Customer Reviews

Simple Knits for Little Cherubs

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is great. I'm not sure that it's suited for beginners, but perhaps beginners-plus or intermediate. There is a wonderful retro pallet of colors/yarn and very nice, plain-but-lovely designs...just what's in style today. There is an adorable PJ bag for kids with an embroidered bunny pouch. Finally a pattern for simple slippers that are elegant and not too wild. This is a great investment for the price. Love the photography as well.

These patterns are quite simple (as in "plain, minimal decoration") and linear. I thought it meant "simple" as in easy, which is up to the knitter to interpret with their own skills. I suppose it can be somewhat interpreted as "easy" because it doesn't have cabling, bobbles, etc. or a lot of advanced techniques (though it does use a little intarsia, fair isle and some shaping.)

This book reminds me of Rowan books because the photos don't quite show all the details of the items on the kids and the pictures are "romantic hazy"; she also uses a fair number of Rowan-made yarns. The photos of the items off of the kids are shown in closeup to show details, or shown partially cropped, but it would have been nice to have seen just a clear, full shot of the items set down flat on a teble. It also uses many smaller yarns/gauge (7 stitches to the inch) and I personally prefer the items I make to be made out of at least worsted weight because they go faster. It would have been nice to have had the size ranges on each pattern instead of having to refer to a chart at the beginning of the book.

The items do have a pretty construction, cute but subtle details, and the patterns are varied, but if you're looking for a Debbie Bliss or Jil Eaton-like book, this isn't it. It would be great for people who like Rowan books, straightforward with small touches of whimsy. Look before you buy.

I'm an advanced intermediate knitter, but I found myself consulting other books for clearer instructions. However, this is a book well-worth buying. The patterns are (mostly) easy to read, follow, and knit, and there's something for everyone: texture, colorwork, big projects and small projects.

I really loved all the classic designs in this book, They are not the sort of designs that will only be popular for 1 season. They can be updated with new yarns etc and still be lovely in years to come. The sizing is perfect and the designs are easy to knit. I have come across no errors in the patterns attempted so far either. I have made the short sleeved sweater and I am 1/2 way through the fluffy bolero so far but there are boys patterns as well. All in all and easy to follow pattern book with simple sizing, she has pages on how to measure accurately as well as tips and techniques to finish your garments correctly and Erika also gives detailed explainations of the yarns used in the back of her book which makes substitution easy to do if you dont have access to all the beautiful yarns featured in the book. 5 stars, the only fault is that I want more!! I look forward to new books from this great designer in the future.

While Erika Knight's books are delightful, they are riddled with errors. The same is true here. Another reviewer of one of her other books noted the same problems. She and her staff have not in any way made sure that these patterns are error-free. I have emailed her with no luck. Her website has a list of other books with errata, but there is simply no excuse for this sort of sloppiness.

Proceed with caution, but the patterns are gorgeous!

I have been thinking about buying this particular book by Erika Knight for some time after borrowing it from my local library. I am so glad to have by own copy now because this is a classic and there is not a single pattern within it which I would not like to knit some day. Erika Knight's instructions and advice on yarns, tension and so on are so clear and sensible. The photos are just plain beautiful. Buy with confidence and enjoy!

This is a wonderful pattern book - not fancy, tricky, or trendy - just clean classic fashions with lovely shaping details. A good book to add to your collection whena gift for a little one is needed.