Blogcritics Category: Books: Crafts and Hobbies

Book Review: Casual Elegant Knits - Classy Designs for Men and Women by Faina Goberstein and Dawn Leeseman

Alyse Wax — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:18:02 EDT

Surprisingly stylish, semi-simple knits for men and women.
I’ll admit it: I wasn’t expecting much from Casual Elegant Knits: Classy Designs for Men and Women by Fania Goberstein and Dawn Leeseman. It’s not one of those fancy, neo-knitting books that are all the rage right now. It doesn’t have a “hook” like lingerie-inspired knits, or knits by top fashion designers....

Book Review: Cable Confidence - A Guide to Textured Knitting by Sara Louise Harper

Alyse Wax — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:36:16 EDT

A great guide for knitting complex cable patterns.
Cable Confidence by Sara Louise Harper is all about cables. Nothing more, nothing less. Subtitled "A Guide to Textured Knitting," the focus, pure and simple, is cabling. All the patterns featured in this book are pretty basic, straight-sided pull-overs with a handful of scarves, hats, and cardigans. However, the intricate cable designs are...

Book Review: Signature Scarves by Nicky Epstein

Alyse Wax — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:42:39 EDT

Scarves - they're not just for beginners anymore.
Scarves are a staple of any knitter’s diet. Every knitter’s first project is a scarf. Oftentimes, their second and third projects are scarves. They are simple, a great way to learn basic knits and purls, and when you are done, you can wear it. But scarves don’t just have to be boring garter stitch affairs. They can be wild, crazy,...

Book Review: Knit So Fine - Designs with Skinny Yarn by Myers, Grutzeck, and Sulcoski

Alyse Wax — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:46:23 EDT

Skinny yarns make for beautiful knits.
Knit So Fine: Designs with Skinny Yarn, written by Lisa R. Myers, Laura Grutzeck, and Carol Sulcoski, is a knitting book dedicated to patterns knit with skinny yarns – in this book, anything finer than a worsted weight. Knitting with lightweight yarns have many advantages. They have a better fit, a nicer drape, and a more streamlined look....

Book Review: Inspired to Knit - Creating Exquisite Handknits by Michele Rose Orne

Alyse Wax — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:27:07 EDT

Beautiful, feminine, and intricate designs for the advanced knitter.
Knitwear designer Michele Rose Orne brings us an imaginative collection of knitting patterns, entitled Inspired to Knit: Creating Exquisite Handknits. This book contains 21 patterns, divided up by season. The idea behind the book is to help knitters explore their creativity, and draw inspiration for design from everything around them. Along with...

Book Review: Knit Aid by Vickie Howell

Alyse Wax — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:26:10 EDT

A near-perfect knitting companion.
Knit Aid by Vickie Howell is a small, hardbound and spiral-spine volume, perfect for tucking into your knitting bag. The subtitle, "A learn it, fix it, finish it guide for knitters," sums up this book perfectly. A wide variety of topics are covered, making it a great guide for beginners or a refresher for more experienced knitters. Vickie Howell...

Book Review: Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments by Robert Bruce Thompson

Barbara Barnett — Fri, 6 Jun 2008 18:01:23 EDT

Kitchen chemistry for the mad scientist in us all. Thompson's book is a DIY course general chemistry, but not for kids.
I got my first chemistry set when I was 10 years old. It was filled with lots of cool things like litmus paper; an alcohol lamp, 40 little plastic bottles filled with exotic-sounding chemicals like ferrous ammonium sulfate and phenolphthalein. Small beakers, flasks and test tubes, the iconic alcohol lamp, mixing sticks and measuring spoons...

Book Review: Knitted Critters For Kids to Wear by Jean Adel

Alyse Wax — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 07:16:59 EDT

Cute projects that are better suited for young knitters.
Knitted Critters for Kids to Wear by Jean Adel is a collection of over 40 animal themed accessories to knit for kids. Dozens of different animal hat patterns are included, many with matching scarf and mittens.The patterns are all quite basic. Hats are basic stockinette-in-the-round patterns. Mittens are basic four-fingers-and-a-thumb creations with...

Book Review: Tweed - More Than 20 Contemporary Designs to Knit by Nancy J. Thomas

Alyse Wax — Mon, 2 Jun 2008 06:42:40 EDT

Classic knits for a classic yarn.
Tweed: More Than 20 Contemporary Designs to Knit by Nancy J. Thomas is not your typical knitting book. Most knitting books are either instructional or patterns. This hardbound volume is loaded with patterns and color photographs. But the first chapter of this book is about tweed. Not just the yarn, but the fabric. It’s history, it’s...

Audio Book Review: Knitting Memories - Reflections on the Knitter's Life Edited by Lela Nargi

Jennifer Bogart — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:49:45 EDT

A moving collection of stories that follow the strands of knitting through each author�s life.
What do you do when you are knitting? Some knitters possess the talent of working with their hands while their eyes are directed elsewhere: watching television, overseeing their children, or engaging in lively conversation with friends – including direct eye contact. Unfortunately I am not so experienced a knitter as to be able to claim...