative souls, even today, even if by accident, may still have a chance. If toys be the fruit of wonder, play on!



4. The author has created an excellent book covering the most popular toys of the 20th Century. As you go through this book, you are going to come across many toys you remember from your own lifetime. While some have faded with time, many are still popular and have entertained ever since they first appeared.
   The book takes a rather wide view of what a toy is; and includes many games,puzzles,and other things that have entertained young as well as those who are young at heart,if not in years.
   The first toy discussed was the Flexible Flyer sled.It brought back a memory to me ,since I had one as a kid.Mine had the straight-runner,and I ran into a gutter grate and punctured my thigh. It seems it happened enough that the runners were rounded.Then, there is the Big Wheel. The kid next door had one and he loved it so much ,he wore completely through the plastic wheels.
   Here, you will not only see great pictures of the toy or game ;but also the story behind its being invented and marketed. You will also learn about the person who invented it,details about patents,how many were sold;and lots of other interesting details. It's highly likely that you will find your favorite toy or game covered.
   At the back of the book you will find an extensive Bibliography. The book covers many games and puzzles.I have been a long time fan of puzzles and if you are interested in them ,I suggest a search under Jerry Slocum,[...]or The Slocum Puzzle Foundation,Beverly Hills,California.
   Overall,a wonderful book that would be interesting to just about anyone who enjoys toys,games or puzzles.



5. As a toy inventor I was surprised when I first saw the book by how beautifully designed it was as well as the extraordinary quality of the photography. On further examination, it greatly surpassed my first impression with its fascinating stories and (truly astonishing), that it got its facts right!
   
   In addition to the fun of seeing all those cool looking toys and taking a nostalgic look back over the last century, it's an historical tribute to American and American immigrant's genius and hard work that has given us all so much pleasure.
   
   treat yourself and your friends to this fine book.

No comments about Warman's Lionel Train Field Guide, 1945-1969: Values and Identification (Warmans Field Guide).

5 comments about Blue Book Dolls and Values, 16th Edition (Blue Book Dolls and Values).

1. Very helpful book - have really been enjoying this book as I have wanted this book for years, finally got it!



2. I bought this book to help me determine the value of a collection of high quality dolls that my aunt wants to help her sell. Our of five doll designers, only one of the designers was even listed in her book. This was a waste of my money, for sure!



3. I am formilair with this book. It is a great book IF you know the name of your doll. If you don't it is not a good one for you.



4. THE resource for all your doll questions on values and dolls.



5. Although the Blue Book is the avid doll collectors' favorite price guide, it contains numerous categories that have not been updated for quite a number of years. China, parian, papier mache, and wooden, some of the earliest dolls in existence, have been gaining in popularity for several years now and the market prices, both at auction and online have been rising considerably. The Blue Book has not caught up with this trend.
   
   Also, it would be extremely helpful if there were a comprehensive section that described the methods used in compiling the information as well as the sources of this information. Some of the prices are so far off the mark in actual market prices realized, that it makes the professional wonder if the numbers are merely picked out of blue sky.
   
   The book is well structured and is the easiest to use on a daily basis, of all the price guides, however, serious updating and a description of the price compilation process, would improve it immensely.