One Skein

I was looking for crochet patterns, but this book was mainly for knitters.

There are only 3 or 4 crochet projects out of 30!!! Clearly, this book is not meant for crocheters despite having crochet in the title. Very disappointed from that aspect. Otherwise seems well written and offers fresh takes on traditional projects.

I love this book of small one-skein knitted projects. I've knit the adorable baby hat, the felted clutch purse, the cable footies, and I have my eyes on making the felted bowls, the baby petal bib, and the spiral rib bag. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. This has become one of my favorite knitting books ever, since I love small projects that are beautiful and don't bore me before they are done and become abandoned to closet corners. I also love the pictures in this beautiful book; I'm inspired just looking at the lovely yarns. By the way, the baby hat is lovely done in Rowan wool cotton. The 30 projects are: Put It On: Leg Warmers, Tank Top, Cable Footies, Silk Sleeves, Unisex Gloves, Asymmetrical Cable Hat, Rib and Cable Quartet (scarves), Fingerless Garter Mitts, Crochet Cap and Ruffle Cravat. Take It With You: The Clutch You'll Never Give Up, Spiral Rib Bag, Geometric Accessory Bags (3 choices) Dress Up Baby: Petal Bib, Baby Bolero (sweater), Baby Hat Make Your House a Home: Mohair Pillows, Bath Mitt and Puffy, Bath Mat, Felted Bowls, Candy Wrapper Sachets Rediscover Your Stash: Cupcakes, Pom-Pom Boa (scarf like thing), Felted Striped Tote, Kid's Color-Block Cardigan, Stash Handbag, Labyrinth Circle Rug

I love this book. The patterns are adorable, fun, creative and yet practical. The book itself is portable so it's great to take to the park or a coffee shop. I have made two of the clutches and the felted bowl. Both without having to buy any new yarn. For a knitter on a budget this book is a godsend. It allows you use up your stash but the projects don't look as if you have used all your leftovers. I especially love the cupcake pattern. My four year old wants me to make her a bakery full! I must confess I love that she uses Lamb's pride bulky. It is by far my favorite yarn. It's beautiful and really affordable. I plan on making every project in this book.

I've only had this book a handful of days and have tried several patterns. I have found them simple and fun. The felted bowls are among my favorite projects. I have already made a few for gifts - what cute Easter baskets! Most of the patterns are basic, making it easy to add your own embellishments. I had hoped or a few more felting projects, plus a bit more on embellishing ideas - which uses those tiny, commonly useless amounts of yarn. This books offers incentive to buy that oddball skein of yarn - that you have absolutely no use for, but you just love it too much to leave it on the shelf. Many of the ideas could be done without a pattern, but sometimes, it's nice for someone else to figue it all out.

This book is a variant on the "oddball" idea. What do you do with one lone skein of yarn? You know the problem; you go to a knitting store and there is one simply cuddly, interesting, fascinating, pretty orphan ball of yarn (or it's leftover in your stash) and what on EARTH do you do with it? Here are some ideas. There is a very fine baby jacket made of one ball of each color to make a color block design (well, it isn't EXACTLY one skein, but sure uses up oddball colors.) But the real prize are the felted projects like felted small bags and felted bowls. These are great for gifts. There is also a novel boa made of pom-poms (leftovers really work here) and a couple of stylish mohair pillows with buttons. My absolute favorite, however, are the knitted cupcakes. Using a ribbing for the cupcake "cup" and frosting of furry novelty yarn, you can make a number of these intriguing non-edible confections, dress them up with bugle bead jimmies or a button cherry on top. A box of these would make a great gift and look really intriguing on a knick-knack shelf. Or just give them to the kids to play tea party. A lot of fun and could make a hilarious mom-child project or for a class art project. Terrific.