Customer Reviews

Quick Baby Knits: Over 25 Quick and Easy Designs for 0-3 year olds

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm a big Debbie Bliss fan, and this book features very typical Debbie Bliss designs: charming, classic sweaters for babies and children, using interesting details, lovely yarn and unusual colors. I've already made 2 of the sweaters, which turned out beautifully. That said, I would point out the following: (1) if you have other Bliss books, you may feel as I do that she recycles too many of her patterns, changing only minor details or colorways; (2) the book ought to be called "Simple Baby Knits"; while the patterns aren't complex or terribly time-consuming, they also aren't exceptionally fast. Only a few patterns use chunky yarn and bigger needles which speed the knitting along. (3) the book needs more practical aids to the knitter, such as clear photographs or sketches of the sweater, and either diagrams or a list of dimensions so the knitter can make sure the pieces are turning out as they should. I am a fairly experienced knitter and didn't have trouble with the instructions for the sweaters I made, but a beginner may need some more guidance. Overall, however, this is a good introduction to Debbie Bliss styles. I'm happy that I bought it and eagerly await the next Bliss book.

As with all of Debbie Bliss's books, the patterns in this book are for beautiful sweaters, cardigans, and booties. And they really are quick--everything is garter or stocking or moss.

The pictures are lovely, but I must agree with an earlier reviewer below who says they are not sufficient for a knitting book. While they would make a wonderful calendar (the kids are an adorable, multi-cultural group), they generally don't show the whole item in question, or the view is too close up (some double page spreads of the cutest babies, but I can't see the part of the sweater that I'm trying to figure out!).

While the patterns are indeed quick (I knit up the booties in half an hour) and not terribly hard knitting either, they are not easy to read. I may have knit the booties in half an hour, but I also spent a good few minutes just trying to figure out the pattern. Debbie Bliss doesn't use a single extra word in these patterns. While a beginner could easily knit these items, he or she should have a more experienced knitter read the pattern first. Read the pattern over and over before you start, and then read it again as you go along. Believe it or not, this will be the most complicated part--the knitting itself is straightforward and quite quick.

All in all though, I am glad to have purchased this book. All knitters need some quick projects, for when they just can't bear to look at that afghan again, or that man's sweater they're supposed to be knitting for someone special. And babies wear such little sweaters!

I am an experienced knitter and have knitted many Debbie Bliss patterns. I now have a daughter and have been knitting a variety of things for her. Although the sweaters in the book are adorable, I have several criticisms about this book:
(1) it is NOT a book for beginners, as many of the patterns use fairly difficult techniques, which I was surprised at, with no real explanation about them (I had to look some of them up in my Vogue Knitting reference book); (2) there are no pictures of what the garment looks like - the photos are all nice and adorable, but if you can't see the finished shape the directions can be confusing - I had to re-knit parts of the sweater featured on the cover because I couldn't see how it all fit together. The patterns are cute and adorable once finished, but they do take some time and patience to complete.

While this book has many very cute designs for children, there are some very aggravating aspects as well: the way the directions are presented, the lack of clear pictures or diagrams of the designs, and cryptic explanations of some techniques. The baby slippers pattern does not even include the gauge or finished measurements. It was very disappointing to read through the book, because there are cute designs that I would like to make, however, I know in advance that the knitting and garment construction is going to be confusing and painful. A little extra effort in putting this book together would have made it a joy to use.

Debbie Bliss designs some of the most charming knitwear for children. Many a time I have come across a simple, wonderful baby sweater and it turns out she's the designer. Unlike her other books, thes are all VERY simple--mostly garter, seed, or stocking stitch. For every pattern there is an adorable toddler or infant photographed wearing it--but that is the only view we get of the pattern, and on many patterns it's hard to make out the shape of the garment. There are no diagrams to show the shapes of the pieces either. Maybe a reprint will show the designs more fully and make them easier to understand and see what the end result will be.

I am not generally a Debbie Bliss fan--she tends to recycle patterns from one book to another, changing perhaps the color scheme or color pattern, which an experienced knitter could quite easily do on her own. Her books also tend to have errors and I am never fond of books that specify a specific brand of yarn rather than just listing the weight--it makes things quite difficult when the yarn is no longer available or if you can't figure out what yarn weight was used. THAT BEING SAID, there really are some adorable designs in this book. I would not call them "quick" by any standards, and I am a fast knitter. Debbie Bliss does provide unique designs that are worth exploring, but I think this book would frustrate an inexperienced knitter, and maybe a few experienced ones. Buy it on sale, or check it out from the public library before purchasing.

The designs in this collection are beautiful and the photos are appealing, but they are not for beginning knitters. There are no diagrams of the pattern pieces to give a full view of each garment and the directions assume the knitter has experience with various shaping techniques.

The other reviews are correct in my opinion: not necessarily for beginners, but nice designs. I have knitted for many years and these sweaters are not difficult, but they don't exactly whip up the way other patterns do. I love a couple of the designs in this book very much. I have probably knitted 5 of the patterns and some of them several times. I seem to always come back to this book, even though I agree that the explanations are a bit confusing sometimes. I recently read the intro to the book and found it a bit condescending the way she made it sound like you were a beginner if you wanted to knit from this book.

A more apt title might have been "Yet More Bliss Baby Knits." Since when is a long sleeved, tunic length sweater knit in moss stitch on size 3 needles quick? Even in baby sizes, a project like that takes time. There are many quicker Debbie Bliss baby sweaters in her other books. This might be a nice book to peruse at the library, but it probably wouldn't even make it home in my book bag.

I have a number of books on knitting for children. I have found that this one is my favorite so far. In Bliss's other books, unfortunately for me, there was just too much to do--I couldn't get them done while the baby was still small (I was trying to make them for gifts!) I began to wonder why I would put so much effort into something to be worn for so short a time--and my time is precious as a working single mom! Thank heavens for this one! The designs are simple, yet elegant and/or classic, and charming. They work up fairly easily. I made an alpaca/silk cardigan with a zig-zag edging for my step-grandbaby, and her parents loved it! This is a book I have already used for several items. I still like some other books, but this one is just so useful.