The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting Review

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link

Impressions:
It's not a bad introduction to knitting with lots of photographs and guides, it fails to use contrast yarns to make things a bit clearer and apart from cable patterns doesn't use charts.  It doesn't have a bibliography for further reading and honestly the garments don't make me anyway excited.  It's not a bad beginner or improving beginner book but wouldn't add to my library.  It's a US publication so many of the stitch pattern names may be different to the originals.  It misses out on more photographs in the Brioche pattern section, the aforementioned charts; a bibliography (apart from in the historical section which references No Idle Hand (sic) by Anne L Macdonald; Wikipedia History of Knitting & A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker) and a bibliogrphy would have been useful for the last few sections where really they only had the space to bounce off them rather than go into detail.  Edited by Margaret Hubert with contributions from Carrie Hammett; Sasha Kagan; Debbie New; Judy Pascale; Beth Brown-Reinsel and Myra Wood; the back of the book has biographies and partial bibliographies of these writers.

Starting with a short history of knitting, where the modern part concentrates on the US experience of knitting, the book then moves to the basics and then some stiches. Once it gets a few past a few knit stitch patterns it gives a pattern, for a simple one-piece garter stitch tunic jumper.  Then it moves to light texture stitches; then suggests ornamenting the garter stitch jumper at the neck and sleeve ends, next we move to a sock pattern.  Then medium to heavy texture stitch patterns; then a seed checks baby sweater which is worked in one piece to the armholes.   Then the stitch patterns move to lace and a lacy sweater. Then it moves to Ribs pattern stitches, then ribbed leg warmers.  Next up is the honeycomb and brioche stitches; which explains the how pretty well but doesn't have pictures this section finishes with a honeycomb washcloths.  The next section is eyelets, followed by an Eyelet Cloche - which is an open-work hat with a flower and leaf knit motif.  The next section is ripples and Chevrons followed by a Parasol Ripples Scarf.  Next up are slip stitches, followed by a slip stitch card case.
Next up are Color Combos followed by a two-color toddler hat; then we have motifs which includes a flower, a heart in moss stitch, a mitered square, small fan, large fan, large fan with trinity border, small leaf, large leaf and finishes with leaf coasters which are lined. Cables are up next with clear photographs how to do cables and stitch legends, this is the first chapter that charts make an appearance.  The pattern in this section is Double Cables Hat.

Then it moves on to Speciality Knitting Methods - one-piece knitting, starting with the top-down toddler cardigan that goes with the toddler hat; a top-down mock cable pullover.  Then moves to simple entrelac, using a bag pattern to introduce the technique.  Next up is Freeform knitting; using a freeform knitting bag, fastened to a handbag form, a freeform vest. Then there's Crazy Lace Knitting using a scarf as an example; Knitting with Beads again with a bag as example. Intarsia knitting with an oversized beret; twinned knitting with a pair of mittens and Ouroubous Knitting with a tree-rings jumper

Types of patterns: mostly accessories with a few jumpers and cardigans, quite basic stuff

Number of Patterns: 22

Size Range: 33"-45"

Colour/Black & White: Colour photographs, black and white charts

Schematics: for some garments, not put together but exploded.

Target Audience: Beginners and beginners looking to expand skills

How to knit guide: yes, this is most of what the book is about

Experimental/Classical/Modern: pretty classical.

Comments on patterns:
Garter Stitch Tunic Jumper - one-piece done side-to-side this is quite a simple but effective garment, done in a medium weight yarn on 6mm needles

Garter Stitch tunic sweater with detail - as the first garment but with some stitch detail on the cuffs and neckline.

Spiny Ridges Socks - basic socks with some lacy detail, slip one heel, knit in super fine yarn with 2.75mm needles.

Seed Checks Baby Sweater - knit in one piece to the armholes with stitch details on the bottom; dk yarn on 4mm needles

Lacy Sweater - it's a short-sleeved lacy cardigan, done in pieces and sewn, could probably be knit in one piece to the underarms. dk on 4mm needles.

