Customer Reviews

Pretty in Punk: 25 Punk, Rock, and Goth Knitting Projects

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have VERY mixed feelings about this pattern book which is why I've decided to write a long more detailed review for this book so that others can make a better informed decision before purchasing this.

PROS:
1.) The book offers beautiful glossy pictures and pages of the patterns and are presented in a very cute way.
2.) There are over 15 different graphs that you could knit into other items or apparel thus promoting creativity.
3.) The patterns are very easy and the instructions appear to also be quite easy to understand.
4.) The patterns have original designs (I'm talking about the graphs and style).
5.) Skills needed, gauge, and yarn weight are presented.

CONS:
1.) Not very innovative in terms of "shape" and "stitches". Similar patterns can be found elsewhere, some even for free. All you need is a little creativity to change up those "free" patterns or the ones you already have.
2.) Some of the patterns are just variations of the other (I can squeeze the entire beanies/head patterns into just one and provide multiple graphs to change them up a bit.) All in all, there's actually 15 patterns--slightly more or less depending on how you look at it.
3.) Not very challenging for the more experienced knitter.
4.) Only for beginners who already know how to knit, purl, and do intarsia (there's no instructions on how to learn).
5.) You might need to know how to crochet if you fancy the Vamp scarf as is (not really a con but rather an annoyance for those who don't happen to know how to crochet).

__The Patterns and my opinion on them__

For the Head:
I won't bother reviewing these, they are all shaped exactly like the hat on the cover page. The difference is that some are missing the mohawk and have different themes.

Punk's Not Dead
Lucky 13
Red Baron
God Save the Queen - the cover page hat. Refer to that picture to have an idea of what the other hats look.

For the Neck:
Ska Skarf - It's a striped garter-stitch scarf

Moral Panic - It's a tie

Vamp - Very cute loose garter-stitch scarf--you need to know how to crochet in order to create the border. I would knit this up.

Rude Girl - it's a checkered choker with two red buttons. It's cute, but I don't exactly see people wearing a knit choker although I may be wrong.

For the Chest:
Goth Girl - a "cobweb-inspired jumper". Not much going on here, its a fishnet top that you can place over the top of your shirts.

Master & Servant - My favorite pattern in the book. It's a spaghetti strap top with yarn-overs and runs which looks really nice. I would knit this.

Transgression - another "jumper" though this one is worn as a dress and is knit up with superbulky yarn and is actually styled to "fit" the body.

The Swindle - It's a striped sweater that you can see in the gallery in on the main page.

The Young One - I've seen similar patterns in numerous different books and online. This one has a nautical theme on it.

Lolita - At first glance, I loved it and thought "Oh, let's just get rid of the corset and...oh, wait...the pattern IS the corset." It's a vertical striped under-the-bust corset.

For the Arms:
These are also basically the same but I will review these.

Feel the Pain - It's just a short wrist warmer/band with a red cross, white background, and black border. I like it but I, and chances are, hundreds of other people, have already come up with this design/idea.

Love Bites - a longer wrist warmer with a heart and horizontal stripes.

Death or Glory - this wrist warmer covers your entire forearm and has a skull and crossbones design!

Combat Rocker - about as long as the last one only it has a camouflage design.

For the Bum:
I'm not going to bother reviewing these, they are all the same "butt flaps". They only offer different designs and sizes though I do appreciate the various graphs as they are cute, young and can be put onto just about everything else (think sweaters, bags, purses, etc.).

Bum Patch
Union Jack
Dethroned
Ready Steady Go

For the Rest:
I won't bother with these either. These are just messenger bags with different designs on them as well.
Mini Mod
Anarchist
Rockabilly Riot

Overall, I enjoyed the book but I was pretty disappointed and felt a little cheated out a whole 10 patterns. I'm going to keep this a little longer to see if it grows on me, otherwise, I'll return it. Base your decision on your skill level as a knitter and how much you need the graphs presented in this book. I'm an advanced beginner and still felt that these were too easy (though I like the idea of "quick-knits" for instant gratification on some of these). If I keep it, it'll be for the graphs, though printing out graphing paper and coming up with your own free designs might be more economical.

Pretty in Punk: 25 Punk, Rock, and Goth Knitting Projects is THE knitting book for anyone who came of age in the 80s, idolized everything British and is more Vivienne Westwood than Laura Ashley in their fashion sense. Alyce Benevides and Jacqueline Milles, owners of the counter-culture knitwear company knit-head, have gathered together 25 of their signature designs and invite knitters to "unleash their inner rockstar."

Beginning with their signature Mohawk hat (currently being sported by Depeche Mode's Martin Gore on tour) in the chapter "For the Head," the designs in Pretty in Punk are divided into six sections, depending on where on the body the garment is to be worn. While the patterns themselves are simple (suitable for beginners although there are no learn-to-knit instructions), these designs have serious attitudes. Benevides and Milles' sense of style carries throughout the production of this book. Everything here reflects punk, rock and goth sensibilities--from the high-fashion style photographs to pattern names--although in this case, punk gets a nudge of luxury for these ladies aren't above using cashmere.

