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celticdragonflyBook Info:
Special Knits: 22 gorgeous handknits for babies and toddlers by Debbie Bliss
c. 2005, ISBN 1-57076-302-X, list price $25
Obtained by Interlibrary Loan – thanks to the nice people at the Houston Public Library.
Main comments:
I had heard mention of this book, but hadn’t really paid attention to it, until this post from Franklin on the Panopticon, where he jokingly referred to it by the title “Fancy-Ass Knits for Spoiled Rotten Babies”. Once I finished giggling, I figured I might as well look at it and requested it from the ILL website. (And may I just say, if you’re not reading Franklin’s blog, you’re missing a treat.)
It’s completely a project book – no knitting instruction at all. Since I already knit, I like that. Instruction books are useful for new knitters, but it’s nice to have one where I can just leap into the projects. These are projects that are designed to be luxury items for loved babies – these are not the practical rugged workhorse outfits. There is a mix of difficulty levels – the garter stitch blanket hardly needs a pattern, although the ribbon edging is a nice touch. There are various embellishments – use of ribbon, organza, beads, embroidery.
Anything I particularly liked:
Hmmm. Well, there are some cute projects. And those are cute babies.
Anything I particularly disliked:
Okay, I knew this was going to be basically a book-sized yarn advertisement, so I didn’t let that bother me too much. Honestly, cashmerino? These are spoiled rotten babies with their own personal laundress! I do so, SO wish that they’d put something in the introduction of the pattern saying what weight the yarn was. Yeah, I can figure it out, look at the needle size, the gauge, and go online and read up on the yarn. But it’s annoying. Unfortunately, MOST knitting books only mention the particular yarn they’re pushing, and this is the type of book I really expect that behavior from.
I wish they’d put the gauge with the other introductory info on the ‘splash’ page, with the measurements and materials and such.
Another thing – and this is one of my common pet peeves, sadly most knitting books are like this – it’s all in terms of knit pieces flat and then sew them together. No construction by knitting. The picot BAG is knit all in one piece, although it’s STILL knit in the flat and then seamed.
Comments on photography:
POOR. Yeah, there are a lot of cute pics that can make you go “awww”. However, a number of the projects you never get to really see the whole thing. That carrying bag – I have no idea what it’s really supposed to look like, you’re only seeing part of it. And even though the little drawstring bag is the ONLY thing not knit in pieces and sewn together, there are not any diagrams or sketches of the pieces and how they’re put together. The book gets a bad grade on this. Too much artistic, not enough useful. However, the picture index in the back, showing one pic of each item with the page number that it’s on and the sizes (where applicable), THAT is useful.
Projects from this book that I’m thinking of knitting:
Eyelet vest – cute, and I could easily convert it into knitting in the round up to the armholes. Because honestly, why do that in the flat? Definitely substituting yarn. And I don’t know about the cute ribbon through the eyelets – looks like the kind of thing that a baby would just constantly yank out.
I love the Alphabet Sweater – but it’s all done in the flat, and OMG what a pain that would be to sew up.
Bow-tied Bolero – okay, it’s all in pieces to be sewn up, but well, for that garment, pretty much would have to be. It’s cute, and would be a nice warm-up for fall over a onesie. I’m tempted.
Might I buy this book?
Hm, given that there are two projects I’m thinking of doing for Alanna, maybe I will.
Special Knits: 22 gorgeous handknits for babies and toddlers by Debbie Bliss
c. 2005, ISBN 1-57076-302-X, list price $25
Obtained by Interlibrary Loan – thanks to the nice people at the Houston Public Library.
Main comments:
I had heard mention of this book, but hadn’t really paid attention to it, until this post from Franklin on the Panopticon, where he jokingly referred to it by the title “Fancy-Ass Knits for Spoiled Rotten Babies”. Once I finished giggling, I figured I might as well look at it and requested it from the ILL website. (And may I just say, if you’re not reading Franklin’s blog, you’re missing a treat.)
It’s completely a project book – no knitting instruction at all. Since I already knit, I like that. Instruction books are useful for new knitters, but it’s nice to have one where I can just leap into the projects. These are projects that are designed to be luxury items for loved babies – these are not the practical rugged workhorse outfits. There is a mix of difficulty levels – the garter stitch blanket hardly needs a pattern, although the ribbon edging is a nice touch. There are various embellishments – use of ribbon, organza, beads, embroidery.
Anything I particularly liked:
Hmmm. Well, there are some cute projects. And those are cute babies.
Anything I particularly disliked:
Okay, I knew this was going to be basically a book-sized yarn advertisement, so I didn’t let that bother me too much. Honestly, cashmerino? These are spoiled rotten babies with their own personal laundress! I do so, SO wish that they’d put something in the introduction of the pattern saying what weight the yarn was. Yeah, I can figure it out, look at the needle size, the gauge, and go online and read up on the yarn. But it’s annoying. Unfortunately, MOST knitting books only mention the particular yarn they’re pushing, and this is the type of book I really expect that behavior from.
I wish they’d put the gauge with the other introductory info on the ‘splash’ page, with the measurements and materials and such.
Another thing – and this is one of my common pet peeves, sadly most knitting books are like this – it’s all in terms of knit pieces flat and then sew them together. No construction by knitting. The picot BAG is knit all in one piece, although it’s STILL knit in the flat and then seamed.
Comments on photography:
POOR. Yeah, there are a lot of cute pics that can make you go “awww”. However, a number of the projects you never get to really see the whole thing. That carrying bag – I have no idea what it’s really supposed to look like, you’re only seeing part of it. And even though the little drawstring bag is the ONLY thing not knit in pieces and sewn together, there are not any diagrams or sketches of the pieces and how they’re put together. The book gets a bad grade on this. Too much artistic, not enough useful. However, the picture index in the back, showing one pic of each item with the page number that it’s on and the sizes (where applicable), THAT is useful.
Projects from this book that I’m thinking of knitting:
Eyelet vest – cute, and I could easily convert it into knitting in the round up to the armholes. Because honestly, why do that in the flat? Definitely substituting yarn. And I don’t know about the cute ribbon through the eyelets – looks like the kind of thing that a baby would just constantly yank out.
I love the Alphabet Sweater – but it’s all done in the flat, and OMG what a pain that would be to sew up.
Bow-tied Bolero – okay, it’s all in pieces to be sewn up, but well, for that garment, pretty much would have to be. It’s cute, and would be a nice warm-up for fall over a onesie. I’m tempted.
Might I buy this book?
Hm, given that there are two projects I’m thinking of doing for Alanna, maybe I will.
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Debbie Bliss for the princess
Date: 2007-10-10 01:17 pm (UTC)I've been hand washing my cotton/wool sweater, then using the spin cycle to get rid of all that water. Small things I can do in the salad spinner, but sweaters need the washer. After that, they dry overnight on a towel.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-10 01:56 pm (UTC)Space invaders' socks for the geeks in your life
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-10 03:49 pm (UTC)