5 comments about Simply Felt: 20 Easy and Elegant Designs in Wool.

1. Skimming through the book I thought the ideas and projects presented looked very interesting, and they are. The problem is that the author gives only the barest of details on the "how to" part.
   This is NOT a book for someone who has never felted before (fortunately for me, I am familiar with the processes). This book comes close to just being a showcase for
   the author's designs, which are lovely....but that's not all I was looking for.
   Rachel



2. I bought this book with the hope it offered knitting / felting projects. Instead it is a book about taking old sweaters and turning them into felted items. Many knitters, like myself, like to create felt projects from scratch. The felt projects were basic and most creative people would be able to create these without the help of a book.



3. This book is for very basic felting so if you are new to felting it is a good place to start. Not a lot of fancy ideas, but certainly works for the basics.



4. Wonderful creative book about felting. It has been a great addition to my felting library. It has some nice beginner projects that don't look 'beginner'!



5. If you like simple(but not too cold)contemporary look- you will love this book. Variety of the projects is amazing. Love it love it love it!

5 comments about AlternaCrafts: 20+ Hi-Style Lo-Budget Projects to Make.

1. I had read all the great reviews on this book and thought "Wow this looks like it would be an awesome book!" So I was SOOOOO happy when I realized that my library had it. Boy was I glad! I would have been so disappointed. There were a couple of really cute things in there but nothing I would really spend my time on. Overall I just think that it's ok.



2. I bought this book for my cousin who is a very craft 5th grade teacher because I felt there are several things she could do with her class cheaply or with stuff everybody has but nobody wants. Who doesn't have a old sweater that they don't wear anymore, but can't part with - hey reincarnate and turn it into a cool hat! Before giving it to her, (I know I'm bad) I memorized how to make "skants." I made my first pair of skants today and love them! What a great way to salvage a pair of weird jeans and turn them into the perfect skirt. This book rocks and I think I may buy it for myself.



3. This book is great. Not only are the projects trendy and fun, all the projects seem very attainable. I made the cowboy table cloth made with bandanas. The instructions were written clearly, and there were picture and diagram supports. I know I will use this book to make gifts for the holidays!



4. I really enjoyed this book. There are a variety of projects and most of them consist of "recycling" items.
   
   I also really appreciate the fact that this book has ring bindings and is able to lay flat. That makes it so much easier to follow instructions while you're working on your craft.



5. I didn't love this one. There were a few really great things, but then some that were just a little much. I would definately recommend for a teenager just starting to get into crafting or maybe even a college student, but for someone who likes a little more polish or is maybe a little more experienced and/or older (like me :-), it's probably not the best option.

5 comments about Mary Thomas's Knitting Book.

1. This is a very interesting historical knitting book published in the 1930's, I believe. It would be of more interest to the serious student of knitting than to the general knitter. Modern readers will find the B&W photography not up to their accustomed standard. The drawn diagrams are excellently done, though.
   That said, for the interested reader, this is a truly fascinating book that is densely packed with information.
   You will be happiest if you can borrow it from a library before buying it to be sure it is your cup of tea.



2. A classic become a classic for a good reason.
   
   If you want to understand knitting, buy this book.



3. I purchased this book for a fellow knitter sight unseen. She was lucky to get it. I will be acquiring multiple copies of this book for my knitting friends. The instructions are clear and the writing style is charming. The illustrations are fun vintage images. A necessary book for every knitter.



4. The Mary Thomas knitting books (As far as I know there are two, one on knitting per se and the other on knitting patterns.)are the only knitting books one would ever need to learn knitting and enjoy knitting for a lifetime. Granted, there are many wonderful modern books with better pictures, great diagrams, fine patterns and neater print, but contained in these two paperback Dover reprints of very old books are instructions for beginning through advanced knitters, simple explanations to all the knitting problems I have ever encountered and instructions for any knitting pattern you'd ever want to knit. There are even little funny bits in the margins for folks who like a good pun. I am a life-long knitter and have frequent use for these books. These books make great gifts for a knitting friend who does not own them



5. This is such a fun book. I have read a little more than half of it now, and skimmed through the rest, and there is so much here. The history of knitting that she gives at the beginning as well as sprinkled throughout the text is very interesting. She shows ways to do things that I have never heard of, and explains some things so that I finally understand them! I don't know if this would be good for the complete beginner. But then, I think that knitting is easier learned from a person than a book. But, once you have a few basics down, this book will teach you a lot.
   
   The writing style makes you feel as if she is sitting there talking to you. And the words "hip", "funky", and "not your grandmother's...", are never used. That is a real plus to me, as I find that whole trend rather irritating. (But that's a whole 'nother topic.)
   
