Simple Knits for Cherished Babies [Paperback]

Erika Knight (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2001

“Beginning knitters can complete most of the designs featured, and...the author includes information on substituting yarns. Visually, this is a beautiful book, with full-page color photos of each design and detailed close-ups. Among the many designs featured are an enchanting cashmere teddy bear, a lace-edged baby blanket, and classic baby booties. Warmly recommended for public libraries of all sizes.”—Library Journal.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Knight's earlier pattern book, Comforts of Home (Martingale, 2000), emphasized knitting soft, comfortable fashion accessories for the home. In a similar tone, this book emphasizes classic designs knitted for babies in pastels and naturals using soft fibers such as bulky cottons, silk, and cashmere. Beginning knitters can complete most of the designs featured, and, although specific yarns are recommended, the author includes information on substituting yarns. Visually, this is a beautiful book, with full-page color photos of each design and detailed close-ups. Among the many designs featured are an enchanting cashmere teddy bear, a lace-edged baby blanket, and classic baby booties. Warmly recommended for public libraries of all sizes.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Erika Knight is a design consultant, with a special interest in knitwear, and she brings her considerable experience and knowledge of the market to inform the choice of projects, fabrics and textures in this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Collins & Brown (October 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855859262
• ISBN-13: 978-1855859265
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #853,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous patterns but error-prone, December 26, 2003

By 

Leslie D. Ehrlich (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simple Knits for Cherished Babies (Paperback)

I agree with the reviewer who says this is a beautiful book but the patterns have not been adequately checked. I'm a good knitter, with dozens of sweaters to my credit. If I think it's not right, then it isn't.

The patterns couldn't be more darling. There are several bootie patterns, two blankets, and host of sweaters, from the challenging raglan to the simple garter stitch. All sweaters are for sizes up 1 yr. All call for Debbie Bliss yarns, but substituting is fairly easy since the gauges are given, mostly over stockinette.

The bad news is that the patterns are oddly and inconsistently written. The sweater I just knit is a cardigan with garter stitch edges lined with ribbon trim. The sweater is knit in the usual way -- back, 2 fronts, 2 sleeves, neckband knit on. For the second front, they don't say something economical, such as "work same as left front, reversing all shaping." They repeat and reverse all the instructions. Leaves you wondering what's different. But then for the sleeves, the directions are just plain strange. On most sweaters, the sleeve shaping follows the armhole shaping; on this one, it's different. Since I followed the armhole shapping method, which worked fine, I couldn't tell you whether the pattern would work as written. Second, the instructions simply say to increase one stitch each end every six rows until the sleeve measures 6.5 inches. They never tell you how many stiches you should have when you're done!

Net net -- if you're a confident knitter and you can fix the patterns, buy this book. Otherwise, stay away.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poorly edited, September 9, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Simple Knits for Cherished Babies (Paperback)

I bought this book because of all the wonderful reviews everyone gave it. The book does have beautiful pictures, and the projects look great.

Unfortunately, the instructions are somewhat incomplete and poorly edited, and some techniques (e.g. decreasing by knitting through the back of the loops) need more than a description in the back of the book. Also, the number of stitches are sometimes incorrect. One pattern omitted instructions to bind off in one section, so I had live stitches on the needle and wasn't sure if I should bind off or put them on a safety pin. In another section, the instructions didn't explicitly say to bind off in rib stitch.

I made one of the sweaters for age 6-9 months. The sweater turned out to have a very short torso (9 inches, per the pattern) and long, skinny arms (12+ inches). My husband commented that it looked like our 2-month-old baby could already wear it. She could barely fit into it. (There was plenty of arm length, though.)

A much, much better book is Melanie Falick's Knitting for Baby. The instructions are extremely clear (and they work). I also recommend the knitting books by Debbie Bliss.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of my fave knitting books for babies!, July 17, 2006

By 

R. K. Miske (Monument, co USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Simple Knits for Cherished Babies (Paperback)

There are so many great patterns in this book, and the photography is amazing. I started with one of the bootie patterns which proved quite challenging. There was no schematic or photo of the work in progress, so understanding the pattern was difficult. I wish there was a little more detail in some of the patterns, especially on the finishing. But the projects I've made are just adorable. I don't think this would be a great book for the beginner.