Legwarmers - using a variety of stitches and stripes, in medium weight yarn using 4mm, 5mm & 5.5mm needles

Honeycomb Washcloth - a washcloth knit in dk weight cotton yarn with 4mm needles.

Eyelet Cloche is a hat that's quite open with a decorative large flower and leaf. Medium weight yarn on 5 & 6mm needles.

The Parasol Ripples Scarf is knit in silk-bamboo lightweight yarn knit (patons Silkn Bamboo is the recommended yarn) with 4mm & 5.5mm needles.

Slip-stitch card case is made in a medium weight yarn on 5mm needles.

The Two-color toddler Hat in medium weight yarn and 4mm & 5mm needles.  It has a plain top and a slip-stitch colour pattern on the bottom.

Leaf Coasters - leaf shapes with lining and interrfacing.

Double Cables Hat - it's a hat with cables and a bobble, knit in medium weight yarn with 4mm and 5.5mm needles

Top-down Toddler Cardigan is designed to go with the toddler hat, again in two colours and worked from the top down; knit in medium weight yarn in 4mm & 5mm needles

Top-down Mock Cable Pullover has a drswstring through the neckline and mock cable on the neckline; cuffs and waist.  Knit in a dk weight yarn in 4 & 5mm needles

An Entrelac Handbag is used as an intro to Entrelac knitting - knit in two colours of yarn (Patons Decor) with 3.5 & 5mm needles, a simple bag that has bamboo handles

Freeform Knitted bag are shapes sewn to a plastic backing; using 4 & 5mm needles and a variety of yarns.

The Freeform Vest is worked in one piece to armhole in an open mesh with applied motifs on the shoulders, knit in wool ease with 5mm & 6mm needles

Crazy Lace Sampler scarf uses fingering or sock yarn and 4.5mm needles, a variety of yarns and variety of patterns used throughout

Beaded Slip Stich Bag uses the crochet hook method of adding beads (which allows you to add beads without stringing them on beforehand). Knit in Koigu with 2.75mm needles

Queen of Hearts Beret is the introduction to intarsia using in part a self-striping yarn to give it more dimensions.  This is knit flat in DK yarn using 3.25 & 4mm needles

Twinned Mittens for Kids - using a light-coloured worsted weight yarn using 4mm needles

Ouroborus knitting - using a tree rings sweater this works in rings from the centre out, getting larger and larger and eventually creating a full garment, this notes that it can be added to to make it bigger.  Using Classic Wool and 4.5mm needless

Buy/Borrow: If you're a beginner this one might be a good place for reference.  There are some stitches

Where found: Kilkenny County Library via Borrowbooks.ie

Fashion Crochet by Caroline Horne

Book Depository Link there's no Ravelry Link for this one.

other info: Mills & Boon, 1969, 263707369

Types of patterns: Mostly clothing

Number of Patterns: Bag (1); Hat(2); Stockings (1); Suit (2); Coat (2) Dress (2); shawl(1)

Split of patterns: women

Size Range: 34-40"; most patterns only offer 1-2 sizes

Colour/Black & White: Black and white

Schematics: No

Target Audience: Beginner Crocheters

How to Crochet guide: Yes

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Fairly Clasiscal

Comments:

The book opens with a guide on how to crochet, illustrated, then a how to read a pattern section and then on to the patterns

First is how to make a handbag, lined.

A crochet beret

A crochet hat

Stockings! Using Nylon thread

A Tailored suit with raglan sleeves - this is very Chanel.

3/4 length coat with raglan sleeves

Car Coat

Two-coloured Dress

Classic Teenagers dress

Cape Suit

Evening Shawl

The book finishes with suggested colour uses in the patterns; lengthening advice, and lining advice along with an announcement that from July 1st 1969 mm were coming in as standard and while the patterns are offered with old imperial crochet hook sizing, there is a conversion chart to mm sizing.

