29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really, really good!, December 24, 2006
This review is from: Doggy Knits: Over 20 Coat Designs for Handsome Hounds and Perfect Pooches (Paperback)
My sister bought this book for me and as soon as I picked it up, I immediately thought about returning it. I thought, "I own a lab... they aren't going to have anything her size!" But I was wrong! This isn't your average, fluffy pampered mouse-dog type book. Inside are some really utilitarian designs and some really cutesy ones, and some that can go both ways depending on color/yarn/embellishment choices. The sizes range from XS (16" chest) to XXL (28" chest), so most dogs are covered.
I haven't had any time to knit any of the designs (I got the book today), but I'm sure if there's a serious problem with errors, it will pop up here.
A basic description of each design follows, for those of you who can't leaf through the book:
Section one: Classic Canine
"Textured sweater" - chunky, moss/seed stitch, basic sweater
"Frogged and Formal" - coat-style (draped over the back, not a tight-fitting sweater) with optional trim and frog closure
"Button-up Sweater" - basic ribbed sweater with buttons down the side (cover photo)
"Lace-edged Lady" - coat-style with lace edge
"Raingear for Rover" - coat-style, narrow bellyband, buckle front
"Fabulous and Felted" - coat-style, narrow bellyband, mid-back length, felted, with optional blanket-stitch edge
Section Two: Funky Dawg
"Stripy coat and leg warmers" - Fair Isle sweater/coat with dog-sized leg warmers
"Denim-Style Jacket" - Sweater-style, pocket flaps
"Herringbone bones" - (optionally) embroidered with dog bones, coat-style with wide bellyband
"Deep-rib zip-up" - slouchy sweater-style, chunky weight yarn, back zip
"Warm and woolly" - chunky weight sweater, back button up closure
"Double-strap Jacket" - coat-style with two front buckles and two narrow bellybands
"Colorful Cable Coat" - coat-style, no bellyband, colored cables
Section Three: Perfect Pooch
"Bright and bobbly" - coat style, covered in bobbles
"Paws for thought" - coat style, Fair Isle paw prints
"Fluffy and frivolous" - chunky sweater-style, back closure (I think), turtleneck
"Mesh Coat" - mesh coat-style
"Wiggly Stripes" - Fair Isle, back button, sweater style (I think)
"Pucker-up" - puckered, slip-stitch stripes, coat style
"Pretty in pink" - sweater, longer sleeves, back button closure
Be aware that this book contains very little knitting instruction and is not for the beginner. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone with knitting experience.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Knitting for the dogs .., May 5, 2007
This review is from: Doggy Knits: Over 20 Coat Designs for Handsome Hounds and Perfect Pooches (Paperback)
I bought this book because of the cute photographs and have since knitted a coat for one of our terriers from it.
Experienced knitters will find the instructions fairly easy to follow, and the measuring instructions will enable those of us with dogs who are not average to tailor a pattern to fit.
Less experienced knitters will find the knitting information chapter at the end of the book helpful in terms of techniques. While there are patterns that a beginner could use, this would be best attempted by a beginner who had access to a more experienced knitter for guidance.
The major drawback, from my perspective, is that the book doesn't give a ply (wool thickness) approximation for each pattern which may make it a challenge for some to identify substitute yarns.
A lovely, colourful book!
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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