Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines: Patterns, Stories, Pictures, True Confessions, Tricky Bits, Whole New Worlds, and Familiar Ones, Too [Hardcover]

Kay Gardiner (Author), Ann Meador Shayne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2008

Dear Fellow Knitter,

Welcome! Come on in. Have a seat—we’ve been waiting for you.

Ever since our first book, Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters’ Guide, we’ve been exploring techniques and ideas that we once thought were the sort of thing that only brilliant knitters could do.

Our conclusion: We are all brilliant knitters!

None of this is rocket science! If you can knit a garter stitch scarf, you’ve figured out the hard part. Now it’s time for the fun to start. You hold in your hands the result of our odyssey. It’s a new collection of 30 delicious projects that we hope will take you on your own knitting adventures.

Decorating Yourself: A collection of beautiful things to make for your most demanding (and forgiving) client.

The Fairest Isle of All: A simple, quick introduction to a sort of knitting you may not have considered, with surprising, modern projects.

Covering the Small Human: Pint-sized knits, including baby hats, dreamy dresses, and a cool pullover for the ultimate challenge: the Older Child.

Occasional Knitting: Projects for the special occasions in life—holidays, housewarmings, picnics.

The Sophisticated Kitchen: New uses for one of our favorite yarns: kitchen cotton.

We have filled this book with luscious photographs, stories, tips, rules, and hints. You’ll read how we arrived at these projects and the discoveries we have made along the way, and you will discover shocking things about us.

At all times, we have kept in mind Mason-Dixon Knitting Rule Number 1 : Knitting is spoze to be fun. Fasten your seatbelt—it’s going to be a fabulous ride!

Love,
Kay and Ann

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Building on the success of their Web site and blog (masondixonknitting.com), Gardiner and Shayne wind their way through patterns for adults, children and homes, including patterns by other knitwear designers such as Bonne Marie Burns. Helpful and humorous sidebars discuss the pitfalls of the sweater coat (including bathrobe syndrome), the beauty of Shetland wool, how to make a stitch marker out of citrus peel or tin foil, and the Holy Crap moment, where a pattern breakthrough occurs. Gardiner and Shayne alternate personal anecdotes throughout, with an especially enjoyable piece by Shayne about participating in the Tennessee State Fair knitting contest. With pattern names like Stephen Colbert's socks and Golightly Kitchen Gloves, Gardiner and Shayne demonstrate that the secret of knitting is that the longer you knit, the more fun it gets. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Knitters fall into two categories: those who think knitting dishcloths is good use of precious knitting time, and those who don’t. Gardiner and Shayne, bloggers and authors of Mason-Dixon Knitting (2006) are among the former. In this second book, there are several patterns for household items, including one for a mop cover. But even knitters who scorn dishcloths will find plenty to like here. As fans of the duo know, much of the fun comes from their patter and from adherence to their number-one rule: “Knitting is spoze to be fun.” That doesn’t mean it’s always easy, and the authors don’t shy away from patterns that include Fair Isle and felting, but as they say, “We wouldn’t put it here if we thought you couldn’t do it.” Along with the patterns comes some sympathizing and plenty of down-home philosophizing. The range of projects is deep and wide, everything from sweaters for both adults and children, through Christmas stockings and tote bags, to towels. Fans have been waiting for this one. --Ilene Cooper

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft (September 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307381706
• ISBN-13: 978-0307381705
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 0.6 x 11.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They've done it again!, September 17, 2008

By 

Boston Lesbian "Happily Married in Massachusetts" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines: Patterns, Stories, Pictures, True Confessions, Tricky Bits, Whole New Worlds, and Familiar Ones, Too (Hardcover)

I never thought they could equal their first book but they've certainly equaled it, maybe even exceeded it. There are many attractive patterns, things I want to knit. Here are some of the patterns in the book.

- A light and airy cardigan knitted with 2 skeins of Kidsilk Haze that is a very attractive coverup for a cardigan, a camisole or a party item. They say about it, "We have to keep samples of this under lock and key. Everyone who sees it wants it." This is sized from XS - XXL

- A very nice geometric shawl, called "Belinda" that when layered one on top of another gives a plaid effect. You can wear one at a time too.

- A gorgeous Coat in a stitch that gives a tweedy effect with a decorative pattern on the collar and sleeves. This is knit in Lamb's Pride Bulky and is sized from S - XXL.

