Customer Reviews

Comforts of Home: Simple Knitted Accents

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

 

 

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!

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.

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).

I like the feel of this book - it seems to come from a world that is bright and clean and warm and tidy and quietly creative.

I like the side-by-side comparisons of swatches in different weight yarns. And this is a good introduction to household items that are knittable - a different way of thinking for me.

My favorite item so far though is the loofah mitt - knitted with sisal. That just wouldn't have occurred to me ever.

This book isn't worth hundreds of dollars or anything, but I think it offers something fresh for those like me who are new to knitting.

I purchased this book after buying "Simple Knits for Easy Living" by the same author. To my surprise, they were the same book!! The only differences were the title and front cover. Needless to say I was upset.

The book itself was okay. These are very simple knits for beginner knitters.

In addition to being inspiring, this book has the added benefit of not being incredibly intimidating. I would guess that most, if not all of the projects, could be completed by a beginner with great results. I really enjoy how the author has used relatively simple techniques, a mix of high-quality yarn and nontraditional materials, and an eye for color and texture to make the designs work.

After buying the book I had to decide which project to begin first. Many of the items would make terrific gifts as well as home accents to keep.

I would offer only one warning: the yarns the author uses and recommends for the designs are quite expensive. One throw pillow design I liked would require ... of the recommended yarn. While more experienced knitters will have no problem finding substitutes, it may be an issue for beginning knitters.

Yes, there are some lovely pictures in this book but I was less than impressed with the projects and patterns found inside. It probably wouldn't be that bad if it wasn't so expensive - if you can find a used copy for cheap buy it. But what really botered me was how unoriginal the projects were. The garter stitch pillow case was the worse, the stockingnette stitch plants and the rag rug were all close runners up. Everything in this book I have seen free patterns for on the net and with only 18 projects I would recommend something else - anything else. This book did not impress me at all, no matter how pretty the pictures were.

I've bought 2 copies for friends and one for myself! There are color photographs of casting on, knitting and purling, so I am comfortable giving this to a newbie. Good gift ideas for kids to make for friends & family members. More experienced knitters will like the felted sweater and chenille robe. For my own projects, I will probably substitute less expensive, but easy to find yarns, like Brown Sheep.

Even though I would classify myself as an advanced knitter, I love this book and highly recommend it. Even though these patterns are simple (and designed for the beginner) they don't look like My-First-Knitting-Project-- if anything they just remind that less is more and the beauty is in the simplicity.

I had to buy this book after leafing through it a few times. Even though I didn't really need the patterns, I had never thought of doing some of the things Ms Knight has done with knitwear. The inspiration the photos and projects gave me demanded that I add this book to my collection. (Please note, this review refers to the British edition)

I recently knit the cuddle coat for my grandmother (I added a top button and made the sleeves full rather than 3/4). It was easy and it turned out beautifully. HOWEVER, I do wish that the author had included gauge information about each of the patters. I ended up needing more yarn than the pattern calls for but was unable to find the same dyelot (it wasn't a big deal since I did it in off-white but it could have been)...