Exquisite Little Knits: Knitting with Luxurious Specialty Yarns [Hardcover]

Iris Schreier (Author), Laurie Kimmelstiel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

Cashmere, mohair, angora, sequin, eyelash fringe, and faux fur: these are the most luxurious and expensive yarns, often too costly to use for a knitting project of any great size. But these 35 breathtaking items are small enough that knitters can afford to indulge in the finest materials, and easy enough for beginners to complete with ease. Thumb through the exquisite photos of each specialty yarn, complete with descriptive introductions to its unique qualities and advice on how to work with and care for it. Follow the short and simple instructions to make a long scarf with bouclé trim, a snazzy flapper-style hat from a mohair-silk blend, and the ultimate pashmina shawl.Each item is dramatic and unique. Both authors live in White Plains, NY.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Every craft book must have a hook, and here it's the luxury yarns so readily available today. In the past, knitters had to rely on cables and other fancy stitches to spark up their projects, but today they can let a wide selection of glittery and glam yarns do much of the work. Displayed in sharp color photographs in a clean design, the fancy yarns are on display here by brand name. The book is divided by both project and type of yarn. Much information is given about each yarn and how it knits up, and several projects are offered for each. There is nothing very complicated among the projects: lots of scarves, shawls, and caps. But by using yarns as varied as lattice, mohair, eyelash, and fur, everything ends up looking great. Glossary and abbreviations are appended. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579905366
• ISBN-13: 978-1579905361
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #344,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Updating Your Yarn Savvy without the Cost, April 24, 2005

By 

Diana F. Von Behren "reneofc" (Kenner, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Exquisite Little Knits: Knitting with Luxurious Specialty Yarns (Hardcover)

Every once in a while even the most accomplished knitter must explore the world of newer novelty knits. Rather than pay dear prices for some of the wonderfully textured yarns out there without a clue to how they are going to work up, purchasing a book like this aids you in almost every way.

Authors Schreier and Kimmelstiel show you the basics in an illustrated introduction -- their instructions on double knitting is wonderful for those who want to make those professinal looking scarf projects where both sides are reversible-- and then move on to chapters focusing on today's latest textures, like cashmere, eyelash, fur,suede, lattice, ribbon, sequins, silk, and old favorites like wool, angora and mohair.

Because of the beauty of the texture created, a little goes a long way: all of the projects cited in the book are small ones: scarves, shawls, gauntlets, purses and caps. Each of the projects is worked in two types of yarn sets--one to show a more evening look and the other a daytime one. One only has to look once at the "Black Tie Wrap", the "Trellis Stole" or the "Ribbon Wrapped Scarf and Shawl", to know that texture alone rules the day.

Simple patterns show off these magnificient yarns to full effect -- with the right yarns sophisticated creations are only two sticks and a few hours away. Now that I own the book, does anyone out there know where to get such lovely yarn at even lovelier (lower than knit store) prices?

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely gorgeous book, September 28, 2004

By 

anon-new-yorker (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exquisite Little Knits: Knitting with Luxurious Specialty Yarns (Hardcover)

This stunningly photographed book takes knitting to the level of haute couture, and best of all, the most challenging thing about most of the projects is simply knitting with more than one strand of fiber! Many unique textures and fibers are used, including ribbon and moire. Knit a shawl suitable for a black-tie event, a beautiful lace stole, or even an evening bag!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the money!, February 20, 2005

By 

Lori Anderson (Easton, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Exquisite Little Knits: Knitting with Luxurious Specialty Yarns (Hardcover)

I went to the library and got this book, expecting it to maybe have one pattern, maybe two, that were good. After looking at it, I immediately went out and bought it. I love that it shows the strands of yarn used, so it's easier to find substitutions -- with novelty yarns, it's difficult to see what the yarn really looks like if you only see it on the skein. I'm looking forward to digging in to this book on our next long distance trip -- will give me lots of projects as I sit in the passenger seat!