This is not a modern book and the sizing is very limited but it is an interesting book, not only is it part of the history of crochet but it's also published by Mills & Boon when they weren't just a romance novel production house. You would have to do a certain amount of research on the yarns cited to discover what the originals would have looked like and there's a lack of colour photographs (excepting the front cover); all the patterns are presented in fashion style sketches featuring a Twiggy-esque sketch wearing the garment.


Buy/Borrow: It belongs more as an historical book than a modern pattern book, though some of the principles would remain the same. However with the limited sizing and lack of schematics it's not too helpful, a book originally intended for a beginner or intermedite crocheter, it's now really a book for an intermediate or advanced worker.

Where found: Dublin City Public Libraries has a copy.

Knitting Experience Book 3: Color the power and the glory

Book Depository link; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: mostly clothing

Number of Patterns:44: Tea Cosy (1); Baby Jacket (1); Wrap (2); Jacket/cardigan (8); Jumper (12); Cuff (1); coat (1); scarf (2); Afghan (2); Tie (1); Top (3); waistcoat (2); Bag (1); Runner(1); Placemats(1); Skirt (3); Poncho (2)

Split of patterns: Men/women/children; mostly women some men and children and unisex

Size Range: Child 2-14 (21"-31.5"); Women (28-54"); Men (34-52") not all patterns in all sizes

Colour/Black & White: both

Schematics: yes, for pretty much everything

Target Audience: All levels really, most are pretty simple, probably mostly around the intermediate rate.

How to knit guide: there is a small reminder of some techniques at the back, but this is a continuation of the Knit & Purl books from the same series so some basic skills required.

Experimental/Classical/Modern: mostly classical with some more experimental patterns in there, some are quite blockly and oversized

Comments: As I said about Styles the patterns may not be for everyone, however the inspiration I have got from flicking through this book more than makes up for the boxy shapes and general shapelessness of the garments. However, there are some pieces that make me think about knitting them albeit with some modifications. The standout piece for me is the Panel-Party Tunic/Pullover/Dress, I want to make one nowish. This could be quite good for that slightly off yarn or those oddments that are close but not good enough of a match for a full garment. The information of how to combine yarns to make a particular weight is useful.
(2 superfine = 1 light
3 superfine = 1 medium
1 superfine + 1 light = 1 medium
2 fine = 1 medium
3 fine = 1 bulky
2 superfine + 1 light = 1 bulky
2 light = bulky
1 medium +1 fine = bulky)


The first chapter is about letting the yarn do the work. The Yarn-party poncho is basically 8 scarves sewn/crocheted together and made into a poncho

Summer breeze is a shapeless top buttoned to the side.

Faith Jacket is 15 strips sewn and then a shapeless jacket created

Blanket Jacket is a big bulky jacket that resembles many, it's not a bad style.

Jeremy's Jacket is a jumper soemwhat like the blanket jacket but more styled for men.

Choker Cuff started off as a minimal scarf that the model wrapped around her wrist and they liked it

Nancy's Skirt is a wool a-line shortish skirt with a lace patterning

Second Chapter is Stripes Simple and Not

First pattern is Skinny Stripes: a funnel or v-neck jumper, not for me with horizontal stripes.

Broad Stripes is a jumper with two different necks and a top with a broad stripe in the middle and other sized stripes along the body

Wobbly Stripes is a jumper with stripes made wavy by a lace pattern

Graduated stripes is a man and child jumper with graduated stripes

Collar-closing cardigan, using a variety of yarns for the body and collar, the collar is quite wide

The third chapter is Stripes that aren't.

Cynthia's Scarf/Afghan is a log-cabin pattern that can be made into a scarf or worked into an afghan, squares are worked and sewn together

Nod to Mod Pullover is a modular jumper that could be a great way to use up a variety of colours.

Big Bang Wrap is a a stripy wrap knit in a variety of colours, houndstooth pattern with a bit of a ruffle

Linen Stitch wrap is a 4 contrast colour wrap

Linen-stitch runner and placemats are what they say they are

Baby Rainbow Jacket uses the contrast yarn well and plays with the reverse side of the fabric because it looked interesting.

