I love challenging myself with complicated designs, though I also take great joy in the beauty found within simple patterns. After a long day I don’t always want to knit another garter stitch washcloth, it’s nice to have easy to work patterns on hand. The two books in today’s post fit this basic criteria.
Drop-Dead Easy Knits
by Gale Zucker, Mary Lou Egan, Kirsten Kapur
With this title on your shelf you’ll never be without a knit, from a quick and cozy project when you need something warm to a lightweight item keeping you occupied at the beach after you’ve finished your latest guilty read. With classic designs, Drop Dead Easy Knits will become a good knitting friend that you pull off the shelf again and again.
The designs are grouped by topic, not the expected type of item, but rather the knitting environment. You’ll find items to work confidently while distracted at knit night with the Shandy Headband or you can turn to the joggle scarf when enduring a family get-together. At the seashore sit with your toes in the sand while working up a Searsport Market Bag or warm your toes at the fire as you whip up an instant gift, also known as a Portillo Cowl.
The range of projects suits a variety of knitters, yarns, and situations with the benefit that they really are easy! There are tips and notes in each pattern for if you can engage cruise control, or if success requires paying attention. This is a title I recommend for all bookshelves.
Want to know more? Gale, Mary Lou, and Kirsten filmed a short video with great additional tips:
[youtube https://youtu.be/AFgnuV0fIkE]
Crochet One-Skein Wonders for Babies: 101 Projects for Infants & Toddlers
The eighth book in the One-Skein Wonders series does not disappoint, and even more delightful is that it’s for crocheters! While several earlier titles include a token project or two, this volume celebrates all designs crochet.
The projects are arranged by standard categories: hats, socks, tops, blankets, and numerous types of accessories. In addition to a standard index is one by yarn weight. These are helpful for those situations when you have yarn but aren’t quite sure what you want to make. Many different tips are included to ensure successful projects. Two I like are nice reminders for hats: a larger hat can be grown into, a smaller one is pointless and to keep bonnet tie lengths short. Symbol diagrams are included where feasible. Attention to layout means the symbol key and abbreviation chart are facing each other in the print copy.
If you crochet and wish to expand your repertoire, I recommend this versatile addition to your bookshelf.
I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The FTC wants you to know.
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