Sweaters Books

I love all of Zoe Mellor's book. In this one the Ladybird pillow and blanket top my favorites list. The cover sweater comes in a close second. This author just seems to have endless creative ideas when it comes to knitting for children. Almost all of her patterns are unisex which is lovely.

Happy Knitting,
Nanette of Fruitland, ID

I generally don't like Mellor's stuff (I would never buy Paintbox Knits--but I keep looking through ALL the knitting books I find) but the fish hat (bomber style) in this book really caught my eye. It is adorable: colorful but not complicated. I also found her sweaters (the ones with just ONE large animal on them) striking: a rooster (the best), a dog, and a butterfly. I am not particular to roosters or butterflies and her animal designs (like the one for the dog) aren't great but the color schemes make the sweaters stand out. I also like the way the table of contents is laid out: there are color pictures of each design. You also get good views of each design; I wish more knitting books had such good photos. If I were to splurge, I would buy it. For now, I've put it on my wish list.

This book is surely full of fun and nice projects. But every project is specified for different age group; so if you want a pair of cute slipper for your 6 years old daughtor, you may find that you need a lot more work than you think a pattern would do for you, because it only tells you how many stiches and materials are there for infants 3 or 6 or 9 monthes. Great book for looking for inspiration though, and study maybe, coffee table book even.

I'm not a big Zoe Mellor fan, but I do think that she's got some very creative ideas. In this book, the items range from sweaters to bags, toys, and pillows. Everything is bright and colourful - exactly what kids up to the age of six like. Many items can be made for either sex - without even changing the suggested colourway. Many of the items are in themes kids like - specifically farm and wild animals. Because intarsia is used, the main stitch is stockinette, but other stitches (moss, garter, and cables) are used in the book. My only two complaints are that I wish the charts were clearer (but I'm not a big chart fan) and that the direction "decrease at neck" was explained. This book is worth picking up and looking at - and you may be surprised by what you see.

I love all the books by Debbie Bliss. Lots of patterns and Ideas. If you love her yarn you will love the books too.

There are plenty of projects within this book to knit for the kiddos. The only drawback as some people see it is the sizing, but the finished garment measurements are provided for all patterns, so measure your little sweetie, and pick how much ease you want! I plan to knit at least 5 things from this book.

This book is inspiring, and the sweaters are adorable in the photos-- but why don't they fit the models? Most sweaters are two or three sizes too big for the child wearing them. There's a boy pictured in a sweater that looks like it would fit his father. I'm all for making clothes a bit big to allow for growth, but this is ridiculous.

If you want to make one of these sweaters, check the garment measurements carefully to make sure you'll be rewarded for your efforts.

The Debbie Bliss styles are wonderful -- however, some are too bulky - especially those for infants. I would have preferred that the patterns included a range of sizes -- only a few do. I have made five sweaters to gauge -- in each case some of the instructions were unclear and I had to anticipate what the author's intentions were. In one particular case, a matching beret was huge -- I knit one and so did a fellow knitter, following the same instructions and using same needle size as the matching sweater. The hats were too large for me -- this hat was supposed to fit a three-year old! My advise to fellow knitters -- really pay attention! And try your gauge over the cable patterns AND whatever stitch the instructions recommend!

I am a new knitter in the last year, and I love this little box. The format is so easy to use, and the cards are so professionally boxed. The sweaters are just right for me. For example, the classic shell is just that -- classic -- and classy. Easy maybe, yes, but sharp. Bound to get compliments; I did! I'm new to cabling, but the braided shell was a great way to start. Again, I get compliments on all my sweaters. Now I'm thinking ahead to winter. Pockets and Ribs, I think, will be my next project. My knitting mentor tells me I'm ready to tackle just about anything, but I like simple, classic styles. This sweater will be one of my wear everywhere tops.

Thanks Melissa and Sheryl. Keep the books and boxes coming.

I love this box of sweaters and scarves. It is great to be able to put each pattern card in my knitting bag, and always have the pattern handy! I have always been a big fan of Matthay's designs.

