Customer Reviews

Itty-Bitty Nursery

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I fell in love with Itty Bitty Hats, and this little gem is just as adorable. With 3 small people of my own, plus friends having babies, this book will keep me busy. Lots of great ideas, inspiration and beautifully styled. I always say a good knitting book is when you want to knit at least 5 patterns from it. This has about 10 that I want to knit.

What can't I say about this book that isn't awesome? From the easy to manipulate format (love spiral bound pattern books, no keep-the-book-open weight needed), to the incredibly inventive knitted projects, I adore Itty-Bitty Nursery. I can't wait to make the cupcake hat, the tea set, so many things. Get it; you won't be sorry.

The designs are very thought out and creative. Easy instructions. I love the little knit animal pacifier clips. They are so cute! The tea set is also adorable! I love that this has such different patterns and they are so easy! I was confused on how to do something and she emailed me back with a link to a video on her blog. It showed me exactly what I needed!

This book has loads of fun and easy projects to make for every level of ability. For those new to knitting, there is a quick run-through of basics you'll need to know to accomplish the projects in the book, but there is also a more extensive tutorial in the back of the book for more advanced knitting skills. All in all, you'll learn to cast on, bind off, knit, purl, pick up and knit, several different decreases and increases, the 3-needle bind off, the backward-loop cast on, i-cord, seaming techniques, how to find gauge, blocking, the kitchener stitch, and more. It's fairly comprehensive.

One of my favorite things about this book is the thoughtful design feature that allows it to lie flat while open with its spiral wire binding. It keeps in mind that people will be reading from the book to follow the patterns while knitting and no one wants to have to shove the book under their leg to keep it from closing.

My favorite aspect of this book are all the adorable toys. Most of the patterns (see below for a complete list) aren't only for babies but for kids of almost any age. Heck, there's a couple things in here I want to make for myself! A few of the projects for babies (pacifier clips, crib mobile) can be easily modified to transform them into something usable for any age. I plan on making the mice from the crib mobile without the mobile parts. You could easily leave off the i-cord and clippies from the pacifier clips and just make the flower for a hair clip, the elephant for a keychain, etc. The ideas are endless.

As promised, here are the patterns:
- Squares & Rectangles Baby Set (beginner patterns for a jacket, hat, booties, door knob "bebe" sign using only knit squares sewed together)
- Grumpy Old Bear
- Bear Sweater
- Patches (blanket made of knitted squares)
- Circles & Stripes Stroller Blanket (these are a bit more involved, employing embroidery to create the circles, but one could easily leave them off and the projects would still look great without them!)
- Circles Stroller Jacket and Mittens
- Chubby Bunny
- Flower Cardigan and Hat
- Baby's Texture Blanket
- Cozy Book Pillow and Slippers (pillow has a book "pocket" sewn on the back)
- Pure & Sweet Layette (cardigan sweater, hat, booties, ruffled blanket, bunny rattle)
- Garden Mice Mobile (too adorable - a must see!)
- Baby Box Covers (covers for baby wipes box/wipes warmer and a tissue box)
- Clothesline (a room decoration: a mini "clothesline" with teeny tiny sweaters, pants, umbrella, etc.)
- Peas & Carrots (pillow that looks like a giant pea pod and a large bunch of carrots)
- Pacifier Clips (a flower, frog & butterfly, and elephant)
- Fruit Loops bag (diaper bag/tote)
- Quick Knit Mini-tote (bottle-sized)
- Cupcake Baby Set (cupcake hat and coordinating scarf & mittens)
- Frenchie (hat)
- Cupcake Tea Set (cake plates, serving plate, cupcakes, sugar bowl, sugar cubes, creamer, tea cups, saucers, teaspoons, and tea pot)
- Dotted Chickens
- Three Pigs and a Wolf


This is a perfect book beginners, moms-to-be, grandmas, charity knitters, "gifters", the list goes on and on. Another great thing about the book is that gauge is not critical to most of the projects so you can substitute yarns easily and change colors to your pleasing. You will get LOTS of use from this book.

I love knitting for babies. They are quick, pretty and appreciated. This book takes it a step further. This patterns are interesting, easy to adapt and functional. The layette sets make sense - blanket+jacket+mittens+bunny, cardigan+hat+blanket, pillow+slippers+sweater, blanket+cardigan+hat+booties+rattle. And the extras are adorables - I immediately made 4 mice and 3 dummy clips for a newborn. This book is fabulous.

What you need to know:
- patterns may include crochet and embroidery.
- range from beginner to high intermediate.
- there is quite a bit of how-to for beginners.
- the book is from US with US needle sizes, gauge and measurements (no metrics given).
- some patterns are quite fiddly - meaning there is a lot of sewing of little things in some patterns.
- needle sizes range from US size 3 to US size 8. (So there are some fine knits and some chunky knits).

Would I buy this book again? Absolutely.

Susan B. Anderson has written another book that I LOVE! The projects in this book are all adorable, and her patterns are very easy to follow. I want to make them all! If you like knitting for babies, then you simply MUST add this book to your library...

I learned to knit earlier this year solely from "Itty Bitty Hats," so I couldn't wait for Susan's newest book to come out. What a great book! The patterns are written so clearly, the projects are all adorable and innovative, and the photography is gorgeous! I've already made the dotty chicken and the entire "Three Pigs and a Wolf" set and am about to begin the mice from the mobile--each project has been wonderful to work on. Five stars, all the way around!

I had already purchased the first "itty-bitty" book and loved it. I expected the same quality and was not disappointed. I love the book's easy to read patterns and how it is bound (spiral bound). I plan on giving this away to several friends and relatives for the holidays. The patterns are not only beautiful and creative but so easy to follow! I can't wait to hear the compliments on the finished products! This is really a great find for anyone that knits!

Are you looking for something unique? Something other than a variation on the typical baby fare? Then this might be your book. Whether you follow the patterns as written or, like me, get so caught up in the creativity of the whole process, that you find yourself wandering off and creating your own "itty bitty" wonders, you will treasure this inspirational book.

After glancing at this book at a local book store I decided to order through Amazon. I'm glad I did. The purchase was almost half the cost from what I would have paid at the bookstore.

I have made the baby mittens and now starting on another project. The instructions are easy to follow and photography is very clear. The baby clothes are traditional with a very current, stylish twist that appeals to me. Fun book to have in your knitting library.