- A classic coat done in a ribbed design, sized from S - XL.

- A leafy patterned, lined handbag knit from hemp.

- A beautiful, velvety scarf, with petal-like edges.

- The "daily sweater", a top down sweater that is a classy alternative to a sweatshirt. This is sized from XS - XXL.

- Several cabled sock patterns (I don't do socks)

- A sweater with a message, sized from XS - XL. This is a very elegant design, almost edwardian.

- Two very nice fair isle shawls

- A _BEAUTIFUL_ rug, knitted with Lamb's Pride Bulky. It is a geometric pattern, knitted in the round and then felted and steeked after you finish. It measures about 34" x 60" after you finish. This is on my short list to knit.

- A great denim sweater for children (sizes 4-6 thru 12-14). It is a mock wrap-around style. I only wish it came in adult sizes.

- A denim cap and jeans for baby

- A knitted dress (sized 2 - 8) for girls. This has a geometric patterned skirt. This is modern in feeling.

- A very nice knitted dressy dress for girls (sized 2 - 8). This is somewhat traditional, and called the "Jane Austen" dress. The bodice is knitted and the skirt is fabric. It is a much faster knit and allows many different results, depending on the fabric.

- A "Jane Austen" shrug, sized for the same sizes as the dress.

- A very nice "Fern" cardigan for toddlers and kids a little older. This is sized Small and Medium. It has an embroidered detail on the bottom, a fern design.

I'm not going to be too detailed on the rest. There are Christmas stockings, a knitted Advent calendar, a knitted Kippah, a felted bag, a knitted table runner (Quite modern in feel), a knitted string grocery bag (in linen), a knitted lantern, a knitted mop cover, a knitted hanging towel, potholder and knitted rubber glove liners.

There is also a lot of writing about knitting, about the patterns, etc. I haven't read all of that yet but it seems to be a lot like the first book, just as interesting and fun to read.

I only have one complaint. My favorite sweater SK8R is not available in adults sizes. The children's patterns in this book are useless to me but it is doubly annoying to have the sweater I most want to knit for myself only available for kids.

As I said before it is a great book with many wonderful designs. I predict it is going to be very popular. It is well worth buying. I ordered it before it came out and I'm glad I did.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Round 2, Roundly Awesome, September 19, 2008

By 

Legal Knitter - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines: Patterns, Stories, Pictures, True Confessions, Tricky Bits, Whole New Worlds, and Familiar Ones, Too (Hardcover)

It was hard to rationally imagine how the authors could top their first book, but both are such talented writers that I was expecting another home run. And yes, this book does not disappoint! Other reviewers have done a great job running through the projects in the book -- suffice to say that although my stash already equals a good-sized yarn store, I will be adding more very soon. (Yarn is squishy. It will fit.) There are (in my opinion) some wicked clever things in here that I've never seen before, and if you saw the size of my knitting library, you'd realize that's saying something. Clever, and yet doable and enjoyable to knit whether you're a newbie or have been at it for decades, like I have. And the writing! Oh my. It's pretty good when a book that you buy for the projects makes you laugh at loud. The Mason Dixon ladies really seem to capture the spirit of why I knit -- it's not just about whipping sticks and string around to make a sweater or a blanket, it's also about connecting with our families, our tribes, our best and worst caregiving impulses, our individual vanities, strengths and foibles. There's good stuff in here.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Book!, September 17, 2008

By 

RoeDudster (Fremont, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines: Patterns, Stories, Pictures, True Confessions, Tricky Bits, Whole New Worlds, and Familiar Ones, Too (Hardcover)

I loved the first Mason-Dixon Knitting book - The Curious Knitters' Guide. The authors' second book does not disappoint - it is filled with great patterns, offered up with humor and stories.

There are five chapters:
1. Decorating Yourself - fabulous patterns to wear including coats, sweaters, socks, scarves, and a purse
2. The Fairest Isle of All - Inspiration to try fair isle knitting with great patterns
3. Covering the Small Human - Obviously patterns for children
4. Occasional Knitting - Patterns include Christmas stockings to lanterns. Many different items to knit!
5. The Sophisticated Kitchen - The ballband dishcloth is back in a new form! Also other patterns like kitchen gloves . towels and potholders

I'll be reading this book and pouring over the many delightful patterns for quite a while. I'm motivated to go out today and start a new project!

If you are a previous Mason-Dixon fan, this book will live up to your expectations.