Baby Knits for Beginners [Hardcover]

Debbie Bliss (Author)

Book Description

This delightful new book from best-selling author Debbie Bliss is a complete beginner's guide to knitting for babies, from bootees and blankets to simple sweaters. Published in a handy format ideal for tucking into a knitting bag, it features 15 stylish projects.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bliss, a knitwear designer and prolific knitting-book author, here combines clear lessons in learning how to knit with appealing projects for baby sweaters and accessories. Bliss's aesthetic-a hybrid of English simplicity and the casual BabyGap style she helped to create-will be well known to experienced knitters, as well as to fashion-conscious folks itching to knit something sweet and simple for their favorite baby. Bliss carefully lays out instructions for knitting, and includes sketches illustrating needle positions and techniques for each step. She also provides handy information for beginners on choosing yarn and tools and reading patterns. The 15 adorable projects include two scarves, a blanket, seed-stitch shoes, a simple hat and several sweaters of varying degrees of difficulty, culminating in a classic V-neck sweater with pockets. Most designs are sized for newborns to 12 months, though some begin at 3-6 months or end at 36 months. This inconsistency and Bliss's near-insistence that readers buy her (expensive) line of yarns, used exclusively in this book, chafe slightly. Overlooking these snags, though, beginning knitters will be pleased with a finely photographed, straightforward instruction book. 90 color photos and illustrations.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

It's well known that the impending arrival of a baby leads many people to dream of handcrafting wonderful whimsicals. Master UK knitter and author Bliss shrewdly capitalizes on these emotions, demonstrating exactly how even rank beginners can knit simple garments for 3- to 24-month-old children. Far different from her Baby Knits Book (2003), this concentrates on 15 projects graduated either in terms of technique or in level of difficulty. Photography is magazine-lush and close-up enough for readers to pick out individual stitches; the illustrations, too, provide easy-to-understand accompaniments to very straightforward directions. The patterns are classic silhouettes that allow for colorful interpretation or elegant monochromatic hues: a garter-stitch scarf, cushions with buttonholes, two-needle socks, a V-neck sweater with pockets. What the best-dressed tot and toddler could wear. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Trafalgar Square Books (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570762481
• ISBN-13: 978-1570762482
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Expert Advice > Debbie Bliss

More About the Author

Debbie Bliss is the foremost knitwear designer for children. With a string of bestselling titles to her name, she regularly tours the US, Canada and other countries, giving lectures and doing workshops and has her own Debbie Bliss branded yarn range which is sold worldwide. Debbie lives in London with her husband and two children. Her website is www.debbiebliss.freeserve.co.uk.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Horrible Pattern Instructions, July 29, 2004

By 

JC (Sunnyvale, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Knits for Beginners (Hardcover)

While the pictures of sweet toddlers in classic colors and designs is tempting. Don't bother with this book - or other Debbie Bliss books. I am currently making the Eylet Dress and had to make an appointment with my yarn store's Knitting Doctor. Even she couldn't make sense out of the instructions on the neck shaping. So with her help, I am now 'winging it'. This woman also told me that I was the 2nd person she helped just this morning with a Debbie Bliss pattern. And another employee also told me that she has trouble with DB patters as well. Trouble is there are no diagrams as to what size the pieces are supposed to come out. After spending $35 on yarn and $20 for a book of designer patterns, I don't expect to be 'winging it'. Needless to say, I will never buy a Debbie Bliss book again.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Congratulations, almost, June 8, 2004

By 

MagickDragonKnits (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Knits for Beginners (Hardcover)

Well, these are not recycled designs, and the needles are larger than normal for her. But this is not a book for beginners. There are problems with clarity of instruction. And again, she's over promoting her own brand of yarn which is expensive and short on yardage.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute pix, difficult patterns, October 6, 2005

By 

Mama1818 (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baby Knits for Beginners (Hardcover)

The pattern instructions are not for beginners. I tried 2 projects, 1 completed, 1 pending. I have to go to the local yarn store for help. Even when I did, the woman (who has been knitting her entire life) was confused by the directions. not for a beginner, IMO.