Customer Reviews

Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures

5 star:		(86)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

How about knitting a dragon panel for the back of a jeans jacket? Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne say "Yeehah! Go for it!" These designers have cooked up a knitting book that has patterns that roam far from the usual range. There are the practical--dishcloths and handtowels, the decorative (that applique panel for a denim jacket) and the just plain beautiful--a flax lace edging for a baby's traditional bassinet basket (the kind of cradle or baby bed that is a lined rush basket on a stand.)

Fun, simple project abound in this book. How about scribbles--scarves made of thick yarn and way-way thin yarn that when knitted in a stripe pattern, make a kind of floating scribble on a net of fine-gauge knitting. If you have a stash of lace yarn and some interesting novelty yarn, you have a fascinating scarf project just waiting for you. Or perhaps you would like to knit a camisole or nightie --a lace top with ribbon straps.

I found many things I wanted to knit in this book, like a bathmat in Peaches&Cream absorbent cotton, a flying geese blanket in colors like a raspberry sundae (it uses a log-cabin piece-knitting technique.) And then the fabulous "Nina" shawl that can be made loud and wild in coral, pink and black, or go completely multiple-personality with muted fuzzy yarn in the colors of a winter marshland.

There is LOTS to knit here, and the book goes from simple to moderately complex. So a beginning knitter could start on the dishcloths and scarves and graduate to intricate pieced blankets and lacework. This book is especially recommended if you like to knit gifts for people as there are many projects that beg to be made for a loved friend or relative. Highly recommended!!!

If you - like me - don't particularly care for log-cabin blankets or cowboy hats, you are STILL going to love this book! Both Ann and Kay are terrific writers, generous in giving credit to others, and their projects can be translated to any level of taste or price that you like.

Want your hand towels in Lion Brand - great! Dying to knit yours in a subtle Alchemy silk - have at it! From Smalltown to SoHo, you'll find original patterns that suit your home, and the folks you love.

I found the linen towels, knitted kimono (adult robe and baby sweater versions), and felted boxes irresistible!

It's rare that I splurge on a hard-bound knitting book, but this one is full of good writing and good ideas for new knitting projects. I'm sure I'll come back to it often just to enjoy the stories, or when I need inspiration for a lone skein of Euroflax.

Wow, wow, wow. I loved every picture, story, pattern. It is smart, funny, well written, different, real, but most of all so inspiring. I decided it is the perfect knitting book, because it is perfect to read while you knit. There is a lot here: really cool patterns, touching stories, funny stories, memories. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to drop everything and knit.

Plus, this is one beautiful book, sort of like a coffee table book. A REAL TREASURE!!!

Thank you Kay and Ann for such a treat. I am going to cast on for a rug today thanks to you!

If you can only afford to buy one knitting book this year, buy this book. This book is a perfect knitting confection filled with beautiful pictures, funny and heart warming stories, beautiful knitting designs and simple instructions. You will know the minute you open "Mason_Dixon Knitting" why I am so excited about this book. The minute you open it you will not be able to resist diving into your stash and cast on.

The simplicity of the designs make it perfect for knitters at every level. Who ever thought you could knit quilts. Brilliant! And that nightgown - stunning! The baby kimono, I going to make one for every baby I know! And I could go on and on.

Buy this book! It's a must have for every knitting library.

I realize that the authors have a loyal following on their humorous knitting blog, but I'm not a regular reader. Thus, I can't be accused of blind blog fandom when I say that this is one of the most inspirational knitting book I have added to my library.

I read it cover to cover, and then mysteriously found myself itching to knit, of all things, cotton dish cloths! At the local yarn store sale last week, I purchased linen yarn for finger tip towels. Can a log cabin blanket be far away?

Buy this book if you are a fan of Melonie Faleck's "Weekend Knitting". You will find small, portable projects that will adorn your home, make great gifts, and satisfy you inner craving to finish things.

I love this book. LOVE it. It is clever, thoughtful, visually beautiful, emotionally honest. There are great patterns that you can carefully follow, but even better, inspiration flying out of (nearly) every page; I'm ready to go out tomorrow and start armfuls of new projects.

As a faithful reader of Kay and Ann's blog, I was pretty sure I would like the book, but I am blown away by what they've put together, and how special it is in the world of knitting books. Some of the best money I've ever spent!

This book will satisfy any knitter's need for addictive ideas, gorgeous photography, intelligent writing, twinkling wit and great doses of heart and soul.
You will keep going back to it because the ideas it has to offer are not the kind to be exhausted by a single project. The log cabin blanket alone can keep a knitter pondering its endless possibilities for months.
I love it.

While there are patterns in this book, it is not a pattern book. It is the story of how knitting is part of the lives of two women and the effects it has on them. The writing is witty and stories are warm. The patterns are there for inspiration, but open up the imagination for so much more. As the authors say, you could make a cedar chest of replicas, but why? They hope it will jump start the imagination and it does.

This book is for Knitters who have all the pattern books they need, but crave a book about Knitting. Someone mentioned there are many pictures of knitting without patterns- this is untrue. This book is filled with "recipes" to create knitting objects/garments that have many variations. This book is about being creative with your knitting and being unafraid to take the leap into unexplored techniques and fibers, while still maintaining the fun and joy of the craft. If you are a reader of Ann and Kay's blog, you will sense their voices speaking to you from the pages of this well-designed book. I came away from a two-hour long reading session looking at the things around me and asking, "Can I knit that?"

I love this book for the same reason everyone else who raves about it does. I did spend a lot of time deciding if I should purchase this book from Amazon or Overstock. In the end I chose Amazon, even though the book was slightly more expensive, because of the great experiences I have always had with them. The book that I received is a first edition, which contains a number of errors. The book has secons and third printings, in which the errors are corrected. If you have already purchased this book and received a first edition you can find the corrections on the Mason Dixon Knitting site. If you are considering purchasing this book I would suggest contacting the merchant and finding out if the book is from the first printing or not.