From Publishers Weekly
Co-founder of menknit.net, an online resource for male knitters, del Vecchio's print version is an excellent sourcebook for knitters of any gender. After a comprehensive introduction to knitting basics, including cast-ons, how to read yarn labels and how to tie a slip knot, del Vecchio offers detailed instructions for everything from a business card holder and iPod case to sweaters, throws and a knee-length coat, keeping projects practical and stylish. A standard sweater is jazzed up with an eye-catching tribal design, and he offers patterns for everyday manly items such as hiking boot socks and a watchman's cap and scarf. Each design comes with detailed instructions and, in true DK fashion, the book is loaded with photos and diagrams, making del Vecchio's projects practically foolproof for knitters of any skill level.
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*Starred Review* Debbie Stoller's
Stitch 'n Bitch oldly announced knitting was no longer for grandma. Girls everywhere were picking up their needles and stitching, reclaiming this "domestic art" as hip and modern. Well it's time to shake things up again and dispel the myth that knitting is a girl thing. Men knit and they have for ages. Sailors knit aboard fishing boats, cowboys knit while tending cattle and surgeons knit to keep their fingers nimble. Men have knitted from the beginning of knitting. When the stigma of knitting as a women's craft began is unclear, but it hasn't kept men from knitting. Still, resources for male knitters are limited. Most pattern books are filled with projects for women and children, providing only a few patterns for men (usually a hat, scarf and raglan sweater). Del Vecchio has collected a wonderful selection of modern patterns for men, giving the book appeal not just to men interested in knitting but also to women looking for more patterns for men. Readers are encouraged to spread the word that men knit--knit in public, start a men-only knitting group, participate in online communities. Resource lists of books, Web sites, and yarns, as well as advice on how to start your own knitting group, are provided at the end of the book. An essential addition to any knitting library, not just because it challenges our ideas of his-and-her crafts but also because of the stunning, modern patterns inside.
Jennifer PalmerCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved