Friday, April 04, 2014

REVIEW: When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters

When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters

Revised, Expanded, and Updated Survival Guide for Every Knitting Emergency              

by Marion Edmonds and Ahza Moore

Paperback: 160 pages

Publisher: Taunton Press (Revised Edition January 7, 2014)


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The good 'ole 411 on knitting 911 has been expanded and updated for 2014!  The new edition of When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters offers more advice, more tips, and more knitting solutions, particularly for more advanced elements such as color work, lace and cables.

When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters starts off with a letter from the authors Ahza explaining the changes since the first edition.  I think this is a fabulous and such notes should be including in all "revised" books.  Plus, they included the Introduction to the First Edition as well, truly giving readers a great perspective on what the book is all about.  The rest of the guide book is divided into 6 chapters:
  • Emergency Prevention, or A Stitch in Time
  • The Secret Language of Knitting Patterns
  • Good Knitting Gone Wrong
  • Don't Let Finishing Finish You Off
  • Further Adventures in Knitting: Color, Lac & Cables
  • Apply Yourself: Six Patterns Looking for a Knitter

Yes, that's right, as an added bonus, the new edition of When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters includes 6 patterns... who just happen to be looking for a knitter.  The patterns are:
  • Mosaic Mitts - fingerless mitts using simple color work, which the authors say you can knit up in just an afternoon
  • Updated Beanie with Cable - a cute hat featuring a large cable border
  • Streamer Scarf - a fun pattern where you knit each streamer separately, then knit them together to create the scarf
  • Pillow of Many Colors - exactly what the tile says, combining fair isle and intarsia
  • Lace Sampler Wrap - featuring 5 different lace patterns to help knitters practice and improve their ability to read lace charts
  • The Deliberate Drop Stitch Scarf - giving knitters everywhere a chance to smile at their "mistakes," after all who doesn't love dropping stitches on purpose?!

All of the patterns were written using Lion Brand yarns, which means if you want to use the exact yarn called for, it's easy to find and relatively affordable. 

The tips and instructions throughout are clearly written and many include accompanying illustrations.  Sure, we all have the ability to search social media sites when we run into a knitting problem, but sometimes it's nice to disconnect from all the hub-bub and simply reach for a book on your coffee table or in your knitting bag.

When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters is a not only a must have for new knitters, it's also a great reference for experienced knitters to keep on their book shelves.   

About the Authors: Marion Edmonds and Ahza Moore have been knitting and teaching together for more than a decade. They are the authors of When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters and partners in KnittingTogetherNYC and ABQ. They give private knitting lessons at many yarn stores, including Purl Soho, NYC and lead workshops in specific knitting techniques around the country, including “Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting,”  an exhibition at the American Craft Museum. They contributed patterns to the best-selling Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson, and now develop original patterns for their own products and classes.

Disclaimer: Taunton Press sent a complimentary copy of When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters to Lapdog Creations for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions expressed in the review are my own.

3 comments:

WonderWhyGal said...

I hadn't seen this book. I'll have to check it out.

SissySees said...

I'd heard the title before, but haven't seen it. I think my knitting library - like my stash - is in a no-grow phase though.

Sue said...

Good thing I didn't write that book. When bad things happen I say naughty words rather loudly and either unravel at record speed r stick the d**n thing in the bag and stick it in the closet for punishment. I'm guessing that isn't their advice.

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