The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits: 19 Projects, Step-by-Step Instructions, Basic to Advanced Stitches [Paperback]

Catherine Tough (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2006

* Fun and funky styles for beginning knitters!
* Cool, fun projects: leg warmers, mitts, scarves, pillows, throws--and lampshades!
* Each chapter introduces a new technique and great projects to practice with!

Beginning knitters, cheer up. Now you can learn to knit exciting, amusing designs by Catherine Tough, known for her witty accessories. A section on getting started shows all the basics. Then it’s time to make stylish leg warmers, mitts, scarves, pillows, throws, and more, following step-by-step instructions and clear illustrations. Big needles make many projects fast; fun yarn combinations and clever, cute embellishments make them all hip.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Catherine Tough is known around the world for her cool interior accessories, which she designs for her company, Catherine Tough Textiles Limited. Her knitted polka-dot hot-water-bottle cover, Spotty Hottie, is a favorite. She lives in the UK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: C&T Publishing (August 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571204148
• ISBN-13: 978-1571204141
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,009,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very hip, January 4, 2007

By 

Susan G. Good "obsessed knitter" (Wilmington, DE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits: 19 Projects, Step-by-Step Instructions, Basic to Advanced Stitches (Paperback)

This book was lots of fun. I have yet to actually knit any of the patterns, but I know I will. I may never knit all of the patterns but this is just one of those knitting books that elicits both smiles and creative juices. I would definitely recommend it for everyone but a very first time knitter - it's definitely not your standard basic "learn to knit" book. It's a great addition to my collection of knitting books

3.0 out of 5 stars I like it for the pictures, August 24, 2009

By 

Denise O'Malley "Spunky the dog" (Loserville, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits: 19 Projects, Step-by-Step Instructions, Basic to Advanced Stitches (Paperback)

I bought this book for $5.00 at Half-priced Books. I instantly fell in love with this book as I saw all the creative patterns, but it was blind foolish love, for I pay little attention to the other three copies of the book. "Maybe they just suck at knitting I thought."

BUT I WAS BEING NAIVE....THAT NIGHT

I sat in my baby sister's lazyboy chair while I begin to read the patterns, but to my surprise(NOT REALLY) I discovered that some of these yarns were hard to find and that this book is from the UK! GASP! OH NOES! THE HORROR!!!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

Overall this book gets three stars for interesting patterns, but the presentation of the book is very sloppy. Who would put garter stitch projects after Stockinette projects. The patterns are hard to find since the word arebunchtogetherlikethis (I'm kidding but they are really close in small font).

Well atleast the pictures are good....

4.0 out of 5 stars Something for everyone to knit, April 22, 2008

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits: 19 Projects, Step-by-Step Instructions, Basic to Advanced Stitches (Paperback)

As a novice knitter, I was thrilled to receive The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits: 19 Projects, Step-by-Step Instructions, Basic to Advanced Stitches delivered to my doorstep. I pulled out my odds and ends of yarn, scissors, different-sized needles and sat down on the couch with the book.

Once considered your grandmother's sport of choice, knitting has made a comeback in the past few years--well beyond the kitschy Christmas sweaters or `70s tea cozies. So it was nice to delve into a book that reaffirmed the fact that knitting is once again in style with a whole new generation.

I consider myself primarily a "scarf" person, favoring simple, mindless patterns I can accomplish in front of the television. The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits is a nice departure from the "scarf maker" in me. The book's introduction gives a rundown of the basics, from casting-on-and-off methods to increasing or decreasing rows and learning to read patterns and pick the right needles.

Giving the projects in the book a "wow" factor are the large, minimalist photos of balls of yarn and completed projects. This knitting pattern book has such stunning photos--full-color pages of thick, purple yarn, sumptuous textures and "hip" projects.

There are 19 projects offered, from beginner (like me) to advanced, but even the advanced patterns don't seem particularly daunting. Projects run the gamut from fingerless gloves, pillow covers, scarves, shawls and a lampshade. Don't be turned off by the kitsch factor of knitting a lampshade, though; it's actually appealing.

Armchair Interviews says: Nice book for all levels of knitters.