Monday, February 07, 2011

REVIEW: Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting

Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting: Go Beyond the Basics
by Debbie Stoller
Paperback: 356 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (November 1, 2010)

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Knitting superstar Debbie Stoller is back with another installment to her infamous Stitch 'n Bitch series, appropriately titled Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting: Going Beyond the Basics

Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting is designed to take knitters to the next level in their stitches, featuring 21 techinques to help you get there - including cables, lace, double knitting, intarsia, knitting with beads and embroidery.  "Work Fair Isle with a smile.  Knit lace with grace, and don't freak when it's time to steek" - words to stitch by!

Debbie says "The book is not so much for people who are advanced knitters as it is for people who want to become advanced knitters - the book is intended to help any knitter become a knitting superstar."  As for the stitches covered in the book, she says "I chose the techniques that I felt were the most central to expanding your knitting abilities, and also included instructions on how to design your own patterns."

Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting is laid out in the same easy to follow format as the past Stitch 'n Bitch installments.  Stitches and techniques are divided by chapter, each including graphics and photographs for visual aid.  An entire section is devoted to learning how to create your own patterns, from sketching to estimating yarn amounts and everything in between.  The patterns conclude the book and are also divided by technique.  I've already got several marked with post-its...
  • Hip Hop Blanket, the cutest baby blanket I ever did see (yes, it has bunnies on it)
  • Button It, a 4-in-1 baby sweater (courtesy of the removeable picture patches)
  • Lotus Bag, a pretty shoulder bag, using double knit and intarsia
  • Colorful Cable Hat, I have to make one of these... an eye catching combo of cables and colorwork
I think there's something for everyone in the patterns... hats, gloves, socks, sweaters, shrugs, skirts... even a dog sweater and an adorable plush tiger!  If you haven't added Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting to your knitting library yet, stay tuned.... you will have an opportunity to win a copy later this week, as well as some other wonderful knitting and dog related items!

About the Author: Debbie Stoller, founder of the first Stitch 'n Bitch group in New York City and editor in chief of BUST magazine, helped spawn a nation of new knitters with her New York Times bestseller Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook.  She followed up the bestseller with Stitch 'n Bitch Nation, Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker and Son of Stitch 'n Bitch.  Debbie comes from a long line of Dutch knitters, has a Ph.D. in the psychology of women from Yale and currently resides in Brooklyn with a closet full of yarn.

5 comments:

Sue said...

What a good idea. There are books for beginners and books for advanced knitters. Now there's a book to help beginners become more advanced. Cool.

SissySees said...

I have the original SnB and the HH. I'll have to check that one out.

Grace said...

I was looking at this the other day, but was on a one track mission at the time!!

some good patterns in it!

Marjie said...

Well, I'm so glad to learn that the author lives with a closet full of yarn. It's much healthier than having, say, a closet full of Doritos! Love your book reviews, even when they have nothing to do with my skill set.

WonderWhyGal said...

I've been debating about buying this book but, honestly, most of my fiber arts books are about weaving, dyeing and spinning...do I dare buy an actual knitting book? hhhmmmmm, maybe I might get lucky and actually win one of your contests?

Thanks for another great review.

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