Paintbox Knits: More Than 30 Designs for Kids "Print on Demand Edition" [Paperback]

Mary Bonnette (Author), Jo Lynne Murchland (Author)

Book Description

Kids will love showing off their own playful, pint-sized knits that mix sporty designs with clever motifs! More than 30 projects for toddlers to preschoolers feature bright, trendy color schemes that offer charming appeal for the adults who knit them and the children who wear them. Beginning-to-intermediate projects include pullovers, cardigans, tunics, skimmers, pants, and jackets, with many suitable for either boys or girls. Designs rely on durable fibers and generous proportions for active, growing kids. Helpful sections reveal kid-tested secrets for simple sizing, trouble-free blocking and finishing, neckline knitting, and graphing original designs.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Animal Knits is a pattern book chock full of enchanting animal designs for kids' sweaters, hats, toys, and more. Well-known British knitwear designer Mellor provides little instruction for the beginning knitter, making this book more appropriate for those with intermediate skills. Paintbox Knits, on the other hand, is not only a pattern book but also a teaching tool; the authors guide the reader step by step through each pattern, including a wealth of knitting instruction along the way. If I were to count the number of designs I would love to make were time and money no consideration and divide by total number of designs, Animal Knits would be batting a record-setting 730 while Paintbox Knits is doing better than most major league hitters at 400. Another way to gauge value might be to observe that while Animal Knits costs 77? per pattern, Paintbox Knits costs approximately $1 per pattern. Public libraries should seriously consider purchasing both.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

The signature children's designs of Mary H. Bonnette and Jo Lynne Murchland have been featured in such national publications as Family Circle Knitting, Knitters, Cast On, and Knit 'n Style. Together they own the Sassy Skein, a Florida design company specializing in children's knitwear.

Product Details

• Paperback: 146 pages
• Publisher: Martingale & Company (March 23, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564773361
• ISBN-13: 978-1564773364
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #688,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A versatile book if you knit for kids, March 24, 2001

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paintbox Knits: More Than 30 Designs for Kids "Print on Demand Edition" (Paperback)

Kids' sizes are harder to find in knitting patterns than babies. (and who cares if it doesn't fit the baby? Too big and just waitaminnit, that baby will swell amazingly to fit any sweater.) This is not the case with kids; they grow a bit slower, they are fussy about their clothes and the fit. So this is a useful book.

It has patterns for sweaters that can be used for either boys or girls, even has pants. The most useful section is on blocking and finishing and necklines. Necklines are tough; kids have bigger heads in relation to their bodies so it is well to understand how to fit a neck opening on kids.

I give the book 4 stars out of 5 because it specifies a lot of acrylic type yarns. (To be fair, the book also has some cotton as well.) If you read Elizabeth Zimmerman, she claims wool is better for kids even though it needs hand washing and that the best wool probably won't itch. If you like machine washing, then acrylic is your fiber. If you want extreme warmth, wool is better, and you can always substitute a wool yarn of equal weight to the ones specified in the patterns.

Oh, there's also a bit about charting your own designs, which is handy for people who want to knit HP sweaters and the like. Not a bad reference if you knit for your children, grandchildren or children of friends--or for charity, too.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Misleading title, December 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Paintbox Knits: More Than 30 Designs for Kids "Print on Demand Edition" (Paperback)

I bought this for my mother who routinely knits for my kids, age 5 and 7. This book has maybe one pattern suitable for "kids". It should be 30 designs for infants and toddlers. Cute patterns, but certainly only for babies.

4.0 out of 5 stars Paintbox Knits Vol 1, August 9, 2010

By 

Penny - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Paintbox Knits: More Than 30 Designs for Kids "Print on Demand Edition" (Paperback)

I was glad to find that I was able to find vol 1 of paintbox knits, I had the second vol and have made several items from it. I reviewed the book I purchased and found it too had several items that I will enjoy making for my granddaughers.