   Here are the chapter titles to give you an idea of what is in the book:
   History
   Knitting Implements, Ancient and Modern
   Knitting Yarns
   Gauge and Tension
   Knit Movements, Stitch and Fabric
   Selvedges. Casting on. Casting off. Edges
   Shape: Increasing and Decreasing
   Colour Knitting
   Frame or Rake knitting
   Looped Knitting
   Beaded and Bead knitting
   Embroidered Knitting
   Garments
   Details of Garments
   Shetland Shawls
   Gloves
   Socks and Stockings
   Knitting Hints
   
   I found it very interesting that there was a chapter about rake and loom knitting, as that has become so popular again. I do knit on knitting boards too, and the directions and illustrations were the same that you would see in a more "modern" book. There really is nothing new under the sun! The spiral sock pattern looks fun too. I want to give that a try soon.
   
   Overall, this book is full of interesting information, and while not as glitzy as the newer books, it would make a great addition to your knitting library.

5 comments about Needle-Felting Magic: Easy Machine Techniques and Projects (That Patchwork Place).

1. Clear instructions, great photos - can't wait to get started on the projects in this book!



2. The book is very instructiv with several projects. It's a very good book to start with if you want to learn machine needle-felting. A lot of beautiful pictures, too.



3. A friend and I worked through the pages and discussed the various techniques listed. We attempted to make the purse and are ready to make the lining and sew them together. Backs and fronts are completed and were lots of fun. We used various fabrics from cottons, sheers, nylon backed, synthetics and various fibers which were natural to synthetic. It was a test to see what would work and what wouldn't. Since we were working together, we discussed the good and bad results with various trims and embellishments.
   
   We're ready to add felting embellishments to further projects and recommend the book for those who don't know where to begin.



4. After seeing Margo's website & having her first book I was expecting a lot more from this book. This one is far more basic then the first book.
   
   Most of the techniques would be better accomplished with a sewing machine rather than a needle felt machine. Many of the items are going to break the expensive needles on one of these machines.
   
   These techniques are all covered in other better books and far more comprehensively, don't waste your money.



5. This book really gets the creative juices flowing. Even if I don't make any projects that are just like what are in the book, it gives me the desire to stretch my imagination! Her projects are a delight for the eye, and the colors she chooses are so luscious. Yes, the creations are for those people who "think outside the box" and who want to do something out of the ordinary. Just wish that there were many more pages to enjoy!
   I hope that there will be another book to follow this one from the author.

5 comments about Vintage Baby Knits: More Than 40 Heirloom Patterns from the 1920s to the 1950s.

1. I love this book. I'd consider myself an intermediate knitter. I find the instructions easy to follow and the selection of patterns charming. Nicely laid out book. I've completed the Stella Pixie hat, which was very fun to knit. I'm working through the Bobby Kimono now. I have about three more items from this book I plan on making. I can see the Stella Pixie hat becoming a staple baby gift! Love it!



2. I received a copy of Vintage Baby Knits for Christmas, and immediately started making the Betty Lou Lace Cardigan on page 48 as a gift. I can't believe the glowing reviews for this book, and can only think that most the reviewers haven't actually tried to knit anything from it yet.
   
   I was extremely disappointed that the pattern contained MAJOR errors in the very first row. There is no way this cardigan could have been knit from this pattern, as the increases to this symmetrical garment are shown as happening only at the beginning of the row.
   
   As a very experienced knitter, I believe I know how to fix it, but even had the increases been placed correctly, the resulting quality of the pattern would have been very low. For a garment with 8 stitch markers, there should have been more of an attempt to explain where the increases should be relative to the stitch markers after completing the row.
   
   Needless to say, my confidence in the quality of this book is gone. I'm terribly disappointed by this disaster of a pattern. After checking the publisher's errata web page online, I'm even more disappointed. It doesn't show a correction for the pattern I tried, but for 3 others that I haven't even looked at yet!



3. I found this book very charming-- instructions are simple to follow. Photographs are true to finished projects. I have made three swaeters and the toddler dress so far, I will probably knit every pattern in the book (except the soakers-- other reviews have that one right). The patterns will be simple for a knitter with experience, I would not recommend this for your first foray into baby knitting. Overall great book!



4. I love this book. The designs are fresh yet classic. As a knitter with over 40 years of knitting experience, I found this book to be quite possibly my all-time favorite for babies. The patterns hold my interest - they have enough complexity that I don't get bored. They're challenging, but not to the point of causing me to break out in a knitting fever. It's a book I'll use again and again, which is more than I can say for most knitting books.



5. I bought this book after seeing all the samples on the author's book tour. The garments are even more adorable in person than in the book's lovely photographs. There are a lot of patterns in this book, with many different kinds of garments, making it a very good value for the money. Texture patterns, colorwork, cables, lace patterns, and garments with interesting construction make for a varied knitting experience. The use of lighter weight yarns makes great use of all the unique sock yarns out there. The author is very knowledgeable about vintage knitting and clothing styles, and provides interesting overviews of the styles and trends that influence her work. All in all, a very beautiful, useful, and satisfying book.

5 comments about Second Book of Modern Lace Knitting.

1. Oh boy! This book makes you wonder how much time people used to have on their hand in order to produce such beautiful knitting. Awe inspiring for a modern day knitter who will try (at least once) to produce one of these wonderful lace projects.



