5 comments about Knitting Pattern-a-Day: 2008 Day-to-Day Calendar.

1. This calendar is well worth your money for you or your favorite knitter. Almost every day has a new pattern covering a wide range of interests. I am making the scrubbie cloth right now -- it's fun! What is bad about this calendar is at the end of the year, I have to keep it for all the cute projects.



2. The patterns in here are ok, nothing fantastic. The one thing that annoys me is that they take one pattern, and use it for both Saturday and Sunday, instead of using the two part patterns for the weekends. And there are plenty of two parters. I probably wouldn't buy this next year. I might get the stitch n bitch one instead.



3. How many mp3 player covers do we need? Are we too stupid to figure out how to make them without a written pattern? Patterns are far too simple and simular patterns can be found free on the internet. What a total waste of money. Next year I'll just use the money to add to my yarn stash.



4. A Calendar that markets itself as a "pattern-a-day" should be just that. In the past years, I've lived with having Saturday and Sunday combined - but this year's calendar often (more often than not?) spans several days. Last year I probably saved about 5 patterns a month for another look-through at the end of the year. So far this year (and it is now mid-March) I've only saved 4 patterns total.
   
   Next year, can we please have one pattern each day (and yes, I'll give you a Sat/Sun combo)????



5. I had the SnB page a day calendar last year, and I was disappointed that it only had patterns on Fridays, and the rest of the week was dedicated to knitting trivia and such, so this year I asked for the Knitting pattern a day calendar, in the hopes that I could really beef up my pattern collection.
   
   Ugh, is just about all I have to say. There are days that I am embarrassed to have this calendar sitting on my desk at work, the patterns are so hideous. I just threw away a scarf pattern- knit entirely in garter stitch, with weird white "finger knit" dangly things hanging off it. Really the ugliest scarf I've ever seen.
   
   Save your money, click on ravelry.com once a day for a new pattern. These are tired!!

5 comments about Knitted Throws and More for the Simply Beautiful Home.

1. As usual, these authors use the most expensive, luxurious yarns, but this time the results are not even worth a second look. Don't bother with this book. Unless your tastes are really wierd (or you are a University of Washington Husky fan) you won't want to make any of these murky, overwrought "concept" afghans. It's a pretty book, and maybe the recipes are OK. (Yes, recipes: "Salmon in Parchment with Wasabi Cream"!) As with their other books, though, the authors seem more interested in showcasing themselves, their store, their friends, and their lifestyle, than creating appealing designs. I've been more impressed with Herrschner's catalog.



2. This book will make you want you to get our your knitting needles, cook up a sumptuous dish, and enjoy your surroundings with friends and family! The knitting designs are the beautiful, elegant and SIMPLE creations we have come to expect from the team at Trictor. In addition, each pattern is presented as a novella - complete with contextual photographs, history of the design and its knitter, and a complementary recipe. There is great variety - baby shower "WOWs", traditional cables, stadium blankets, and elegant throws with faux fur and silk satin trim. Whether you ever knit a stitch, you will enjoy the visual and comforting appeal of this book.



3. Collaboratively compiled and written by Linden Phelps and Beryl Hiatt (co-owners of Tricoter, a popular Seattle yarn shop), Knitted Throws And More For The Simply Beautiful Home is an appealing, full-color book of practical instructions for crafting a variety of colorful, practical, and warm knitted throw coverings. The vivid photographs clearly portray finished works of handcrafted art. The various knitting project instructions are precise and enhanced with helpful tips, and are especially recommended for those who have had prior experience knitting and are already familiar with knitting terminology and basic stitches.



4. I loved each of the patterns in this book and wanted to find the yarn to make at least one. The problem is that you have to be a millionaire to be able to afford the yarn specified in the book. I will probably eventually make something out of the book but I will have to make a few adaptions with the yarn.



5. I bought my copy of this book from Tricoter, as well as the yarn for the project. See the finished product as the first (only) photo in the image section. The throw came out absolutely beautiful, and will definitely be a family heirloom. It's wonderfully soft and warm as well. The yarn cost more than $1,000 when bought from Tricoter.

2 comments about Texas Night Before Christmas Coloring Book.

1. This book has beautiful illustrations that really bring the story to life. The classic tale of the night before Christmas told with a Texas twang, it will delight adults, too. James Rice replaces Santa's reindeer with a team of Longhorns, and the winter snow with the Texas dust. It's even more fun if you can find a Texan to read it out loud!



2. I was hoping for a story line with a little more zip, something more like the Irish Night Before Christmas or the Cajun Night Before Christmas. The illustrations are wonderful, the story is nothing special. Same old Night Before Christmas with a mild twist.

No comments about Rainbow Knits For Kids.

1 comments about Special Knits.

1. This is the best book!!! Easy to read for the beginner, and the results are as beautiful as the picture. These patterns are easy and make the greatest gifts. Each pattern makes a heirloom gift. Put in a great movie start one of these jewels and by the time you are watching the credits you are at least half way finished. Enjoy the complements that accompany this books results.

