Handknit Holidays: Knitting Year-Round for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice (Hardcover)

~ Melanie Falick (Author), Susan Pittard (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For many people, the best part of the winter holidays is the anticipation: planning the perfect gifts, decorating the house, looking forward to seeing family and friends. Holidays can be particularly special for knitters, whose preparations often start months in advance and involve their own creations. In Handknit Holidays best-selling knitting author Melanie Falick presents an eclectic collection of more than 50 original gifts, decorations, and clothing pieces for Christmas, Hanukkah, and the winter solstice, providing year-round inspiration for knitters of all levels.

Created by top knitwear designers, the projects include colorful ornaments; funky and classic Christmas stockings; a wire-and-bead menorah; sparkly ribbon scarves; a poncho and matching dog sweater; and a range of super-quick projects for that last-minute holiday rush, from a Santa hat, to elf caps, to flower pins. Rounding out the volume are a few grand projects-an Aran tree skirt, a patchwork afghan, a lace shawl-destined to become family heirlooms, plus features on such topics as the origin of the Christmas stocking, the meaning of the winter solstice, knitting for charities, strategies for finishing holiday knitting (on schedule!), and even a delicious recipe for festive crescent cookies.

Beautifully photographed by Susan Pittard, Handknit Holidays is a creative celebration of the holiday season and a treasure for all knitters who seek to bring more of their own handwork-and artistry-into their daily lives and their holiday festivities.

About the Author

Melanie Falick is a bestselling knitting author and editorial director of the STC Craft line. Her previous books include Kids Knitting and Knitting in America as well as the STC titles Weekend Knitting, Knit: A Personal Handbook, and Knitting for Baby (with Kristin Nicholas). She lives in Dutchess County, New York.

Susan Pittard is a lifestyle and portrait photographer based in New York City. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including Lucky and Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: "Stewart, Tabori and Chang" (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584794542
• ISBN-13: 978-1584794547
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #256,357 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have, September 18, 2005

By	Michelle (Watertown, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This book is definitely a winner. It is one of the few knitting books that I have looked at and said, "I want to knit everything in there!". There are Christmas ornaments, garlands and treeskirt and stocking sets. Also, several styles of table runners and a clever lace tablecloth by Annie Modesitt that uses panels of linen in between lovely lace strips. One item I think I'll be making this year is a delicate lace "frame" to use as a mat for a photograph (within a wooden frame). The garments are wonderful and most (except a little tank) are in a variety of sizes, from small to plus sized. ALL yarns in this book are of the best quality; no craft store yarns here :^) This means some of the projects can be very expensive, but I like to see projects knit with luxurious yarns because I know I can always substitute if I need to. I know shrugs have been done to death lately, but there is a new and interesting shrug idea in here from Norah Gaughn that is lovely. Highly recommended for all your gift knitting, and holiday decorating needs. The book is slanted more toward Christmas and Winter Solstice celebrations, with only one specific Chanukah project (a lovely cable pillow in which the cables form a mennorah). Many great designers, many fabulous yarns.

50 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Be ready to trouble shoot, November 11, 2005

By	A. Lindenfeld "Reef Bay Knitter" (DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am currently knitting the child's gansey pattern from this book. If I were not an advanced knitter, I would probably throw both my yarn and this book in the trash. There were MANY mistakes in the pattern, not the least of which was a basic math mistake in the number of stitches to cast on. Also, the pattern calls for circular needles, but gives instructions for a sweater knitted on straight needles. (For many new knitters, one would assume circular needles would call for a circular pattern.) All in all, this pattern could have been written in a much more straight forward way. I like the projects in the book very much, but I will hesitate to launch into another one without a lot of patience at hand.

46 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful surprise, September 27, 2005

By	Jody Pirrello (Philly Suburbs, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really wasn't expecting a lot from this book. I thought it would be another Christmas-hype book. I couldn't be more wrong.

The projects are wonderful and the photography is great. The projects are varied and will suit many types of knitters. There are quick and easy projects like the knitted ornaments and garland, as well as more complex projects like a stranded tree skirt and a lace shawl.

There are a variety of lovely yarns used in here, and some in unexpected ways (e.g., a linen-blend yarn for above-the-knee stockings and mountain colors bearfoot for a stranded cape). The projects are inspiring and I've found myself thumbing through the book while sitting on my sofa for three nights in a row.

I'm so happy to add this to my knitting library.