Knitting with Gigi [Hardcover]

Karen Thalacker (Author), Mindy Dwyer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 2007

Take your first knitting adventure with a girl who's cool, hip, and loves to knit---GIGI! Join Gigi as she shows you how to knit, step-by-step. The fun poems, colorful illustrations, and easy projects will get you started today! <P>* Gigi's spunky "You can do it!" approach will get you knitting like a pro <P>* Knit eight fun projects, including a funky hat, a cool bag, and a pretty scarf <P>* Watch family and friends light up when you give them something you've knitted yourself

Editorial Reviews

Review

Knitting with Gigi is an awesome kid's book for any child (or adult!) who wants to learn to knit. There are good instructions and wonderful illustrations to help learn the basic cast-on (starting), knit stitch, decreasing (making it a different shape), and bind-off (ending). Some knitting books are very difficult to learn how to knit from, but the instructions in Knitting with Gigi are very clear. Eight kid-friendly projects make up the second half of the book, all of them easy to follow and perfect for a beginner.

Gigi also has a website where kids can join the "Gigi's kindness corps" and knit for those in need. Her website also includes videos of instructions to get to "the next step" so to speak. The videos explain the purl stitch, different cast-on methods, and techniques of finishing. By the time a young knitter has finished the projects in the book and watched and learned the information in the videos, they will be ready to go further into the knitting world.

I want to point out a wonderful thing that Gigi (who speaks in verse) has said: "Practice makes perfect will never apply. We all make mistakes, no matter how hard we try. So be of good cheer and do not despair. With time and some care you'll have something to wear." Every young knitter should hear this--and experienced ones, too!

Recommendation: boys and girls ages 6+. Adults could learn to knit with their kids with this book too! --Haleyknitz

About the Author

About the Author/Illustrator Home: Waverly, Iowa, and Port Townsend, Washington In addition to being a knitter and a mom, Karen Thalacker is a lawyer and an adjunct professor at Wartburg College. Mindy Dwyer specializes in watercolor and is the author and illustrator of many children's books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Martingale & Co Inc; First American Edition edition (May 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564777588
• ISBN-13: 978-1564777584
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #515,086 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gigi is a kick! AND will teach your child to knit., August 2, 2007

By 

daisydeadpetals (Kaysville, Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knitting with Gigi (Hardcover)

I applaud the author of this book, who presents a really fun, non-intimidating way for kids to learn about knitting. I would definitely recommend this book for girls (and boys!) ages 8-12 who are interested in knitting. In the book, kids get fun little stories, how-to's of knitting techniques, and seven step-by-step projects to make.

The main character, "Gigi," is a little girl who loves to knit. There are cute poems about her throughout the book, along with adorable drawings of Gigi and her friends knitting. Gigi also writes in her own voice about how she learned how to knit, which I think really helps connect one child to another. This book is also a great match for a child and a parent who BOTH want to knit. They can learn together!

I especially like how Gigi talks about how she'll use her projects when she's done. For instance, she talks about making a bag for her brother's piano books. Her friend gets a new winter coat, so Gigi knits up a scarf and hat to match. And on the last page of the book, Gigi talks about knitting for charity. So there are lots of practical ideas to get kids inspired to knit for friends and family, and even for charitable causes.

Finally, Gigi has her own Web site, [..]. Gigi blogs about her knitting adventures there, and kids can get information on charities to knit for. There's a lot to explore there, and it all ties into the book. Really fun for those young site-surfers!

This book has the whole package for kids--techniques, projects, and the excitement of doing something creative and sharing it with the world. That's an aim I think every growing child should have. If you want to inspire creativity and charity in your kids, pick up Knitting with Gigi!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good to teach your child if YOU know how to knit., October 15, 2008

By 

M. Santiago-Patenaude (Puerto Rico, United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Knitting with Gigi (Hardcover)

I didn't know how to knit when I bought this kit, and I didn't learn how from it. I found myself, at age 28, completely lost while attempting to understand the basic techniques of slipknots, casting on, and the knit stitch with the diagrams in this book. I love the art and poetry, and I'm sure children will find it helpful for memorization, but for those first few tries they may need an adult on the spot. I know I did! (Thanks, Mom! ^_^)

That aside, the tools included are good quality. I love the bamboo needles and they are now my needle of choice! The yarn doesn't split or knot easily like cheaper yarns do. Overall, worth the money, but only if you have someone there to help the learner understand the diagrams.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both book and pattern box kit complete with yarns, September 5, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knitting with Gigi (Hardcover)

Karen Thalacker's KNITTING WITH GIGI comes in both book and pattern box kit complete with yarns which lend well to beginners ages 8 and older who are just getting started - and for many an adult newcomers to knitting. The kit holds yarn, needles, and a softcover book with poems pictures and easy step-by-step directions, making it a perfect gift choice. The hardcover book includes 8 patterns and easy step-by-step instructions which works well for lending libraries.