Customer Reviews

Baby Knits for Beginners

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I love the designs and suggested colors of all the projects by Debbie Bliss. However, her instructions are not very clear for a beginner book, and I found myself consulting more advanced knitters many times for clarification. The book would be greatly improved with more pictures or diagrams of projects broken down; in other words, what each piece should look like before their sewn together. Also, there are a couple projects that involved supplies that were not listed. I found out mid-project that I needed stitch holders (first I had to find out what stitch holders were!). I had never knitted before trying the projects from this book, and would not recommend it to a first-timer like myself who is learning the basic skills. However, I love her designs and her projects are so beautiful.

I'm at least an intermediate knitter who purchased this book because of the classic "Ralph Lauren" designs. I knitted the "jacket with seed stitch bands" using the Bliss Cashmerino yarn. The directions don't give inches to measure pattern pieces nor do they provide graphics. After seaming the shoulders and knitting the neck, I realized the front pieces were too short, thus making the neck large enough for me. I've spent the morning taking it out and will be able to adjust the pattern I hope, but I'm not happy. This is a expensive sweater for a baby, and I expect a Bliss pattern to provide me with accurate, complete information. From now on I'll avoid books that don't provide measurements and graphics.

This is one of the best simple baby books I have ever purchased! The patterns are cute and easy. Many call for her yarns, but you only need two to three balls for many of the patterns. I love her cashmerino and making a baby sweater was the perfect way to use this yummy yarn and not break my bank. I recommend it for busy moms and new knitters. The patterns are simple and straight forward with minimal shaping and no color work. The sweaters are also baby friendly with necks that open at the shoulder or boat necks that overlap at the shoulder. I definately recommend this book!!

I went back and forth between this book and recommendations to purchase Melanie Falick's book, and I wish I had ordered the Falick book. Bliss' designs are sublime BUT as a "barely graduated from 'Beginner'" knitter, they definitely more of a challenge than I was looking for. The patterns concentrate almost exclusively on tops and sweaters, which was not what I was after in "beginner" patterns ... I was more interested in a variety of blankets, hats, booties, etc. -- unfortunately, there are very, very few to choose from in this book. In fact, the only blanket in the book is a multi-color patchwork of garter-ridge squares that, after you knit multiples of each color, have to be assembled. Absolutely stunning in the picture but definitely not what I had in mind as a quick-and-easy beginner receiving blanket I would actually get done before June when the baby arrives! I look forward to the day when my book-taught knitting is a little farther along and I can really enjoy working Bliss' fabulous projects, but for now, I am not ready for this ... the word "Beginners" really doesn't belong in the title.

I bought this book and knitted the v-neck cardigan for my baby. I hadn't knit in years, so I definitely considered myself a beginner. After reading through the book and then starting the sweater, I felt very comfortable with my knitting project. Once I started the V-neck sweater, I noticed something wrong with the pattern directions for the v-neck sweater. It didn't make sense. It called for size 6 knitting needles for the whole project (including the contrasting trim), except for on one of the front pieces (it called for size 5). You'd have to read the pattern to know what I mean. I called several knitting shops to ask them about the strange direction, and they told me it must be printed incorrectly. I ended up knitting the whole sweater in size 6 and it turned out fine. Also, I used the Debbie Bliss Double Cotton yarn like the pattern called for. When I washed the sweater the first time, the contrasting color bled a little onto the rest of the sweater. That was quite a disappointment. Bottom line...I loved the book, but be careful when reading directions, I'm not sure how accurate they are.

Yes I really love this book and Debbie Bliss Designs and agree at points that the directions are not always clear. I have made four of the baby sweaters and have used Bernat baby yarn instead with great results. I am new to knitting but have been crocheting for many years. The instructions on seams are very good and helped me have clean finished results. I would suggest this book to anyone who is learning to make sweaters because many of the techniques used in adult sizes you can practice in a smaller, less time consuming version.

I'm an intermediate-level knitter and have enjoyed this book for its simple, monochromatic designs and what have been (for me, at least) clear instructions. My daughter is nearly two, and I've made for her a shawl-colored jacket, a dress, and a boat-necked sweater from this book, all of which were simple to create and which compliment her toddler cuteness with their clean lines and clear colors.

My only complaint, actually, has to do with the Debbie Bliss yarns themselves. I bought a fuschia wool/cotton for one pattern, and found that it bled when I hand-washed it, which isn't something I'm accustomed to with my handknits.