Tuesday 31 August 2010

Book Review - Knitting Green

I am lucky enough to have been given two copies of this book and so am giving one copy away to the winner of this competition.
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This is an Ann Budd book, which in itself is a pretty good indication that this will make a useful addition to your knitting library. Her book "The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns" is my go-to book for projects and in fact I've got two on the needles at the moment using patterns from that book. This book is not quite in the same league, in that it has 20 patterns with set sizes, but it has the same straight forward layout you can expect from her books.

Knitting Green follows a now familiar format of interspersing knitting patterns with short essays on topics relevant to the book's theme. I doubt whether anyone has ever bought a knitting book for the essays, but they're well written and interesting to dip into. The patterns are an interesting variety of scarves, shawls, socks, accessories and tops with a skirt and a hat thrown in for luck. There is a lot of worsted and chunky in evidence although there is a fingering weight shawl and jumper. Each of the patterns has an eco-mum type name like "Tree-Hugger Pullover" or "Back to Nature Hat" or even the "Save the Streams Slippers". Photos are very good - showing all those details knitters want rather than Vogue-esque arty shots. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry here.

All-in-all the book is very much visual comfort eating with nothing scary, challenging or too on-trend. It's the sort of book where you really enjoy looking through it and can instantly spot at least three things you could cast on straight away.

So...to get your hands on this lovely book just leave a comment on this post giving your "go to" knitting, crochet or crafting book. All comments posted before 11.30pm UK time on Sunday 5th Sept will enter the random draw!


6 comments:

Katie said...

My Go to knitting book is the classic Knitters Almanac by EZ. So many projects of different types, so many useful hints and tips (though the instructions for a circular cast on defeated me!)
It's the book I took away with me this summer and I didn't feel the lack of any other knitting book.

Charlotte said...

Stitch'n'Bitch... the book that got me back into knitting as a twenty year old. Now I pass it on to all my friends who want to knit, and we use the diagram pictures for them to learn a new technique. I can leave the book with them, and then next time we meet for a knit session, suddenly they have finished an item! Still occasionally look up kitchener stitch in it myself...

AlisonK said...

Yarn Harlot's Knitting Rules set out in clear terms a lot of hints & tips I just hadn't known with being a self-taught knitter who mainly works in isolation (no local friends knit, Mum can but isn't keen). This book is also responsible for the fact that I ever succeeded in knitting a sock, as the first one I did was to Stephanie's recipe.

nocton4 said...

wel I'm going for stitchnbitch, always to hand and so great with clear advice.I picked up 2 extra copies over the summer at charity fetes, sales etc and passed them onto new knitting friends, who also love it.
I do love reading EZ Knitters Almanac too.
xx

Madame Mouton said...

Knitting without tears by EZ. The first book I used a pattern out (tomten jacket) and when I have knitting question I almost always can find tha answers in that book.

Becky said...

Oh I think I'm a bit late to this - but I'll throw my name into the hat anyway. My go to knitting book would be a Rowan one I'm afriad - it's Rowan Junior - I knit stuff from that book all the time - when I need a quick gift, there is always something in there to help me out.