book: knit.101
Knit.101: The Indispensable Self-Help Guide to Knitting and Crochet (Vogue Knitting)
My initial reaction to this book was that it is trying a little too hard – the patterns are just slightly unusual enough to not really appeal to a wide audience, yet not quirky enough to appeal to the young/hip/punk audience. They sit uncomfortably somewhere in between. (Also I found myself really annoyed by ‘K.1′ appearing in most of the patterns.)
However getting all of that out of the way – there is a small audience of groovy teens or quirky dressers who will love this book. Also it has some really good basic instructions (illustrations and photographs) that are pitched at the beginner. The projects also take you through the various steps, beginning at easy and moving on to more difficult patterns. The first project in the book – is in fact a bulky scarf titled ‘guy’s scarf’, strangely modeled by a half naked man pretending to knit with gigantic needles. As more advanced stitches are explained and illustrated the projects and patterns are appropriate to the knowledge gained.
As mentioned above this book does have more than your average awful projects (knitted clock and oversized cowl neck sweater for example). But sometimes unusual can be good, like the novelty laced up leggings and the pedicure socks (pictured), I also really liked the shape of the cropped sweater (not sure about the intarsia guitar sweater though).
The first half of the book is knitting the second half crochet, and as with the knitting half, knowledge is not assumed. Again there are some hideous projects here (mesh poncho) but equally some fun ones too (cat toys and crochet felted checker board – pictured below).
Overall, this is a book with not too serious projects but some serious instructions. Appeal more to a younger audience.
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 am
Ha ha! You must not be a regular reader of K1 mag. That half naked man with needles was a big hit when that issue came out.
It was from the men knitting issue, sorry, can’t remember the month.
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:53 am
Ha ha! You must not be a regular reader of K1 mag. That half naked man with needles was a big hit when that issue came out.
It was from the men knitting issue, sorry, can’t remember the month/year. Anyhow, some women even wanted a poster of him, ala Burt Reynolds and Playgirl. Blech.