May 2009

Review: Feminine Knits

by --Deb 05.30.2009
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All the designs (and they’re mostly all sweaters) are what they claim to be–feminine knits. A little daintier, a little more fitted than some other pattern books. They lean more toward “pretty” than “cool” or “cutting edge,” and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. There’s a lot to be said for a lacy jacket you can pair with a flirty skirt on a summer’s day. Or a hoodie that’s got delicate stitch work along the edges to make it special.

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Review: Mother-Daughter Knits

by --Deb 05.25.2009
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I liked this book so much, I immediately bought a copy and made a swatch for one of the sweaters. It’s been a while since a knitting book and I clicked together so very quickly.

Despite the title, this book is (thankfully) NOT about cute little matchy-matchy outfits for moms to wear when they’re out with their daughters. What it IS, is a book written by the brilliant Sally Melville and her daughter Caddy Melville Ledbetter.

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Review: Knitting in the Sun

by --Deb 05.20.2009
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Okay … Now, as a usual thing, warm-weather knits aren’t my favorites. I like cuddling into warm, cozy knits on a chilly day, and the last thing I want to do on a hot day is put on a sweater, even the lightest of weights.

But. I have to admit that this book has some really lovely patterns for those folks who need something to occupy their fingers for the summer, or who live in warmer climates year-round.

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Review: Knitting in the Old Way

by --Deb 05.10.2009
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Really, it’s a great book. I mean, why else would the publishing gods have granted it a new life with a new edition? It’s a classic.

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Review: Ethnic Knitting Exploration: Lithuania, Iceland, and Ireland

by --Deb 05.03.2009
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This isn’t one of those history-intensive books on ethnic knits. There is brief discussion on the knitting ethos in each of the three highlighted countries (Lithuania, Iceland, Ireland), but the book really focuses on how to knit a sweater–not about what they were doing with yarn in 1857.

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