Customer Reviews

DomiKNITrix: Whip Your Knitting Into Shape

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Finally a knitting book with some truly well fitting and cleverly constructed items. Not everything in the book is awesome (ie. pillow with intarsia star - boring!), and not everything that is awesome is wearable (ie. mohawk and devil hats), but for the most part is the first knitting book in a while to come out with some modern, creative, imaginative and unique projects. The cover is a little fun and edgy - I was getting funny looks from other people as I was flipping through the book in the subway, and illustrations are pretty funny. This is definitely geared towards the younger and/or edgier crowd, but I think most knitters regardless of age and inclination can appreciate something about this book. The range of sizes offered is definitely better than most, but not specifically catering towards the plus size ladies (I think the largest size offered for a sweater is 43" bust, but there are many non-sweater projects such as hats, bag, pillows, etc). Though you'll find some of the usual chapters in the beginning of the book about knitting basics (casting on, casting off, choosing yarns, etc), I probably would not recommend this as a very first knitting book to someone who has never knitted anything before and is looking to learn. However, if you are a beginner who can knit, purl, increase and decrease, and are looking for cool-looking stuff to make and are willing to take the time to learn some new techniques, do not hesitate to give this book a chance.

An interesting collection of patterns, definitely not your grandmother's knitting manual though she may like a pattern or two. You need to be knowledgeable about knitting--this is not for beginners. One pattern has been intentionally left out, you are to obtain it from her blog. As I write this review, its not yet on her blog.***Update***
***The pattern is now available, you need a code from the book in order to receive the pattern. It is truly a challenge to knit. Jeniffer is an awesome knitwear designer.The Elfin Brife and Gothlet sweaters (patterns) are truly a work of art. 5 ***** Stars

The dom theme is evident throughout the book, from the vinyl cover to the illustrations to the models to (a few of) the patterns. It would be silly, but the gimmick works: Stafford is serious about maintaining complete control over one's art, and she's got several good tips and techniques for doing it. Like other knitting books, Domiknitrix has a lengthy how-to section. I can't see a rank beginner teaching herself how to knit from it, but for the knitter who already knows the knit and purl, this is a fantastic resource for more advanced techniques not found elsewhere. I've never seen an explanation of how to install a zipper, for instance, or three (count 'em!) different bind-off options presented in other books. She also goes into a lot of detail about yarn, breaking down and comparing the traits of animal, plant, and mineral (synthetic) fibers.

The patterns themselves are a grab-bag. I have absolutely no use for a mohawk hat or a heart-shaped "Spank Me" pillow. I will never wear a skull vest. However, the Little Red Riding Hoodie is tearing its way to the top of my queue, and hers are some of the first accessories I've actually liked, not just flipped past to get to the good stuff. One stroke of genius is her charts: all her sweaters and vests are constructed so that any of the charts in the book (including three more in an appendix) can be used. Don't like the skull vest? Use the fleur-de-lys chart instead. Seriously, that's just brilliant, folks.

Queue-worthy: string of purls, flower pins, Sweetheart sweater, Swizzle vest, City coat

Why bother?: the hats, the pillows

Conclusion: Great section of intermediate-advanced techniques not found elsewhere.

I would never have touched this if I hadn't been able to thumb through it in a bookstore first, but I did--and hey! It's FUN. It's also a GOOD BOOK. The whole Goth theme of the layout and the haunted, shadowy models is clever, even if it's not to your taste. The author is clearly very talented; her grasp of design is stunning, way over my head.

The real surprise for me was the technique section: I was bowled over by the instruction segments and the clever way they were incorporated into the projects as sequential "lessons." My one whine would be that there weren't enough sequential pictures of the gnarliest techniques--damned Kitchener grafting!--and there is an occasional leap forward that leaves the reader in the dust. This is the curse of any technical writer, who already knows what she means and forgets that we are puddling along in her wake, bewildered. It was infrequent, however, and as jaded and crabby as I am, I learned things.

I'd have to agree with some of the previous reviews concerning the usual percentage of thuds--ye gods, another knitted necklace! Do they haunt me? And the star pillow, and yes, the mohawk hat, and the totally uninspired droopy handbag. However, to tell the truth, I loved the little "Bite Me" Valentine hearts--they carried the day. The Red Riding Hoodie is the jewel of the book, worth the price of admission on its own--a beautiful design. The Lone Wolf sweater is very handsome, with or without wolf--interesting cuffs, for example, which is nice. The zipper vest and the City Coat are also very attractive although the City Coat would rival a Burberry in cost for those of us who are not yarn-subsidized. Another thing that makes this book likeable is that most of these things are not limited to the nubile, elfin or wraithlike, either by size or by design. A few, yes. But the creativity backed with solid design is a very pleasant combination. In my opinion, this woman is actually what another loopy designer only thinks she is. I've actually leafed through it a few times just to enjoy the whole presentation, and I'm stacking up Bite Me pillows for Valentine's Day. Put it this way: if she writes another book, I'll probably buy it sight unseen.