2. Beautiful old patterns. Fairly well explained.
   I wish there were a stitch count per row or pattern repeat.



3. Love the book: Second Book of Modern Lace knitting. I belong to a knitting lace group online and asked for a sugestion to start with and the response was, Book of Modern Lace by Marianne Kinzel. Imagine my delight when I found out there was two books by Marianne Kinzel. Of course I had to have both. ILTCRFT



4. Just like the first book, this second book by Kinzel is a classic in its class. No lace knitter should be without it!



5. This Dover re-publication of Kinsel's 2nd book is an exceptional value. the charts are all error-free and the photos are large and detailed. The symbols may be a bit unfamiliar, but it is well worth the time needed to learn the new ones, or to rechart the entire pattern. The last two patterns in this book, "Balmoral" and "Rose of England," are classics and so easy to knit up.

3 comments about Simply Needlefelt: 20 Easy and Elegant Designs.

1. Jayne Emerson, author of Simply Felt was trained at Loughborough College of Art before completing her Masters at Central St Martins in 1997. Since then her work has taken a wide-ranging path that has allowed her to express her creativity from craft through to couture. Her work encompasses embroidery, patchwork, fabric manipulation and needle felting and has sold to clients ranging from Chanel to Topshop. She is the author of five books Simply Felt (with Margaret Docherty), The Impatient Patchworker, The Impatient Embroiderer, New from Old and the forthcoming Simply Needlefelt
   What I enjoyed about this book is the way Jayne has taken needle felting and fabric manipulation to a new level. She takes ordinary uninteresting objects and turns them into works of art by using needle felting and fiber to create stunning wearable's and household items. From her short biography above, you can see her experience with couture design and her imaginative creativity offers us amazing new ideas. As pictured above, the book and some of the projects in the book that I thought you would find interesting. If you want to take your felting skills to a new level I suggest you purchase this book "simply needle felt"!
   Jane has included 20 easy-to-follow and fun to do projects for us to follow in this uniquely understandable book. She has taken silks and then felted into the silks creating gorgeous items to wear or to use in your home. Some of her projects are fabric jewelry, flowers, coasters, scarves, cushion covers, blankets, book covers and many other projects that will encourage you to create new and fascinating fiber art. She offers instruction on the use of felting machines or how to accomplish the same look by hand. Jayne has beautiful photography and templates to please everyone who uses her techniques. This book is good for the needle felter, fabric artist art quilter or mixed-media artist. Felters will delight in all the newfound techniques that Jayne brings to us. She does three-dimensional effects, appliqué, leaving am breaking and things she would never think can be done with fabric and needle felting.



2. I was a little disappointed with this book. The directions and projects are good but if you already own other books on the subject I'd try to check it out first before you buy it.



3. This book contained all the information I wanted to get started on felting. The language was very understandable, and the projects were great.

No comments about Scandinavian Needlecraft.

2 comments about Sophisticated Stitches: Designs for Quilting, Applique, Sashiko & Embroidery.

1. The book is full of lovely designs that are art deco in feel. But, despite the author's assertion to the contrary, most of them do not easily lend themselves to machine stitching. It would require a great deal of sewing back over lines already sewn in order to do these on a machine. The designs would be easier to do by hand -- I don't know anything about sashiko and so can't comment on that.
   
   Also some of the shapes do not readily fit into a square, so they would not work well on a quilt. So I will enjoy the designs on the printed page, but am unlikely to use them in fabric.



2. I have found this book not only full of easy to understand techniques but it also contains some wonderful patterns. Don Linn definately knows what he's talking about. I have already preordered his next book which is due on March, Design Art Deco Quilts, and am anxious to get it.
   Thank you for sharing your knowledge of machine quilting.

5 comments about Bead Knitted Bags: 10 Projects for Beaders and Knitters.

1. Book arrived in perfect condition, it was in perfect condition and packaged in perfect condition. A 10 !



2. This is a nice book that explains all basics for bead knitting in detail and contains beautiful patterns. It was easy to follow the instructions (even if I'm knitting "European style" which is only explained in a short paragraph).
   However, be aware that some of the word patterns contain some errors. Make sure to double-check the word patterns by comparing them with the graphs (visual patterns) that are also provided for each project. The author's website is listed in the book and you can find corrections to some of the errors there.
   I can only recommend this book it you want to try bead knitting!



3. Everything you could want in an instruction book, she takes you through it all. I've done other bead knitting, but this book is very helpful in all areas, now I can design my own knitted bags.



4. I had no idea this could even be done by knitting. These projects are beautiful and will make wonderful gifts!



5. I have been interested in bead knitted bags and this book is the first book on the subject in a long while. The wonderful suprise was the CD. You can choose to view right-handed or left-handed instructions. As a left-hander who learned to knit right-handed, the CD has the best examples of left-handed knitting I have ever seen. Even if you don't want to bead knit, the CD is worthwhile just for the left-handed knitting instruction. And the knitted bags are great too.