Slip-into-color pullover. Tweed stitch using a variaget yarn to create interest. Could also be a good use of leftovers.

Faux check Pullover - with a slip stitch and some stitching into a lower row it makes a houndstooth pattern.

Little Squares is an oversized jacket worked in the reverse of the faux check pullover, for a different look, the sample is knit in a heavy and light yarn for a different look.

Wrong-side sweater is again using the back of the faux check pullover and with a long tail on the back

Eds Tie uses three colours and a fairly simple stitch to create a fairly solid tie.


The 2-colour tradition is the next chapter, starting with the KISS purse that looks as good inside-out as outside in, it's fulled so useful for learning

North-Inspired cardigan is inspired by Icelandic patterns, the use of colour is interesting. Designed for infants or women, infant copies are always good for trying out techniques.

In Praise of Doodling is a zipped waistcoat for men and a toggled cardigan for women. The cardigan has saddle shoulders to add interest and the cuffs are done in the same colourway as the body, while the arms are done in a contrast colour

The Seventies is a vintage style poncho sized for a child or adult.

Not-Mrs-D's-Suit is a two parter, a skirt bordered with a two-colour snowflake design, the second part is a funnel neck pullover, done in a single colour yarn.

Panels, pictures and plaids is the last chapter.
Boyfriend Sweater is a large-scale jumper with vertical stripes, with dental moulding style detail

Princess Pullover is a jumper that can have a lot or a little colourwork, there's princess seams, decorated with button details.

Colour Party Parka is an oversized parka with many, many colours.

Annalee's Tea Cozy is a argyle fulled tea cozy.

Shared Border Cardigan is a riff off the Boyfriend Sweater with an asymmetrical hem.

Panel Party skirt is done in pieces that are sewn together, a short skirt with lace and ribbing.

Panel Party tunic/pullover/dress using the same principle as the skirt this is an interesting piece, funnel necked, this would be a great piece for using almost identical yarns. The designer used a variagated yarn for the lace part and plain yarns for the ribbed sections, the sleeves are ribbed and plain. You could probably use more colour, or odd balls that are similar colours that co-ordinate with the plain yarn. Also odd yarn lots would be broken up by the co-ordinating yarn and covered up.

Knitting Bag Jacket uses the pattern from a knitting bag, a round-necked cardigan this highlights multiple odments of yarn

Fishes is an oversized top or jumper, with simple blocky fish shapes decorated with either buttons or duplicate stitch.

Simple Plaid Scarf/Afghan using slip stitch, stripes and intarsia to create the plaid effect

Simple Plaid Top, it's slightly asymmetrical, it's a sleeveless top in a similar stitch to the scarf/afthan

Simple Plaid Vest - designed for men

Several of the pieces are just not me, but it's more the information and the ideas that sparkled through my head as I flicked through this book that make me want to order a copy for me! The portions about colour theory and how to knit with colour are well done and extensive. They're also attached to the chapters that deal with the concepts, so minimising the flicking through the book!

Buy/Borrow: well I intend to shell out for a copy. It's a good accompaniment to the rest of the series and if you're looking for ideas this one does supply, and also talks about colour theory, with a lot of ideas and examples. Some of the patterns

Where found: Cork County Library supplied this via Borrowbooks.

Jane Austen's Sewing Box

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: Domestic patterns mostly

Number of Patterns: 18

Split of patterns: mostly sewn

Colour/Black & White: COlour

Schematics: yes

Target Audience: multi-crafting Jane Austen fans

How to knit guide: no

Experimental/Classical/Modern: Classical

Comments: Despite the picture of a woman knitting a pair of socks on the front there are only two knitting patterns in this book. The book opens with an introduction to craft in Jane Austen's books and then to things like materials and tools. Each project has a list of novels it appears in and some commentary about the uses at the period.

