Customer Reviews

The Knitter's Guide to Yarn Cocktails: 30 Technique-Expanding Recipes for Tasty Little Projects

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Taking their inspiration from the cocktail set, Anastasia Blaes and Kelly Wilson have created a knitting book aimed at the new generation of knitters. Each project in this book is inspired by a popular cocktail and focuses on a specific skill, allowing knitters to learn skills incrementally. Eventually these "ingredients" may be mixed together, enabling knitters to undertake the more advanced projects in the book. While a few of the projects are suitable for beginning knitters, the majority are for intermediate or experienced knitters.

The book is laid out following the cocktail motif. The first chapter "Ingredients" covers knitting basics: knitting tools, terminology, yarn and knitting abbreviations. The following chapters group projects by drink category such as "classic cocktails" (textured knitting), "martini drinks" (cables) and "garnish with a twist" (edgings). While the cocktail motif is initially amusing, the novelty wears off and knitters may find it all a bit too cute. One helpful item is the ice cube illustration included in some patterns, standing for "refresh." This icon indicates that techniques used in the pattern are referenced earlier in Yarn Cocktails and helpfully, the authors have include the page reference for the technique.

Most of the patterns here are geared to the younger knitter, with the majority of patterns being for accessories rather than clothing. Clothing patterns include five tops (of the camisole persuasion), two skirts, boxers, knickers and a lace vest.

The final chapter includes recipes for all the drinks referenced in the book--although this reviewer would not recommend drinking and knitting--as it can lead to a great deal of day-after ripping.

I purchased this for a gift, and upon review found no projects of interest. Maybe if you are into retro projects, like knitting a tie; or want to knit your man a pair of boxers,(whatever), you might want to check it out. The mitered stole is very pretty, as for my taste that is about all this book has to inspire me. This was not a book for my gift giving purposes nor one I want in my library.

I ordered this book as a gift for my best friend's teenager who is interested in jewelry. As someone who has returned to knitting after a 35 year hiatus, I was impressed not only with the number of patterns (28) but with the variety. I can't wait to make the High Roller vest with one beautiful cable down the front and a super quick pattern for the rest so I can actually have it done fast. And After Dark Martini Sweater looks like something from a fancy boutique. But the best part of this book is the information on fiber properties and the challenges they pose, the tips, and the instructional guides which will get me back to speed. This book is a gift I'm going to give myself, too.