Customer Reviews

Knitting Pretty

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I am too nice to give this book 1 star. It does have numerous basic patterns in it, and an instruction section, and it's nicely designed. But it has too many problems for me to recommend it, and I would certainly never purchase a copy for myself or anyone else.

Other reviewers have touched on the main issues: the uselessness of many of the projects, and the lack of photographs for every project. Nobody, but nobody, needs a beer cozy or a knitted paperweight. The only photographed sweater design in the book is unattractive (I might have revised this opinion if it had been shown on a person, but as it is shown in the book, it simply looks like it would not be flattering to many people). Many of the more important patterns are left to the imagination, with no supporting photos. So there is a photo of a dishcloth (essentially a knitted square in a single color) but not of a much more complicated poncho. Furthermore, there are too many patterns in this book for things like dishcloths, and the potentially quite terrifying "knitted curtain" (nevermind that knits really shouldn't be hung, and tend to droop thanks to gravity), and not enough to get excited about.

I don't know how it is that publishers don't get it through their heads with the consistent criticisms of every knitting book with this problem: knitters want to see pictures for every single project in a book, and if it is a garment, they want to see it on a model. If every project is not photographed and garments are shown flat or on hangers instead of on models, reviews of a book will generally be less positive than they might have been otherwise, period, and more-experienced knitters will habitually steer newer knitters away from the book in question.

Percival has a sweet and friendly tone throughout the book, and that may be the best reason to pick it up (in fact, one reason I gave this book two stars rather than one was pretty much for the same reason that you never tell your friend that you really hate her beloved new dress - fear of breaking her dear little heart). Other than that, give this one a miss and look into "Hip to Knit" or "The Yarn Girls' Guide", both of which have a variety of interesting projects and instructions for beginners.

Oh! All the potential was there. Funky projects, great photos, clear instructions.... If ONLY there were pictures of ALL of the projects! I like Percival's writing and I thought the beginning knitting instruction in the book was clear and helpful. In fact, I often refer to the beginning section of the book for helpful tips when I get stuck on projects from other books.

However, as a beginning knitter, I cannot visualize the projects that aren't pictured, and, according to the other reviews, neither can a lot of the experienced knitters. For example, there is one pattern in the book for a baby blanket. But you have no idea what it's going to look like. How about the Groovy Curtain? Shouldn't you get SOME idea of how it's going to look before you go ahead and make one to hang in your home? No photos of the Sculpted Hat (doesn't that just sound like something you would have to see before you made?) or the Urban Folk Shawl which is enough to make you crazy because it does sound cool, but how can you know for sure - and it takes 8 skeins of yarn....you kinda want to know what you're in for before you make that sort of investment. No photos of the Tube Top - how can you see where you may need to make adjustments for your body type? And what's an Ice Skating scarf? I NEED PICTURES!

And yeah, maybe some of the projects are a little silly, but the beer cozy looks like it would make cool wristbands and the paperweight could be stuffed with batting for a cat toy, or beans for a hackysack. I do like the two hats that are shown and the slippers and baby booties are quite cute.

Most of the beginning projects here you can either figure out on your own or find free on the internet. The level 3 projects are the best of the book, I think. I would be interested to see her next book and perhaps Percival won't have the bad luck of being paired with such an unfortunate editor.

This is probably the worst knitting book I have picked up in a long time. Please save your money and look else where for a book on knitting. Be immediately suspect of books that give instructions but no pictures. And who wants to waste their time knitting a beer cozy and rock covers? What a waste of my time and money. I am so sorry I fell for a pretty picture.

Before I bought this book I had never knit anything. I now have knitted several projects from the book. Since I am your basic unfinished-project person, this is very satisfying! And it's fun to go and buy scrumptious new yarn.

The book uses plain English for directions, no abbreviations. What's very helpful, each project lists the different skills (and knitting equipment) you will need to finish, and then the page number to find the explanation of those skills -- quite useful. Also, the photography is beautiful, which makes me want to knit each project.

It looks like some of the negative reviews are from already-knitters disappointed with how simple the patterns are. I have to say that I brought this book to the house of an experienced knitting friend who was very taken with the designs. She has now knitted twelve change purses (no kidding), and wanted to borrow the book, so I bought her a copy. She then bought a copy for her mother-in-law. Also, when I went by the local yarn shop, the owner said she had pointed out one of the projects to a customer just that day. So the knitters I know do appreciate this book.

I think it can be very safely recommended to people who want to start knitting, and will enjoy a non-traditional approach -- and to experienced knitters who would like some fun designs.

Even as an advanced kitter, I found this book very appealing to pick up and explore the projects. After trying two pieces, the poncho and the folk shawl, neither one turned out as was suggested in the patterns.

The poncho required much fiddling with the wool/gauge to get the look in the picture, which attracted me in the first place.

The folk shawl, which I relutantly finished, complete with fringe in the suggested yarn types (wool, cotton, mohair etc), was so disappointing, I am taking it apart and knitting a wrap of my own design. Though the yarns are beautiful together, the length-wise weight narrows the drape across the back too much for me. It's too skinny for shawl, considerably too skinny for a throw (a 54" version would be stunning), and too fat for a scarf.