Letter Case: Sewn - Intermediate, a lined lettercase

Linen: sewn, intermediate, lace trimmed pillowcases, you could make this an easy project by decorating existing pillowcases

Cravat: Sewn fairly simple, also provides period images of tied cravats but no real details

Workbag: Sewing and embroidery: Intermediate, an embroidered project bag

Paper Flowers: Beginner made from rice, silk or firm tissue paper

Purses: Knitting, Sewing & Netting : intermediate/Advanced. Our first knitting project, a Misers Purse a knit flat pattern sewn with minor increasing. Rings keep the coins in the purse, the ends are decorated with Beads and tassels. The Netted Coin Purse is small enough to learn how to do netting, lined with a contrast fabric, with a clasp.

Huswife: Sewing rated as beginner, this is a small fabric case with pockets to hold needlework and sewing tools. Scissors, needles, tape measure, thread, pins and pin cushion are contained in this item. It has contrast fabric on the outside

Carpetwork: Needlework and sewing rated as intermediate, canvaswork, not charted, I have needlework experience and would find this a frustrating design.

Muff and tippet: Sewing, intermediate, using fake fur and contrasting cotton fabric.

Pin cushion and thread case: Sewing, rated beginner

Transparency: Painting rated intermediate/advanced. Using glass paint and a rectangle of glass they're painted. The hardest bit is the outliner from personal experience.

Bonnet: sewing intermediate level, gathered bonnet, this uses a straw bonnet to get the bowl

Reticule: Sewing, knotting and embroidery rated as intermediate/advanced. "using a knotting shuttle make a series of evenly spaced knots in the thread" are part of the instructions

Knitted Rug: Knitting, she says advanced, I say beginner. if you can cast on, knit, purl, can follow basic instructions, and can cast off, you're able to make this rug. There was mirth at the Fiber Fun Friday about this. The worst part is the poorly done chart. (In fact according to the Yarn Standards Council it ranks as Beginner and maybe at a push Easy)

Muslin Cap: Sewing beginner rated, a lacetrimmed muslin cap.

This didn't impress me, I was underwhelmed by the patterns and thought that there was a lot of missed opportunities and I wouldn't trust the ratings for the patterns. For a knitter the patterns are very basic and pretty mundane. If I was interested in Regency period costuming or dressing I would be interested in this. It's well illustrated with a lot of period details but I wasn't impressed overall.

Buy/Borrow: Borrow, you might be more impressed than me but it didn't fill me with an urge to break out needles of any sort.

Where found: Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Libraries via Borrowbooks

Styles - Sally Melville

Book Depository Link; Ravelry Link

Types of patterns: Garments, mostly

Number of Patterns: 27

Split of patterns: Jacket/Cardigan (6); Dog Coat (1); Vest (7); Children's Cardigan (2); Child's Jumper (1); Jumper (6); purse (1); coat (2); dress (1)

Size Range: 40-54 inches for adults

Colour/Black & White: Colour

Schematics: yes

Target Audience: impulse stashers. More intermediate or advanced knitters.

How to knit guide: Not the basics but some more specialist techniques are put forward

Experimental/Classical/Modern:

Comments: This book has dated a bit but some of the information is invaluable. She explores colour theory quite well in the beginning of the book and also shows where the colours come on a colour-wheel

The first chapter uses mostly Garter Stitch

Jessica's Jacket - blocky children's drop-shouldered jacket with a rainbow of stripes. Knit in Chunky weight yarns

Homer's Vest is a pretty simple Dog jumper with a very dark or black yarn twinned with a rainbow yarn in aran weight yarn.

Uncle Jeremey's Vest is a blocky waistcoat designed for men, in dk weight yarn. Subtle squares decorate this blocky garment.

Gander Blips Vest - an interesting surface use of a contrast yarn. Would be good for small amounts of an expensive or interesting contrast yarn, while the main colour is worsted weight the contrast can be in dk to chunky. A blocky waistcoat

Gander Blips Jacket uses the same technique for a cropped blocky jacket. This time the main colour is in an Aran Weight yarn and the contrasts in worsted to chunky weights.

