Customer Reviews

Barbie Doll and Me: 45 Playful Matching Designs for Knitting

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book goes far beyond Barbie. It has become my favorite knitting pattern book!

The doll patterns are adorable, but usually call for tiny amounts of fine-gauge, hard-to-find yarns. I personally am not planning to knit a doll sweater. If you are a Barbie Doll lover though, you will certainly find some wonderful things to make.

But the book also has patterns for girls, boys, women and men (one "Dad" sweater). Nicky Epstein has some wonderful techniques in her patterns which make for beautifully finished sweaters. I am at the advanced-beginner level, and her book makes it easy to turn out professional looking sweaters by using methods like a three-needle bind-off at the shoulders, and making sleeves by picking up stitches at the shoulder and knitting down toward the cuff.

The writer suggest specific yarns to use, but she also gives you plenty of information about gauge and yardage so that it is easy to substitute a different yarn.

My daughter and I love to look through the book and pick out our "next" patterns. There are lots of matching mother and daughter patterns (plus doll, of course) which look equally nice on women and girls. I have already made the father-and-son rugby sweaters, and my next project will be a soft little cardigan for my daughter, with a fluffy collar and cuffs and matching fluffy headband. For myself I would like to make the raglan sleeved turtleneck.

Nicky Epstein has some awesome knitting books out on embellishments and edges, and home decor. I wish she would write some more sweater patterns too, because she makes it very easy to make a great looking garment.

I have been buying quite a few of Nicky Epsteins books and have found this book to be up to her excellent high standard of quality design, instructions and gorgeous photos which both myself and my grandaughters love looking at to choose which outfit to make next.

Excellent and unique knitting book. Patterns are easy to follow and very attractive styles. Some of the yarn recommendations such as Shepherd/Classic Elite Yarns (Color 4 Me 8-Ply) are imports making the yarn expensive. The author does not offer yarn substitute recommendations.

I am so happy I purchased this book. It has very well made and creative knitted items not only for Barbie size dolls but girls and their moms also. Instructions are clear, tho' some would be a challenge for beginning knitters. Really nice book. Recommend it to anyone who wants fashionable knits for all the girls in the house.