After spending a respectable amount of time with this book, I believe there MANY better 'beginner' knitting books than this.

The bulky simple sweater, the mittens and the knit caps were what convinced me to buy the book (although there are many mitten and cap patterns for free on the internet). An attractive book but a few gaps. I liked the attitude presented in the book - lighthearted, encouraging, and an attempt to reduce the intimidation factor of a craft that is perceived as difficult. However, the technical info does not have the clarity of many other reference books and could be a source of frustration. The lack of photographs of several of the projects is unfortunate, I personally would not try a pattern that does not provide an illustration. Also no pattern for basic socks - a very rewarding and useful project for any knitter!!! As a beginner knitter who has only been knitting for 10 months (2 sweaters, 4 pairs of socks and a few wash cloths so far), I did find a few worthwhile projects in the book, but the simple (i.e, rudimentary and potentially boring) projects become redundant very quickly. How many different ways can a simple swatch be considered a legitimate project? The heavy gender bias (unhip) towards women knitters also did little to make a male knitter (me) anymore comfortable with the craft. Although I presume the reference to sailors who knit and a project for a beer 'cosy' was an attempt. Of course the book's title is indicative of the target purchaser. A bit fluffy in content and too pricey to be of real value.

Ever other knitting book/magazine/pattern etc. has stressed the importance of knitting gauge. Unfortunately, the patterns in this book don't even offer a gauge! I knit the baby booties...they came out absolutely adorable but were better suited for a Barbie than a baby...they were sooo tiny! I changed to needles two sizes larger and still ended up with bitty baby booties.

Without a knitting gauge, it is really hard to tell if you should change yarn, needles, or if you are knitting too tight or loose.

I also agree with the other readers who commented on the lack of photos. Why would I spend hours and hours on a project with no idea of what it should even look like (imagine spending two months on a sweater that you absolutely hate!).

There are sooo many other knitting books out there for beginners...skip this one and get Stitch n Bitch or Debbie Bliss "How to Knit".

but don't hold your breath. I liked the concept of a book with a variety of good basic patterns in it, as I am a kind of advanced beginner. So I ordered this despite the fact that I knew it lacked come pictures.
But the lack of pictures for the most intriguing-sounding projects is just inexcusable.

So I emailed the publisher, and suggested that they provide a *website* with pictures of the pictureless projects, since presumably the projects were actually knitted, and someone must have a picture or two. The customer service folks emailed me right back that they were sending my suggestion along to the editor in charge, and I mentioned that otherwise I would be adding my voice to the chorus of negative reviews, but I have not received a response.

So I'm joining the chorus. For heaven sake, the bookmark is intended to be a beginner's first project, but instead of showing us the bookmark, they show a book with just the tip of the bookmark sticking out! We know what books look like!! We need to *see* the *knitted bookmark,* you sillies! And it just goes on from there. Plain hat--ok, here's a picture. Amazing sculpted hat? You guess what that might mean. Come on, what were you thinking? They even describe the colors of non-existent projects in non-existent pictures. "Sky-blue blanket." But you have to go outside and look at the sky, I guess, because you won't see it in the pages of the book.

Most knitting books are full of out-of-date, ugly projects that I wouldn't want to make for my worst enemy. This book is the perfect antidote for that. It has wonderful patterns which are simple and fun. Most of all, they make for great gifts. I really love the hat patterns. They can be completed during one long TV movie or in a pinch during someone's birthday party. The result is a professional-looking, yet homemade creation. I highly recommend the book also for friends who are just learning. It is easy to follow and a knitting newbie can progress from simple to more difficult projects without buying a new book.

I am too advanced a knitter to be able to judge this book's efficacy in instructing a true beginner, so I simply offer my observations as such and nothing more, hoping that they may guide someone else, just as many of these readers' reviews have helped me with other books.

To cut to the chase: I have six friends who, with absolutely no prior experience and without any human intervention, taught themselves to knit from printed materials. KNITTING PRETTY divides their opinions exactly in half: three for and three against. Almost the same proportions of pro and con as these Amazon reviews themselves. In contrast, Sally Melville's books THE KNIT STITCH and THE PURL STITCH have converted all six, who are desperate for Ms Melville to hurry up and finish the series!

Squabbling over the the appeal of specific projects is meaningless. The reviewer who asked, "Who wants to waste their time knitting a beer cozy?" is promptly refuted by those who found tremendous humor in the project. Any crafter will tell you that you will almost NEVER do every single pattern in a pattern book, no matter how experienced you are. The question is, can this book actually teach anyone to knit? Given the fact that people acquire skills in so many different ways, no one teaching tool will ever be universal. Unfortunately, this book seems not to be reaching much more than a simple majority, and there are several others out there with a much higher success rate. The Amazon user strangem, who is a knitting teacher, has compiled a booklist called "Knitting for Absolute Beginners". Browse her list and see.

Lastly: just a guess, but it seems to me that this book is quickly outgrown by an ambitious crafter. Ms Melville's series, on the other hand, can teach a knitter to THINK like a knitter, and provide food for thought even for those with years of knitting behind them. (Her men's garter stitch sweaters work terrifically well, by the way; made them myself.) Check out KNITTING PRETTY thoroughly (through your library, if possible) before deciding to buy it.