I hope there will be more box set's comming! These are the perfect gift for any knitter.

The idea of having the patterns on laminated cards is a great one. It is just TOO BAD that all the patterns are designed by Matthay. Her sweaters are generally ugly and reliant on weird novelty yarns. I didn't find a single nice-looking pattern in the whole lot. Also, all the patterns are sort of quick-knit, beginnerish sorts of things, which don't present any challenges and won't look particularly nice when they are done. Don't buy this just because the format seems nice! Buy a decent pattern book and just xerox and laminate the pattern you want to use.

I love the idea of this book. The patterns are on cards that you can take out of the box and slip in your knitting bag to lighten your load. The patterns are fun, use interesting yarn and most look like they will knit up fast. This is a great selection for someone looking to make their first sweater, or an advanced knitter looking to knit something up quickly.

Good Book. Sean Thompson's illustrations are great. ...

this book is eerily like roch carrier's classic story, "the hockey sweater". the same themes occur, the same events, everything. of course, it was written 14 years later -- and, look! "hommage à roch carrier", in small type.

leave well enough alone, and write your own books; your other ones have been good, why do this?

Just who do they think they are. W'ell show them. This is a great book to teach your kids about how The Maple Leafs are the only team to go for. Sure they haven't won in thirty years, but they're on the right track now,winning the Northeast division while the Has toil in last place. Bring up your kid with the Leafs and they'll love to share the memories of the Leafs upcoming Stanley Cup viocories.

A classic theme - hockey through the eyes of a child. This time, though, too young to remember The Rocket - it's #27 Sittler and his amazing feat one night against the Bruins. Great story for both fans of the game and kids just starting to appreciate its wonders. And it's a history lesson in disguise: "Daddy, who where the Atlanta Flames?" Fantastic artwork by Sean Thompson - worthy of framing and hanging above your TV during "Hockey Night in Canada".

I thought there would be more patterns than this but the patterns were good so I'm satisfied.

I purchased this book looking for a gift for my sister. I found the patterns easy to follow. If I can do it anyone can.

I have not actually started a project from this book yet, but my sister whom I will be making something for, loves these sweaters. At first review of the patterns, they do not seem to be very complicated.

I liked the patterns and the fact that it consistently carries sizes from Medium to 3X; however, I should mention that pattern #4 goes to 2X. The font size of the text in the book is easy on the eyes, so I don't have to squint, and the pictures are clear to me. The back of the book provides general instructions with regards to some terminology, hooks, abreviations, joining, weaving seams, the location of a back loop and where to stitch on a post. All of this makes a difference to me because I have not picked up a crochet book in 15 years! --and yes, this is my first book review.

This book contains some glorious patterns--the cropped diagonal aran knit is especially inspiring. I've only had time to briefly run through the patterns but many appear to be fairly easily adaptable to larger sizes and/or the use of different yarns. Someone mentioned earlier that some of the designs are "ordinary" and basic. I personally don't own a lot of patterns so it's nice to have a book that has inspirational designs I may never make as well as others I can use as a template for my own designs.

I am a fan of Kim Hargreaves because of her simple clean designs. Her patterns in this book not only showcase the beautiful new wools and colors of Rowan this season but the sweaters are fashionable. The sweaters mirror the boxy clean lines of todays fashions. I look forward to making every one of them. The book itself is also very well done and beautiful to look at. I only wish there were more books by Kim to collect.

Nicely done but too many repeats from their Fall/Winter book.

