Funky Knits [Paperback]

Carol Meldrum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

Knitting comes out of the parlor in this edgy collection of modern designs for knitters who want their personalities to come through in their projects. More than 30 patterns, including a cozy hoodie, a key chain, and an easy-care cactus stretch a knitter's repertoire beyond simple scarves and hats. The themed sections take intrepid handcrafters from an "Urban Playground" to "Home Comforts" while an introductory chapter covers knitting terms and techniques so novice knitters can skip the fuss and get right down to the knitty-gritty. A variety of yarns are used, fueling mix-and-match creativity, and there is even a market tote to knit from old plastic grocery bags. Always unpredictable and never square, the new projects in this book will spark creativity in hip knitters everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you are looking for unusual, 'look-at-me' hats, Vicki Square has just the design for you."  —Knitter's Magazine

"Successfully introduces to the adventurous newbie the wide variety that makes up the knitting world—from simple stockinette to intarsia."  —Spindlicity.com

"The knitting instructions and how-to lessons are very well written and easy to understand."  —BellaOnline

"A perfect addition to a knitting circle—with plenty of items for male knitters, too!"  —CNA Magazine

"Instruction for the beginning knitter but with enough detail to make it more suitable for the knitter with some experience."  —Library Journal

"These are tried and true designs...all with a little added fashion twist for the chic."  —Fiberline Magazine

"Some very cute patterns and neat ideas...packed full of stuff a new, younger knitter would appreciate."  —Spun Magazine

"I am neither young nor hip, but I love those designs."  —Bangor Daily News 

About the Author

Carol Meldrum is a design consultant for Rowan & Jaeger Hand Knits and works as a freelance designer. She makes and sells her own exclusive knitted bags and accessories, and is the author of Denim People. Julie Marchington began crafting knitwear under her own label and opened a store devoted to handknitting. She also worked as a design consultant for Rowan & Jaeger Hand Knits.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596680032
• ISBN-13: 978-1596680036
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,018,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not my definition of hip by a long shot, March 13, 2006

By 

SR (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Funky Knits (Paperback)

I can't speak for the knitting instruction chapters, as I know how to knit and skipped those parts, but the patterns in this book are FUGLY.

I bought this thinking it would have some great patterns for my teen nieces - WRONG! The patterns are just plain awful. Knit a fake cactus? Yeah, that's on every young hipster's list. How about an egg cozy? Or a cozy for individual apples or bananas?

There is a pattern for a safety pin sweater, knit with intentional holes and uses safety pins across the holes, all in a horrendous yellow/brown striped combo. Ugh. This is NOT cutting edge shabby fashion, it's just plain bad.

Or maybe you might like to knit up the mini-dress with lace edging...modeled on a young girl wearing pink and black striped tights. Yeah, if you want your daughter to go out looking like a hooker, go for it.

Knitted KNEE PADS? For BOYS? With a brown center and powder blue/brown stripes radiating from the center? Seriously. What "hip young" teen boy is going to wear this? One who wants to get beat up at the skate park.

There are a couple of patterns that are okay. For example, fingerless gloves. Of which there are plenty of free patterns available on the internet, minus the unfortunate green/white striping. There is a cute slipper pattern, that my nieces might wear around the house. Um, yeah, that's about it for the "okay" category.

Skip this book. I really try to be supportive of the people who put out knitting books, but dang, this one is bad. "Hip Young Things" will not want to either own or knit the overwhelming majority of these patterns. I feel a responsibility to warn other people not to waste their money on this book. I'm sending my copy back.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Worth a Look-see..., April 12, 2006

By 

Elizabeth K. Palmer "ThatFalafelGirl" (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Funky Knits (Paperback)

Okay, this is not my favorite book, but i wanted to speak up in favor of it, just to give another opinion. It has a lot of patterns i would actually use. i love the knit cactus, i think it's a hoot, and i can totally see the value of the fruit protectors. i mean, fruit can get really banged around in a lunchbox, and i hate bruised and mushy apples ;p I'm going to agree with the other reviewer though, Some really fugly color choices, but those are easy to fix, just don't use that color yarn! Also some goofy patterns i wouldn't use. But there were more that i liked than those i didn't. If you can get past the look of the book, which has a feeling of trying WAY too hard to be "hip and young" it's got some fun patterns. :)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ewwww, January 12, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Funky Knits (Paperback)

It's never good to start out a book for teens with terminology from a long-dead age - they claim the projects are "never square." It would probably have been a better move to say they "don't suck" or something more up-to-date. But here's the thing. They actually do suck. (Or they're "square," whatever) Speaking as one of the "Hip Young Things" they mentioned, I can honestly say the only thing in this book I would even consider making is the halter top. The ripped up, "punk" sweaters just look like something from your Grandma's that went through a horrible scissor accident. And the felted wool necklace? Please. We're not THAT easily marketed too. Skip this book for something better, Like Teen Knitting Club.