5 comments about Vogue Knitting on the Go: Bags and Backpacks.

1. Since I am a purse nut, I love this book. Normally I do not knit but because of the beautiful patterns I am learning so that I can make some of the bags. I look forward to more patterns from Vogue.



2. I love handbags and I love to knit. To me, this book looked like the perfect combination of both. Then, I started kitting the chunky tote on page 29. A half-dozen (wasted) hours later, I realized that there was no way, geometrically, that the bag shown in the photograph could be created by following the pattern.

   In addition, the resources list at the back of the book is all but useless. It contains merely a list of suppliers by name, but it does not categorize them as to what they supply, nor does it provide email or website information. The resource listings contain only postal addresses. In rare cases phone numbers are provided, if only for suppliers based in the UK. It's the 21st Century, for pete's sake! Who has time to send a letter through the mail to Judi & Co. in NY, requesting a catalog from which to order the black handles required for the chunky tote on pg. 29? Very few would bother, I'm afraid. And who could blame them?

   As a new knitter, I rely heavily on patterns in books and, perhaps naively, take for granted that they are correct. I realize that mistakes happen and that errors in proofing can occur. However, putting a good, usable book together involves more than selecting a great binding or including flashy photos on a glossy stock. It's helpful if someone actually TESTS the instructions AFTER they are written. It's called usability testing. It happens in software, why not knitwear?




3. This small book has projects for all tastes. 27 bags and backpacks to knit and have fun. Has a picture for every item.
   I know it can be difficult to get the right yarns and accesories if you live abroad or if you don't want to spend lots of money, but with little imagination, you can adjust this ideas and use other yarn and another kind of handles for a bag. Just check gauge and you're done!! great buy for teens or young adults who want to start knitting their own bags or for a mother or grandma who wants to spoil her children



4. The pattern for the chunky tote is correct. It's a little confusing upon first read, but it does work. You cast on 36 stitches. After awhile, you bind off 11 and then knit 14 more. Then you knit some more length, leaving 11 stitches alone on the other side, which means you do end up with a T shape as the diagram shows, which folds up into the squarish tote.

   My complaint with the book is that there are not enough basic patterns using yarn you don't have to mortgage your house for, but that's true with almost all Vogue publications!




5. This book has a lot of great patterns and will be a great addition to my library of craft books. It has good pictures of the finished project. I really like the Vogue Knitting books.

No comments about Easy Knits: Bags and Purses: 7 Projects (Easy-Does-It).

5 comments about Quick-Stitch Crochet Afghans.

1. If you like texture, there's one in here called Shadow Box Trellis. It's all these trebles worked 2 in front, 2 behind until you get this honeycombed effect. It's very effective in the single color. For charm, Michigan Tulips has a folk art feel with it's insertion of panels of big, bright tulips between panels worked in a lacy design. There are a few hooded type blankets for babies, a child's afghan that's embellished with ten rows of crocheted edges across the top ( I like that one!), and a Bunny Faces afghan that is made with granny squares whose center is a bunny face with 3-D ears. The rest are a really good assortment of designs. Something for everyone here. Shells. motifs, MAM, double-ended, crochet-weaving,filet,ripple, it's all here. There is one afghan that's made with Lion Brand Homespun called New Day Dawning. It's fringed with Homespun! You can see in the photo how the Homespun fringes are starting to unravel. You need to tie a knot on the end of every fringe to keep them from exploding into an unraveled mess. There are enough patterns in here to hold your attention. You should be happy with this book no matter what your skill level.



2. This is really what it says. These are all quick stitch patterns that work up in a breeze. All the patterns are easy to read and easy to follow. Beautiful color photos of the finished afghans are included. This is a great book for beginner to advanced crocheters.



3. I am an avid crocheter and collect good books on crochet. This book is a "must have". The patterns and colors are modern, good for any crocheters, young and mature, beginners or advanced. The directions and pictures are clear and beautiful, most importantly are very easy to follow. The yarn used are moderately priced and stated in each patters which is very helpful. I love mine and plan to make a lot of afghans from the book.



4. If you're looking for a new project to satisfy your creative crochet cravings, Quick-Stitch Crochet Afghans is the book for you.
   
   The projects are lovely, the pictures are inspirational, and it's guaranteed you'll immediately reach for your hook and stash of yarn and begin something simple enough and quick enough to make you happy!
   
   The beauty is that the patterns are designed to be finished in "16 hours," although everyone's speed is sure to be different -- and, the finished projects just seem to have the look of something way more complicated and time-consuming than they actually are!
   
   What more could you ask for?



5. This is a wonderful book of afghans. I just love it and can't wait to make many of the afghans contained in it.

No comments about Encylopedia of Knitting: Step-By-Step Techniques, Stitches and Inspirational Designs.

No comments about Knits for Dogs & Cats.