I can't ever say that I've looked through a knitting book and wished that the photographer had paid more attention to the scenery that to the sweaters. I felt that way with this book. I think the location was Scotland, which could have been fun to see, but unfortunately most of the location is blurred or cramped by the shot. This is unfortunate because the sweaters were, for the most part, so disappointing that if the landscapes were better, the book might have made me a lot happier. Hargreaves published a fantastic book many years ago, with very stylish, sometimes intricate, but truly beautiful sweaters. For many years she's been one of Rowan Yarns' lead designers, especially favored by those of us who weren't Kaffe Fassett fans. Her sweaters are normally innovative but not way-out, striking and easy to make, feminine without being silly or childish -- in summary, truly wonderful. She's had a flair with Rowan yarns, coming up with designs for every walk of life or moment of your life, from casual to formal, outdoors to party chic. But in this book, she seems to have lost her inspiration. The intent of the sweaters is to present styles for the return of the old Rowanspun line of yarn (I'd prefer they returned their lightweight and DK weight lambswools!). The yarn aside, too many of the sweaters have a clumsy look to them, and too many are commonplace -- cropped crew neck cardigans or cropped sleeveless pullovers, things you could knit yourself without even thinking. I did like two of the sweaters, but not enough to purchase the yarn and make the effort at knitting them. I'm glad that I purchased the book, because like with Rowan magazines, it is a quality product, nicely printed and a good collector's item, but you may be as disappointed as I was in the dullness of these ordinary sweaters.

Although the sweaters are easy to make I feel that many of them have a dated look. The yarn suggestions for these sweaters are those sold by CGOA. All yarn requirements are given in yardage with no ounce equivalent so it makes it a little more difficult for you to use other yarns than those sold by CGOA. For one of the sweaters I did want to make I checked the cost of the CGOA yarn and the yarn for this simple tunic would cost $120. I suggest Melissa Leapman's Crochet with Style as the patterns are modern and the yarn is readily available in many craft stores.

This book is in the newer vein of crochet books - cool, easy to make wearables that do't look like you flung an afghan on your back. Yes, that is a style, but not one everybody would like to emulate.

This book is terrific - the patterns are lear and concise. When a stitch is referenced, the page that explains how to do the stitch is given. The book is a way of advertising Crochet Guild of America's new yarn line, _BUT_ they also give the description of the yarn and offer other suggestions of brands to use. There is also photos of the featured yarn in the back just in case you have yarn in your stash and you are not sure if it is suitable for the project you picked.

I especially liked the section on the crochet hooks. This isn't "oh, here's a size H hook, this shows you various hooks, old as well as new. And there is a conversion chart giving you the European sizes that correspond to the American sizes, a handy reference in and of itself.

There's also information on joining the Crochet Guild of America*, which does its best to promote the art of crochet. The benefits and costs are explained completely.

I recommend this book highly for all crocheters who would like to make memorable wearables. With the combinations of illustrations and instructions , a relatively new crocheter could still create an eye- catching sweater.

*Yes, I am a member, too - but I do not receive any special considerations or kickback for this review - just so you know where I stand on the CGOA.

I wanted to describe the projects in this book for those who are ordering online, sight unseen:

1. feminine filet vest with crocheted flowers on it
2. longsleeve summer filet cardigan
3. summer shell with a big opening in the back
4. waist-length, longsleeve fitted sweater
5. shortsleeve "overblouse" with a plunging neckline
6. shortsleeve casual top
7. longsleeve bolero jacket
8. baggy longsleeve tunic
9. cap
10. another longsleeve tunic
11. another longsleeve tunic
12. longsleeve sweater with an oriental motif
13. baggy longsleeve pullover

Only a couple of the designs have buttons, most are pullovers or are meant to hang open. I think these sweaters could probably be done by beginning crocheters, because they are not terribly elaborate or fussy. The pictures & illustrations are in color.
The back matter includes how to do the stitches used to make the sweaters, guide to abbreviations, profiles of the designers, and other etc.

I often tell people that creating a book is like having a baby: there's initial excitement, followed by a roller coaster of emotions that culminates in elation when the published product is in your hands.

Today's Crochet was extra-special because it gave me the opportunity to work with the Crochet Guild of America and its superb designers. When I sent out a call for proposals, little did I know that over 200 would cross the transom of my studio! It was very, very hard to pick the best for publication.

The garments in this book were selected to offer a variety of shapes, fit, and yarn types. Since making a sweater is a labor of love, as well as expressing our passion to stitch, I steered toward garments that wouldn't be out of style in a year or two. It was also important to offer something for every season and every skill level. After all, we don't all live in cold climates or were born with hook in hand.

