KNIT-O-MATIC: 12/09/2007

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

New Books

New books at Knit-O-Matic

Suss Design Essentials ~ $38 Me Likey! If you are a fashionista like me, you will like it too. I'm not crazy about Suss Cousins (pronounces Sooze, like Suzie)prior publications, and this one is still not as good as Teva Durham's Loop-D-Loop, but it aint bad. Many of the patterns follow Suss's simple California aesthetic, there are lots of basic shapes and simple outlines, like simple boatnecks and v-necks tweaked in very up-to-date styles that are eternally wearable and simple enough to make. My absolute favorites are the zippered sweater on the cover, a tweedy cowl neck pullover, and asymmetrical buttoned sweater, a very cool open-front pullover, a slinky raglan pullover. the patchwork skirt is a fashion crime, so just take an exacto knife to those pages and purge it from your memory. the dresses are all great as tunics over pants or leggings and the coats make me wish it was autumn all year long. Cousins still has a propensity to use synthetic fuzzy-furry yarns so you'll have to do your best to envision those designs in an alpaca or kid-mohair. Still, despite my gripes, it's a good showing and worth checking out.

The Twisted Sisters Knit Sweaters ~ $27.95
This book is full of simple and creative sweater patterns. It's raison d'etre is to teach you how to knit sweaters to your own measurements, basically allowing you to buy up a bunch of gorgeous yarn without being tied to a specific pattern! They take you through all the steps with clear, easy to follow instructions and diagrams for both regular and side to side sweaters. Plus, there is not a raglan among the patterns, so you'll get to learn something that isn't floating all over the internet. The styles are simple, there isn't anything fitted, but in no time you'll be plowing through your stash and making room in your closet!

New Books

New Books at Knit-O-Matic

Boho Baby Knits ~ $35 I'm not really sure what 'Boho' means or how it applies to baby knits, but this book is cool, free spirited and fun. Kat Coyle gets kids, gets adults and gets knitters. The patterns are fun, not too elaborate or too hard, brightly coloured without being gaudy. I have a few favorites, especially lounging pants, hats shaped like aliens and lions, a menagerie of a mobile, big dolls to populate tea parties and a very cool, very simple striped boatneck sweater (i see myself making these by the boatload! Hee-Hee!). Boho Baby Knits is probably not for the Martha Stewart crowd, but if you are looking for a funky, useable baby book, this is it!

Knitting New Scarves ~ $25.95 If you like funky, fun, contemporary accessories you love this book! There's never a dull moment in this book, despite the fact that it features 27 scarf patterns. Lynne Barr's patterns are reminiscent of the work of Teva Durham and Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton: very sculptural and simple in their aesthetic - very wearable, very giftable. The technique may be new but she takes you through them with clear illustrations and easy to understand instructions. If you are tired of the same old-same old and want something different, something that will wow people, this book is a must!

New Books at Knit-O-Matic

Knitting Little Luxuries bu Louisa Harding ~ $21.95
This book is for anyone who likes to make or wear feminine things. The projects are small, which is great because you an get through them fast and get a lot of bang for your buck. All the designs are ornamented in some way, either with cables, lace, intarsia or applique. There's lots of vintage, wearable Victoriana to go around: hats, bags, mittens, gauntlets, wraps, capelets, scarves and a single sweater and tunic-vest (the Winter 2007 issue of Interweave Knits for the Alicia Tabard vest pattern). Some benevolent knitter has also started a Knitalong for the book, so there is moral and knitting support out there (plus pictures of all the projects).

Pretty Knits by Susan Cropper ~ $38
Curtis of This hard cover book is one of those coffee-table-esque ensemble productions that i frequently use for patterns and eye candy. There are a few misses but the majority of the patterns are hits so just close your eyes on the odd ones and all will be well. I really like that the patterns are very pretty without being fussy. Features knit designers include Debbie Bliss, Louisa Harding, Leigh Radford, Nadine Curtis of BeSweet yarns, Kristeen Griffin-Grimes of French Girl Knits, Rowan Freelancer Emma Seddon, Susan Cropper of Loop yarns in London and many more. I think my favorite pattern is an contemporized bed jacket By Any Twigger Holroyd in super bulky wool. My only caveat is that they call for expensive yarns, but most of them are accessible in North America and all can be easily substituted with the gentle guidance of your LYS owner. Now, I admit that I am especially susceptible to chapter headers like "Beautiful Boudoirs" and "Feminine Fripperies", but I think I'm still objective enough to say that Pretty Knits is a great British take on modern femininity.