I was initially put off by the title and theme, but I read some great reviews and am so glad I bought it! It's one of the best new knitting books I've bought and I've bought over 6 carefully chosen ones since I picked up knitting again last December. I'm not a very GOTH person, which is the theme of this whole book, but I am a slim, trendy, typical Los Angeles dwelling intermediate knitter and this book is very well-written, has interesting illustrations and photographs and has sexy patterns (for men and women)with concise instructions (all the women's clothing patterns are designed for 5 sizes from XS to XL). The techniques section has photographs, not those hard to decipher line drawings, and the yarns used in the projects are readily available as are substitutes. The Sweetheart Sweater & Diva Halter are my next projects. I would recommend this book for any knitter, beginner to expert.

As a knitting teacher i am always looking for new resources, so i bought a copy when i found this book in a bookstore. It seemed a bit too hard core and "adult" for some audiences, but i was enjoying the book myself. i took it with me to a convention to read, and see if i wanted to use it... I didnt get much chance, my yarn customers were all over it. A group of intermediate and beginner knitters giggling at your only copy of a book, and then being inspired to buy yarn and needles is a GOOD thing.

Some of the projects are boring (knitted pillows with applied words) and some require some advanced techniques that are not taught in the book (intarsia: knitted in designs) BUT....

The instructions are clear, and the photos of stitches and techniques are great. The use of black knitting needles means that even my poor eyes could pick out exactly what she was doing in her example pictures! Probably some of the clearest photos of stitches and finishing techniques i have ever seen.

The projects range in complexity from simple stockinette, to shaping and details. They also range from wild (knitted mohawk cap anyone?) to mild (knitted hoodie with removable hood) there are projects you COULD in fact knit for your mother, even if i would never show mine the book.

If you want a beginner friendly book, but not a learn to knit book, this may be for you. If you need your hand held, or exacting directions, this is NOT your book.. however if you can deal with "here's how", "here's what i did" and "here is the pattern" then you will enjoy this book.

this book uses the terminology of mild Bondage and Submission to discuss knitting Nothing too much more adult than "knitting when you want it hard" and "whip your knitting into shape" really. The illustrations are considerably more "adult" than the words, but do NOT show anything body wise, however they do show restraint and bondage clothing. Neither offended my customers at the conventions, but i wouldnt put it on a lower shelf in a mainstream knitting store. People without a sense of humor about such topics should avoid it. people who are familiar with the BDSM community will consider this book to fall into the catagory of "knitting humor".

I bought this book for the mohawk hat and as I type this, I've gotten about 1/4 of the way done and already want to make up my own pattern. The pattern is convoluted and hard to visualize even for me - I pity the poor beginner who tries this one. I will give the book credit for a creative theme and good basic references in the beginning, you can never have too many knitting reference books. Get this one used.

DOMIKNITRIX: WHIP YOUR KNITTING INTO SHAPE doesn't hold your usual saccharine vests and sweaters: it's a contemporary guide for the modern knitter who wants to produce something as original as a 'skull vest' or a 'widow's peak' hair piece for a Mohawk haircut, and as such will uniquely appeal to the younger generation with fresh, contemporary ideas for knitting. Step-by-step directions allow newcomers to move easily from the beginner to the advanced knitter level and offer a range of projects not to be found - even remotely - in any similar knitting guide - and there's lots on the market, so this is saying much. Any public library appealing to younger needlework artists will want this.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I've been knitting for about six years now, but, admitedly, there are many technical knitting things I can't do (proper increases, proper stitching) and learning it from other books seemed too... home-spun and grandma-ish. This book is AMAZING. Not only does it show you many different techniques, the projects are things I actually want to create.

Warning: this is not a book for beginners. It will not be a good place to start if you want to learn how to knit.

If you are a girl looking for a knitting book that goes beyond the mainstream, look no further. This is the best of the best indie-knitting books out there.

This is without question the worst knitting book I've purchased. I bought the book because of several of the wonderful patterns it offered however, I found them to be poorly written with MANY mistakes. If one publishes an instructional manual, shouldn't the instructions be correct? I then went to the author's website to find several pages of "corrections" for those unfortunate knitters who purchased her manual. You would think before publishing it, she would have made sure the patterns were correct. I would not reccomend this book to anyone.