Customer Reviews

Great Garter Stitch

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is not just plain garter stitch - however all the stitches are knitted. The projects are vaieried. The first thing I noticed is that there are no schematics of the sweaters. There are diagrams for the modular projects, but no drawings with the measurments on them. While I can work around this and create my own, most current garment knitting patterns have them. Also the reversable blanket pictures don't include the other side, important when the other side is a different color.
All of the above being said, there are a few things I'm planning on making from this book, starting with that blanket.

20 projects all using garter stitch. All directions are written out but they include some helpful charts where needed. My favorite is the long vest on the cover. I also like the diagonal blocks cardigan, houndstooth hat and scarf set, triangle patchwork cardi, log cabin throw, calypso vest, slipstitch pullover in 2 colors, wrap around vest, and diagonal afghan. Also included is a selection of 33 garter stitches different from those used in the projects. Most of the projects are by other designers such as Nazarin Fard, Valentina Devine, etc. Recommended but not essential.

Okay, the projects in this book are stunning and doable. If you think this is knit every row, plain old garter stitch, you are wrong. There is no purling, but the knit stitch is used to create interesting effects and texture. The only problem is picking out the first project to make.

This book is worth the price just for the stitch lexicon in the back of the book. It has some nice projects, but that extra workshop of stitch patterns allows you to adapt designs and textures to projects of your own.

The projects are done in knitting only (as opposed to purling), but if you're looking for something unusual, along the lines of Sally Melville's garter stitch coat, you're not going to find it. The authors certainly could have used her for color consultation--some of the projects are done in colors that are either quite garish, or just blah.

One annoying thing about the book is that there are no schematics, which makes it more difficult to adjust the patterns if necessary (the black eyelash yarn jacket comes to mind here), and some of the patterns are on the small side. The double-knit afghan does not show the back side, so you might want to do a small potholder swatch to check how the colors look on both sides.

The best part of the book is the stitch dictionary in the back that you could use to do your own projects with. That's what keeps it 4 stars instead of 3.