Inspired-by-the-Log-Cabin Jacket. Knit in different directions this uses a worsted weight main colour (the original in a dark gray) while DK to aran Light to medium intensity colours. this is knit ina modular fashion, round necked jacket

The second chapter is Simple Fairisle

Caddy's Cardigan is done in both childrens (dk weight yarn) and adult (worsted with dk to aran weight contrasts). The children's is in brighter colours while the adult is more muted. Blocky garments.

The third chapter is Not-Your-Usual Intarsia

Standing-in-a-pile-of-leaves Pullover is a childrens garment that looks like a pile of leaves with leaves cascading down, the colours are autumnal, the background dark. The main colour is DK, the contrast colours are sport to worsted weights. There's also an Adult version, where the main colour is Aran weight and the Contrast colours DK to aran weights.

Standing-in-a-pile-of-leaves vest is a pointed front waistcoat, knit with the main colour in Aran weight and the contrast DK to Aran Weight.

Laurel's Jacket is a patchwork of squares in different colours. The sleeves are knit in one colour, with saddle shoulders, pointed front, sleeves can be knit plain or with a lace pattern. The sleeves are chunky weight, the body chunky to aran, she suggests textured yarns. As the sleeve colours can be used in the body I would be inclined to knit the sleeves first and then use as much of the remaining yarn in the body.

The fourth Chapter is Tweed Stitch Squares

Topher's Pullover is offered in a DK (with dk to aran contrasts) or Worsted weight (with DK to Aran contrasts too); square blocky jumper with squares that can be subtle or highly contrasting. Done in Childrens and adult versions

The Whistler Vest is a similar garment to the Topher Pullover, again subtle colour contrasts. Main colour DK, contrasts DK to Aran weight

Kenneth's Classic Vest is a pointed front waistcoat, again with squares, main colour worsted weight, contrasts DK to aran weight.

Ski Suit Cardigan has ribbed plain sleeves, it's a cropped cardigan, main colour worsted, contrasts DK to Aran weight yarns.


Tweed Stitch with Cables is the fifth chapter

Randy's Pullover was knit in quite bright colours and then overdyed and is quite subtle, again a blocky garment, it's knit in DK with DK to worsted contrasts.

Dress-Up Vest is a long-line waistcoat knit in dk with dk to aran contrasts, knit in subtle colours with either a round or v-neck

Annalee's Jacket is designed to be knit in a short range of colours, main colour DK, contrast DK to Aran weights. She suggests looking at stash and using a range of one colour. One of the sample garments is knit in very close shades and looks interesting.

The last chapter is Knitting as Warp, where you knit a garment loosely and then weave in contrast yarns

She starts this chapter with a bag that's basically a how-to for this technique. If this technique appeals you can then move on to the other patterns in the chapter

Shannon's Pullover has squares of contrast yarn in DK to Aran, main colour in Aran.

Tricia's Coat has diagonal stripes, the main colour is chunky, with diagonal colour and contrast colour in Chunky or doubled dk/worsted

Shadow Box Coat is a boxy coat, knit in chunky with Contrast as chunky or doubled dk/worsted.

Riley's "Jeans" pullover is made for children, main colour DK, contrasts in sport, dk or worsted.

Kilim Coat Dress is a dress inspired by kilim fabric, main colour DK, contrasts in DK to worsted. A short length button fronted dress with long sleeves.

Kilim vest is similar to the Kilim Dress but v-necked and long-line. Knit in Aran weight with DK to Aran contrast yarns.

The book also has a chapter on basic pattern drafting.

The garments aren't very fitted and in fact are very blocky but this book caught my eye more for inspiration than for the garments themselves. To fit todays sensibilities you would need to do some work on some of the pieces but it does show some great ways to use up impulse buys.


Buy/Borrow: I'd borrow it to see what you think, I borrowed it and it went straight on my wishlist. The patterns do show age but I found them inspirational. I have a lot of small quantities of yarn in my stash and this could be great to help me reduce the amount of excess yarn with a small outlay for some base yarns.

Where found: I got it via Borrowbooks from Cork County Libraries.