Even if your style no longer runs to mod micro-minis or sporting the union jack, Pretty in Punk is the perfect inspiration for your inner rebel. Instead of plain gauntlets, why not indulge your quirky side by using the "Love Bites" arm warmer pattern? My inner goth is mentally digging through the stash to find the perfect mohair for the "Goth Girl" jumper and "Vamp" scarf. Benevides and Milles suggest that anti-authority knitting means injecting yourself into what you make, whether your style is goth, mod, punk, ska or rockabilly, it's all about individuality. "All you need is two sticks and a ball of yarn."

Armchair Interviews says: For any "child of the '80s."

This book was great as far as creativity, originality, and quality go. However, I have only one beef with it, and that is that there are 25 projects, but 4 are similar shaped hats, 2 are scarves, 4 are wrist or arm warmers, and 3 are similar shaped bags. (And what is a "bum flap"?)

Now, having said that, I have to say that the intarsia patterns are AMAZING. As someone who loves intarsia, I will be using this book quite a bit, if only for the charts alone.

The pictures are very well done and attractive, and in most of them you can distinctly see the project, although it seems as though the photographer was more interested in highlighting the models instead of the knitting.

I picked up this book because, like so many other people I know, I absolutely dislike what is being offered to me on clothing store shelves and racks nowadays. Pretty in Punk is great because it offers a little of everything- from the crowning achievement kick-butt mohawk hat on the cover to accessories such as purses and arm bands all the way to sweaters, skirts, corset-style tops and the ever-important arm warmers. The instructions are thorough and detailed, the pattern graphs easy to follow, and the project descriptions full of personality and insight. I should stress, though, that this book is NOT for beginners hoping to learn how to knit, it's for the established knitter craving new ideas. Personally I prefer crocheting, so I'm in the process of converting a lot of the projects to crochet patterns, but that's the beauty of self-expression; adding your own touch to make something your own. And there's nothing more Punk than that.

I was really excited about this book, but was dissapointed when I got it. The only pattern that was a little challenging was the one on the cover. Everything was pretty basic; wrist cuffs, necktie, choker, bags... This did have a lot of awesome photos and cute intarsia graphs that made what I paid worth at least that.

FINALLY someone wrote a book with patterns I actually want to work on and then wear and give as gifts. The photos are amazing and the instructions are clear and concise. I love how the punk rock theme runs throughout the book from item names to the actual finished project. This book is so cute I could marry it. It is also the perfect gift for hard to please teens. It will keep them out of trouble for long periods of time. Bravo to the authors for a fresh look at knitting. It is lovely to see a return to basics. This book rocks.

I love this book. It's beautifully illustrated and fun. The knitted items are hip, fashionable and practical. The directions are easy to follow. I highly recommend this book for any knitter's library.

I love this book. The patterns are simple, but edgy. The knits are inspired by british Couture Punks, Vivienne Westwood & John Galiano (Dior) so the styles are alternative, but still clever and girly (no boys patterns in here except maybe the hats, wrist cuffs or messenger bags). The themes covered are Punk, Mod, Rockabilly, Goth and they are all nicely photographed & fast to knit up. I've already made the miniskirt and I'm making the mohawk hat on the cover. The intarsia graphs are cool too.

I bought this book after seeing other people's projects of the Punk's Not Dead pattern on a knitting site. I wanted to use this pattern to make a hat for my sister. However, once I got the book I was very disappointed. A simple hat that could have been knit in the round was made of four pieces and then seamed together. As a book that is geared towards beginners, this seems like the fastest way to get frustrated. I ended up not using the pattern because it was so poorly designed.

As others have mentioned, there were a lot of "repeats", which made me feel like I wasn't getting my money's worth. One of the biggest faults I find with this book is the photography. Many of the pictures were dark (I get that it's supposed to be edgy) and didn't make the knitted item the main focus of the picture. The knitted items frequently were less than 20% of the picture. I didn't buy the book so I could have pictures of models, I bought it so I could have pictures of the knitted items! Likewise, there was usually only one picture per pattern, so you couldn't guess as to how it fit, how the fabric layed, etc. However, the thing I didn't like most about this book was the lack of size options. They only provided one size per pattern! I liked a couple of patterns, but I would have to recalculate the pattern in order to fit me. If I'm going through all of that trouble, why do I even need this book in the first place?

Overall, I would definitely not recommend that you buy this book. Save your money and check it out from a library if you're really interested.

This is a great book to get teens into knitting. Just not your mom, grandmothers knitting. Up to date and in-style will make any teenager be busy the "good" way.