Knit accessories for home are tricky. Generally, they fit into two categories. The first category is “Grandma’s House.” Afghans and doilies covering every surface. The second category is “Country Cozy.” Old fashioned knit throws, rugs, and dishcloths are fine for some, but for a twenty-something city dweller such as myself, this just isn’t going to work.

Enter knitting designer Erika Knight and her two new books, Glamour Knits At Home and Classic Knits at Home. Both compact, hardbound volumes include modern designs for cushions, throws, and other home accessories. Designs would look at home in a downtown loft or a mountain retreat. The front half of each book includes beautiful full-color photos of the projects, with pattern instructions and diagrams organized in the back.

Of the two books, Glamour Knits is my favorite. The designs in this book are a little more chic, a little more feminine, in dusky shades of pink and seafoam. Jacquard-inspired cushions, ruffled tea cozies, jeweled slippers, and skirted chair cushions are just some of the 15 projects in this book. The designs in this volume all look like they came out of Anthropologie.

Classic Knits is far more simple in design. There is an emphasis on neutral shades and classic textures like cables and houndstooth. Many of the designs are Zen-inspired, like a yoga mat and matching slippers, and large floor cushions. Other unique designs include a pear-shaped door stopper and planter cozies. Classic Knits also has a more unisex feel than Glamour Knits.

The instructions are easy-to-follow and there is nothing too complicated. Lots of stuff in these books would make cute hostess gifts. The biggest fault I find is that a lot of the designs require sewing. Not just seaming the knits together, but actually sewing in pieces of fabric. For someone like me, who is hopeless when it comes to sewing, this can be disheartening.