Customer Reviews

Adorable Knits for Tots: 25 Stylish Designs for Babies and Toddlers

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book has really nice sweaters in it, but there are errors in the book so beware!!! The sweater featured on the cover tells you to use US size 5 knitting needles which can not be true since the pattern for the sailboat sweater (page 83)uses the same type yarn and gauge but tells you to use US size 3 needles. After knitting the star sweater (cover) with the US 5 it is obvious that there is a typo. I ripped the sweater out and reknitted with the US 3. What a waste of time!
Also the star sweater and sailboat sweater have inconsistencies with the number of stitches you should have left at the neckband so you have to figure out some work around for those errors as well. I only have experience with those two patterns in the book and have found both of them to have mistakes. If you purchase this book I would recommend reading the pattern carefully so you can plan ahead. This book is not for beginners and can prove to be very frustrating.

Beware....I am on my second sweater from this book and with both sweaters there were mistakes in the instructions. It's been incredibly frustrating. I won't buy another book from Zoe Mellor.

I was leery about this book because of the very mixed reviews, and expected problems when I started the Robin Hood jacket. But I didn't find the instructions confusing at all, and the jacket turned out perfect! I have also knitted up half of the heart pattern cardigan, and again, no problems. The patterns are really cute, and it is easy to substitute different yarns and colors for the expensive name brand ones she uses (but if you are going to do the Robin Hood jacket, I do recommend trying to locate some Rowan Cork, a discontinued yarn. It is so soft and shows the cables well).

I made the sweater on the front cover. It's a beautiful design, but the neck opening is way too small and my daughter (3 yrs) does not have a big head. I couldn't even get it on her so I had to modify one shoulder seam to add a zipper. Also the body of the sweater is about 4 inches too long (which on a 3 year old is significant).

I thought perhaps I had knitted it incorrectly, but my girlfriend had exactly the same problems with her sweater too.

Zoe Mellor's designs are quite beautiful, but don't judge this book by it's cover like I did. Her patterns are just not in proportion. I spent many, many hours only to be sorely dissapointed in the finished product. If I had spent more money on yarn, I would be down right bitter.

This is a beautiful book. I looked at it for several months before I bought it. I found 3 sweaters I wanted to knit and started with the pink lacey edge sweater on page 31. I was so disappointed to find a mistake in the first lace pattern. Rather than trying to figure out what was omitted I went to my Knitting on the Edge book and substituted another lace pattern. I can't find any error corrections on the book. I am an experienced knitter. I think an author should proof her patterns before putting it to print.

1. This book has beautiful projects.
2. They are not all easy.
3. I am a very experienced knitter.
4. I am making the dots and stripes baby blanket as a gift for my niece.
5. I am eliminating the dots because if there was another color change or another bobbin on my needles (12!) I was going to scream and tear my hair out. There is a slight possibility that I may duplicate-stitch them in when/if I'm done.
6. There are so many ends to weave in that the reverse side will have to be backed with fabric or another knit piece in order to make it givable.
7. I doubt I will try to make another project from this book, but if the author reads this and thinks maybe I'm going about it all the wrong way, I'd appreciate an e-mail. I want to like it, I really do.

Several reviewers of this book have complained and rated it low because the patterns contained errors. But if you read what they said, notice they knitted on the wrong size needles. Goes to show that you really should check your gauge.

I have knitted several patterns in the book and have not run into any problems. The patterns are really cute and are pretty easily adapted as far as color and little finishing touches are concerned. The main thing is that they are classic designs that won't go out of style in a few years (at least I don't think so). However, do be ready to spend a pretty penny on the recommended yarns or substitute your own.

Mellor is obviously British and I think this lends a different approach to her patterns, so you'll notice a difference between her and American patterns, I think. But she's very classy and non-trendy about what's in this book.

One more word of warning: This book is NOT FOR BEGINNERS. The patterns' instructions are often a little vague and even had me, a semi-advanced knitter, reading and re-reading. Be prepared to do everything those instruction books tell you and warn you about - checking your gauge often and having kids try on the patterns as you make them. There are no instructions in the book, so don't buy this book alone if you need them - and do yourself a favor and don't try these as your first project.

I love this book. So far I have knitted the pirate sweater for my nephew, the ballet cardigan and the mary janes booties. I bought the recommended yarn for the jumper but happily substituted local yarns for the other things. The mary Janes are fabulous, and I have even made adult sized ones using 12ply (aran?) with only minor changes to the pattern! There was a minor problem with the pattern for the pirate jumper (check the sizing for 3-4 years) but I emailed the publisher and recieved a prompt and apologetic response. There is also a problem with the needle size recommended for the star jumper, and although this is unfortunate it is also a reminder to test gauge too. This is a really sweet collection of babies and kids knits.

I'd been really wanting this book since I saw it at a bookstore once, and finally got it a few months ago. I have to admit to being slightly, but not terribly, disappointed. Here is why:

1. Many of the patterns have some serious mistakes in them. I've only worked three items from the book (chunky cabled sweater, Mary-Jane slippers, and Robin Hood hoodie), and the cabled sweater and Mary-Janes had errors. Fortunately, the errors are not so grave that you can't figure out what to do if you just stop and think about it, but they do slow down your progress.

2. The sleeve lengths recommended for the sweaters strike me as being way too short. Just use your own judgement when making the patterns.

3. Everything is knit in multiple pieces, flat. Some things, like the hats, would work better knit in the round.

4. If you hate colorwork, this book is not for you. Most of the projects involve intarsia and/or Fair Isle, with teeny-tiny little designs. There are only a few textured knitting patterns.

5. Charts of how the knitted pieces should look and what they would measure would be really helpful, but are not provided.

On the plus side:

1. The patterns really ARE adorable. There are only a couple of things in the book I won't consider making.

2. There is a good variety of projects: two blankets; many sweaters for both boys and girls, and cardigans as well as pullovers; three dresses; a ballet-wrap type sweater; a vest/tank top; socks and booties; mittens; and many hats. Chances are, you'll make something out of this book.

3. I like the age range: patterns are given for babies 6-12 months, and then toddlers up to 4 years. Many books tend to do either babies or toddlers.

So, overall, I think that a careful knitter would do well with this book. As long as you step away from your knitting and examine it carefully from time to time, starting over as needed, you'll be fine.

Skill level: there are patterns here for every skill level. Some projects require nothing more than stockinette knit flat. Others are more complicated, requiring Fair Isle or intarsia colorwork, cabling, and lace. Intermediate projects use stripes and seed stitch. You're sure to find something you can make, even if you're just starting to knit, and you'll keep being challenged as your skill grows.

I just wanted to mention that editors are not the designers. Yes, people make mistakes, including editors/publishers of designer's books, and this one is no exception. Easily solved in this case, just call the number on the book( back cover) and they will speedily( less than a fifteen minutes for me) e-mail you the errata page. They will also continue to be there for help if you find another problem that was not addressed yet. Perhaps they are in contact with the authors and can do that, better than we could.
I've done that with another book as well, "Little Badger Knits" and got an immediate reply and help from the publishers.
I would not write off a book because of mistakes that can easily be solved.
I am looking forward to knitting from this book and it certainly does have "adorable knits" in it!