Last-Minute Knitted Gifts [Hardcover]

Joelle Hoverson (Author), Anna Williams (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

Today's knitters are chic, smart-and busy. Although they love to knit and enjoy making gifts for family and friends, they're constantly faced with the challenge of finding enough time to actually finish what they've started. Last-Minute Knitted Gifts solves this problem. Joelle Hoverson, owner of Purl, the hip knitting supply store in downtown Manhattan, has designed more than 30 fun, fresh, beautiful patterns, most of which can be made in less than ten hours-some in as little as two!

Known for her keen sense of color, Hoverson includes instructions for classic gifts like baby booties and bonnets, sweaters, and scarves, plus imaginative options like a cashmere tea cozy, a felted yoga mat bag, floor cushions, and a poncho-surely something for everyone on the gift list. And to make each present extra-special, Hoverson offers easy tips on how to incorporate knitting and other yarn embellishments into the gift wrap.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Hoverson was skeptical when her editor asked her to come up with projects that could be knitted in 10 hours or less, but after some research, she was delighted to find numerous simple projects that were "inspiring, challenging, and fun." Following introductory chapters that discuss color, fiber, tools, and patterns, the patterns themselves begin. Divided by the length of time it takes to complete each project (some less than 2 hours!), the book shows off a wide array of gifts. The quickest include angora baby booties, a kerchief scarf, and potholders. If the knitter is able to take a little longer, there's time to make leg warmers, hats, and scarves. Sweaters, knit toys, and a felted yoga bag take only 4 to 6 hours (provided, of course, that the knitter doesn't abandon the project for a year or so). Lush color photographs make every one of these items look like a winner, and the directions are clear and easy to follow. A list of books for further reading is a nice touch. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Knitwear designer Joelle Hoverson is the owner of Purl, an upscale knitting supply store in New York City's trendy SoHo neighborhood. Since opening in 2002, Purl has been featured in Oprah Winfrey's O magazine, Lucky, and Time Out, as well as on Martha Stewart's syndicated television show. From 1996 to 2000, Hoverson worked as a senior style editor for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. She holds a master of fine arts degree from Yale University.

Anna Williams is a freelance photographer based in New York City. Her work appears frequently in Martha Stewart Living, Oprah Winfrey's O magazine, Food & Wine, Gourmet, Real Simple, In Style, Elle Decor, and other national publications.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book; 8th Printing edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584793678
• ISBN-13: 978-1584793670
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (115 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

148 of 154 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great Gift Book, November 13, 2004

By 

Sally Holloway "By The Bay" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Last-Minute Knitted Gifts (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully presented book, it was a real treat to open it up with it's eau-de-nil facing pages and quality paper. It would be a beautiful gift itself!

The book opens with the assumption that the reader already knows something about knitting but does cover such basic ground as gauge, equipment, and yarn types. It does this is in a concise but complete enough way. Then there is an extensive section on colour that manages to cover the basics in a non- condescending way and add some useful takeouts such as suggesting that we twine yarns together to see how they look rather than just hold the skeins adjacent.

...and colour really is Hoverson's thing - you can tell this even without being aware of her background as a fine arts student and stylist. The colours and photographs are stunning. Probably my favourite is some fluorescent, fuzzy, red bootees on a citrussy background - stunning combo.

The patterns are grouped into sections based on how many hours to complete the item - maximum of 10. They range from basic to interesting, nothing super challenging - it is after all, about instant gratification. There are items for the home, for children, men and women. You can sense the guiding hand of Melanie Falick in the editorial - there are echoes of Weekend Knitting throughout. Despite this, the two books complement rather than compete with each other. Hoverson has a younger, edgier aesthetic.

For my money the book is more about inspiration than a desire to get stuck in to any of the patterns. Having said this, there are a number of really useful stash busters such as fingerless gloves, some neat new takes on scarves and throws, and some cute bags - including a felted yoga mat bag.

Overall, I'm thrilled with this book, it's one I know I'll return to often for inspiration and renewal. Joelle Hoverson makes only passing references to her shop Purl, but it's enough to make me yearn for a trip to New York!

69 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous book, beautiful results, but..., January 12, 2005

By 

J. Kaufman "guessica" (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Last-Minute Knitted Gifts (Hardcover)

I should start by saying I adore this book. The patterns are universally tasteful, unique, and gorgeous. Your friends and family would be thrilled if you made any item from this book. Another reviewer said color is Joelle's thing, and that is true. As far as color and design go, the book is truly inspiring.

That said, I can see two areas for improvement that prevented me from giving a 5-star rating: First, the photography, while beautiful, is sometimes less than helpful for the knitter. Sometimes items are shot in such isolation that it's difficult to envision them on someone, sometimes there are no shots of the whole garment laid out so that you can see the final shape. Sometimes shots are not of the whole item at all, even if they are modeled.

Second, there are quite a few mistakes in the patterns. Joelle has posted all the pattern corrections on the Purl website, though, so as long as you're aware of them it's no problem. You can find the corrections here:

http://store.purlsoho.com/purl/book_corrections

All in all, a tremendous first effort by a talented designer. Highly recommended.

101 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars what a beautiful, enticing book!, October 1, 2004

By 

Regina (NY Metro area) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Last-Minute Knitted Gifts (Hardcover)

Joelle Hoverson is the owner of Purl, a lovely yarn shop located in downtown NYC. In addition to being beautifully photographed, this book is really well organized (by the length of time each project is estimated to take) and well written. I buy lots of knitting books and while they often contain a lot of valuable techinical and instructional info, many of them tend to be disappointing when it comes to their patterns. However, that isn't the case here: most of these patterns are things I would LOVE to make.

A lovely, unique book!