Customer Reviews

Monkeysuits: Sweaters and More to Knit for Kids

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first decided to start knitting, I knew I needed an inspirational collection to propel me forward. Monkeysuits was just that, and I've been joyfully knitting away ever since because of this book. Really!

The designs in Monkeysuits are lots of fun and inspirational, and the patterns themselves are very clearly written. She provides final measurements (a simple & helpful thing, but not everyone does it), and fun little anecdotes for each pattern. Also, the photographs are very detailed (again, not everyone does this -- a personal pet peeve), giving you a clear picture of what you are making. These are all especially helpful to newbies like me.

Turner choses very nice, but not wildly unavailable or expensive yarns. Most importantly, all gauge and yardage information is listed with the pattern, making substitution a cinch. Other collections, written for specific yarn companies, hide the yardage information in an index, forcing you to flip around if you want or need to substitute (of course, the idea for these collections is to sell their yarn, so...fair enough).

If you are looking for something traditional or conservative, you're best going elsewhere, I suppose. If you're a Minnowknits fan, buy this book! While I would argue that these designs are not at all off-the-wall, they are all inspired and very fashionable. And why not have some fun dressing your little ones? My daughter loves the way her "Electric Smock" swings out when she twirls! The sweaters I've made from this collection (and I've made quite a few) have all garnered a lot of praise -- they just have that certain something that draws attention.

I really do love this book. It's far and away my favorite collection, and I'm hoping that Sharon Turner is coming out with another one soon.

I love this book and have made several outfits from it. I have substituted each yarn making my projects less expensive then the suggested yarns and they came out perfect. I can not wait to make more from this book! They are fun and keep you thinking so they never get boring!

This is simply a FANTASTIC book. I want to knit all of the patterns, and can't wait to see my children in the creations!
Hats, jackets, cardigans, jumpsuits, pullovers, and pants. These are creations that people will stop you in the street and ask where in the world did you buy that??
Happy knitting!

Nanette of Fruitland, ID

I started knitting when I had my daughter, and I was so excited when I found this book. Everything in it is just adorable. I get so many compliments when I'm strollering her about. The Tweedy Pie coat is a timeless classic, and the little puppy outfit is a riot. I have knit about 10 of the outfits--she's so well dressed!--and have found the knitting "recipes" so easy to follow. I'm about intermediate at this point, but I was a beginner when I got the book. It is still an inspiration.

Monkeysuits is an unusually imaginative book written by a superb and creative knitter. The text is warm, inviting, and delightful. The designs feature sparkling, vivid colors instead of the usual pale and boring pastels pictured in most other books of children's patterns. The directions are explicit and clear, and the garments turn out exactly as they are pictured. I am an intermediate knitter and was easily able to conquer many of the patterns. I am psyched to improve to be able to knit the more complicated designs, because I love them so much. There are patterns for every level of knitter in this book. I can only hope Sharon Turner will give us more of her designs!

There are so many beautiful knits in this book, using very fine yarns. Although I love the thought of making my daughter a few of the knits here, I really have to think about the cost of the yarn and the difficulty of the patterns before I decide if I'm going to make anything here. I think this book is geared more to a very good knitter.

I just got this book after using the Ms. Turner's other book for my knitting classes, and I was so surprised to see so many creative and beautiful knits AND such well-written instructions. I am an experienced knitter, and even though a lot of the patterns in this book are easy, the use of color and stitch pattern and decoration are so beautiful that I would want to knit almost everything in it. There are even some patterns that can be knit for adults, which was a real bonus!

If you are an avid knitter and love the simplicity and speed of children's clothing, this is the ideal book! There are great sweaters, outfits and hats that are very adorable.

The only catch is her needle size and gauge is in imperial - not so good for us younger Canadian knitters, but not impossible to work through.

I love just about every item in this book (some of the boys stuff is a little bit sissy, though) - and the patterns are easy to read and follow. I have only been knitting for about a year, but was not intimidated by these wonderful designs!

This book is one of the most creative knitting books I have seen. The patterns are adorable, very practical, and different from the usual trite pastel patterns one usually sees for babies and children. The directions are superbly clear, and the patterns turn out the way they are supposed to. This book is user friendly with a warm test to accompany the patterns. Kudos to Sharon Turner! I look forward to more books from this imaginative knitter.