Customer Reviews

Knitting with Ribbon Yarn: 28 Beautiful Projects Using Vibrant Luxury Yarn

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

 

 

This is one of the most disappointing knitting books I've ever purchased. I expected patterns that would highlight the beauty of ribbon yarns but all I got were a bunch of basic patterns for purses, halter tops, square cushions, etc.

Author assumes that her reader does not know how to knit; at least a quarter of the pages in the book are how-tos that apply to any kind of yarn.

I love this book. I plan to make many of the patterns, either with the
ribbon recommended or with substitutes. Lots of advice on how to
use ribbon--I have used it aready. Knitting that I felt might be
difficult or knotty was not with the tips and hints inside.

Superbly illustrated throughout, Knitting With Ribbon Yarn: 28 Beautiful Projects Using Vibrant Luxury Yarns by needlecraft expert Tracy Chapman is an informed and informative collection of do-it-yourself projects working with ribbon yarn to knit high-quality garments in short time. Inclusive of instructions for summer-weight sweaters, vests, wraps, bags, silken camisoles, and halters, Knitting With Ribbon Yarn covers many fun and inventive aspects of self-knit clothing. Knitting With Ribbon Yarn is very strongly recommended to all women who knit as a hobby, as well as those anticipating a new innovative and exciting wardrobe as product of their own easy labors.

A wonderful book providing a myriad of ideas for those of us who need not only a BASIC review of knitting but an introduction to a NEW world of knitting. Thank you Chapman Tracy for such beautiful photos, tips, etc. I've already given this book as a gift and will continue to highly recommend it!

Knitting with ribbon yarns provides a variety to knitting with traditional wool yarns. Ribbon yarns produce a special look that makes your knitted product look unique and different. However, working with ribbon presents its own challenges even to an experience knitter. I picked up this book after working with ribbon yarn on my own and it definitely helped me solve some of the issues I encountered (e.g. best way to finish off without adding bulk) and provided many useful ideas and inspirations.

The book is useful to both experienced and inexperience knitter. Below is a summary of content with my annotations. Hope you will find it useful.

The basics section:
1. How best to work with ribbon yarn to avoid tangling
2. How to clean garments with ribbon yarn
3. How to substitute one type of ribbon for another when needed
4. Samples showing correct, too loose and too tight weave
The basics chapters below have detailed step by step instructions, with each one having an image. They are very clear!
5. Casting and knit/purl basics
6. Binding off and connecting two sections
7. Shaping: increasing and decreasing garment width
8. Adding liners and zippers
9. Crochet embellishments
10. Crochet bind off
11. Finishing off - does and don'ts
12. Sewing seams
13. Reading patterns, including common abbreviations

Clothing Collection section:
1. Sleeveless top with scalloped bottom. Great project, simple yet pretty I made this one. I loved the large scalloped bottom design. My modification was to add sleeves, as I don't like sleeveless shirts.
2. Halter-neck camisole
3. Shawl, decorated with tassels
3. Raglan sleeves top
4. Halter-neck top with back-wrap
5. Designer wrap, very elegant
6. Classic round-neck cardigan
7. Sleeveless polo-neck pullover. I really like how the color rolls on this design.
8. Super casual single-button vest. Simple design and this pattern really shows off the ribbon texture
9. Long-sleeved wrap-front sweater with pretty scalloped edge
10. Camisole top. I did not particularly like the design, but has a description of an interesting technique for twisted cords.
11. Summer poncho

Accessories section:
1. Cozy socks. Very cute! I plan to make them as a gift.
2. Hop belt.
3. Peruvian Hat
4. Hat and scarf. Useful technique for the scarves to make it two sections to make sure that designs on both ends match perfectly. I also liked the edging around the scraf.

Bags section:
1. Beaded tote
2. Handbag
3. Argyle bag
4. Clutch bag
5. Long handled shopping bag (waaay too pretty for a shopping bag!)
6. Duffel bag
7. Dual-identity bag
8. Flower bag

Home decor section:
1. Pillow
2. Cushion
3. Floor cushion
4. Wall hanging

Ribbon embellishments
I really liked this section as I can see combining these ideas with some of my other project for a unique touch
1. Variety of knit ribbon flowers.
2. Variety of tassels
3. Fringing
4. Bows

I already made one project out of the book, and have plan to use several more. I learned several new techniques and got a bunch of ideas for how to use the embellishments from this book in my projects. Can't ask for more to get out of a book!

Ali Julia review

The book has several different styles. Some are very medeoker others are better. Have other ribbon books with more stylish items.