20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good beginning knitting course, April 5, 2005
This review is from: Ready, Set, Knit: Learn to Knit with 20 Hot Projects (Stand-Up Book) (Spiral-bound)
This book looked ideal for my needs (rank beginner) when browsing in our local knitting store, so I bought it. It's turned out to be a mixed bag, but I'm still glad I bought it and I'm still using it as my primary knitting course to teach myself to knit.
The target audience is rank beginners, as you would guess from the title. It is not intended as a reference book for more advanced knitters.
Where this book excels is its selection of topics and the order of the topics. Other knitting books will bog you down with umpteen variations on a subject when you'd be better advised to move on to the next basic topic. Ms. Kagan picks the appropriate topics to concentrate on and presents them in an appropriate order for learning them. The basic topics include casting on (first row), knitting, purling, binding off (last row), gauge (picking the appropriate size needles), correcting mistakes, increasing and decreasing the size of rows so you're not limited to knitting rectangles, and reading typical project instructions. From there, she moves on to assembling the finished item (blocking, pressing, seams); textured, raised, and cable patterns; yarn embroidery - a simple way to add color before you're ready to tackle knitting multi-colored patterns; stripes; multi-colored patterns; using circular and double-pointed needles; and decorative openwork (various lace shawl patterns).
The book is attractively laid out and copiously illustrated, inviting you to dive in and explore. That's unless you're a man or boy curious about knitting, in which case you'll have a hard time getting past the pink cover and feminine look of the book.
The down side is that the instructions could be clearer. On getting it home and actually sitting down to read it, I couldn't at first understand what she was saying. However, with knitting needles in hand, concentrating on learning just one technique at a time, and picking a technique I'm reasonably ready to learn, I can usually figure it out. If you're left-handed (I'm not), good luck - it has one paragraph for you. The instructions are clearer in the "I Taught Myself Knitting" booklet co-produced by Lion Brand yarn and Boye (equipment manufacturer), a surprisingly good booklet that comes in kits with various starter assortments of equipment.
Another strength of this book is that it intersperses projects between lessons. The projects don't happen to be my style or anything I happen to have any use for, for the most part, or maybe that's just due to first impressions and color choices, but they're good both for practicing and for better understanding the techniques just learned. The more sensible projects include scarves, hats, sweaters, an embroidered pillow, throw (red hearts?? maybe I'll try it with green shamrocks instead), leg warmers, slouch socks, fingerless gloves, poncho, and a nice lace shawl.
In summary, if you're a rank beginner, this book can give you the knowledge and confidence to tackle any reasonably normal knitting project, however you may need to supplement it with another book or ask for help from someone who knows how to knit.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of techniques, projects not the best, December 28, 2004
This review is from: Ready, Set, Knit: Learn to Knit with 20 Hot Projects (Stand-Up Book) (Spiral-bound)
When I first looked at this book, I was struck by the good instructions that the author gives on various types of cables and other pattern stitches. I think that this book is a good book to own if you want to learn a lot of pattern stitches, but the patterns themselves do not really appeal to me. The candy stripe leg warmers and the cable hats are cute, but those are about the only ones I feel particularly attracted to. The fringe top is really ugly, too--just thought you might want a warning...
Bottom line: It's not worth the list price, but if you can find a good deal, then it's a nice book to have in your knitting library.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Looks are Deceiving, December 31, 2006
This review is from: Ready, Set, Knit: Learn to Knit with 20 Hot Projects (Stand-Up Book) (Spiral-bound)
I purchased this book as a brand new knitter looking to learn from a book. I was attracted to it because of the cover art, the fact that the book can be freestanding, and the beautiful photographs of the stitches inside. I also liked the look of the designs of the patterns. I won't say this is a horrible book, because it does have some good qualities, but it is not for beginners, as it does not provide detailed explanation in most of the patterns. I also found some errors in some of the patterns, which I thought were on my part, but I went to a knitting store and asked the owner and she said it was not my error, but the book's. The sock pattern, in particular, will make a sock, but with a very awkward feel and fit. I think these patterns are much more suited to the intermediate knitter who can catch an error before it is too late. That being said, I do wish more pattern books were free standing like this one--it made life easier.
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