Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I really wondered if Ann and Kay could write another book as satisfying and engaging as their first, which spent as much time in my lap as a favorite grandchild. So I am both delighted and a bit astonished to find that this new book is at least equal to, and perhaps even much better than the first!

Ann and Kay have a way of making you feel like you're in your pajamas sitting next to them in their pajamas on the third floor of a creaky white-washed house by the seashore knitting in the wee hours after all the boring people have gone to bed, and in between sips of cocoa, you're laughing, learning, and happy as a child. They weave charm, humor, and comaraderie with wisdom and technical insights like no one else.

There are some designs in this lovely book that I predict will become legendary: The Mystery Sweater, which in itself is a stunning design, given in sizes from small to extra large, which I think would flatter anyone. The knitter chooses words to write around the bodice using chain stitch, for an effect that has literary value, yes, but which is also absolutely enticing to the eye, since the words are worked in the same color as the background, making them subtle and mysteriously decorative, yet fully readable. I'll bet this sweater will be worked in many different languages, by mathematicians writing favorite formulas, on and on - I can't wait to check it on Ravelry in about a year to see the thousands of variations. I wish I had time right now to start one myself.

There's a new dishcloth pattern which also made me want to stop everything and knit dishcloths . . .

And a great pair of socks - "Errant Socks" - which invite the reader to either follow the cable charts or use them as a springboard and let those cable branches dance with the spontaneity of jungle vines - all supported by clear instructions which give a knitter with no cable experience such clear understanding and practical experience that cable liberation becomes possible. This pattern is a great example of how Ann and Kay succeed in carrying new knitters to new horizons, building confidence and trust and then declaring - "Now look what you can do!"

This is a book to be read, and reread, and knit from again and again. Ann and Kay are providing today's knitters with incredible support, inspiration, instruction, and happiness, and I am grateful to them for nourishing our enormous population of knitters to harness their joy and intelligence.

I loved the first Mason-Dixon tome, with Kay and Ann's banter and comments making just reading the book worth the purchase price. So, when I heard they were doing a second book, I immediately put it in my basket and preordered it. And I'm so glad I did! The patterns are much better than book one, adding some complexity for those knitters who have matured in their craft since first encountering this knitting duo's work. And the patterns are unique--with a sweater you can knit your own poetry or inspirational sayings into, a to-die-for selection of blankets, and fun, goofy kitchen stuff you'll want to knit just for the heck of it. And again, Kay and Ann's warm writing make you feel like these two women are sitting next to you, laughing and comparing dropped stitches. This book makes knitting VERY fun, and accessible.

I don't even knit but I read this book cover to cover! It is cleverly written and beautifully photographed. I intend on giving it as Christmas gifts to the knitters in my life.

This is a great addition to my knitting library. I found that I want to make many of the designs in this book. Highly recommended.

Ann and Kay have done it again. Smart patterns, even smarter commentary. This is a must buy if only for the brilliant Bonne-Marie Burns's exquisite take on the sturdy peacoat and M-D's destined-to-be-a-classic Everyday Sweater. The Fair Isle section is downright glorious!

If you have not seen the first Mason Dixon book, you are missing out on a treat. As fun to read as the projects are fun to make. I just got this and found almost every project enticing, but will start first with the Fair Isle afghan inspired by a wallpaper in England. Her is blue and red, while mine will be chocolate brown and red.....

These ladies to do not take themselves too seriously except about knitting. However, for a rare treat, read the fine print and you will find yourself giggling over their thoughts. The projects and directions are great as well. Buy and enjoy both their books!

I loved the first Mason-Dixon book and was looking forward to their second book with great excitement. But I have to say I'm a little disappointed in it.

There are some nice things...the Daily sweater, the diaphanous mohair sweater, the mohair shawl, one of the coat sweaters, the Mystery Sweater. All those are in the first section and after that, I'm afraid my enthusiasm runs down rapidly. I have no kids/tweens to knit for. God knows, I'm not going to be knitting cuffs for rubber gloves or cozies for paper lanterns...or table runners or mop covers.

I found the first book to be really inspirational...there were designs that just got the reader thinking, "What about doing this? Could you do a log cabin this way? What if you did the rag rug using plastic bags?" The book just didn't give me the same creative jolt that the first one did.

But the writing is still charming (I loved the Kay and Ann's color wheels) and I'm not sorry I bought the book. Just a little sad that the zing of inspiration isn't there for me.