Comforts of Home: Simple Knitted Accents [Paperback]

Erika Knight (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2000

Comforts of Home
Simple Knitted Accents
by Erika Knight

Transform your home into a luxurious retreat with exquisite knitted accents!

Capturing the mood of minimalist design, Comforts of Home offers simple patterns for creating luxurious, contemporary knitted accents for the home. Eighteen beautiful and practical projects feature the easiest stitches and patterns, making this book ideal for even first-time knitters.

Starting with basic knitting techniques, Comforts of Home provides detailed photographs and easy-to-follow instructions that introduce each knitting concept clearly and concisely. From casting on to increasing, decreasing, and binding off, you'll find each project simple to stitch and a joy to create.

· Quick-to-knit designs follow the stylish "natural look" trend, using soft, lavish yarns and muted color palettes to harmonize with any decor

· Large projects are conveniently broken down into portable sections for knitting at the soccer game, the doctor's office, or away from home

· No previous knitting experience is needed--most of these lush accessories can be completed in a weekend, even by novice knitters

These elegant, quick, and easy projects for modern interiors offer a casual look that will transform your home's spaces into comfortable, welcome havens for living.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Erika Knight is a top international design consultant who currently works with Ralph Lauren. Erika shares her extensive knowledge of interiors and her considerable experience with knitted clothing and accessories in the beautiful combination of projects, yarns, and textures in Comforts of Home.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Martingale and Company (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564773353
• ISBN-13: 978-1564773357
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #450,517 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, Super-easy projects, September 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Comforts of Home: Simple Knitted Accents (Paperback)

I'm a beginning knitter and I LOVE this book. There are simple pillows, blankets, a wash mitt, a bag, a rag rug, and other home decor projects to knit in nice, natural colors. The patterns use lots of squares so the knitting is easy (not a lot of decreases or increases). There are a few intermediate projects, like a sweater, a "cuddle coat," and cute little booties. But the best thing are the photos--beautiful, close-up shots of luxurious yarns that make you want to pick up your needles and start right away!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aesthetically pleasing and simple projects abound!, March 5, 2004

By 

christin (minneapolis, mn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comforts of Home: Simple Knitted Accents (Paperback)

This book is very lovely and I use it for more inspiration than actual patterns for home decor.

Hand-knitting household accents is an enjoyable and relaxing task. They give yr home a comfortable and lived in look and you have complete creative control in colours, patterns, texture and size instead of purchasing something readymade in a store. They also make extremely thoughtful gifts especially if you make things to match the gift recipent's colour scheme and decor.

My favourite pattern in this book is for a lush shaggy bath rug. I also like the beaded accents on the throw pillows.

This book is appropriate for every skill level, in fact more advanced knitters would just finish the project that much quicker and easier, while the novice knitter would have a fairly easy time knitting the mostly rectangular patterns and most of them call for fairly bulky yarn.

I would suggest purusing a copy at a bookstore or library before purchasing because it is a little pricy and the best aspects of it are the ideas and presentation. Most semi-experienced knitters would not even need a pattern if they saw a picture and then could knit from their mind's eye.

On the other hand this book is so lovely and provokes creativity for me in decoring my home that it is worth having and keeping and flipping through.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprising!, September 17, 2001

By 

Jennifer DeWitt (Bay Area, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comforts of Home: Simple Knitted Accents (Paperback)

I was really knocked out by the designs in this book. All of them are simply beautiful, from the basic throws and pillows, to a unique basket and bag for the bath. More than many other books, I think this one wants you to take the ideas of the patterns and run with them. You could make them exactly as they appear, or you could substitute yarns, stitches, needles, etc. for a totally new look.

The best example of this approach may well be the rag rug. The possibilities are limitless, using a mixture of cotton and chenille yarns, hemp, fabric strips - whatever you have stashed away that strikes your fancy.

While all of this 'go with the flow' uniqueness is fun, it would still be helpful to have a bit more of the traditional knitting book here. Gauges are given, but in the back of the book. The gauge really ought to be with each pattern, so you don't have to hunt for it and refer back. Also, several of the yarns used are no longer available or hard to find. Suggested substitutes (like Vogue Knitting's excellent books) might have been in order.

The designs in this book all have a modern, yet classic, aesthetic that will fit well in just about anyone's home. You'll be making things for yourself, as well as for a much-loved gift. Think weddings and housewarmings, as well as the holidays.

As a final note, the designs are presented in lush photographs and an accessible layout (apart from the gauge thing).