The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits

As a novice knitter, I was thrilled to receive The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits: 19 Projects, Step-by-Step Instructions, Basic to Advanced Stitches delivered to my doorstep. I pulled out my odds and ends of yarn, scissors, different-sized needles and sat down on the couch with the book. Once considered your grandmother's sport of choice, knitting has made a comeback in the past few years--well beyond the kitschy Christmas sweaters or `70s tea cozies. So it was nice to delve into a book that reaffirmed the fact that knitting is once again in style with a whole new generation. I consider myself primarily a "scarf" person, favoring simple, mindless patterns I can accomplish in front of the television. The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits is a nice departure from the "scarf maker" in me. The book's introduction gives a rundown of the basics, from casting-on-and-off methods to increasing or decreasing rows and learning to read patterns and pick the right needles. Giving the projects in the book a "wow" factor are the large, minimalist photos of balls of yarn and completed projects. This knitting pattern book has such stunning photos--full-color pages of thick, purple yarn, sumptuous textures and "hip" projects. There are 19 projects offered, from beginner (like me) to advanced, but even the advanced patterns don't seem particularly daunting. Projects run the gamut from fingerless gloves, pillow covers, scarves, shawls and a lampshade. Don't be turned off by the kitsch factor of knitting a lampshade, though; it's actually appealing. Armchair Interviews says: Nice book for all levels of knitters.

This book was lots of fun. I have yet to actually knit any of the patterns, but I know I will. I may never knit all of the patterns but this is just one of those knitting books that elicits both smiles and creative juices. I would definitely recommend it for everyone but a very first time knitter - it's definitely not your standard basic "learn to knit" book. It's a great addition to my collection of knitting books