Tuesday, October 08, 2013

REVIEW: Great Little Gifts to Knit

Great Little Gifts to Knit

30 Quick and Colorful Patterns

by Jean Moss

Paperback: 144 Pages
Publisher:  Taunton Press (September 3, 2013)

GreatLIttleGifts

The only thing knitters love more than creating things may be sharing those creations with the ones we love.  But, let's face it, we are busy.  Despite all good intentions, more often than not, projects just don't get finished in time for birthdays and holidays.  Enter Great Little Gifts to Knit: 30 Quick and Colorful Projects.

As a knitter, I know I am always looking for new and exciting quick knit patterns.  Great Little Gifts to Knit features 30 fresh patterns that incorporate traditional knitting techniques from all over the world.  From Fair Isle and Aran to Japanese shadow knitting, there's something that will appeal to everyone. 

Great Little Gifts to Knit is divided into 4 chapters: Baby, Hers, His, and Home.  The instructions throughout the book are well written and easy to follow.  Charts and graphs are clear and easy to read, and the photographs will have you wanting to make one of everything! 

Some of the stand-outs for me are:

Baby
  • Cuddle Cocoon - the perfect gift to welcome home a new baby, there are 2 versions based on the knitter's experience level
  • Baby Love Blanket - at first it appears to be a simple stripped blanket, until you see the hidden hearts from shadow knitting
Hers
  • Jive Leg Warmers - knit with a bulky yarn, these cabled leg warmers are the perfect gift for all the girls in your life, from your 'lil sis to your bff
  • Deco Backpack - "color work without complication" is how the author describes this one... worked in slip stitch, using just one color at a time, there's no carrying the yarn behind your work and the results are stunning
His
  • Hendrix Guitar Strap - while I still don't think my guy will ever use a knit strap, I love the look
  • Galway Beanie - this Aran weight cabled hat is simple and functional, exactly what a guy wants when it comes to handknits
Home
  • Wensleydale Tea Cozy - a great pattern to practice your tuck skills (your what, you ask?  click here)
  • McDougal Dog Jacket - for obvious reasons, but also because this Intarsia knit is quite eye catching
If you're looking for some fresh, colorful projects to create, check out Great Little Gifts to Knit.  After all, it is holiday knitting season!  Get those needles clicking...

About the Author: Jean Moss is a designer, writer, teacher, gardener, blogger, musician, and maker.  She has designed for Rowan Yarns and many international fashion houses including Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Laura Ashley, and Benetton.  Jean is the author of numerous books, the most recent being Sweet Shawlettes.  She lives in York, England and hosts knitters’ tours in the UK and throughout Europe.

Disclaimer: Taunton Press sent a complimentary copy of Great Little Gifts to Knit to Lapdog Creations for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions expressed in the review are my own.

2 comments:

Marjie said...

This sounds like a perfect book for you! I hope you get to try out many of those projects; I'm pretty sure you'll have fun with them - OK, so maybe only with the "Hers" and "Home" ones, but still....

tubby3pug said...

i wish i had more time to knit

looks like a good read i really need to improve my skills

urban hounds

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