Book Reviews

Welcome to Chiagu reviews!

I’m reviewing my favorites from the latest crop of new knitting books and accessories. There are more knitting-related items available today than there have ever been before, I hope this will help you pick the best. Enjoy!

Knitting Over the Edge: The second essential collection of over 350 decorative borders
by Nicky Epstein

Having enjoyed the first in this series (Epstein’s Knitting on the Edge, which came out in 2004 to rave reviews), I just had to get my hands on her latest. And I wasn’t dissapointed!

In this book, Epstein covers an amazing range of edges, ribs, and other details that you can use to make your knitting more unique and unusual. It’s clear as you flip through the gorgeous pages that Epstein spent a lot of time thinking about her inventions and then explaining them as clearly as possible. Some of the options may go a bit too far, but I’m sure there’s a use out there for every one.

The book is divided into 5 sections: Unique Ribs, Cords, Appliques, Colors and Nouveau.
My favorite section is the cords section, especially the applied edges. The colors section is also wonderful, with many fair-isle, entrelac and slip stitch motifs. Each section offers a project in that category, and the fulled wrap from the colors section is stunning.

While the information in this book is superb, one of this book’s biggest strengths is the presentation. Beautifully photographed and layed out, it could be a coffee table book in its own right. The lighting and use of empty space make for a luxurious experience as you flip the pages, which are high-gloss and thick.

This is a book you’ll turn to over and over when you want to add something special to your knitting. For knitters who enjoy coming up with their own patterns or interpretations of other’s patterns, this is a worthy addition to your library. And it’s such a pretty book, you’ll have fun just flipping the pages, too!
Buy now at Amazon.com
The Art of Knitting DVD: Stitches, Colors, Fashion

I was pleasantly surprised by the content in this DVD. It’s a bit like having a knowledgeable LYS owner telling you a little bit about everything you might be interested in knowing if you like to knit, or if you’re trying to learn.

The best part of this DVD is the way it’s organized — you can pick what topic to watch, then sit back knitting while it plays before you. The DVD does teach basic knitting and covers information such as different yarn types, gauge swatches, and tools of our art, and those sections are well presented, easy to understand, and I can picture a new knitter hitting Pause to practice before moving on to the next step. It’s an interesting way to learn something, and the idea that the editor of Vogue Knitting or the owner of Jennifer Knits is teaching you certainly has its own appeal.

But for someone who already knits, there are even more sections to watch. There’s a section from a swimwear designer on knitting and crocheting bikinis, another on knitting with wire, one on shearing alpacas, one on color theory that I was happy to watch, and many others, including dying yarn and commercial spinning processes. There is also a lot of information about the “zen” or “soul” nature of knitting, which some may find interesting as well (I personally don’t buy into that stuff but I know plenty who do!). Most interesting to me was the section on physiotherapy for knitters, which shows some excersizes we can all do to keep our hands and wrists healthy.

All in all, this DVD is a great addition to any knitter’s library, and a great alternative to trying to knit and read at the same time! Part of the fun is getting to put faces to famous names in our industry: the DVD features Jennifer Wenger of Jennifer Knits, Nancy Wiseman, Laura Bryant, and the Twisted Sisters, among others. Now if I see one of them at TNNA, I’ll know to say hi!
Buy now at Amazon.com

Knitting Rules! : The Yarn Harlot’s Bag of Knitting Tricks
by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka Yarnharlot

I may be jaded or humorless, because although I am a prolific knitter (if I do say so myself) and knitting-book-buyer, I’ve never bought into the current wave of “knititng fluff” books. Maybe I get enough knitting talk at my full-time yarn shop job. Maybe I read too many blogs. Whatever the reason, I didn’t have any interest in these kinds of books.

Then on a cold, rainy spring day I found myself buying the Harlot’s latest offering, curling up with my knitting and a bottle of Diet Coke, and reading Knitting Rules! cover-to-cover. Yes, it’s fluff. There’s very little in there that I haven’t heard before (5 odd years working in this industry and reading/writing blogs will do that to a girl), almost nothing that I really need to know or will improve my knitting. But what is in there is wit, humor, and a light-hearted, positive look at our collective obsession. It’s like taking a break from my high-fiber diet to eat a bag of Pixie Sticks.

And I enjoyed every minute of it.

Even if you’re as grumpy as I am, you’ll be endlessly entertained by the Harlot’s take on what you undoubtably do in private, thinking no one knows. Did you know that she knows that of all the yarn you have in your stash, half of it has no labels and you don’t remember buying it? That’s not all. You’ll be entertained by an ode to Ziploc bags, quizzes to help you figure out just where in this crazy knitting world YOU fit in (I’m a sensei knitter, in case you were wondering), and tidbits about needle size, shawl construction, and her own knitting life, all of it delivered in her hysterical, irreverent way. There’s a lot of information and knitting tips, delivered in a conversational manner ala Elizabeth Zimmerman (one of my knitting idols), but with much more humor.

This book is a welcomed break from everyday knitting talk. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Stephanie is possibly the funniest blogger ever, and she’s funny about knitting! Get yourself a copy, a slice of chocolate cake, and laugh with me!
Buy now at Amazon.com