I included lots of information to help people choose alternate yarns, if they so desire. There are full-size photos of yarn strands, detailed descriptions of each yarn, information about the yardage on a ball, and even some suggestions for alternative yarns. Ounces per ball were intentionally excluded. Ounces aren't an accurate way to substitute yarns. You can have the same amount of different yarns, yet they'll be different weights!

The only time that weight is important is if you're trying to figure out the yardage used in a finished sweater. (As a technical editor, I do this all the time, to make sure that a sweater actually uses the amount of yarn specified in the instructions.) In this case, I weigh the sweater, then divide the total by the weight of one skein of THE SAME YARN. Now that I know the number of balls used to make the sweater, I can multiply the number of balls by the yardage per ball, which is on the wrapper. Now I can swap in any suitable yarn because I know the yardage.

In addition to the excitment of working with the great group of people who are members of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA), I was lucky enough to book one of my favorite models, Zora, for the photo shoot. At that time, the hit TV show Joe Millionaire, which she won, wasn't on anyone's radar. Zora is just as sweet, kind, and lady-like as she was on that show.

My favorite sweater in Today's Crochet is a black, Orient-inspired cardigan designed by the founder of the CGOA. There's a lot of stitching in the piece, but it's simple work and the result is a classic garment that you can wear for years. The chrysanthemum motif is great fun to make.

I'm also crazy about the dimensional flowers found on a vest in the book. I've made these--without the vest--and attached them to other garments! The leaves are easy, yet look really cool.

Elsewhere in the book, there's a long-sleeve, fluffy sweater called Casual Chic. It was designed by Nancy Brown. She's a CGOA past president, and an incredibly talented woman. What I like about Nancy's sweater is the way that she has combined two yarns: one offers volume and visual texture, the other helps the sweater hold its shape and lend strength to the more fragile fiber.

Thank you for taking the time to read my comments and look at Today's Crochet.

The sweater designs looked plain as if they were taken from each designer's bargain bin. There wasn't much that inspired me to knit one of the patterns right away. Also there were only a handful of patterns for the beginner -- the rest were forintermediate and expert knitters.

I positively love this book. How can you go wrong with the patterns for the Enchanted Forest cardigan, the Bubble Sweater and the Counterpane Pullover all in one book? I am also fond of the handsome Missoni Man's (or women's) Cardigan with a doubled shawl collar (easily do-able, even for those with intermediate skills) and the Cropped Hooded Sweater from Joan Vass. I've made three of those -- it's easy to substitute yarns (just double-strand something pretty), there is little shaping and the result is fabulous.

The only problem I have with the Vogue knitting books is the lack of detail in the photographs. It would help to see close-ups of the knitted fabric, stitch designs, and even the yarn itself. Perhaps future Vogue collections will include at least photos of the yarn, much the same way as Vogue Knitting magazine does now.

I was a bit surprised by the other reviews -- I feel this collection is full of wearable designs (not just "mod gorgeous") for all skill levels. There are a number of handsome cabled designs, and the Missoni One-Piece Tee is quite stunning. The Bubble Sweater has been a great favorite with knitters for years and is flattering on anyone. Start with that -- and work up to the Enchanted Forest.

I recommend this book. I've knit about a third of the patterns, a couple of them more than once. I've found it easy to substitute yarns and even to vary the sizing on some of the patterns. My next project from this collection will be Perry Ellis' long Fair Isle Crew Neck. The designs are inspirational and a lot of fun to knit.

The majority of the patterns in this book require to you be an "expert" or "experienced" knitter. As a beginner/intermediate, that left me with very little to choose from. I was also disappointed in the lack of true wearability of most of these patterns. That aside, I like classic, time tested, designs that are updated to look contemporary, and did not find these appealing. Each designer seemed to be trying to out do the other, and some are way over the top. If you're an expert knitter who's looking for gimmicky sweaters to "WOW" your friends- this book would come in handy; everyone else will likely be disappointed.

