Customer Reviews

Vogue Knitting Very Easy Knits: The Best Of Very Easy Very Vogue

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book mail-order without previewing it first but it was a really good purchase. Unlike many pattern books, this book has quite a few patterns that I would like to try. All the patterns are from old Vogue Knitting issues, some as old as 18 years ago but are truly classic and still quite chic looking in some cases. Also even though the title says "easy" knits they are not all of the genre of bulky yarn and big needles; rather the styles are simple and with nice clean lines. There is a good variey of yarn types used and knits for any season. If you are looking for a pattern book with simple classic designs I would recommend this book over the recent book "Simply Beautiful Sweaters", which is more expensive and does not have the variety and sheer content of this book.

I bought this book along with VOGUE KNITTING, which is an amazingly helpful reference book! I wanted to knit, but no one in my family ever had, so I had no clue. These books are really easy to understand and I am now an active (though novice) knitter. Every sweater in this book is attractive, and I wish I could make them all! The directions are easy to understand, so a beginner like me isn't terrified.

I am a librarian who has the opportunity to read the reviews of books before they are actually available to the public. I insisted that our library have this book. It was a wonderful choice. New knitters and advanced knitters, such as myself, kept this title in circulation for months. In fact, I checked it out so often that I finally broke down and bought my own copy. The patterns are not only easy and quick to make, but they are classic. The styles will be forever current. I've loved the Vogue Knitting magazine for years and bought them strictly for the easy patterns. It is nice to be able to make something lovely on a limited time schedule. Finding the appropriate yarns will be a problem for those of us who aren't down the street from a nice yarn shop, but I don't think that there will be any problems making substitutions if one is careful about using the gauges. All in all, I felt no guilt purchasing this book to go along with the thousands (literally) of patterns I've collected over the years. I highly recommend this title to anyone who loves to knit.

Like all the Vogue Knitting books, _Very Easy Knits_ begins with a really excellent set of instructions, combining the necessary detail (a half-page list of knitting terms and abbreviations) with a conciseness which does wonders to prevent the beginning knitter from feeling overwhelmed. One should note that unlike the Vogue Knitting on the Go series, this one does not offer diagrams and instructions on how to knit (knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing, binding off, and so on), instead assuming that the reader is already familiar with these basic techniques.

Like the Vogue Knitting magazines in which these patterns first appeared, each of the garments is photographed in vivid color. The photographs, unlike those in many knitting books and magazines (sad to say), represent a very productive compromise between the knitter's desire to see what the knitted fabric actually looks like, and the fashion photographer's desire to make the finished piece look, well, as fashionable as possible. No soft-focus shots here, thankfully.

Yet these patterns, some dating back to the early '80s, utilize the original magazine photographs, and the hairstyles, makeup, and accessories often accentuate just how dated the styles have become. While some are fairly timeless in their simplicity, others, like the scoop-back crop top and the drop-shoulder striped pullover (paired with a long pleated white skirt!), are almost embarrassingly outdated. Moreover, while this may be my own strong reaction to some of the designs, some of the more recent pieces, even those from, say, 1997, are already showing signs of heading down the same path. The more experienced knitter will find much here to be adaptable, and may want to use some of the designs as templates of sorts, but the book's intended audience--beginning knitters who seek simple, yet fashionable designs--may find much to be disappointed in here.

I've only recently acquired my copy of this book, and haven't yet knit any of the designs, but there are several designs here which make the book worth the money. Then again, I bought it used. On the whole, I found the Vogue American Collection and Vintage Collection books to be much more attractive, albeit much more complex, than the set shown here.

This is a very fine book with lots of: nice patterns, great pictures, good instructions & materials list. However, I wouldn't call it "very easy knits." Most of the patterns in this book require a lot of shaping (multiple increases/decreases, stitch holders, etc.). If you are new to knitting, this can be difficult. There are just a few easy/beginning patterns, but most I would classify in the intermediate to advanced skill level.

Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced knitter, you should definitely have this book in your collection! Even an expert needs the more immediate gratification of a project that can be done in a fairly short period of time. The instructions are clear, both original and substitute yarns are included, and many of the designs are truly timeless. The rating of different kinds of yarn and advice on making substitutions are really helpful, especially if you're like me (I tend to use yarns other than the ones specified in the instructions) and you want to make a garment that is not overly complicated yet truly unique.

Look no further. In every issue of Vogue Knitting, there is a Very Easy, Very Vogue pattern. But easy doesn't have to mean "no style." These patterns have the Vogue touch, but are easy enough for a beginning knitter to attempt.

And this is not just a book of bulky knits to be made on needles carved from broomstick handles; there are all weights of yarn, and patterns for summer wear as well as winter wear. Vests, cardigans, pullovers, more.

There are not a lot of books of sweaters for beginners, so this is a welcome volume to have. But the variety and style means that this book will be one you will come back to, again and again, no matter how expert you become at knitting.

I love this book. Sometimes after a really difficult knitting project I want something classic and simple OR I want basic patterns to use with more challenging yarns. I've made several of these designs and they are excellent. Many reviews mention the difficulty finding yarns or subsitiutes...it is important to bear in mind that the yarn world is like that...here today, gone tomorrow...and this problem is universal with all patterns and books. Hence, a lot of knitters keep a "stash" of much loved yarns becasue you just don't know when it will disappear. I had no trouble substituting yarn on hand for these patterns. Always check your gauge! Its a great book and a valuable addition to my knitting library.

Most of the patterns in this book are great "Standards", so it is a good book to have on the shelf. There are a few truly awful sweaters, in my opinion, and I can't figure out why they were included.
But overall, the projects are easy and you can subsitute whatever yarn you like if you are careful and check your guage. One note: I bought mine second hand so there was no sheet of errata. I found that the stitch count on the sleeve of the Adrienne Vittadini sweater (on the cover) was incorrect. I made the medium and because I am an experienced knitter I was able to figure out the mistake in the pattern. If there is a sheet of errors that comes with the book, than this is no problem for a real beginner, but it could be confusing.

I purchased this book recently only to find out there are so many simple and basic, always-looked-for type of patterns. Since most of the style chosen for this book are so simple without too-much decoration, it is easy to alter to make your own design. Another thing is the charts. I am relying on this book for dimentioning. They are shown by inches, instead of number of stitches. There are about 60 patterns, and I think the price is more than reasonable. I gave 4 stars, because it does have a few patterns which are too old style from early 80's, but other people may find it attractive. I do not know. I would rather liking this book even better, if it had collected only from 90's. However, this book is still my most favourite and I am always having tought time deciding which one to knit for the next project. You will regret not buying this book ! I believe this book will provide you with many patterns to knit for the years to come.