Knitprovisation: 70 Imaginative Projects Mixing Old with New

My creative life was in crisis until I discovered this book at my local library. After a pregnancy spent churning out baby sweater after baby sweater, I was left feeling bored and in need of a fashion re-boot. This book kicked my creative juices into gear and boosted my knitting/crochet to a thrilling new level. Don't be generic--buy this book!

I love this book. Usually when I get a book of knitting or crochet patterns, I might try one, then I lose interest. The confidence Ms. Ramnek has in her fellow makers is refreshing. She gives inspiring suggestions and isn't afraid to try new things right in front of us. Maybe a couple aren't "beautiful" but who cares? I've only had this book for a few weeks and I've already tried four different projects. Thank you., Ms. R!

this book is incredible. it's a feast for the eyes, a true buffet of ideas to spark the imagination of a DIY-er, a crafter, a thrifter, a maker. the clothing and products are "modeled" by real looking people. (i say "modeled" in quotes because these people aren't overly styled and posed. they could be your next-door-neighbor's children, or the down-to-earth grandmother you met on the bus.) the text is well written and the book is well designed. when i inspected the front matter and found the copyright to be 2004 couldn't believe i'd missed this impressive collection of handmade goods for three whole years. i gave an audible sigh of relief when i spied, at the bottom of the page, that the US printing was just this year. after devouring this book from cover to cover i can't decide what to do first--embellish an old sweater with bits of a second old sweater, pull out the ancient doilies i bought from a long-ago yard sale, or design a fabulous vest with skeins of yarn from my stash. don't miss this unique and quirky tome.

um, excuse me bad reviewers, but you've misunderstood the whole point of this book! it is called "knitprovisation" because you're supposed to improvise! this book will inspire you to create interesting garments and accessories with bits of knitting that you never finished or random thrifted items that you brought home to create something amazing with. it is full of suggestions for ways to be creative with what you have. It was written for those of us who collect fabric, used household textiles, doilies and other handmade things and are always on the lookout for ways to wear them. its pages are full of pictures of funky finished objects that we can learn from and be inspired by. your own creation will likely not resemble the one in the book and that's what makes it your own. admittedly this book does contain a few ideas that are a little weird. but what craft book doesn't have at least one idea that we don't like?

I love this book, because it shows me ways to think that I couldn't even imagine before seeing them. But I agree with the reviews written before mine, this is NOT a book for the average person. Your need to be crazy creative I think to get this one. If you like cute or stylish or if you are the kind of person that likes to "blend in" this is not the book for you. Cilla Ramnek takes second hand knit wear and makes them into funky clothes art! I'm not even saying I would wear anything from this book, but I feel the inspiration flowing from the pages. This book is a book to look through over and over again, before going to flea market or sitting down to design something new at the sewing machine. I want to use crocheted pot-holders on a bag, make a sweater out of not-at-all matching materials and experiment with my own knitting and sewing more. It's just fun, smart and experimental! Get it if you get curious!