Some sporty styles, some classics -- all at varying skill levels, so anyone can find something in this book to knit. Most of the sweaters are from more recent (last 10 years) magazine issues, so you may have at least a few of these already. Others I haven't seen before, even though they look fairly current. If a yarn is no longer available, the author offers a substitute. As usual, the knitting instructions are clearly laid out, so knitting these sweaters should not be troublesome. For simpler designs, Malcolm has published a very easy, very vogue edition which also has a nice variety, mainly for a beginning or early intermediate knitter. But again, beginners or intermediates can find a lot for them in this volume as well.

I caught on to the Clancy Bros. and Tommy Makem way back in the early 60's, and they caught me. I bought their first Columbia Album then every other one, including the ones on the Tradition label (my favorites for their very unpolished joy of singing quality.)
If you are a fan, one who loves the group's spirit and humor, buy this book and have a link to your "folkie" youth, and learn more about the men and thier families and their lasting influence on music.

First off, give author Conor Murray credit. The kid is only 20 and he's managed to assemble the first bio of this seminal, often-overlooked pioneers of Irish folk music. It's also a credit to his musical taste -- not many 20-year-olds can appreciate Irish folk music. And it's a decent piece of work covering not just the most famous lineup (the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem), but also the brothers' post-Makem work with Louis Killen, Bobby Clancy and Robbie O'Connell.

I particularly appreciated learning about their later years -- what they did and how they (Bobby, Tom and Paddy Clancy) left us

Murray's also not afraid to give his opinion, making it clear he likes the simple, unadorned productions (esp. concert albums with lots of on-stage banter) rather than the dressed-up studio albums of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It's just important to remember these are one person's opinions; the very albums he doesn't care for -- 1969's The Bold Fenian Men and 1970's Clancy Brothers Christmas, for example -- are among my favourites.

It's unfortunate Murray didn't appear able to get interviews with Makem or Liam Clancy; as a result, there are huge gaps in information, such as quotes explaining:
-- exactly why Makem left in '69;
-- why the 1984 reunion didn't result in a new recording;
-- what the boys thought of their uneven 1970s recordings (and why they were so uneven).
-- What Makem thought of Clancy recordings made after he left and;
-- Why the 1970s recordings contained so little actual Irish songs.

I also would have liked their thoughts on how/why record companies have mistreated their catalogue (good luck finding most of the Clancy Brothers albums on CD!) their successors (Wolfe Tones, Dubliners, Chieftains) and the state of Irish music today. We could have used more of this information and fewer pictures; many of the shots are repetitive and, therefore, simply unnecessary.

Anyway, it's still nice to have this book. Hopefully, if Liam writes and publishes a sequel to his wonderful autobiography (The Mountain of the Women), some of the gaps I've mentioned here will be filled in.

Thank you Conor, for the work you have done to commemorate the heritage of Irish people throughout the world. It is important that we remember the lives of fellow Irishmen who impact our lives; as Irish, a vivacious bunch we are...honoring our distinct cultural qualities is part of the celebration of life. This book is already a triumph!

There are some cute patterns here. I like the oven mitt and pot holder pattern and face cloths. Some of the bookmarks are quite cute. I'd like to try the slip-stitch scarf and Berry special scarf. The mesh hobo bag looks fun, as does the pompom hat. The back to school pouch would be great for a little (or big) one and I like four of the afghans.

So, there are a handful that I do like, and made it worth getting the book (I paid $7.50). But, my major complaint is that very few are for beginners. I would have liked to have seen more for the beginner. Most of the the patterns are for intermediate and above. A more advanced knitter would probably get more out of this book.

I'm really excited I got this book - there's a lot of new patterns I haven't seen, such as a basket of knitted flowers. There's tons of bookmarks, and several different purses/bags. The only thing is that this seems to be for more advanced knitters, a beginner might have problems with a few of the patterns. I haven't tried any yet, but just from looking at the pattern instructions that's my overall impression.